Saturday 24 April 2010

Nappy/Diaper Wallet Tutorial

I posted a month or so ago about the simple nappy wallets (diapers for those of you reading from the US) I have been making for friends and family and have finally had time to get the tutorial together to share with you.


These are quick and easy to make but super-handy for on-the-go nappy changes without having to lug an entire bag around with you.

And the best part is they don’t use up much fabric – you could even patchwork a few coordinating pieces together and use even smaller scraps.

So here we go:
(Please excuse the lousy pics - I only have time to do this in the evening - so they are a bit dull)

CUTTINGCut two pieces of fabric 58cm wide x 28cm deep.
They can be different colours if you like – one is for the lining, the other is the outer.

(This makes a roomy wallet – able to fit nappies, wipes, nappy sacks and anti-bacterial wipes, if you want a smaller wallet keep the same depth but make it slightly narrower, maybe 54cm x 28cm).

Cut two pieces 20cm x 5 cm in the same colours – this is the strap that closes the wallet.
(there are two sets here - you just need one in each fabric!!)

PUT IT TOGETHER
Body

Place the two body pieces right sides together.
Sew around the outside using a 1cm seam allowance, leaving a 6cm gap along one of the short ends for turning.

I left it on the long edge in this pic - so it doesn't really matter -but it's a little neater if you leave it on the short edge.
Clip corners and trim the seam then turn inside out.
Poke the corners out using a chopstick or something similar.
Press well and in doing so iron the edges of the opening under so they will be caught in the next step.
Topstitch both the short edges closed, just a few millimetres from the edge.
Strap
Place the two pieces together and sew around two long and one short edges, leaving one end open for turning.

Clip and trim seams then turn inside out.

Tuck the edges of the open end under, press well, then topstitch close to the edge around the entire strap.

ADD THE STRAPPin the strap to the main body of the wallet positioning it centrally top to bottom and 22cm in from one end along the width.
(Ignore the strap at the top of this pic - it was the second one for the other wallet I was making and was just in the shot by accident!!)
Pin in place then sew a 4cm square with a cross in the middle along the end of the strap that is toward the centre of the wallet.

Try to stay on top of existing topstitching for neatness – I probably should have used coordinating rather than contrasting thread for this!
MAKE THE POCKETS
With the lining fabric facing up, fold the short ends toward the middle.
Based on the items I put in it I make the pockets 11-12cm each. This leaves around 6-7cm in the middle between the two pockets.
Pin in place and try closing it with your items in the pockets first to make sure it all fits. If not adjust the pockets and test again.

Once you are happy with the fit of things, stitch along the two long edges securing both the pockets in place as you do.
Do this fairly close to the edges, maybe 3-4mm.


SNAP IT UPSecure your snap or velcro on the free of the strap.

Then fold the wallet up and mark where the corresponding snap/velcro should go on the body of the wallet. (mine is about 6cm from the folded inside edge of the pocket).

You're done!!

Fill it up and toss it in your handbag, the glovebox of the car or give it to Grandma to keep at her place ready for when you drop in.
I hope you find this handy and let me know if you find any errors with my instructions so I can fix them.

Also I have no problem with anyone selling items made using this tutorial – after all it’s a pretty generic item, but please link back to my blog if you do make one up based on this idea just as a courtesy.

Thanks.

40 comments:

Tracy said...

Great tutorial Karen. And thank you for sharing :D

Mandy said...

Thanks Karen, I'll whip one up when I get a chance, this is going to be great for baby showers :-).

CurlyPops said...

What a great tute. They would make great baby pressies when my friends have bubbas. Thanks for sharing!

Bec Clarke said...

That's fantastic, I made one that was like an envelope but i have a cousin and my brother's wife is having a baby soon and they would love these.
thanks for sharing.

willow and moo said...

Great tute Karen! :)

Gilly said...

oh thank you so much for sharing!

Miss Amy said...

great tute karen. I would love to make one but would a cloth nappy fit in it??

Unknown said...

I was just talking to a friend last night about this idea and jumped on your blog to find the original post to show her and discovered the tutorial! Yay! Now I need to find time to make a few for friends!

Susie said...

This is fab, i must run one up, theres a few babies around at present, thank you for sharing.

Susie from
I Just Love That Fabric

mummymadesigns said...

great idea, even for me my two are out of nappies 3 and 5 but i will make one as it would be handy as i still carry wipes and tissues etc for little accidents and icecream days !

Bianca Jae Makes Stuff said...

Fantastic tutorial! And so easy! Had no idea lol! Will be giving this a go! Thanks :) xox

Julie said...

Great idea, thanks for generously sharing your design. they will be great for presents.

