Penny Coin Purse

Get a taste of the wonderful book, "Sewing With African Wax Print Fabric" by Adaku Parker with this quick and easy project. Adaku is our Sewing Designer of the Month for February 2022 - hear more from her and find out about the inspiration behind this book here.

Sewing with African Wax Print Fabric by Adaku Parker (CICO Books, £14.99)
Photography © CICO Books

This simple-sew coin purse is a great stash buster. It’s perfect for keeping all your loose change and other small items together so they don’t end up at the bottom of your bag!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Height: 5 1⁄2in (14cm)
Width: 5 1⁄2in (14cm)

MATERIALS
¼ yd (25cm) outer fabric
¼ yd (25cm) fusible fl eece,
¼ yd (25cm) lining fabric,
¼ yd (25cm) lightweight iron-on interfacing
1 x 7in (18cm) zipper
Matching sewing thread

CUTTING GUIDE
Cut 6in (15cm) squares:
2 x outer fabric
2 x lining fabric
4 x iron-on interfacing
2 x fusible fleece

NOTES
All seam allowances are 3⁄8in (1cm) unless otherwise stated

Fuse one piece of interfacing and one piece of fleece to the wrong side of each of the outer fabric pieces and one piece of interfacing to the wrong side of each of the lining pieces.

Lay one square of lining with the right side facing you. Place the zipper on the top of the lining, face up, along the top edge, then place the outer fabric on top, right side facing down. With all raw edges aligned, pin the three layers together with the zipper sandwiched in between.

Stitch in place using a zipper foot, keeping the stitches close to the zipper teeth. Fold back the outer and lining so that the wrong sides are together and the other side of the zipper is revealed. Repeat Step 2 to attach the remaining outer and lining pieces on the other side of the zipper.

Fold back the attached fabric pairs so that the zipper is in the middle, with the outer fabric facing up and the lining underneath. Press the fabric next to the zipper and then topstitch along both sides of the zipper using matching thread.

Next, lay both outer pieces together, right sides facing, and take to one side, and repeat with the lining pieces to the other side. Open the zipper approximately 4in (10cm); you will use this opening later to pull the completed purse through to the right side. Stitch all around the edge of the purse, leaving a 4in (10cm) gap in the lining. Trim excess fabric close to the seam allowance at the corners and any excess zipper tape at either end.

Reach through the gap in the lining and zipper to pull the purse through to the right side. Slip stitch the gap in the lining using a matching thread, then push the lining back inside the purse, pushing the corners out carefully.