Cute pyramid-shaped felt coin purse

This ingenious little coin purse makes a great gift, stocking stuffer, or favor-box for a wedding. It is incredibly inexpensive and easy-to-make — so also a great craft for youth groups. I am calling the shape a “pyramid”, but the mathematically-correct term is actually “tetrahedron”.

Here’s what you need:

Felt
Embroidery thread
Needle
Pins
Scissors
Pattern

Embellishments such as buttons, beads, charms, or contrasting-colored felt cutouts (optional)

Step 1: Cut

Using the pattern as a guide, cut out the felt. Make sure the felt is smooth and that your cuts are nice and straight.

Step 2: Fold and pin

Fold the felt in half as shown and pin as pictured. You will be sewing along the three pinned edges.

Step 3: Sew

I used three strands of embroidery floss. You can match the color of the embroidery floss to the felt, or use a contrasting color.

You will hand-sew only two seams (one will turn a corner.).

Use either a whip stitch or a blanket stitch.

There are great directions on how to do these stitches over at Alice Merlino’s craft blog, futuregirl.

Your stitches should be about 3/16″ from the edge of the felt. (If they are too close to the edge, they will tear open.)

Step 4: Decorate

You can embellish your project however you want. I used a cute little flower-shaped button. To make leaves, I cut a slightly-larger triangle out of green felt. I cut the sides of the triangle (free-hand) to create leaf shapes.

Sew your embellishment(s) on the triangular end of the felt; if you sew them on the square end, they will end up hidden from sight! Be sure to sew through only one layer of the felt.

Here’s how I sewed on my decoration. I put a knot on top of my button, as a center for my flower.

You can turn the felt slightly inside-out to tie off the last knot.

Step 5: Form the pyramid

To close the pouch, first fold the seam of the square end flat against the felt on the opposite side. This forms the pyramid shape.

Then take the undecorated end of the purse and tuck it all the way inside the decorated end. Be sure everything fits snugly together.

Ta-da! All finished.

Surprisingly, the little pouch stays closed even when it is full of coins. The felt sticks to itself so that the pyramid holds it shape.

Last year, I gave my little-girl nieces an advent calendar full of small trinkets and goodies. This year, I plan to re-fill it; these little pouches will be among the tiny treasures. Hope they like them!