Wallet Card Slots

[macimago]

I an a beginner in making wallets and I have seen 2 main types of card slots. One that looks just like slots cut into a single piece of leather and individual card slots cut and sewn in. I am wondering if there are any benefits to the first or the second. Also, with the slots cut into the one leather piece are there any thing that stops the card from going in too deep. Thanks for any help.

[NVLeatherWorx]

If you were to punch the little holes then cut the slot into a single piece of leather then you would have to attach some form of durable material to the backside to create your individual pockets so that the cards don't fall all the way to the bottom and bunch up. Typically, I have seen everything from 4" wide ribbon used to make bows all the way up to Tyvek house wrap material used as the pockets. The material is first cut to fit the need then cemented to the leather; once cemented you should always stitch/sew it in to ensure that it stays in place.

The other method of cutting individual pockets and then overlapping them (as needed) and then stitching them down is a lot less work in the long run and give you more room for creativity as far as how the pocket top looks with the notched section.

The advantage of the slot cut into a single piece of leather is that the overall thickness of the wallet is a bit less as long as you don't use thick pocket materials but it doesn't look very professional when you take into consideration what you are trying to do - put out a professional and quality looking product.

The single pocket out of leather style is the direction that I pretty much go (even though I get requests to do the other version on occasion) as it produces a much more professional appearance to the overall finished product which is exactly what I want from each piece.

There really isn't much of a labor time difference from one to the other but the appearance is the key. Not to mention, a leather pocket is much more durable and functional over the long haul and I don't think anyone will refute that point. Just make sure that you cut your pockets large enough to accommodate the card, preferably two cards per pocket. I always cut my pockets between 1/2" and 5/8" wider than the card width to allow for a loose enough fit to allow two cards and allow ease of card removal as well as my two stitching lines which are between 3/32" and 1/8" from each edge.

Hope this helps answer your question.

[JLSleather]

The slots is the way to go. The cards themselves will add enough thickness to the wallet without multiple layers of leather added to that. Strength is not a big issue -- very little tension on a wallet.

Where possible, I like to buy them pre-fab. But, I have been known to build a custom "innards" when needed. The reason being that the time can be significant. I did one recently for a "long wallet" (basically a checkbook with card pockets). Two long pockets, 6 card pockets, and a see-thru id window on the right, and a long pocket, a "flap" pocket, and a card slot on the left. I can tell you -- that's a lot more stitchin than you think.

[macimago]

I appreciate all of your information on this. I love this site and the wealth of information that I can get here.

I've gotten some pre-fab in the past and I was disappointed. I feel that if I am going to spend the time making a "hand made" wallet, I would want the same inside and out. But, I am also very small time.

[NVLeatherWorx]

I make all of my wallet/clutch, etc. innards and as I haven't found any pre-fab's that meet great quality standards. It may be some stitching time investment when I advertise/promote an item as "hand made" you can guarantee that it is "hand made" and all of it is. No offense to anyone out there but taking short cuts (using kits only or having work farmed out to pre-fab/other services) has stripped all of the creative industries out there that we once cherished. The beauty of making it all by hand, and by yourself, is that you can create a truly unique item every time and can modify/change as you see fit whenever you feel like being different.

Doesn't matter if you consider yourself small time or a Master Maker, creativity is what makes us different from the corner "master kit assembler" and also makes our product truly custom.

[macimago]

Thank you, NV LeatherWorx. I take a lot of pride in everything that I do. I find great satisfaction in looking at what I do today in contrast why I have done last year. I hope that I will be as good as I see many of the crafters on this site. I think that I will stick to the individual card slots, since that is what I am most comfortable with. Also, it allows me to show off the stitching.