This is a build along video for the free leather bi-fold wallet template!
Be sure to download the bi-fold wallet template (8.5″ x 11″ version / A4 version) to print out and follow along!
Also available as an acrylic template: 5-Pocket Bi-Fold Wallet Acrylic Template
Usage Note: You are free to use this card holder design to create and even sell the end product. However, you cannot re-distribute this template in any form.
Looking to start selling your handcrafted leather goods and need an e-commerce platform? We recommend you start with what we use here at Makesupply… Shopify!
Need help with hand-stitching? Check out our saddle stitch tutorial.
Inventory of Tools
- 110-Lb Card Stock Paper
- No.2 X-ACTO Knife
- Wing Divider
- C.S. Osborne Scratch Awl
- Tandy Pro-Line Diamond Stitching Chisels – 3mm / 4 Prong
- Tandy Pro-Line Diamond Stitching Chisels – 3mm / 2 Prong
- Tandy Stitching Needles
- Wood Slicker
- Piece of heavy canvas cloth
- Edge beveler
- Japanese Leather Knife
- 15″ Cork Back Metal Ruler
- Royalwood Waxed Irish Linen Thread – 7-ply / White
- Rubber Cement
- Various Grit Sandpaper (120 grit and 240 grit)
- Binder clips
- Rubber Mallet
- Block of Leathercraft Wax
- Saddle soap
- Cup of water
Leather Selection Suggestions
In this video we used 3-4oz. Q-Tan Lite Bridle Leather sourced from Thoroughbred Leather. You can find more info about ordering from Thoroughbred Leather check out this post. If you are just looking to purchase a small amount of something similar for this project I suggest this product from Springfield Leather. It is the exact same weight as the leather in the video. If you are outside of the USA I’m not as privy on suppliers. However you could try one of these Madison Shoulders – 1.2mm/1.4mm from A & A Crack & Sons. They have an awesome selection of leathers available to ship worldwide.
For this wallet I would suggest anywhere from 2-4oz thickness for the inside pocket pieces. For the outside panel I would suggest up to 4oz. I find the best all around weight is the 3/3.5 oz range. Thicker leather that isnt properly skived might cause you some fitting problems especially around the “top collar” area of the wallet.
If you are not using a vegetable tanned leather to create this bi-fold wallet your edge finishing guidelines will probably be different. Chrome-tanned leathers and extremely soft leathers like sheepskin are difficult and sometimes impossible to burnish by hand. If you would like to follow this tutorial to spec, we would suggest acquiring a burnish-able vegetable tanned leather.
Guidelines of Template Usage
We put a lot of time and effort into producing these templates, videos, and blog posts. Please do not distribute the template you have purchased from Makesupply. It’s not cool and hurts our feelings. However, you are free to do whatever you want with the end product you create using the template design. Even sell them on Etsy!
