HOW TO SEW LEATHER WALLETS AND CARD HOLDERS
How to sew leather wallet and cardholders. Machine sewing offers various advantages over machine cutting and hand sewing techniques. One of the advantages of machine sewing is that it can be done faster than hand sewing, which can be time consuming. The machine sews flawlessly and never needs a break. It never compromises on quality and delivers perfectly tailored products every time.
Learn how to make a wallet out of faux leather, vinyl, or faux suede. It’s a super popular trend in men’s wallets and can be used as a minimalist front pocket for men or women. Oh, and before I forget, I also have another gift card holder fabric pattern from way back, it’s constructed differently, but feel free to use that too.
ANY SEWING MACHINE CAN SEW LEATHER WALLETS AND CARD HOLDERS
How to sew leather wallet and cardholders. Many sewing masters who want to sew leather consider whether to get another machine. Is a regular sewing machine not enough for sewing leather and fabric? This question has two parts. You only need a strong enough needle, a suitable thread and the necessary presser foot. This brings us to the second part, the type and thickness of the skin.
The thickness of the leather varies from 0.3 mm for the snake skin to 7 mm for the bridle. Therefore, the skin type must also be taken into account.
A common home sewing machine cuts thin leather around 1mm or less. If you have an older purely mechanical unit, it’s even better. You will probably need to invest in a heavy duty sewing machine for thicker leather.
For upholstery and leather thicker than 5mm or more, you will probably need to invest in an industrial machine such as a flatbed machine. These machines are used in an industrial environment to work on leather products such as belts, wallets, straps and leather jackets.
So before you decide to buy a sewing machine, look at the product specification and check the type and thickness of the leather.
BEST TREE LEATHER WALLETS AND CARDHOLDERS SEWING MACHINES
How to sew leather wallet and cardholders. Leather is often difficult to work with, especially if it is thick. However, sewing machines seem to have fewer skin problems and give radically better results.
Janome HD3000 Leather Sewing Machine
Janome makes world class sewing machines and the HD3000 is without a doubt one of their best products. This is due to the powerful engine and all-metal body. The designation “heavy duty” is based on the all-metal design of the body. You can choose from 18 integrated stitches, offering flexibility in choosing your preferred stitch. So the possibilities with the HD3000 are endless.
PROS
- Multiple layers of leather can be stitched together
- Top stitch quality
- It runs quietly
CONS
- It has an unappealing boxy look with limited color options
Leather sewing machine SINGER 4423
It is 60% stronger than a regular sewing machine. The durable metal frame is another reason to invest in this Singer leather sewing machine. The interior is made of a commercial metal frame. The accessory is a stainless steel bed frame. These not only extend the life of the unit, but also minimize the vibrations during operation, which is known for plastic sewing machines. This makes sewing more precise.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Precise stitches
- A high-performance motor that works well on the skin
CONS
- No hard case, so the machine remains exposed
Juki TL-2010Q Leather Sewing Machine
So whether you’re repairing a leather belt or sewing a new pattern on a handbag, this premium unit will serve you well. The TL-2010Q has an automatic needle threader and thread cutter to speed up the sewing process. The former allows you to thread the sewing needle immediately, while the latter cuts off the threads at the end of sewing.
PROS
- It can go through multiple layers of fabric up to 12mm thick
- Portable
CONS
- The delivery does not contain enough accessories
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING SEWING MACHINES FOR LEATHER WALLETS AND CARD HOLDERS
How to sew leather wallet and cardholders. Now that you know what type of sewing machine to buy, let’s explore what you need to check when buying a machine. To make the process uncomplicated, here are things to check when buying a leather sewing machine:
- Type
The first thing you need to check is the type of sewing machine. That’s because it affects functionality and price. In addition to the regular home sewing machine, you should consider heavy-duty, computerized, and industrial sewing machines. Within industrial units, you will come across three types: cylindrical arm, flat bed and column bed. Of course, the type depends on your preferences, skill level and budget. So choose wisely.
- Feed mechanism
Another thing to consider is the feed mechanism. This is what pulls and feeds the material into the machine where the needle pierces. Of the three most common types of feeding mechanisms—mixed feeds, drip/conventional feeding, and needle feeding—go for the legs. It maintains the necessary downward pressure on the leather, which prevents it from shifting during sewing.
- Necessary components
Regardless of the type of sewing machine, it should have at least these three components: Teflon feet, bonded nylon thread, and a diamond-tipped needle. While you can always purchase them later, it’s best if they’re part of the unit. It indicates that the sewing machine is ideal for use on skin.
- Maximum sewing thickness
Modern machines, especially those designed for home use, are limited by the thickness of fabric they can sew. Some units are designed to handle up to ¼”. They are not suitable for thicker materials, even if you use a fixed needle. Likewise, there are sewing machines capable of sewing saddles up to 1″ thick. Therefore, look at its maximum sewing thickness capacity.
- Thread sizes
Just like thickness, sewing machines are limited by the maximum thread size they can handle. Some units are only designed for smaller threads, while others can work with thread sizes up to 277. Most heavy-duty sewing machines are capable of handling thread sizes up to 415. Therefore, they are recommended for sewing leather.
- Needle sizes
Last but not least, you need to consider the maximum size of the needle. The high-performance units handle needle sizes up to 27, which is sufficient for sewing most types of leather. On the other hand, home sewing machines are limited to thread sizes 20 or 22. These may not be enough.
HOW TO MAKE LEATHER WALLET AND CARD HOLDER
How to sew leather wallet and cardholders. Here are the steps you will need to sew a card wallet:
Cut off both outer parts with a beveled corner to the left and right. In any case, the two outer parts must be identical. I did a few card holders that were turned both ways to see if it made a difference, but it doesn’t really change the ease of use. For example, I cut this brown faux suede version differently.
Fold the partition in half with the wrong sides together and sew the edge along the center fold. This stabilizes the top of the front wallet pocket. Use clamps to hold the four layers in place; do not use pins as they will leave visible marks on the artificial leather.
Grasp the baffle and align the two outer pieces each on one side of the baffle with the bevel on the top edge. I’ve added the numbers 1 and 2 in the photo above so you’ll notice that these are two sides of the wallet.
Make two or three backstitches at the beginning and end to secure the stitches. Using a thicker thread, such as Gutermann Topstitching thread, will make your seams look better and more stable. In this tutorial, use a regular thread for general use, which also works well.
If you want a more professional finish for your credit card wallet, you will probably need to use genuine leather as well as an edge finish. Since leather requires special tools, a high performance machine and equipment, I prefer to use faux leather on my home sewing machine.
CONCLUSION
How to sew leather wallet and cardholders. Sewing a leather wallet and card holders is a challenging task. But should you get a home or industrial leather sewing machine? And can a regular sewing machine sew leather? I will answer such questions in the following sections. And then list the seven best sewing machines compatible with leather processing.