Ruffled Business Card Holder Tutorial

It has been a while since the Business Card Holder has made its way to its own blog post!  As I was listing my last batch into my shop.
 I thought it might be time to switch things up a bit and add a little
bit more pizzazz to the ‘ol card holder.  And, a ruffle was born!

For this card holder, you will use the same steps as the original, so go there for some refreshing first.  For the basic holder, you need:

    5 1/2” x 4 1/2” outer fabric
    5 1/2” x 4 1/2” lining fabric
    5 1/2” x 4 1/2” fusible fleece interfacing
    TWO 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” pocket pieces, with one side hemmed
    button
    elastic closure
    The only different thing is the ruffle, a 1 1/2” x 11” piece of fabric.  I serged the edges of mine so it wouldn’t unravel.

First, run two rows of gathering stitches down your ruffle fabric.  Set your stitch length to the longest possible, and don’t backstitch. Pull on the BOTTOM threads to gather it to 5 1/2”.

Pin the ruffled fabric down the center of your outer fabric piece.

Set your stitch length back to its regular setting, and stitch your ruffle down to your outer fabric piece.

When you are done sewing the ruffle down, gently pull on the BOTTOM gathering threads again until they pull all they way out of your fabric.

Iron your fusible fleece to the wrong side of your outer fabric.  I set my fusible fleece down adhesive side up, then lay my outer fabric down on top of it with the right side up and then iron it; the photo is just showing the fleece ironed to the fabric.  Make sure you don’t iron too many kinks into the ruffle :)

Prepare your lining by laying the pockets on the ends and pinning in place.  I also save a step now and pin my elastic to the lining and pocket at this point.

Pin your prepared lining to your ruffled outer fabric, right sides together.

Stitch around the perimeter at a scant 1/4”, leaving a space for turning on one of the longer sides, between the pockets.  I tend to sew a few extra rows over the elastic to secure it.

Trim the edges and corners to eliminate bulk when you turn it, and make sure you cut off the extra elastic.

Turn the card holder right side out and poke your corners to a nice square using a blunt pencil or a chopstick, or the end of a paintbrush like I did. Iron it nice and flat.

Top-stitch around the entire card holder close to the edge (think 1/8” or smaller), making sure you close the hole left for turning in the process.

Give it one more pressing once you have top stitched the card holder so it is nice and crisp, and to keep those ruffles tamed.

Attach your button by sneaking your needle and thread on the inside of the interior pocket so you don’t stitch the pocket shut.

Fill with business cards (20-25 standard cards per pocket) and enjoy!