UPDATED Keychain Card Wallet (Now Includes Pattern Piece)
Updated: Jan 13
If you love our Keychain Card Wallet video tutorial, we have great news! We have created a template/pattern piece that can be used to make sewing one of these up even easier - and faster. Keep scrolling to view the original video with measure & cut instructions, as well as the new video showing how we use the template/pattern piece. Either way, you will be cranking out your Keychain Card Wallets in no time!
These simple keychain card holders are not only practical, but they take only a small amount of leather and time to make. You know I love an easy sew that is super practical, and with these taking only 10-15 to whip up, I am sure to keep them on rotation for festivals. Here is what I used for this project:
Materials, Tools, and Supplies
Leather (2.5-5 oz weight with the desired structure) *If using a domestic machine, try 3 oz*
Main Body - 4¼"W x 7½"H
D-ring Tab - 1½"W x ½"H (may need it slightly longer if using thick leather)
Hardware & Other Materials
(1) D-Ring - ½"
(1) Keyring
(1) Snap (I used a spring snap)
⅛" Double-Sided Tape (I recommend glue if sewing on a domestic machine - see below)
Tools
Hole Punch for Snaps
Snap Setter
Rotary Cutter & Ruler (or Precsion Craft Knife)
Cutting Mat
Lighter (If you plan to tie off and burn thread ends)
Scissors (for cutting paper pattern piece)
Industrial Machine or Domestic
For this project, you will be sewing through two layers of leather - so with a leather needle, the right leather, and an increased stitch length this card holder is totally domestic machine friendly! Test your machine using two layers of the leather you would like to use and you will be on your way! I should note, if sewing on a domestic machine, I recommend using glue instead of double-sided tape (since the double-sided tape is placed directly within the stitch line). Your machine will have a much easier time sewing the leather without the stickiness of the double-sided tape. If using glue, keep it within ⅛" of the edges and allow it to fully dry before sewing.
Now...let's get down to business. Enjoy!
Original "Measure & Cut" Method
If using the measure and cut method, simply cut your leather to the dimensions listed above under "Materials, Tools, and Supplies", then follow the instructions in the video below. If you would prefer to use the pattern piece/template, I still recommend watching this video because it has sound and gives full instructions on how the wallet is constructed. However, the video in the next section shows how to use the template, so I recommend watching both if using that method.
If Using the Pattern Piece/Template
If you would prefer to use the pattern piece to make your card wallets, click here to download the PDF file. The construction is the same, but with the template, there is no need to measure or to use arc-punches for you curves.
With this method you will simply:
Print the pattern file out at 100% scale, then cut out the two paper pattern pieces.
Use the pattern pieces to cut your Main Body and D-ring Tab from your leather (I like to trace my pattern shapes onto the leather then cut them out).
Use the red circles on the Main Body pattern piece as a guide for punching the two holes for snaps.
Add the snap components to the two holes in the Main Body (female parts in the top/curved end with the cap on the right side of the leather, and the male parts in the bottom end with the flat piece on the flesh side). NOTE: Make sure you place the snap pieces in the right direction (see video below)!
Use the green lines on the sides of the pattern piece to mark spots to use as landmarks later (on the FLESH SIDE of the leather). These marks should be 2" below the top.
Add double-sided tape (or glue) just along the sides of the leather - starting just beneath markings made on the sides of the leather, and working your way down to the bottom.
Fold the D-Ring Tab in half over a ½” D-Ring (use double-sided tape or glue to hold in place).
Before folding your wallet, be sure to add the D-ring Tab (with the D-ring attached) in the desired location on your preferred side of the wallet (I originally forgot this step in the video, but caught it just before I finished sewing the last side of the wallet). NOTE: The location of the D-ring Tab is just a matter of preference. You want to position the D-ring Tab in far enough to be sure it gets caught in the seam allowance when sewing - about ⅜"-½”- should work.
With the D-Ring Tab in place, fold the bottom edge of the Main Body up (wrong sides together) to meet the markings made on both sides.
Sew along the sides using a ⅛” seam allowance.
Add a keyring to the D-ring and you are done!