First Project - Minimalist Bi-Fold Wallets

[shinelightshine]

Hi all!

I'm brand new here and new to leather work. I've started by making some simple bi-fold wallets as a starting point to learn some basic techniques. I think what I found most challenging about making the wallet was cutting the rounded corners, and also, believe it or not, burnishing the edges NEATLY. I found that while using an edge slicker, it was really easy to mark the face of the leather while slicking the edges.

I've posted a couple picture here, and I've also posted a couple entries on my blog of some pictures my wife took of my learning process. You can check those out HERE (PART 1) and HERE (PART 2).

The dark brown wallet is my first one, and the natural veg tan one is my second (it turned out way neater).

If you have an comments/critique/tips for anything I've done, please share. I'm hungry to learn!

Thanks!

-Nick

[Django57]

I like how you have made your first wallet , i too hope to make one in a similar style , i expect to have the same issues you have had .

i have read your blog good explanation , can i ask what stitch per inch your wheel is ? i bought a 7 stitch per inch wheel , i am thinking i might invest in a pricking iron but that is a big subject and one i need to explore more , they can be expensive so i need to make sure i get the right one for the job , i like the minimalist look and want to show off my stitching if i think it is acceptable , any advise or thought would be appreciated .

[AndyL1]

These look pretty great for your first ever attempt! Good job and welcome to the craft.

For rounded corners I use a 1" fender washer and cut around it with my X-Acto knife. Works like a charm for now until I get some dies made up.

Cheers,

Andy

[shinelightshine]

I like how you have made your first wallet , i too hope to make one in a similar style , i expect to have the same issues you have had .

i have read your blog good explanation , can i ask what stitch per inch your wheel is ? i bought a 7 stitch per inch wheel , i am thinking i might invest in a pricking iron but that is a big subject and one i need to explore more , they can be expensive so i need to make sure i get the right one for the job , i like the minimalist look and want to show off my stitching if i think it is acceptable , any advise or thought would be appreciated .

I have 5, 6, and 7 stitch per inch wheels. I THINK I used the 6. I'll check and give you the exact one I used when I get home from the in-laws. The thing is, on the first wallet (the brown one) I marked out the stitches with the wheel, but didn't actually use marks. I decided to just use my pricking iron instead. I used the 1/8" 4-prong angled iron that I got from Tandy. On the second wallet (the natural veg tan one) I went straight to the pricking iron and bypassed the wheel altogether. I hope that helps!

These look pretty great for your first ever attempt! Good job and welcome to the craft.

For rounded corners I use a 1" fender washer and cut around it with my X-Acto knife. Works like a charm for now until I get some dies made up.

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks Andy! I'm super excited to finally dive into the craft. I've been doing tons of research over the past year and have been watching tutorial after tutorial, and checking out different makers on etsy and other places (you were actually one that I scoped out). I finally bit the bullet and bought a bunch of tools and leather.

Thanks for the tip on the rounded corners, I'll most definitely try that out on my next wallet.

Another question I had was regarding the weight of leather to use for a project like this. I found that what I used was a little too stiff/thick. I don't want anything too light as I want it to be fairly rugged, but I want it to stay closed when it's just sitting out on a table. As of right now they both sort of spring open a little bit.

[Django57]

Thank you for your reply, we have probably watched and read the same videos , i like the Nigel Armitage explanation for the saddle stitch which is what i want to achive eventually . From what i have learnt from watching his videos he seems to prefer a pricking iron from the Joseph Dixon company based in UK and a 6 or 7 stitch per inch which suits me as i only want to make small items wallets , watch straps and the like , but i have been reading that the ////// it makes can some times be a bit long and the thread you choose is important , he uses Tigre thread which is pre- waxed polyester and the size he uses is either 0.8 or 1mm i don't know what the equivalent is in USA, if you have any thought i would appreciate your input .

[bdunne]

Very Nice! Any thoughts on retail prices?

[shinelightshine]

Very Nice! Any thoughts on retail prices?

Thanks!! To be honest I haven't begun to think about that just yet. I want to practise a little bit more and get a bit more consistant before I start selling them.

I'll definitely make a post here when I decide to start selling.

Thanks for the interest .

[firewallsrus]

I think a minimalist wallet is a great idea. I have one I bought as encouragement for a friend. He made it from a kit and it has so darned many layers of ultra-thin leather, that it looks (to me) a bit like George Kastanza's wallet from Seinfeld. I keep meaning to undo the lacing and remove about 2/3's of the layers inside so that it doesn't take up so much room.

[bearachc]

Simplistic and clean. They look awesome.

[Sam 9]

Nice, great start. I want to make one!

[bearachc]

Quick question, I see you're using fieblings oil dye on this project. Did you find the odor to be overwhelming in a smaller space (like a kitchen)? Just curious as I'm about to start some dying with fieblings and I don't have a seperate work area for working on dying.

[shinelightshine]

Quick question, I see you're using fieblings oil dye on this project. Did you find the odor to be overwhelming in a smaller space (like a kitchen)? Just curious as I'm about to start some dying with fieblings and I don't have a seperate work area for working on dying.

It definitely has an odor, but I wouldn't say that it was overwhelming. I did the dying in my living room. It wasn't too bad at all.