A Cute Japanese Coin Purse
Even since we got the Inazuma Antique Gold handles in the store I have been wanting to make a coin purse. There there was just one (big) problem…. the instructions were in Japanese! Usually I pride myself in being able to figure things out from pictures but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t make heads or tails of the simple pattern included with the handles. Luckily for me the very talented Mari was willing to help me out. She and her mom translated the pattern and answered my clueless questions.
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Molly Schnick. Click here to see even more of Molly’s work!
The Materials
- One Inazuma Antique Gold Purse Frame #772 (This includes a paper pattern and the paper string you will need.)
- 1/4 yard of lining fabric. I used Shot Cotton in Lemon
- 1/4 yard of exterior fabric. I used Jen’s Garden in Black (it’s actually more of a dark blue) but it might be a little easier to use a lighter weight fabric.
- One heavy paper bag
- Craft Glue
- A Hera Marker
- A thin knitting needle or awl
- A pair of pliers
These materials will make one 3.5″ X 3.5″ purse. You will have a lot of fabric left over. You could probably six or seven purses out of two quarter yards of fabric.
Cutting
Above is a picture of the pattern. The littlest piece will be cut out of paper, the piece below that from the lining fabric, and the piece to the right out of the outer fabric. The long dashes represent the fold.
Cut out the pattern pieces.
Cut a rectangle out of the heavy paper bag and fold it in half.
Place the smallest pattern piece on the paper, with it’s right hand dashed side lined up with the fold of the paper and trace it. Repeat this once and cut out both pieces.
Iron the lining fabric and fold it in half once.
Pin the lining pattern piece on the fold and cut it out. Repeat this once so you have two lining pieces. As you can see in the picture above I wrote “lining” on the pattern piece so I wouldn’t get confused.
Iron and fold the outer fabric and cut two of the outer pattern pieces as you did for the lining pieces.
You should have; 2 paper pieces, 2 lining pieces, and 2 outer fabric pieces.
Gluing and Sewing
Glue a paper piece onto one of the lining pieces along the top only. (My lining fabric doesn’t have a wrong side but if your using a print make sure you glue the paper to the wrong side of your lining piece.) Make sure the middle folds and the tops match up well together. Repeat this with the remaining paper and lining piece.
After the glue has dried (it will only take a few minutes) pin both pieces of the lining together, wrong sides out, along the bottom. Using a 1/4″ seam sew this bottom seam. Repeat this for the outer fabric pieces.
Slide the lining inside the outer pieces, wrong sides together.
You will notice that the outer section is larger than the lining. In order to get the outer piece to fit around the lining the outer piece must be pleated.
Line pin together the sides seams of both layers so the notches match up perfectly.
Next, line up the notch you cut from the outer piece to the edge of the paper in the lining and pin it there.
Do that to all four notches and then pin the outside down as neatly as possible to the lining, making a pleat in in the middle of each side. Sew the lining and outer pieces together all the way around along this top seam with a scant 1/8″ seam allowance.
Attaching the Handle
Open up the Inazuma Handle and put glue inside the grooves. Spread the glue around with your Hera Marker so that it’s evenly distributed. This is a fairly messy process but the glue cleans up easily and peels right off of the Hera Marker once it’s dry.
Now stuff the bag inside the handles using a “poker” (a knitting needle or awl). This it the trickiest part of the whole operation, so be patient. Make sure the pleat is centered on the outside of bag.
Add more glue to the inside rim of the handle and stuff the paper string inside the handle groove using your poker.
Go all the way around the rim in this way. When you get to the end snip your paper string and stuff the end in.
Now, using a pair of pliers, pinch the rim of the handle tightly all the way around to keep the paper string and fabric in. Don’t put the pliers directly on the metal handle, use a piece of scrap cloth in-between as shown above.
Once you’ve crimped it shut you’re all done! Next time I think I would use a thinner outer fabric since it was pretty hard to stuff everything into the handle. But over all I’m really happy with my little purse!
Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!
This coin purse is just darling! I have always wondered how these were actually made, thanks for the visual tutorial!
