Not your Granny's Classic Coin Purse - or maybe it is!

I found this little cutie Coin Purse pattern at QuiltCon 2015.  I had to have them!  They didn't have any extra hardware in the booth, so I bought two patterns (that included the hardware) just to make sure I'd at least be covered for two. Since then, I've bought eight more, but this time I just ordered the hardware, as it's much more cost effective this way!  The patterns are made by Zakka Workshop.  You may find the meaning of Zakka interesting:

Zakka (from the Japanese 'kak-ka in de zak-ka'（閣下 雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin, but it can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties, and seventies.


I don't know about you, but there is just something that pulls on my heart string with a ball clasp.  I think it reminds me of my step Grandmother Evelyn.  She was a wonderful Grandmother, and so classic.  Her pink lipstick was always perfect, along with her solid grey hair.  I remember she always had scarfs, just incase one of us crazy kids (manually) rolled the window down. Those scarfs would show up outta no where, and she'd tied her hair down with a little bow under her little ole chin.  She was soft and wrinkly and beautiful.   We loved her.   And this, my friends, is why it tugs on my heart strings, because inside Evelyn's purse, you'd always find an identical cute little coin purse.

Is that reason enough to give this pattern a try?  Why yes, I do think so!

Let's see if I can help make the assembly of this easier for your first stab at it.  I used parchment paper and traced out the template, that way the original will stay in pristine condition.  I know I'm going to be making many more of these so why take the chance of ruining or losing the it!

If Ido say so myself, this fabric is adorable for this pattern.  Being the "smart" or probably more honest description "lazy" sewer that I am, I layered the outside and inside fabric together so that I cut once and will have all the pieces I will need!  Isn't that smart? (and lazy?)

Be sure to always mark your fabric where the pattern calls for it.  I take after my Mom, and she would the a little snip and so do I. 

The pattern calls for fusible batting, and I used leftover batting scrap and sprayed it with basting spray.  My favorite is  The Original Quilt Basting Spray.  Attach the batting to the ws of what will be the outside fabric. Using a 1/4 seam allowance,  you sew around the bottom half of the outside fabric, rst.   Then repeat for the inside fabric. On the top half, you open it up like your looking down the throat of an alligator, and put rst from both half  (like the alligators kissing) and sew the top halves together.  When pinned it should look  like this.

I always double pin where I'm suppose to leave a gap.  I just know myself too well.  I think I'd remember to skip a spot and leave an opening but without double pinning forget about it...I just get too caught up!  The more you sew, the more you will find tricks that help you.

So the pattern calls for you to iron open the seams...I really didn't find this necessary because the next step is to trim the seams down, which does help I found out. So do trim the seams, as this is a small coin purse, and it does lay nicer once it's turned inside out. Now Flip it.  Flip it good! Be sure to run your finger across all the edges pushing out all of the seams.

At this point it's starting to take shape and it's adorable.  And it's little.  I placed the seam ripper next to coin purse so you can truly see the size of it, and I know we all know the size of our seam rippers...  :)

Time to close the gap in the lip of the purse.  Take a minimal seam around the mouth the purse.  (They say around the entire opening, I just sewed around the top and some of the sides) If you don't take a very minimal seam here, you'll see the stitching once the hardware is on. 

:( ask me how I know! 

I broke out the trusted craft glue.  They suggested using a toothpick, but I was at the office, and we had Qtips, so I  improvised, and it worked.  I liked glueing with the hardware closed and then opening it slightly and sliding both sides of the purse in at once.  It nearly fits like a glove.  I was pretty impressed.  And that little seam just gives it enough stiffness to slide up without wrinkling up.  Jam the paper strings up in-between the fabric and the hardware, pinch off the sides and you, my friends, are done!!

I can't say this was the easiest pattern I've ever followed.  I spent a long time trying to figure out what they meant from step to step.  So I hope if nothing else, these tips will help you.  The coin purses really are adorable.  I want to make 8 more for gifts!

Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be glad to help.
Thanks for sharing in my thoughts of my Step Grandmother Evelyn.  I'm sure she's looking down from  heaven smiling upon us with perfect hair and those pink lips!