For trips to the beach I don’t like packing my heavy leather wallet – filled with extra things I don’t need for an afternoon of swimming. Here’s a small and light coin purse made from the cuff of an old menswear shirt – it’s just big enough to hold some cash and a driver’s license. These are great for kids too – to hold ice cream money and beach or pool passes – or for Dad on Father’s Day to hold his iPod nano.
A coin purse is made from the cuff of a menswear shirt.
You'll need an old menswear shirt.
Cut off the cuff.
Fold cuff in half so that the buttonhole side is longer than the side with the button. The longer side should fold over and the button hole and button should meet. Pin in place.
Stitch the sides closed.
You could also use these as a gift bag for a piece of jewelry or to hold rosary beads.
Mollie Johanson
July 15, 2011 at 7:24 pm
How much do I love this? Very much!
Sarah
July 15, 2011 at 10:20 pm
What a great idea!
creativejewishmom/sara
July 16, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Love this idea Camilla! And it would be super with a cord so kids could wear it around their neck!
camilla
July 16, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Hi Sara, That is true – thanks for the idea! 🙂 C
Bonnie@WhatAboutPie
July 17, 2011 at 9:54 pm
that is pretty doggone clever! what a great idea!! loving it!
Marisa
July 18, 2011 at 10:15 am
This is fabulous!! I’ve been searching all over for a wallet for my preschooler. This is perfect. Thank you for sharing!
Jan
July 18, 2011 at 10:18 pm
I love it too! I have an idea for shirt sleeves that won’t require the cuffs. So glad to know I can put them to good use instead of stashing them in a box for future generations.
Gingerale
July 20, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Very clever. Kind regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Minimeg
July 23, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Love it! I use tons of old button down shirts in my sewing projects and this would be a great way to use them 🙂
Rae
July 28, 2011 at 1:50 pm
That is so clever and so cute… what a lovely idea, I shall have to hunt down a shirt to make one
Sarah Grace
October 18, 2011 at 10:36 am
Thanks for the idea! I made some last night.. These would be cute stocking-stuffers! 🙂
SheilaG
December 7, 2011 at 11:34 pm
I love these!!! Great idea for gift cards, too! 🙂
camilla
December 8, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Sheila – Yes! and for a gift of $ too. 🙂 Thanks for commenting! Take Care, C
Tanya
January 26, 2012 at 1:15 am
Hi! Love this project – found it on Pinterest 🙂 I made up a pouch today: http://atthehoneysuckletree.blogspot.com/2012/01/simple-simple.html
Tanya
camilla
January 26, 2012 at 1:27 am
Tanya – you did a GREAT job! Thanks for stopping by Family Chic and linking back to your wonderful work. It means a lot to me 🙂
Take Care, Camilla
Annie C.
February 1, 2012 at 10:29 am
What a good idea! Thank you, now I must find an old shirt.
Jennifer Morris
March 13, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Found this on Pinterest and love it! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah
March 14, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I just made a couple of these and love them. Thanks for the inspiration!
Jane
March 29, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Great idea ! This is one I’ll make! Thanks.
angie
April 14, 2012 at 11:42 am
you have a great imagination, can’t wait to get started, thanks so much.
Gerrie
April 18, 2012 at 6:08 pm
I love this, I very seldom carry a purse and need something to carry my meds when I go somewhere. Plus they will make cute money holders for gifts. Thank you
Kim
April 20, 2012 at 9:11 am
I caught my boyfriend trying to throw away 10 of his old shirts last week – he doesn’t understand that all fabric is reusable! I rescued them and they were waiting for a little project. One shirt’s cuffs will definitely be used this way – thanks for sharing!!
marta
April 20, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Great idea!
I make dresses for my daughters with old shirts but never know what to do with the cuffs.
Now I know!
popy
May 5, 2012 at 11:03 am
quelle bonne idée !!!
Carolyn
July 5, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Love this idea. Because I tend to “need” to carry more stuff I used both cuffs of my husband’s shirt. By sewing the cut edges of the cuffs together I was able to double the width and therefore made more room. I also added ribbon as a strap. Thanks much for the inspiration.
Juli
July 22, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Very clever! I am digging into my pile of Hubby’s old castoff shirts right now.
Tara Blackwell
August 17, 2012 at 2:46 am
Absolutely LOVE this idea and have 14 cuffs cut and ready to go! Most of the shirts I have been donated are either short sleeves or for cufflinks so although the colours are not that pretty they will still work and be fab! Thank you so much for htis inspiring idea! Found and shared it on Pinterest btw! 😀
Gwen
August 28, 2012 at 7:41 pm
My daddy died of cancer and we still have his shirts. Making these for my grandmother, mother, myself, and my daughter to remember him by. I’m having the cuffs monogrammed with his initials and filling them with small square caramels for a gift- Old fashioned caramels were his favorite.
Lori
October 18, 2012 at 11:12 am
Great idea!
I have a closet full of waiting shirts : )
Bron
November 14, 2012 at 6:14 am
i loved this idea and have discovered it just in time to make some quick pressies. Thanks for sharing. xx
Little Gumnut
November 14, 2012 at 9:47 pm
oooh ooh ooooh! I love this idea! Just popping by from Taylor Made
Sandy
January 23, 2013 at 10:03 am
I would have never thought of this idea, but I love it! It reminds me of something my grandmother use to make. She was a large lady and carried her extra money in her bra. She would take scrapes of soft material and make drawstring pouches then take a small brass safety pin and pin the pouch inside her bra. I was thinking how cute it would be to take ladies old silk blouse cuffs and make your button pouches. The silk material would be softer on the skin
Sue
February 4, 2013 at 2:18 pm
I’m glad I found this today. My friend gave me 2 long sleeved shirts thatg were her Mom’s who passed away last year and I made 2 bears from each shirt and have left-overs and know she would love these to just have in her purse all the time. She does live by the beach too. I know I will make more of these!
Thanks 🙂
janome magnolia discount
March 14, 2013 at 1:44 am
Awesome post.
Jana Lalova
April 3, 2013 at 5:14 am
It is a very good idea, but what to do with worn out cuffs?!? I have more of these :-o)
Cathy Francis
May 31, 2013 at 6:42 am
I was thinking they would be great gift card holders.
Lyn Kaufmann
May 31, 2013 at 8:36 am
This is so awesome!!! I’ve been taking apart some silk shirts to up-cycle into bow ties for my Etsy shop and have the left over cuffs. With four kids and Fathers Day coming up this is perfect. Thank you so much for sharing your idea.
Lyn Kaufmann
TimeTravelingTies on Etsy
NancyinSTL
May 31, 2013 at 5:14 pm
I just made two. They would also be great for keeping lipstick in my purse.
Queenie Louise
May 31, 2013 at 9:11 pm
I tell you what! You make those men’s shirts more than they ever were in “REAL LIFE”. how clever!
LouAnn
June 2, 2013 at 11:40 pm
This is really cute … but what are we going to do with the rest of the shirt?
BJ Peterson
September 20, 2013 at 10:43 am
Clever idea. Even. I can do this. Thanks