If you're conscious of the ever-mounting piles of our plastic garbage, you may be keen on repurposing the PET plastic bottles that come into your possession. In this tutorial, a basic PET plastic bottle (the type with the indented, wavy ends) can be turned into a very useful––and rather cute––coin purse. You can even add your own flair by decorating it. And you needn't stop at making just one––make more for friends and relatives to carry around their coins too.
1Choose two suitable PET soda bottles, 17 fl oz or 1/2 liter. Use clear ones for a basic, go-with-anything look or feel free to use a colored bottle if it's likely to match your usual clothes. Things to consider when choosing the bottles:
- If you do think of changing the sizing of the bottles suggested here, at least keep the sizes of the bottles the same, to avoid mismatching and be aware that the zipper size will also be impacted by any size change.
- Make sure the bottoms are new and not damaged. This will ensure the purse closely snugly, as well as looking decent when completed.
2Gather the other supplies. The supplies needed are listed below. When purchasing the items, consider how you'll decorate the purse as this will impact what you purchase or find from the craft box. There are lots of possibilities such as:
- Decide if your coin purse will have a “personality.” Give your purse a face using googly eyes, a big felt smile and fake hair.
- Bedazzle your purse with fake jewels, rhinestones, charms and other dazzling elements.
- Paint the purse. In this case, either paint additional designs over an initial coat of paint or stick additional decorations over the painted surface.
3Prep the bottles. Empty and clean the bottles by filling with warm water and sloshing around a little mild dish detergent. This will lift off any sticky soda residue. Allow the bottle to dry, tipped on its side for a few hours.
4Cut the base of each bottle off using the sharp instrument of choice. Hold the bottle on its side on a non-slip surface (such as a silicon mat). Keeping your precious fingers well out of the way, cut or saw off the base of each bottle. Cut more rather than less, as you can always shape it down but you can't add more back once cut. Try to cut each base the same height; you might need to mark each bottle to manage this evenly. Take care when cutting!
- Trim off any rough edges or jagged pieces using sharp scissors. A nail file is handy to smooth rough parts that won't improve with cutting.
5Create a paper pattern guide to aid the zipper stitching. To do this:
- Measure the circumference of the cut base to check that the zipper is the right length (it should be if you used the measurements in this tutorial––if not, get a different zipper that will fit).
- Cut two lengths of paper the same height as the bottle base, long enough to wrap right around each base without overlap. Make sure the lengths are dead straight on at least one side of the length.
- On the dead straight side of this length, mark evenly spaced holes the entire length, about 1/2cm from the edge. You could follow a ruler or rule a straight line for exactness or use your instinct if you're good with this sort of thing. (A ruled line is easiest, especially for the direction-challenged crafter.) Repeat for the second paper length.
- This is now your sewing guide for the zipper.
6Attach the pattern guide to each bottle base. Wrap the guide around each base, with the dotted line edge flush with the top of each bottle base. Don't overlap it––tape it together exactly where it joins. Check that it is straight––if crooked, your zipper sewing will also be crooked!
7Using a thick needle, work your way around the bottle bases poking holes in at each point directed by the paper pattern. If this is tough on your hands, you can hold the needle with a small pair of jewelry pliers or wear lightweight leather gloves to stop chafing. A thimble can also be helpful for the powerful shove that you'll need to give the needle through the plastic each hole. Once completed, pull away the paper patterns. The bottle bases are now ready to have the zipper stitched in place.
8Attach the zipper with stitches. Although this may seem like a daunting task, the prepared holes will actually make it a lot easier than faster than you might expect. To do this:
- Unzip the zipper.
- Assess how comfortable it feels to work with the zipper free or whether you need it to be supported (in the same fashion as pinning fabric pre-sewing). If you find the zipper difficult to hold while stitching at the same time, consider attaching the zipper in place around each base using adhesive tape. Be sure that no part of the zipper has wrinkled though––you want a smooth finish.
- Thread the same needle used to poke the holes through the plastic. Embroidery floss is probably the best pick for this, although you could use woolen yarn, twine, etc. provided it fits through the holes and needle's eye.
- Start sewing 7.5"/3cm from the start of the zipper. Sew around the first bottom, then do the same for the next bottle base.
- Overlap the fabric end of the zipper on each bottle base.
9Check that the purse shuts neatly and evenly. Once you're happy with it, you have the option of decorating it (see suggestions above). Otherwise, it's good to go as is.
- Create and give coin purses as gifts or use as fundraisers at school and community events. This is also a great craft idea to set up at an eco-friendly event or community fair––encouraging people to find ways to repurpose objects is a great way to get people actively engaged.
- Consider using a different color zipper than the bottle for a funkier look––contrasting colors can be fun. If the bottle is clear, any color zipper is fair game.
- If you find the needle isn't piercing through in the way you'd like, a small pair of sharp nail scissors can inflict the initial piercing needed and the needle can then be used to push the rest of the hole through. Old file stabbers can work wonders too if you have one in a drawer somewhere!
- Avoid leaving coin purses in direct sunlight––heat and sun can warp the plastic, melting or deforming your masterpiece.
- Be very careful when piercing the holes. Ensure that the bottle is on a non-slip surface, that you're sitting or standing solidly and that your fingers are always out of harm's way. This is not a project for the kiddies but they'll love being given the end result!
Things You'll Need
- 17 fl oz / 1/2 liter plastic soda bottles (2 for each purse to be created), 17 oz/1/2 liter in size
- 8" / 20cm zipper; a zipper the same color as the bottles, or one that reflects your favorite fashion color, either choice is fine
- Embroidery/strong needle
- Regular sewing thread (same color as zipper, perhaps as bottle)
- Nylon thread
- Adhesive tape
- Suitable sharp instrument for cutting plastic (sharp scissors, knife, hacksaw, craft knife, etc.)––whatever you use, it's best if it doesn't leave rough edges, where possible
Sources and Citations
Recent edits by: Kalyx, Peace Girl73, Zach
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