Saturday, February 14, 2009

Wallet prototype #1

Before anything else, let me just say that I am doing this post while my computer monitor is slowly dying.  Yesterday, the screen colour shifted from normal to pinkish and now, it's greenish.  These are definitely signs that it's life is nearing its end.  So, if the photos I uploaded to go with this post are blurry or unclear in any way, please excuse me because I have no way of knowing at the moment how they really appear on screen...

Making a wallet...that's been on my mind for the longest time.  I've been searching the web for nice patterns but to date, I have not found one that I truly like.  Yesterday, I finally tried making one from scratch.  Unfortunately, the outcome wasn't 100% satisfactory.  My biggest fault was that I was too eager and so made a lot of mistakes along the way...mistakes such as miscalculations and inaccurate seam allowances.  And thinking I could pull this off without careful planning, I had used a really nice Japanese fabric I had just purchased for another project! 

The effort (and the fabrics) weren't totally wasted though.  The wallet, with all its faults, is quite presentable and completely usable.  You be the judge...



As you can see from the photos, the wallet has the usual credit card slots and pocket for bills. There is also a fairly large zippered compartment for coins.  The errors I made? The first row of card slots got a bit shorter than what they should be as I had sewn a larger seam allowance in the bottom (grrrrr...).  Also, I had wrongly installed the 'female' part of the snap fastener on the flap.  Lastly, the upper pocket, being a last minute addition, seems useless to me...

Since last night, I have been busy drafting changes and improvements to my pattern and I think I now know what it is I want exactly.  Pretty excited to work on that for the next few days...

5 comments:

  1. The great thing about those mistakes is that we quickly learn what works and what doesn't. From my perspective you did a great job! I'm sure these are going to be a hit in your shop when you get them perfected. If you need a "dummy" to sew one up and give you feed back let me know, but it looks like you are totally heading in the right direction. It's going to be great!

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  2. That looks great. In fact it's exactly what I'm looking for to make for myself. Are you going to post the instructions wehn you get it perfected?? I hope so, I would love to make this one.

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  3. Great job again. Are you considering making a tutorial?

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  4. Oh Corrinne - I've been chuckling away after reading your post. This afternoon I was cutting out a bag using the same fabric!! The pattern ?? Your messenger bag!!!!!!!!

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  5. Would be lovely if you had a tutorial for this wallet, I really love it, and actually am trying to make one too. Have had the same results as you - when trying to find a pattern or how to.

    Looks great! Really love it.

    M

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