Thanks for sharing this. It is a great gift idea!
Very cute and just think, no one has one just like it. Thanks for showing us how.
Great gift idea.I think I’ll order a bunch of those handles. Thanks for the translation tutorial.
The purse is so pretty. I think I’ll try and make one too.
This is so cute! I love it!
Vicki
Awesome handmade purse! Thanks for sharing HOW TO DO IT purse in your blog! I simply enjoy visiting and reading your blog!
From Far Away,
Singapore!
Heads or tails! That’s great : )
so cute! thanks for the tutorial!
God now I need the frames to be back in stock soon!, lol…
How very cute!!! I have a couple of those clasps and have not used them yet – maybe now is the time (it is always the time, if only I had the time – hee-hee)!!
That’s adorable! I’ve been wanting to making one of these but figured I’d probably take the easy route and just add a zipper. :p
That is adorable! I would love to make a custom one for myself!
As someone re-entering the world of sewing, I find your sight so refreshing. This little purse is such an example. You give the best directions! I have an old stash of handles that I have been wondering what to do with and now I know! Can I get the pattern only?
Thanks! Perfect stocking stuffers for the sister-in-laws!
I bought this change purse kit from my local sewing store, I was excited to make it until I actually tried. Thanks so much for doing this tutorial. Mine turned our great!
THANK YOU !!! I bought the purse handles at a japanses $ store and was so excited but when I got home I was in the same issues trying to figure out the instructions, it seemed so simply but I just couldnt make sense of it, then I found your page, oh my what a blessing, I have successfully made a change purse now 🙂
I think these little coin purses are so much fun in crazy, wild, bold print fabrics. They make using a coin purse fun. Thanks for the instructions. You did a great job documenting every step. I've always wondered how to put those things together. Does craft glue really adhere to the metal? I suppose it's more of the fabric sticking to the paper string and then the metal crimping around the string that makes it stay on.
Hi Keek-
It is kind of an all-of-the-above approach in terms of getting the metal bonded to the fabric of the bag. But it does work!
Thank you for your question!
Molly
I'm so happy I stumbled upon this tutorial. I have a Japanese coin purse that I use and just returned from Japan with another slightly larger coin purse but now I can make these coin purses with some of the Japanese fabric I have as gifts.
Great tutorial and I love your little cute purse. Im just wondering WHY is there a paper pieces between the fabrics?
Hi Tora-
It stabilizes the fabrics at the closure. I know it seems funny but this coin purse it still around after 7 years so it's very sturdy!
Thanks!
Molly
OK thanks for explaining this to me 🙂
I will be 84 next week and would love to make one just for myself. I use COD payment (no credit card) for pattern. Can you help me?
Hi Nita-
Unfortunately we don't take COD as a form of payment but if you give our webstore a call they might be able to work something else out with you. 800-597-PURL
Thank you!
Molly
Would Liberty Of London be a suitable for the outer fabric?
Hi Marsha-
Yes! It would be suitable and absolutely beautiful! In fact we have some similar coin purse kits that use Liberty! https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/08/07/lovely-liberty-coin-purse-kits/
Thanks so much for your question!
Molly
One more question, Molly. How do you “neaten up” the fabric edges in the hinge area? Would it be helpful to slip stitch these closed (before assembling)?
Hi Lindablom-
You could try slip stitching them together but I’m afraid that it’s such a small area it won’t do much. I have found the best way to keep the hinge area looking neat it to make sure the rest of the piece is neat and then trim any excess threads at the hinge. It’s hardly noticeable (and only visible at all when it’s open) if the rest of the purse looks neat!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
thank you for sharing. Where do I buy the pattern?
