How to Make a Hinged Coin Purse

Tiny coin purses help keep your purse organized and loose change readily available.

Purse frames are ideal for making coin purses, because the metal or wooden frames add structure to a small purse that's intended to be heavily weighed down with coins. Where other purses can be floppy and unstructured, the sturdiness frames lend coin purses is ideal. In addition, purse frames provide coin purses with reliable closures, necessary if you don't want to end up with loose change all over the inside of your bag. The drawback to using frames for do-it-yourself coin purses is that the small dimensions can make purse frames difficult to work with.

Things You'll Need

• 4 Fabric pieces, 2 inches wider than purse frame
• 2 Iron-in padded interfacing pieces, 2 inches wider than purse frame
• Scissors
• Washable fabric marker
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron
• Heavy-duty fabric glue
• Small purse frame, coin purse size

Instructions

1. Cut your fabric and padded interfacing pieces to the desired specifications. The purse can be as tall as you like; coin purses are often just 3 to 4 inches tall to make sure change is readily available without digging. The width of the pattern should be tailored to the shape and size of the chosen purse frame, which may be square or round. Mark on all pieces the place where the purse frame hinge hits.

2. Iron the padded interfacing to the wrong side of the coin purse's exterior fabric. Then pin these pieces together, right sides facing, and sew the bottom and the sides. On the sides, only sew to the mark where the purse frame hinges will be located. Turn right side out.

3. Sew the two pieces of fabric that will compose the coin purse lining together with their right sides facing. Leave a 3-inch gap in the bottom of the lining. Again, only sew to the mark where the purse frame hinges will be located. Leave inside out.

4. Place the coin purse's exterior piece, with the padded interfacing, inside the lining piece. The exterior should still be right side out, the lining piece inside out; when fitted together, the right sides should be touching.

5. Stitch the top edges of the two pieces together -- the portion previously left unstitched. Then turn the entire bag right side out by pulling the purse's exterior through the hole left in the lining, then tucking the lining inside the bag once it is right-side-out. Stitch the hole in the lining shut by hand or machine.

6. Open the coin purse frame hinges, and fill the channel with heavy duty fabric glue. Then, line the top edge of the purse with a thin line of the glue as well. Set aside and allow the glue to dry slightly for 15 minutes, to make it easier to work with and less messy.

7. Fit the top, glued rim of the coin purse into the channel of the purse frame, working one side at a time. Start at the hinged edge and make your way across the top of the purse, repeating on the opposite side. Use the pointed tip of a pair of scissors to ensure the fabric is firmly embedded in the purse frame channel. Let the glue dry completely before using the purse.

Tips & Warnings

• Coin purses are more difficult to create using a purse frame than larger purses because the space you are working with is so small. Consider practicing your technique on a larger purse if you're having a hard time.

References

• U-Handbag: Purse Frames De-mystified
• Nicole M Design: Purse Frame Kit Tips