Coin Purse Tutorial and Free Pattern

Today I’m sharing the pattern and tutorial for the half circle sew in frame coin purses that I posted on Tuesday as part of the UR Priceless Coin Purse Blog Hop.

Click here to access and print the free pattern.

Be sure to set your printer to print at actual size or no scaling.   The size and shape of frame that I used with this pattern has been traced onto one of the pattern pieces.  If your frame matches, the purse should fit into the frame with minimal easing.   If your frame isn’t the same size, you may have to adjust the pattern to fit.

Dave and I did several test prints but please let me know in the comments if you have any problems printing out the pattern.

Next:

Cut two Pattern Piece #1 from main fabric and two from lining fabric.

Cut one Pattern Piece #2 (gusset) from main fabric or a coordinating fabric and one from lining fabric

Cut two fusible batting (<-affiliate link) from Pattern Piece #3 and one from Pattern Piece #4.

Transfer markings to the wrong side of your fabrics.  This can be done with a pencil or tracing paper.   Or you could make a tiny snip at each mark; just be sure not to cut too far into the seam allowance.

Fuse batting to wrong side of the fabric you’re using for the outside of your purse.

Matching markings, pin the gusset to the body of coin purse.

As you can see, I use lots of pins to secure the two pieces together.

I recommend that you pin with the gusset facing towards you.   Begin by matching the bottom center of the main piece to the center of the gusset.  Then pin the mark at the end point of the gusset to the mark on the main piece.  Ease and pin between those two points and then repeat for the second half.

Stitch from the mark at the point of the gusset all the way around to the mark at the point on the other end of the gusset.

All seam allowances are 1/4″.

Pin and stitch the gusset to the second side in the same way.

To reduce bulk in the seam allowance, notch your curves as pictured.

Complete the above steps for the outside of the purse and the lining.

Turn the outside of the purse right side out and place it inside the lining.

Matching the points of the gussets on each side, pin the outside to the lining.

On one side sew from mark to mark.

On the second side, sew leaving an opening for turning.

Once again notch the curves to reduce bulk.

Gently turn the purse right side out through opening.  Push the lining down into the purse.

Sew the opening closed.

I prefer to do this by hand, but if doing it by machine, stitch very close to the edge so that seam doesn’t show after the frame is installed.

Press both the front and the back top edges well.  This will make the purse fit better into the frame.

Here’s the purse, ready to be sewn into the frame.

Now before I show you how to sew the frame to the purse, I thought I’d share a couple of tips to make it easier.

First, after visiting all of the blogs on the UR Pricesless Coin Purse Blog Hop over the past week, again and again I read about needle breakage when sewing the purse to the frame.  I don’t know if I’ve just been lucky, but I haven’t had a single needle break.  I use DMC Embroidery Needles.  I also use embroidery floss to sew the frames on; either six strands of regular floss or #8 perle cotton.

Second, unless you choose a colour of thread that exactly matches the lining of your purse, you are going to see the stitching on the inside when looked at from a certain angle.  To make that stitching look as neat as possible, when you are stitching, put your needle in at the same place it came out and out where it came in on your first line of stitching.  You’ll see what I mean in the photos below.

Now, find the center of each side of the purse and mark with a pin.

Find the center of your frame.

Tack the purse to the frame at the center point.

To do this, thread your needle and then push it through the front to the back and then from the back to the front through the holes on either side of the center.  Tie a knot.

Now starting at the center on the inside, sew the purse to the frame, sewing from inside to outside, outside to inside.

Once you get to the hinge, work your way back to the center.

Clip the thread you used to tack the purse to the frame and remove the thread.

Continue sewing inside to outside, outside to inside.

After you reach the other hinge, sew back to the center.

On the inside… make a small, tight knot.  Insert you needle right beside the knot and pull the needle out through a spot in the lining about an inch from the knot.  Tug gently on your thread.  If the knot isn’t too big, it will “pop” under the lining fabric.   Don’t tug too hard, you don’t want to break your thread at this point or rip your fabric.  If the knot won’t disappear under the lining with gentle tugging, leave it as is (it will at least be less visible.)  Clip your thread close to the fabric (the end should disappear inside.)

Stand back and admire you new coin purse.

If you make a purse using my pattern and tutorial… I’d love to see it.

Oh… a word of warning… once you’ve successfully made one of these coin purses, you’ll want to make more to the point where you’ll start wondering what you’re going to do with all those coin purses.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information please check my Disclosures and Disclaimers page. It doesn’t cost you any extra, but it does help support this site.

I would be so pleased if you chose to share by clicking on one of the buttons below!