Le Cardi-Biff – Simple wallet
Cardi-Biff is the perfect wallet that combines simplicity and practicality!
With its capacity to carry 4 loyalty or credit cards, as well as banknotes, this compact companion is ideal for those who want to have everything to hand without getting bogged down.
In this tutorial, discover how to easily sew Le Cardi-Biff, a handmade accessory as stylish as it is useful, in just a few steps.
Ready to get started? Let’s get started!
The step-by-step video is at the end of the article, if you prefer.
Sewing equipment
To sew this wallet, you will need :
- For the POCKETS, 2 rectangles of (W) 22 cm X (H) 11 cm in the main fabric. In this tutorial, I’m using bâchette, which is a rather heavy and resistant upholstery fabric.
- For the BACK of the wallet, 1 rectangle of (W) 22 cm X (H) 10.5 cm in the main fabric. Another rectangle of the same dimensions in the lining fabric(I use poplin). And a final rectangle, again 22 x 10.5, in H250 fusible.
- For the FRONT of the wallet, 1 rectangle of (W) 22 cm X (H) 9.5 cm in the main fabric. Another rectangle of the same dimensions in the lining fabric. And a final rectangle, again 22 x 9.5, in H250 fusible.
And you’ll need your usual sewing equipment.
Front and pocket seams
Start by fusing the back of the FRONT and BACK pieces to the outer fabric.
Next, we tackle the 2 POCKET pieces, folding lengthwise one piece right sides together, and the other wrong sides together. The right-side folded piece is stitched 1 cm from the edge on the raw edge side, and the wrong-side folded piece is stitched as close to the fold as possible.
The POCKET sewn right sides together must be turned right side out, and topstitched in the same way as the first pocket, i.e. as close to the edge as possible at the fold.
Now place the FRONT piece right-side-up in the outer fabric. Distinguish between the top and bottom of this piece, and place the sewn-around POCKET 2 cm from the bottom of the FRONT.
We’ll stitch the bottom of the POCKET, as close to the edge as possible, in straight stitch.
On top, place the second POCKET, this time aligning its base with the base of the FRONT. Stitch the sides of the 2 pockets and the base with a straight stitch, 0.5 cm from the edge.
Now we position the FRONT we’ve just prepared, right sides together, and on top, right sides together, we place the FRONT piece in the lining fabric.
For the moment, we’re only going to stitch the top of the pieces, in straight stitch, 1 cm from the edge.
Turn the 2 FRONT pieces inside out and topstitch as close to the edge as possible.
Portfolio sewing
Great! Now we place the BACK piece in the lining fabric right-side-up, and on top, lining against lining, the FRONT we’ve just prepared. And on top again, the BACK piece in the outer fabric.
We’ll sew all around, leaving a 10-centimeter opening at the top.
The corners are trimmed by cutting them at 45°.
Through the opening we’ve just left, turn the book right side out. Press the corners and seams, and tuck the seam allowances inside the wallet. And we’ll close the opening by topstitching as close to the edge as possible, all the way across the top.
Cut off any excess sewing threads, and your Cardi-Biff wallet is ready!
