Sew a simple oilcloth wallet!

This is a really easy project - it should take less than an hour for even beginning sewers!

This is a bi-fold wallet that will hold cash and up to six cards. :D

It can be made out of oilcloth, old coated tablecloths, pet food bags, etc.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: What you'll need...

I would highly recommend a sewing machine - sewing oilcloth by hand is time consuming and painful in my experience. Lots of sore fingertips!

sewing machine
denim needle
oilcloth (a 12x12 inch square will be enough, you need very little!)
thread that matches, can be cotton or poly
ruler
cutting tools (I use a mat and rotary cutter because the edges come out cleaner)
tape for securing while sewing (can't pin oilcloth!)

bishcake says: Apr 21, 2013. 11:25 AM

I have just made this, and I am a total novice on the sewing machine and this was a total breeze and took no time at all. Thank you!

I think it will be perfect for a wallet to shove in a little clutch bag on a night out as you can fit your money, ID and cards in which is really all you need not some giant wallet to lug around!

astoldbycynthia says: Nov 27, 2012. 9:34 AM

awesome! i'm definitely going to try this

wendyknit says: Jul 25, 2011. 6:02 AM

I'm coming really late to this project, but it's a great instructable. I make my own oilcloth out of a fabric with Iron on Vinyl. That way you can make a wallet, coin purse and handbag all match. And if you are very Vera, you can make clothes to match as well..

abbeydabbles in reply to wendyknitOct 14, 2011. 7:40 AM

What an awesome way to diy oilcloth... got to try that

WhyHello says: Aug 24, 2011. 1:12 PM

Bandana Walet plz?

vegfolkchick says: May 23, 2010. 3:37 PM

Does anyone have suggestions as to where I can buy or find some oilcloth? I have no idea! Thanks

catiehade in reply to vegfolkchickJul 11, 2011. 7:25 PM

You might be able to find some oilcloth place mats @ your local goodwill/ thriftstore

realgenius65 says: Jun 9, 2010. 5:30 PM

I have been making great market bags out of all kinds of animal food bags. They sew up rather nicely and hold up real well if you bind the inside bottom seams w/old scrap fabric. "so, thats where those old raggedy sleep pants got off to..." said the hubby upon checking out the inside of a bag!

realgenius65 says: Apr 12, 2010. 9:19 AM

Very, very nice Miss Jessy!!!!!! Now I know what to do w/the oil cloth I bought in Albuquequer 2 years ago. Been mulling over it cause I've only got 1yd!

220

jessyratfink (author) in reply to realgenius65Apr 15, 2010. 9:15 AM

Yay!

You can also make a lunch bag:
www.skiptomylou.org/2008/05/08/lunch-time/

I made one of those and it was dead easy. :D

ampRiser says: Apr 12, 2010. 6:48 AM

This is really good!
Your instuctables are alwayz good! very detailed!!
I am working on a wallet that matches a guitar amplifier?

220

jessyratfink (author) in reply to ampRiserApr 12, 2010. 8:41 AM

Thanks very much! :D

Also, those are awesome - great idea for a wallet!

Kryptonite says: Feb 9, 2010. 8:55 PM

Brilliant!
Because I've always got too much change in my wallet I'd have to add a bit for change if I were to make one.

You astound me with your sewing skills time after time!

220

jessyratfink (author) in reply to KryptoniteFeb 9, 2010. 9:28 PM

You could always add an additional flap to one of the inner pockets and a small clasp. :)

I thought about doing that for the tutorial, but I never carry change and I got lazy!

Kryptonite in reply to jessyratfinkFeb 9, 2010. 11:32 PM

Fair enough, I was planning on customizing your wallet for my needs, should go well if I get the time!

Goodhart in reply to KryptoniteFeb 10, 2010. 9:30 AM

I used to carry change in my wallet too, but I thew out SOOO many wallets due to the change pouch wearing out, that I simply carry a "change purse" now.....no, not one of those feminine things, one like illustrated - they spit in the middle, cost MUCH less, and so are easy and inexpensive to replace. :-) A win all around !

RaNDoMLeiGH in reply to GoodhartFeb 13, 2010. 1:15 PM

You can still buy those?! Wow. My grandpa used to have one, and I haven't seen them for ages.

Goodhart in reply to RaNDoMLeiGHFeb 13, 2010. 1:55 PM

Well, the ones I remember from way back look like the picture below, and you can still get THEM too :-) If you like the plastic ones over the leather ones, they are sold here too...

Kryptonite in reply to GoodhartFeb 10, 2010. 8:47 PM

Very nice. I plan on making a sticky tape wallet this afternoon, so far it's going alright.

Sunbanks says: Feb 10, 2010. 4:18 PM

That turned out really awesome :D I might just have to make one!

Goodhart says: Feb 10, 2010. 9:21 AM

|Hmm, this gives me a good reason to ask my wife to clean off the sewing machine again, I just hope I have the correct needle for this....

T3h_Muffinator says: Feb 10, 2010. 6:28 AM

Awesome!
It looks like a fancy - sewn - duct tape wallet with a pattern you can't find on any roll of duct tape. Oil cloth is like duct tape minus the sticky!

220

jessyratfink (author) in reply to T3h_MuffinatorFeb 10, 2010. 7:52 AM

Yep, basically. Since I hate tape/paper crafts this is my answer to the wallet. :D