Cash Envelope Sew Along! Day 2: Assembling the Cover

This post is part of the Cash Envelope Sew Along, tutorial segment.

You can read more about this here, along with all with the list of all other related posts.

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If you are just joining us, or find this at a later date,

 we are using the pattern from Walter & Veronica. You can find it on Etsy or Craftsy.

A great place to find great zippers at a great price is Zipit on Etsy (use coupon code "fromblankpages" and receive 15% off your order), 

and pick up some great fabric from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics and you will definitely be saving in style. ;)

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Please share any of your photos in the from blank pages... flickr group!

Have you been waiting for this? Sorry it's late!! It's been a crazy day around here. If you missed yesterdays post, I went over the weeks schedule and cutting your fabric! You can find that post here.

Today we are going to assemble the Cover of your wallet with all the pockets! :) (not the zippered pockets - that will be tomorrow.) Are you so excited?! I am! ;) ha. I am constructing two different wallets, but will only be working with one in todays tutorial as the construction of both are totally the same!
Yes, I do realize that I am kind of skipping around from the order in the pattern, but this works for me. :)


Just so there is no confusion, here is what we will be working with today:

Pieces Overview:

(1 or 2) main pieces, depending on what you decide to use

(2) large interior pockets

(3) card pockets

(1) DL pocket (bottom left)

(1) checkbook/list pocket (right)

(1) decorative piece

(1) of each inner and outer piece for velcro closure

Yesterday we fused all the pieces. (view the end of this post for the details). (After assembling these pieces I did make a few changes with the fusing and updated it in the previous post.)

We will also be working with the velcro pieces as well as the vinyl for the DL pocket.

the Main Piece:

*Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of all your stitches. All seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise specified.

First take your decorative piece and with your iron, turn the long edges in 1/4" and press.
Next take your loop velcro piece and lay it so that one end stops right at the center of the decorative piece), lining it up in the middle. Like this.

You can fold the fabric in half and crease to help you find the center.

Lightly pin it or use a glue stick to hold it in place while you sew.

Now take the hook velcro piece and lay it 1/2" from the end of the inner short piece, and sew it in place.

Lay your two closure pieces right sides together. Sew around three sides (both long sides and the short side with the velcro). Clip the corners.

Turn it right side out, and push the corners out. Sew around the edge and set aside.

Take the Main Piece with the fusible interfacing and lay it right side up. Lay the decorative piece, right side up, in the middle of it - with the velcro end on the side that you want to be the front of your wallet. Turn the pressed edges under and pin to hold in place. *you can fold your pieces in half and crease to help you find the center - line up the creases.*

Sew right along both edges of the decorative piece, attaching it to the main piece.

Set the Main pieces aside.

Inner Pockets:

Now we are going to prep and sew the inner pockets.

Take each of your (3) card pockets & the checkbook pocket. Fold down the top 1/4", press and sew along the edge.

I sewed two lines. I think it adds a more classy finish. The firetruck agrees! lol. 

The firetruck is Hunters addition to this tutorial. :)

Driver License Pocket: cut out the window and attatch the vinyl the same way as in the pattern. ***To make it easier to sew the vinyl without having it stick to your machine or foot, I place it on top of a tissue and just sew everything to the tissue - it's easy to tear it away when you're done.

Trim the vinyl to less than 1/4" past the seam.  Fold down the top 1/4" of the pocket piece (fold it over the top of the vinyl if it reaches), press and sew. (I place a small piece of tissue under the vinyl again so it will feed easily through the machine.)

 

Next, starting with (1) card pocket, fold the bottom of the pocket under and press, but don't sew.

(or all three)

Align (1) on your large inner pocket with the same measurements as in the pattern with the top of the card pocket 1.5" down from the top of the larger inner pocket. Stitch the BOTTOM of the pocket ONLY - stay close to the edge so you sew the folded-under part as well.

 

Repeat with the other (2) card pockets, with 1" between the tops of the card pockets.

Continue as in the pattern with the DL pocket.

Repeat same process with the checkbook pocket and other large interior pocket. Make sure you sew down the left side on this one instead of the right.

You are now finished with the inside pockets!

Sandwich Time:

Now take all of your pieces and layer them like this:

(Optional) The Main Piece that does not have interfacing. Right side down.

Main Piece with decorative stitching, Right Side UP. With the velcro on the right.

Card/DL inner pocket over the velcro side. Make sure the side that you sewed under is in the center.
Right side DOWN.

Lay the velcro closure piece on the opposite side. With the hook velcro side UP.

the Checkbook pocket goes on the left side over the closure piece. Right side DOWN.

Pin at the corners, the edges of the inner pockets, and the center of the sides.

Now sew around the edges 1/4". Clip the corners.

Turn Right Side out.

Front

Back

Inside

Origianly I was going to sew around all the edges to finish them off, but if you do there won't be enough room for your cards to fit in the pockets. At least not with mine. Just so you know.

Wahoo! You are finished with the cover!!! :)

Tomorrow we will work on the zippers!!

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Okay, now to get a little conversation going, plus I'm just curious as to what works for you, I have a little question for you! :)

What tips/tricks do you use to help you budget and stay on top of your finances?
Do you have a program that you use? or do you do it the old school way of using your checkbook register? (I like that way... but don't it much anymore.)

I used to use Quicken. It was really easy to see where all my money was going, but wasn't so easy to PLAN where it was going. :) A few years ago I heard about YNAB (You Need A Budget)
because...

:)

They have a really interesting way of saving, budgeting, and rolling with the punches. It took a long time to stop looking at my bank balance and start looking at my budget to determine our spending. We're still not always great at sticking to our budget, but just because I'm not perfect at it doesn't mean that I don't love it! I am determined that this year we are going to do it!! :) You can click on that picture to learn more... or just ask. :) I'm more than happy to tell you more! :) Anyway, this is what works for us.

I'd love to hear your stories too! :)

Thanks for sewing along! :)