Tutorial: Sew a business card holder

If I can make something, I don’t see the sense in buying it. I needed a business card holder, and so I set about figuring out how to make one of fabric. The shape is like a folded strip, with a front lip that holds the cards in, a bottom edge that determines how many cards fit, a backrest for the cards to lean against, and a support leg to hold it upright.

First, I looked through my stash. I would need a fabric that says “quilt” to people, and I found this cute heart blocks fabric in really bright colors. I found a scrap of fusible stiff interfacing, and my ribbons.

Measure two pieces of fabric approximately 5 inches wide by at least 8 inches long.

Fuse each on the back side with interfacing.

I wanted the front lip of the business card holder to have the design facing upward, so the fabric for the back side of the item has the design upside down. You’ll understand why as we go, and if it doesn’t matter with your pattern, disregard this.

Place the two pieces of fabric with right sides together. Measure and mark your sewing lines on the back. You will basically sew a square with two openings. The shorter sides are 4 inches in this sample, and the longer sides are 7 3/4 inches. I determined this because I wanted the front lip and the bottom edge to each end up at 1 inch, and the backrest and support portions each should be 2 1/2 inches finished. I added 1/4 inch three times for topstitching.

Cut two lengths of ribbon to 2 inches, and two lengths of ribbon to 3 inches. These will help support the framework and keep the business cards from sliding off the side. Place them in the seam lines so the shorter lengths are on the left and right sides of the very front portion. Caution: Don’t sew them to the outside as shown! I did this and had to clip threads and do it correctly! You need to have them sandwiched between the right sides of the fabric. Use this photo as *placement* only. Place your longer ribbon lengths so they come out at the back edge, which is the support of the card holder.

Sew around the edges, leaving an opening on both sides where the section is next to the support section. (the second of the two larger sections)

Trim seams, clip corners, turn right side out.

From the front edge where the shorter ribbons are, fold up 1 inch and topstitch.

From the back edge where the longer ribbons are, fold back 2 1/2 inches, topstitch.

There is one more topstitching seam, 1 inch from the front topstitched seam, and 2 1/2 inches from the back topstitched seam. Fold up and topstitch.

You have the basic shape made. Tuck the ribbon ends into the opening and pin. Both the front ribbons and the back ribbons will go into the same opening.

I used quilting thread and a sharp needle, and stitched the opening closed on both sides, taking care to catch the ribbon for the full length.

Press to shape with your iron, and fill with business cards.