Leather Keychain Wallet

CAD-designed project that uses a Cricut Maker for production. Project should take about three hours not including the time required to run the cutting machine. I have included DXF and SVG files to use on your cutting machine as well as a PDF pattern if you would prefer to hand-cut your leather. Have fun!

Materials:

• 1.5-2oz Leather
• Medium Size Snaps
• Keychain Jump Ring
• Hand-Stitching Thread
• Double-Sided Tape
• Heavy Cardstock or Poster Board
• Masking Tape
• Optional: Transfer Paper
• Optional: Burnishing Compound
• Optional: Leather Conditioner

Tools:

• Cricut Maker (or similar cutting machine)
• Cricut Knife Blade
• StrongGrip Cutting Mat
• Cutting Mat
• Optional: 12"x24" Ruler
• Utility Knife
• Poly Mallet
• Optional: Shoe Hammer
• Scratch Awl
• Edge Creaser or Leather Compass
• Ruler or Straight Edge
• 3mm Punch
• Snap Setter and Anvil
• Pricking Irons
• Punch Pad
• Needles
• Stitching Pony
• Optional: Thread Nippers
• Thread Zapper or Lighter
• Optional: Fine Edge Beveler
• Optional: Wood Slicker
• Optional: Slicking Glass
• Optional: Glass Plate

1. This step can be skipped if you have decided to use the pdf pattern. Instead, print the pdf, glue and transfer it to heavy cardboard, cut it out and then use it to cut out your leather pieces. At this point you can skip to Step 3: Preparing the Coin Pouch Flap.
2. If you are going the Cricut/cutting machine route, start by cutting out enough heavy cardstock/poster board for the project. (Photo 1) I used a Cricut 12" x 24" ruler for this, but a rough square foot should work just as well.
3. Place the cardstock/poster board on a StrongGrip mat and tape down edge with masking tape. (Photo 2)
4. Load the provided pattern (Keychain Wallet Paper Pattern) into Cricut Design Space or other machine software. (Note!: Design Space will likely need to have the scale adjusted so make sure the total height of this image is 10.375".) (Photo 3)
5. Load the cutting mat and print the paper pattern. (Photos 4-6)

1. Use your paper pattern to select a piece of leather big enough for the project. (Photo 1) (Note!: You will have to trim this to fit your machine so keep this in mind to reduce wasting leather.)
2. Optional: I have started to place a piece of transfer tape on my cutting mat before placing my leather to help keep the mats clean from leather fuzz. (Photo 2)
3. Use masking tape around the edges of the leather to help keep it in place. (Photo 3) (Note!: Depending on the leather, the tape may affect the surface finish. I advise testing the tape on a small scrap piece of leather first.)
4. Note!: Place the white machine wheels to the opposite far sides of the machine. They will mark your leather if you do not. (Photo 4)
5. Run the machine again, (Photos 4-6) but this time make sure you are printing the files for the leather and not the paper pattern (Keychain Wallet and Keychain Wallet Coin Pouch Flap). These are the individual piece files that where provided. The Keychain Wallet file will once again be 10.375" tall and the Coin Pouch Flap will be 3.5" tall.

1. The following steps are purely cosmetic, but highly recommended to produce a quality product.
2. Use a fine edge beveler on both the front and back edges of the coin pouch flap.(Photo 1 and 2)
3. Burnish the edges with burnishing compound and a wood burnisher. (Photo 3)
4. Coat the back side of the flap with burnishing compound and use a glass slicker to get a smooth finish on the leather. (Photos 3-6)

1. Once again, purely cosmetic, but highly recommended.
2. Use a fine edge beveler on both the front and back edges of the main body of the wallet. (Photos 1 and 2)
3. Burnish the edges with burnishing compound and a wood burnisher.
4. Coat the back side of the wallet with burnishing compound and use a glass slicker to get a shinny finish on the leather. (Photos 3 and 4)

1. Use a ruler or straight edge to act as a guide for folding the upper part of the wallet's cash pocket. (Note!: Be careful not to fold too aggressively and crack the leather. Fold slowly and use conditioner if you are working with a stiff leather.) (Photos 1-3)
2. Once the top pocket is mostly flat, align the three holes and set the top snaps as shown in photos 4-7.

1. Start by placing a piece of double-sided on the edge of the cash flap. (Photo 1)
2. Fold the flap over the same way as the previous step.(Photo 2)
3. Mark your stitch line on the leather. (Photo 3)
4. Punch your stitching holes. (Photo 4)
5. Stich the flap down making sure to start the stich with a double stitch. This is done to match the backstitch at the end. (Photo 5)
6. Continue stitching remembering to go back two stitches at the end.
7. Tip!: Pull the stitches to the interior of the flap and finish there. This helps hide the singed thread and make the piece look better. (Photos 6 and 7)
8. Do the same for the flap on the opposite side.
9. Optional: Use a shoe hammer or similar non-marring hammer on your stitching to flatten them out and look neater. (Photo 8)
10. Finally, if not done already, set the bottom snaps as shown in photo 9. They should be on the back side of the wallet.

1. Use the paper pattern that was printed to transfer the guide lines onto the leather as shown. (Photos 1 and 2)
2. Place double-sided tape as shown in Photo 3.
3. Fold the keyring strap as shown in Photo 4. (Note!: You can add the keyring before doing so or after if it is a split ring type.)
4. Attach the coin pouch flap along the bottom two scratch lines as shown in Photo 5.
5. Attach the lower portion of the coin pouch to the base of the coin pouch flap as seen in Photo 6.
6. Stitch this side of the coin pouch down using the same methods from the previous step. (Photos 7 and 8)
7. Tip!: I used a two pronged stitching punch for this since it was so short. I also recommend doing a double stitch for the entire length. This is because if you start with a double stitch and end with two back stitches you will likely only have one regular stitch in the middle, which may look off if left by itself.
8. Pull the backstitch through to the interior of the coin pouch flap and finish the thread there. (Photo 9)
9. Attach and stitch the other side of the coin pouch. (Photos 10 and 11)

1. Push down on the coin pouch to begin the process of flatting it out and getting it ready to be rolled. Make sure the sides of the coin pouch are folding inwards (Photo 1)
2. Tuck the coin flap down and into the coin purse. (Note!: You may want to use a shoe hammer to help with the folding process.) (Photos 2 and 3)
3. This could have been done in the prior step, but don't forget to attach the key ring. (Photo 4)
4. Congratulations, you finished! I recommend applying a bit of leather conditioner to help clean up the piece and get it ready for use. (Photo 5)