Coin Purse Tutorial

I have made project bags for years now and a long time ago a customer asked if I could make a mini version  to just hold some coins.
I played around with my project bag pattern and came up with the 'coin purse' which is the perfect size for cash cards and a mobile phone.
I've made lots and lots over the years and it seemed a good choice for a tutorial, something that you can whip up in an hour and perfect for a little gift for someone.

You need a main fabric, a lining, some piping cord and a cord stop.
Sewing machine, thread.

Cut a circle pattern approx 4 " in diameter plus a little for seams. I do quite narrow seams.
Cut one circle of lining and one of outer fabric. These are the bottom of the purse.
Cut one each of lining and outer  12.5"* 6.5" (go up a smidge if you want it a little taller my Samsung 3 phone fits in a coin purse cut with a 7" short side.)

Right sides together sew the long side of the body of the bag onto the round bottom of the bag
You can pin it or wing it, I wing it , leave a cm ish either end as you need to pop a seam down the short side of the body.

Then sew the short sides together.

Repeat for the main.outer fabric.
Picture shows lining and main fabric both wrong sides out.

Turn the inner right side out.

Place it inside the main outer fabric piece. Bottom to bottom :)   (Trust me it works!)

I like to line up the side seams.

Push the inner down well and smooth it all out so the lining is sat in the main fabric bag straight and tidy!

Take the bits and bobs box off your machine so that the free arm is all that's left, then the bag should slip onto the free arm.

The lining will be on the inside as above. Start sewing about an inch down from the raw edge.

Slowly move round the circumference of the bag.

When you get an inch from where you started sewing stop, backstitch and break the thread, you need to have a gap.

Then pull the lining and the bag through that little gap!

It can be tricky at first but persevere. When you are done it will look like this.

(You can see on that picture where my brand label is)

Then push the lining down into the main outer bag tube.

All seams will now be enclosed.

Give the bag a quick press with an iron, lining up the top edge so the inner and outer and even.

Pop it back on your free arm and sew the last bit.

I start at the side seam about 1/2" down from the top, then go all around the circumference of the bag (no need to leave a gap this time)

Backstitch at the beginning and end of this stitching. Snip off the ends. This makes your cord channel.

Measure out your cord (or you could use ribbon?) double the width of the bag and a bit more.

If you are using cord for the first time, before you cut it roll a bit of tape onto the end to stop fraying.

Put the cord on a safety pin, find the gap on the top and thread the cord through until you come back out where you started.

Take the safety pin off, pop on your cord stop and you are done!

If you have any questions please just leave a comment. I hope my instructions are straight forward, it's strange to have to try and explain something that you just do automatically.
Upsize to make a project bag perfect for knitting.

If however you would like to buy a pre-made one please pop over to the shop
www.darkstardesigns.co.uk or message me if you want a custom.

These pictures and instructions are copyrighted to me, please don't use them without permission.

If you make a coin purse please pop a link below so I can have a look :)