How to make a passbook case

1. Materials & tools

Materials (3 passbooks)

• Main fabric (linen, oxford or canvas) — about 50 × 30 cm (20 × 12 in)
• Lining fabric (light cotton) — the same amount
• Pocket fabric — about 40 × 15 cm (16 × 6 in)
• Firm fusible interfacing — for the main fabric
• Narrow elastic (0.6 cm / ¼ in) — about 30 cm (12 in), or a snap

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Passbook case” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the passbook width, height, how many you carry and the inner pocket height. Presets cover 1–2 books, 3 books and a medicine record book.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Measure what goes in
   Measure a passbook and count how many you carry — the thickness is calculated from that.
2. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body and the pocket, and mark the center fold.
3. Cut
   Cut the body in main and lining, plus one or two pockets, and fuse interfacing to the main fabric.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the pocket

1. Turn the top edge under twice and stitch. Do this before it goes anywhere near the case.
2. With two pockets, make them different heights so the contents are easy to identify.

4-2. Attach the pocket

1. Lay it on the right side of the lining, aligning the lower and side edges.
2. For card slots, stitch vertically now — about 6 cm (2⅜ in) per card. Backstitch at the top of each line.
3. Baste the lower and side edges within the seam allowance.

4-3. Sew the layers together

1. Place main and lining right sides together and sew around, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) gap.
2. Trim the corners, turn, press and topstitch 5 mm from the edge.

4-4. Fold and close

1. Fold at the center and press.
2. For an elastic closure, sew a small loop of self-fabric at the spine and run the elastic around the case.
3. For a snap, load the case first and mark the position with everything inside.

✏️ Be honest about how many passbooks you carry. Each one is about 3.5 mm, so three come to over a centimeter. Leave that thickness out and the case will not stay shut.

5. Tips & variations

• Stagger the slots: card pockets at different heights make everything visible at a glance.
• A pocket for the seal: one small extra pocket stops it rolling around loose.
• Elastic beats a snap: it copes with a varying thickness, which a snap does not.