Common Cents Coin Purse Demo

Here's a demo on how to make my Common Cents Coin Purse...

 Materials

• Fabric from your scrap basket will work perfectly; nothing has to be larger than a 5" square. You'll want to select fabric for the outside and another coordinating fabric for the lining. The fabric I used for the "V" insert matched my lining.
• Glue - I used Super Fabric Adhesive by Aleene's
• Coin purse frame. I got mine from an Etsy shop, but I've heard that some big box stores sell them as well.

Cutting

Here's the pattern I created:

 

 

Cut two pieces from your lining fabric and one for the outside back.  The front has the "V" inserted. Cut one of the "V" and one piece each for the left and right front.

IMPORTANT: The curve at the top for the lining and back needs to be consistent with the curve of your frame so use it as a guide to trace when you make your pattern.

Marking

Lay the frame on your pattern 1/4" down from the top edge. Make a mark right below the hinge with a water soluble pen. This will be the start and stop point when you stitch the pieces together.

 

Stitching

 

Sew the "V" insert to the left panel. Be sure that the wide end is at the bottom which is the wider end of the pattern piece. Then sew the other side onto the "V". Press each seam toward the darker fabric.

 

Right sides together, stitch the front to the back being sure to start and stop at the markings you made right below the hinge. When you stitch the lining pieces from mark to mark, leave about a 1 1/2" space open at the bottom so that everything can eventually be turned right side out.

 

Suggestion: Experience has taught me it's not a bad idea to lay the outside pieces ( i.e., not the lining) on top of the initial pattern to make sure that the size is still correct.

 

Assembly

 

Turn the outside pieces right side out. Place this piece inside the lining. Right sides should be together.

 

 

Now you want to stitch from the mark on the left up and around to the mark on the right. This is the portion that will be hidden in the frame.

 

Hint: I found that rather than stitching 1/4" from the edge, if I zig zagged off the edge, I had more success in getting a smooth curve across the top. 

Now turn everything right side out through the space you left at the bottom of the lining then slip stitch it closed. Give everything a nice crisp press. Now you're almost done!

Inserting the fabric in the frame

If your frame has little holes in it as mine does, you can hand stitch the fabric into the frame. By using a pretty thread it can add a nice embellishment on the outside. Be careful though because the stitches can show on the inside of the bag.

The other alternative is glue. I used fabric adhesive and was very pleased with the results.

 This glue is very, very sticky. Put wax paper down on your work surface before you do anything and make sure the cat is nowhere close by! Insert a thin stream of glue inside the hinge. Working fairly quickly, slide the fabric into the frame. Glue the front first then the back ensuring that the clasp is centered at the top.  Depending on the instructions that came with the glue, let the bag sit until completely dry. Then Voila! A cute coin purse that you made yourself. Enjoy!