Sew Cute: Crafty Coin Purse

By Sarah hatheway

January 6, 2014

By Sarah hatheway

January 6, 2014

I make the same New Year’s resolution each year: to be kinder to myself and others. It’s a lovely guiding principle to keep in mind as I’m going about my everyday life. But this year, I also have a slightly less lofty, more practical goal: to save money. I’m not exactly a spending spree sort of girl, but I have found it necessary to make a budget now that I’m living on my own in the big city. So, to start my 2014 off right, I decided to make something pretty to remind me of my very down-to-earth resolution. And what’s prettier than a colorful little coin purse?

I made this purse in a basic envelope style, with a triangle flap and a single button. The not-so-basic part is the fabric I made it from, since it’s decorated with sweet little pastel foxes. In fact, the look of the finished product can really change based on the cloth you use—I highly recommend using a fun print or something with texture!

Materials:

Fabric
Piece of paper
Ballpoint pen
Ruler or measuring tape
Scissors
Straight pins
Basic sewing needle
Thread in a corresponding color to the fabric
Decorative button
Iron and ironing board
Optional: sewing machine

Craft away:

Draw a rectangle on the paper, 6.5-inches wide by 7-inches high. Put a 2.5-inch tall triangle at one of the short ends of the rectangle, and then cut the template out.

Place the template on the wrong side of the fabric and trace the shape. Cut the shape out.

Fold the edges of the fabric in one-half inch (wrong-side to wrong-side), and use the iron to press the fold into place. Finish setting the fold with pins.

If you’re using a sewing machine: stitch the pinned fold in place using a basic straight stitch, and knot your work by reversing a few stitches at the end of the row. If you’re using a sewing machine: stitch the pinned fold in place using a simple in-and-out motion, and knot your work by passing the needle back under the thread of the last stitch.
Fold the rectangular end of the shape up 3 inches, and iron the fold in place. Use pins to attach the two sides of the fold together to form a pocket.

Use the sewing machine or the needle to stitch the sides of the pocket in place. Pro tip: stitch along the previous line of stitches to give the finished purse a more polished look.
Measure your button, then use the scissors to carefully snip a hole of the same size in the tip of the triangle. Use the needle and thread to stitch along the sides of the hole (this strengthens the fabric and helps prevent fraying).

Fold the triangular flap of the fabric down and move the button until it lines up with the buttonhole. Stitch the button in place, but be careful not to sew the pocket of the purse shut!