Miss Cinti - my poppet said...

hi Karen, loveley seeing you on sat. Where did you get yr snap machine. i'm sick of hammering my fingers!

Bellgirl said...

Fantastic, I've been wanting to make something like this, but didn't know where to begin- thanks for the tutorial!

Mandy said...

That's really cool! Simple as anything! & if I make the long side a couple of cms shorter I can get it out of a fat quarter! Bonus!

LittleKiwisCloset said...

hi, what a great tutorial.
I made one tonight and adjusted it to fit the cloth nappies i use.
heres the link to my blog.

http://littlekiwisnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/nappy-wallet.html

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing. Am going to try and make one of these tonight :)

Kate said...

Thanks for the tutorial! Have just made a couple of these today, very quick and easy! Am about to blog them myself and link up here :)

Mel Dehar said...

Great tut. Once I get a sewing machine this will be one of the first things I will make.

Gill said...

just what I need, thanks for the fab tut xx

Gill said...

Hi there, again! I made one of these tonight in Winnie tehe Pooh Fabric. Super great to follow and am loving the outcome. Thanks x

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much I just made one and I'm about to post on Facebook! THANKS!!

Lauren said...

Was trawlling net and 'blog land' looking for this exact idea.....material in hand and ready to give it a go, thanks!

Sam the craft monkey said...

Hi, thanks for the fab tutorial, i'm just in process of getting my webiste and blog sorted and as soon as they are done will be linking to you. thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Thank you for this tutorial. I have just make one and put it p on my facebook page and linked it back to you blog. Thanks again!
Feel free to check out my page.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.274486219243038.72370.244450832246577&saved#!/pages/Little-Bug/244450832246577

Maya said...

Hi, thanks for this great tutorial. I made this using some fat quarters (i needed to cut them up to get the right dimensions). It looks fantastic, and I can't wait to use it this week.

Kryshia said...

Thanks for the Tutorial. I am very new to sewing and I even managed to make one of these. Love it!!

Tash said...

I adore this tutorial, it helped me learn to make nappy wallets and now I can do them in my sleep! Well not literally, I'd sew my fingers together ;) Thankyou sooooo much for this tutorial!!

Anonymous said...

WOW!Thanks so much for such simple and easy to follow instructions for a sewing novice like me!great idea for baby gifts for friends.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this! I have managed to sew one for my sister to use as a passport holder (she has a plastic bag at present!!). Very good instructions. Thanks again! Kate (kittie444@hotmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen - This is a fantastic & clearly illustrated tute. I've now made 2 out of blockout lined baby curtain material which I'd cut off my future grand-daughters curtain material (she's due any minute). I'm sure my daughter-in-law will be thrilled - they look fantastic thanks to you!

Anonymous said...

This is excellent! Just made it very successfully as my first project on my brand new sewing machine! Thank you for posting it x

Anonymous said...

I have been searching for a tutorial for making a place mat. (I know, really? how easy) well Im new to sewing and I know the ease of a PLace Mat but I needed a closure and was searching for just the right closure. Im using your pattern but its not going to be a wallet. :) Maybe AFTER I'm done I will share my project. Thank you for such easy instructions!

HappilyNappily said...

Im gonna make one today!

chellybean89 said...

Hi, this is a great tutorial!! You are very well explained-- I have been looking for some smaller items to bring to craft fairs and with mom's and grandma's being the bigger market here these will be amazing- not to mention the cute ones I plan to make/use for my diaper bag!! Will be linking back to your tut!!

chellybean89 said...

Hey linked your tutorial at http://chellybeancrafting.wordpress.com/ Love it, tutorial was perfect and very well explained. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

What a great tutorial! I've just posted some links to nappy wallet tutorials in my latest blog post and included this one. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

THANKYOU SO MUCH KAREN, MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAD ASKED ME TO MAKE ONE FOR HER,THE PATTERN TAKEN FROM ONE SHE HAD. WELL, I TRIED AND TRIED TO GET IT ALL TOGETHER - THEN JOY OH JOY, DISCOVERED YOUR TUTORIAL! SO EASY TO FOLLOW, SO GREAT VISUALLY, I FINISHED ONE AND AM ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER. BLESS YOU!!

David Dodge said...

Looking forward to making approximately 40 -50 of these in the next 5 weeks as we are hosting a family day out and if you visit the baby haven area you will recieve one of these with some goodies inside a nice lil pre xmas present to all the yummy mummies in palmerston north new zealand from davids wife

Joyful said...

Hi Karen ... Thank you so much for being so kind as to share your tutorial with people like me ... who find it easier to follow a pattern than create one. I am definitely going to sew a few of these up. Make great gifts with the necessary items inside. Any Mum would be pleased to receive it. Thanks once again. Very thoughtful of you to share. From one Grateful Nana