Personalize a wallet with spare felt

Wallets tend to wear out incredibly quickly. Why spend $50 (or more) on something that will just have worn edges and stretched-out pockets in a matter of months? Instead, make your own for only a few dollars, and take a little pride in your crafting prowess every time you open it.

There's nothing especially complex about a wallet, so making yours out of felt won't throw you for much of a loop. Plus, you'll have a conversation piece wherever you go.

- Two felt squares
- Crafting mat with grid
- Pins
- Ruler
- Curved measuring tool
- Marker
- Rotary cutter
- Sewing machine

1. Lay both felt squares flat on the craft mat. Measure 1 ½ inches from the inside of each square; draw a line marking that spot lengthwise.

2. The two felt squares are now two felt rectangles. Fold one of the rectangles in half lengthwise, and slice down the middle with the rotary cutter so you have two identical halves.

3. Place the two halved rectangles on top of the intact felt rectangle, fitting them together so they cover the bottom felt entirely.

4. With the curved measuring tool, mark curved lines on the inside edges of each of the smaller rectangles. The degree of the curve depends on your preference; these will become the pockets of your wallet.

5. Align the outer edges of the trimmed felt rectangles with the larger felt rectangle, and pin them in place.

6. Sew the entire perimeter of the larger rectangle; this will fasten the pockets to the shell of the wallet.

7. Finally, fold the large felt rectangle in half (so the pockets are on the inside), and add a seam to the point where the felt creases in the middle. This will keep the wallet from opening on its own.