Hi Thuy-
The coin purse handle comes with the pattern. You can find this exact handle and pattern here:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/3114-Inazuma-Antique-Gold-Purse-Frame-772
But the instructions in this story will work for most of our coin purse handles. You can see them all here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/67-finishing-touches-bag-handles?filters%5B%5D=932
Additionally, we have a boxed kit that comes with everything you need to make a similar coin purse, including the fabric, glue, and thread here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/9233
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
Thanks for the tutorial. You have given me an idea to make a coin purse not with fabric but from cotton yarn. My granddaughter gown for her prom is Kelly green an the top is just gorgeous with mirror like beading all over it I wish I could show a picture of it. I want to surprise her with a matching small purse made with Kelly green yarn an add mirror like beads so it will match her gown. If the yarn doesn’t work I will use the fabric. Will let you know how it turns out, had to order the beads an purse handle so I’m waiting to receive them am anxious to make it.
Hello,
I tried making this purse twice. Both times, no luck. The fabric/cording didn’t go into the handle as written; both too small and I cut it as instructed; the glue made a mess of the fabric & lining when I tried to redo it; I had to use new fabric from my stash. I called your store for assistance; was told to cut the cord, make separate pieces for both sides, that still didn’t work. I gave up. Maybe next visit to your store, I will bring it all in and for help.
I wonder if anyone else has had problems making this purse. Your tutorials for other projects are perfect. Shame it didn’t work for me here.
Hi Cynthia-
I’m so sorry to hear that this didn’t work out for you! Please do bring it into the store if you come in again. Unfortunately the assembly of this type of purse can get a bit messy and isn’t an exact science. There is a lot of trial and error involved, but once you are able to do one it does become easier!
The best advice I can offer without having your purse in front of me it to let the glue dry for several minutes before you attempt to add the cord and then once you do put it all together to not worry too much about getting the handle messy, you can always peel the glue off later. Additionally, don’t worry about how the inside of the hinge look, just get the fabric in there and close it up!
I hope this helps a bit and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Molly
Great tutorial. I always wanted to make a purse like this but did not have a clue how to make one. Thanks a bunch for sharing.
Hi!! I LOVE this idea and tried it freehand and it went south fast. Am I missing the location of the templates? Or are they avaliable somewhere?? Thanks for posting this, I’m in love and can’t wait to do mine!
Hi Kim-
The templates come with the purse handles.
Thank you so much for getting in touch and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Molly
I am wondering if a piece of vintage needlepoint would be too thick to use as the outer layer if I purchased the larger handles? It’s pretty heavily embroidered fabric, but I have been trying to come up with a meaningful way to turn it into something I could enjoy everyday (my grandma made it in the ’60’s), and the stitching style would suit a clutch so well!
Hi Ann,
Thanks for writing in! How lovely to have such a special piece! In general, we have found that using a lighter weight fabric for this project makes for better results. That is not to say that your fabric would not work but I would hate to experiment with something so precious. We have used needlepoint pieces in a variety of other projects (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/embroider/embroider-needlepoint/) that might provide some inspiration for you. I am a particular fan of New Year’s Needlepoint Clutch.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Where do I get the paper string? What size is it?
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for writing in! The paper string comes with the Inazuma Antique Gold Purse Frame. I am not sure where you may be able to purchase the string separately from the kit as we only have it as part of the kit.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
The raw edges that are showing can be avoided altogether if you see the pieces together on the wrong side leaving a two inch opening at the bottom on the lining and then turn everything inside out and stitch up the two inch hole. It leaves it all nice and clean finished.
Just a tip: If you run across other patterns in a different language I have found you can copy and paste on Google to get it translated in English
so glad I found this. I have just tried making on without a pattern or any instructions. so reading yours I can see where I have gone wrong.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Hello! I love this coin purse. It is adorable and I would like to make it. It appears that the picture links are broken as they are not showing, just an icon that usually means the link to the image is broken. Any chance someone can look into this and fix. It is the same on the print file as well.
Hi Sally,
Thanks for reaching out! We’re noticing some issues on our website because of a recent update and are still ironing out some residual kinks. We’re aware of this problem now and are urgently looking into it, so thank you for bringing this to our attention! I’m sure this is frustrating (we’re anxious to have them back too!), so we appreciate your patience as we troubleshoot in the meantime. We hope to have the photos back up again soon!
Best,
Gianna