Step 4 (Making the Clasps)

Wallet Tutorial: Step 5 (Putting It Together)

Materials:

TIP: Read this entire section before you start putting it together!

Hem the Ribbon

I like to use a bit of ribbon to "bind" the wallet on the left edge. Technically, it's a faux binding and it simply covers the "raw" edges of the interior. However, the ribbon must be hemmed, but it's quick and easy!

  1. Ribbon Hemming
    Place a line of fabric glue across the top width of ribbon.
  2. Turn down about 1/2" of the top of the ribbon, pressing and holding in place for about a minute while the glue "sets." Use a clamp/clothespin here if you want.
  3. Place the ribbon beside a cover to help determine exactly how far to hem the bottom of the ribbon. [In the photo to the right, I've hemmed the top of the ribbon about 1/2" and placed a line of fabric glue on the bottom hem. Note: This is a "staged" photo--the front cover actually isn't finished!] Hem the bottom "enough" so that the final hemmed ribbon is about 2 or 3 mm shorter than the cover length.

Final Assembly

  1. Attach the ribbon "binding" to the back cover
    1. Lay the back cover face down on your work surface. Place a line of clear household cement (shown in green) along the INSIDE of the straight edge of the back cover about 1/4" wide and the entire length of the back cover.
    2. Spread the household cement evenly in the green area shown above, ensuring that it evenly coats the green area--all the way to the edges. Be generous with the household cement but not overly so. Too little and the ribbon may detach, too much and the cement will overflow.

      3. TIP: I use a 1/2" wide strip of an index card to spread the household cement.

    3. Carefully place the ribbon edge on the glue. Press it with your fingertips to ensure even contact. Place clamps on either side of the cover in the areas shown in pink on the image in Step (a).
    4. Let the cover/glue/ribbon "set" for about 30 minutes then remove the clamps.
  2. Front & Back of Interior
    Look at your folded interior fabric/paper. It should look like a little "book" with pages. Two of these pages have a "wrong" or "unfinished" or "ugly" side. They are the backs that have no slots. That's the front and back of the interior. Coat the back of the wallet interior fabric/paper with adhesive. Spread the adhesive evenly over the entire "back" of the interior fabric/paper, taking care to go all the way to the edges.

    3. TIP: If I am using a fabric interior, I use clear household cement as the adhesive. If I am using a paper interior, I use Mainely Shades Lampshade Glue (available from www.fogglighting.com [Search for "glue"]. Other adhesives may work, but from my assortment these are the ones that have performed well.

  3. Carefully align the binding of the back of the interior fabric/paper to the straight edge of the INSIDE of the back cover. Press the fabric/paper with your fingertips to ensure good contact.
  4. Final Drying
    Using lightweight clamps or clothespins, clamp the back edges at the top and bottom (shown as pink ovals in the above "schematic") and possibly at the two rounded corners if you feel it is needed. Wipe off any excess adhesive. Allow the wallet an hour's drying time and remove the clamps. Clamping might be unnecessary but I find it helpful.
  5. Affix the front cover in the same fashion, starting from STEP 2 above. However, I always allow a good 24 hours of drying time before using a finished wallet.
 Step 4 (Making the Clasps)