Accordion style wallets aren’t for everyone. There are other options for small wallets and compact wallets. This is a Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet review.

The link for the free Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet pattern and video tutorial is:

Small Trifold Wallet

This project is for personal use.

For the purposes of my review, I’m going to summarize the basic steps, tell you what I did differently (if anything) and share my general thoughts about sewing the project.

Introduction

When you carry cash, do you prefer your bills to be unfolded? The Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet features  two cash compartments for unfolded bills, six card slots,  two hidden slots for receipts, additional cards or folded cash, and an external zippered pocket. RFID blocking is an optional feature This wallet is approximately 4.5″ x 4.25″  (11.4 x 10.8 cm) when folded and approximately 4.5” by 11” (11.4 x 27.9 cm) when unfolded. This is larger than a SpencerOgg Compact Accordion Wallet  and smaller than both a Necessary Clutch Wallet and Mini Necessary Clutch Wallet.

Step 0 Gather Materials

Quilting weight cotton, canvas, linen, light denim and light vinyl are recommended. This project is fat quarter friendly. Fusible interfacing, a #3 zipper and a closure are also required. I had some leftover heavy weight cotton and quilting weight cotton from my Necessary Clutch Wallet review [https://sewnbytanya.com/blog/necessary-clutch-wallet-project-review/] and Compact Accordion Wallet review [https://sewnbytanya.com/blog/compact-accordion-wallet-review/]. The heavy weight cotton is both thicker and stiffer than quilting weight. I selected a 19 mm magnetic clasp for my closure.

Step 1 Horizontal Card Slots & Hidden Pockets

I followed the instructions for preparing the horizontal card slots (Panels 1 and 2). It’s a method I’m familiar with and it was easy to follow along with the video. Basting the horizontal card slots to Panel 3 pieces (pocket divider) forms the hidden pockets.

Step 2 Vertical Card Slots

I followed the instructions for the remaining interior panels (Panels 4 and 5) and the vertical card slots (Panel 6). The wallet interior is complete at this point.

Step 3 Exterior Pieces

My narrow zipper foot made sewing the zipper easy.

I had difficulty top-stitching along my zipper without sewing my zipper pocket closed. The video shows this being an easy step. Later on I discovered that my zipper pocket was facing the smaller back panel (Panel 7). It needs to face the larger back panel (Panel 9).

Step 4 Final Assembly

I followed the instructions for sewing the interior and exterior together and placed my turning gap where there were fewer layers. There are a large number of layers to top-stitch. An even feed presser foot is used in the video. I don’t have one so I used my roller foot.

Here are some photos of my finished Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet.

Here are some photos of my Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet with other wallets I’ve sewn.

Conclusion

The instructional video is well done and includes some helpful tips. Beginners may find creating card slots, sewing the zipper and sewing increasing thick layers challenging. Advanced beginners and intermediate sewers may already have these skills. To get the best finish with the wallet project, an even feed walking foot is required and good quality ones are expensive.

My Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet is 4.5″ x 4.17″ (11.5 x 10.6 cm) when folded and approximately 4.5” by 10.8” (11.5 x 27.5 cm) when unfolded. The difference in size to what was expected is negligible.

This Small Trifold Wallet can carry unfolded bills just as well as larger wallets like the Necessary Clutch Wallet and can hold as many cards as slightly larger wallets like the Mini Necessary Clutch Wallet. It’s pockets are also larger than the Compact Accordion Wallet. Another feature that sets it apart from accordion wallets is its external zippered pocket.

I enjoyed sewing this project and look forward to trying it again if I’m able to buy an even feed presser foot.

Did you like this Yoan Sewing Studio Small Trifold Wallet review? Comment below and/or Pin me for later!

Tanya

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