Upcycled Denim Coin Purse

If you’ve got a hole in your favorite pair of jeans, or maybe they don’t fit like they used to, here’s a fun project for you. Repurpose them into an Upcycled Denim Coin Purse! Believe it or not, this little zipper pouch is a perfect beginner sewing project.

How to Make an Upcycled Denim Coin Purse

Don’t let the zipper intimidate you! This is actually a very simple project and only requires sewing six straight seams. The best part is that you can personalize it in any way you like by using different zippers and appliqués. Just grab the materials below and let’s get started.

Materials

• pair of old jeans
• scissors
• zipper (5” or longer)
• ruler
• cord or fabric to create a loop
• decorative appliqués (either pre-cut or create your own with fabric and fusible interfacing)
• iron
• optional: rotary cutter and mat

Instructions

Cut a 5” x 6.5” denim rectangle.

I recommend using a rotary cutter and quilting ruler, because it makes life so much easier! But, if all you have are scissors and a regular ruler, that will still work just fine.

Place one side of your zipper face down on top of the denim rectangle, aligning it with one of the 5” edges.

The teeth of the zipper should be facing in toward the fabric. You can use any color zipper you like, and any length greater than 5”. We will be cutting off the excess. Pin the zipper in place.

Sew the zipper and denim together along the top edge with a 1/4” seam.

I find it easier to work with the zipper when it is unzipped, so that the metal pull is out of the way.

Topstitch on the right side of your pouch.

Flip your project over so that the denim and zipper are right side up. Use an iron to press the fabric down away from the zipper, then stitch a straight seam right along the edge of the fabric as shown. I purposely used white thread for contrast, but if you don’t want to see your stitches, you can use dark blue instead.

Pin the other edge of the zipper to the other end of the fabric rectangle.

Fold your denim with the right sides together and line up the edges of the zipper and the fabric. Make sure your zipper isn’t twisted, then pin it in place.

Sew the zipper to the fabric with a 1/4” seam.

Topstitch on the right side of the denim.

Repeat the same process that you did for the other side. Now, you have a fabric tube.

Trim off the excess zipper.

Pull the zipper tab up so that it’s near the center of your fabric, then turn the tube inside out. Cut off the extra zipper ends on both sides. Since we cut off the bottom stopper and haven’t sewn across the bottom of the zipper yet, it’s very important to leave your zipper in this halfway position for now.

Add a cord or fabric loop.

The easiest thing to do is to cut a short piece of leather or cotton cording (even a shoelace or a hair tie will work). If you prefer to make your own strap, like I did, cut a rectangle of fabric that’s 1 1/2” wide and about 4-5” long. Fold the edges in until they meet in the center, then fold the fabric in half to form a thin strip. Sew a 1/8” seam on each side to secure the fabric into a strap.

Fold your cord or fabric strap in half to form a loop. Place the loop facing inward, just below the zipper on one side of the pouch.

Sew side seams.

Sew a 1/4” seam down each of the open sides of your project. Make sure your zipper is still halfway open, because if it’s closed, you won’t be able to turn your pouch right side out.

Trim off the excess strap/cord that extends past the sides of the pouch.

Turn your coin purse right side out and press with an iron.

At this point, you could stop and call it a finished project if you like, but I think it’s more fun to add a decorative appliqué.

Choose or create your appliqué.

The simplest way to do this is to use a pre-cut fusible appliqué shape or patch, which already has adhesive applied and is ready to iron onto your project. You can purchase these on Amazon or in your local craft and hobby store.

If you want to create your own custom appliqué, you’ll need double-sided fusible interfacing, along with scissors and your favorite fabric. Iron the bumpy side of the interfacing to the back of your fabric, then cut around whatever shape/design you want to use. (I chose two specific flowers from Enchanted Blooms fabric by Stephanie Organes for Andover.) You can use flowers, animals, characters, or anything at all that you like.

For step-by-step photo instructions, check out this post.

Iron your appliqué(s) onto the pouch.

If you chose to use pre-cut ones, they’re ready to iron on immediately. If you made your own, peel the paper backing off of the fusible interfacing that you ironed onto the fabric in the previous step. Then, position your designs wherever you want them to be, and apply heat. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for heating times and temperatures.

That’s all there is to it! Your pouch is ready to use or to give as a gift. This is a quick little project that I think you’re really going to love, especially since it’s so much fun to personalize with your favorite colors and designs.

Crafting Tips

• For a larger pouch, just start with a larger rectangle! Try making a pencil pouch or any other size you like using the same basic steps.
• Experiment by using different colored zippers, thread, and appliqué designs to create totally unique pouches.
• You can get lots of these little coin purses from one pair of jeans, so why not make extras to gift to your friends and family?

Frequently Asked Questions

More Sewing Projects

If you enjoyed this project, check out these other fun and easy sewing tutorials.

If you create your own denim coin purse, I’d love to see how it turns out! Make sure you’re part of the Amy Latta & Friends group on Facebook so you can join the weekly show and tell thread and share your latest project photos. Hope to see you there!