This free sewing pattern and tutorial will show you how to create a practical and stylish zipper pouch in the shape of a triangle. The three-dimensional triangular zipper coin purse is actually a tetrahedron, and its spacious interior makes it an excellent option for stowing spare change.
After being inspired by the wrapped glutinous rice dumpling (Zòngzi) of a Chinese traditional festival, DuanWu Festival, I sewed some triangle zipper coin purse recently. In fact, today is the actual date of DuanWu Festival which falls on every 5th day of 5th month of the Lunar calendar.
[To read more about DuanWu Festival, click here. To read more about Zongzi, click here. Related sport for the festival: dragon boat competition. Source: Wikipedia.]
This 3-D Triangle Zipper Coin Purse is actually in the form of tetrahedron shape with 3 triangles on the sides and 1 triangle on the base, other names of a tetrahedron is “triangular pyramid”. The tetrahedron shape makes a good coin purse that is suitable to keep small change and also for the ease of getting the correct coin at a quick glance.
I used brown as the main color for the purses to resemble the color of the cooked bamboo or reed leaves of the wrapping. And, add a cord or ribbon to mock the tying string to hold the filling in the wrapping. To mimic the triangle zipper coin purse even further, I quilted diagonally on the purse to make it looks similar to the reed leaf grain.
If you look closer to the main photo of the triangle zipper coin purse, I sewed 2 different positions for the zipper, one on the triangle slope (left) and one at the center of the triangle (right). Both of them are basically made from the same method, the only difference is how to sew the sides of the purse.
What’s Next
- Start sewing and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
- Pin it to Pinterest for future To-Sew List
- Share with your sewing groups for a sew-along event.
- Learn more about the basics of hand sewing and how to choose a sewing machine for beginners.
- Browse more free sewing patterns to sew, especially in our Bag & Purse Sewing Patterns Library.
TRIANGLE ZIPPER COIN PURSE SEWING PATTERN
This 3-D Triangle Zipper Coin Purse is actually in the form of tetrahedron shape with 3 triangles on the sides and 1 triangle on the base, other names of a tetrahedron is “triangular pyramid”. The tetrahedron shape makes good coin purse that is suitable to keep small change and also for the ease of getting the correct coin in a quick glance.
Enjoy sewing them!
Materials
- Fabric – 2pcs. of 5″ x 5″
- Lining fabric – 2pcs. of 5″ x 5″
- Zipper end covers – 2pcs. of 2″ x 1 1/2″
- Batting – 2pcs. of 4″ x 4″
- Zipper – 3″ (I used 4″ metal zipper shorten to 3″)
- Decorative cord or ribbon, approx. 18″
Tools
- Sewing machine with normal presser foot
- Zipper foot
- Sewing kits
- Erasable fabric marker
- Ruler
- Knitting needle or something blunt but pointy for adjusting the corners.
Instructions
MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO SEW
TRIANGLE ZIPPER COIN PURSE
PREPARATION
Cut fabrics & batting according to the dimension above. For fabric & lining, 5″ x 5″ size is already included 1/2″ seam allowance. Draw sewing lines on the wrong side of the fabrics with fabric marker or pencil.
DRAW, SEW & CUT
Draw a diagonal line on the center of the fabrics with a ruler and erasable fabric marker.
Pin batting on the wrong side of the fabrics. Trim the batting to follow the fabric sewing lines if necessary.
Stitch diagonally on the right side of the fabric with a sewing machine. Use the presser foot as a guide, sew parallel lines across the entire piece.
Finished diagonal quilting on both sides of the purse fabrics. Set aside.
Cover both zipper’s ends with the 2″ x 1 1/2″ fabrics. Fold the raw edges on the 1 1/2″ side and sew a narrow hem before covering the zipper’s end. Fold the 2″ length into half and cover the end (trim the raw edges on the zipper end if necessary), pin to secure the position.
Change your presser foot to zipper foot, sew on the other 3 sides, except the one across the metal zipper. Repeat the same to the other end.
Now you have 2 pcs. of quilted purse fabrics, 2 lining fabrics and a zipper ready for sewing into triangle purse.
Pin the zipper on the purse fabric with right side together. Normally, I don’t draw any sewing line on the zipper, I use the grainline on the zipper as a guide, which is normally between 3/8″ to 1/4″ from the center. Sew on the seam allowance to secure the zipper in place. Remove pins.
Now, pin the lining on the zipper and purse fabric, with right side together. Sew on the sewing line with a zipper foot. Remove pins.
Turn the purse fabric and lining down, and zipper up. One side is done.
Repeat the above 3 steps to the other side of the zipper.
Bring the purse fabrics together with right side facing each other, do the same to the lining. Bend the zipper’s edge down to the lining’s side. Pin both sides of the purse’s fabric and lining.
Cut 3″ cord as a purse loop and place between the purse fabrics, on the zipper head side. Sew both sides and leave a 2 1/2″ opening on the lining for turning the purse right side out. (Tip: if you want to do make the one on the right-hand side of the main photo, sew base and zipper head side. Instead of 2 parallel sewings, it becomes a ” ] “, aka base-side-base.)
Grab the unsewn side (which is the base for this instance), turn the purse with sides meeting at the center. Pin to secure. Do the same to the lining and bring the lining to the purse fabric.
Sew both purse fabric and lining fabric together, with lining opening facing up.
Turn the purse right side out from the opening. It may seem a little too chunky to go through the small opening, as long as you turn each fabric through one by one, you will be fine. Use a knitting needle or something pointy but blunt to shape the corners.
Fold the balance of the cord into half and stitch the center to the center of the purse bottom.
Tie a knot or ribbon to the purse loop. Trim the cord to your liking.
A triangle coin purse that looks like a wrapped rice dumpling is completed!
Sayantika
Saturday 9th of July 2016
Mam,My name is Sayantika Sarkar and I am from India. I liked your triangular zipper coin purse but I can't made this. So I request you to make a video on this which help me a lot.Please Mam ....
charlotte
Friday 15th of April 2016
I don't understand this step - it doesn't seem clear to me; can someone please explain it? Thanks!
charlotte
Friday 15th of April 2016
I don't understand this step: 'Now, pin the lining on the zipper and purse fabric, with right side together. Sew on the sewing line with zipper foot. Remove pins.' - can anyone clarify please? I can't tell where one is supposed to sew. Charlotte
Mary
Tuesday 16th of February 2016
I am unable to get the pattern to turn correctly right side out...have you updated these instructions? I think the lining is in wrong - based on the instructions...but can't seem to wrap my head around what I should be doing. Somehow I think the lining should be wrong side to right side..but I just can't make it work. Any followup would be appreciated
Craft Passion
Friday 19th of February 2016
Hi Mary, the pattern and instruction are correct. Is it possible for you to send over a picture of the step that you are not able to get through? You may send over via the contact form.
Amy Elies
Wednesday 25th of November 2015
Where did you get your 4" zippers from?
Craft Passion
Wednesday 2nd of December 2015
I bought them from quilting shop, I think Etsy has it. I will be adding this product range in my online shop early next year too.
myMotea
Wednesday 8th of April 2015
It looks great. I'll try to do my own. ;)