“Trick Up My Sleeve” Coin Purse

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.

Comments (41):

  1. Mollie Johanson

    July 15, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    How much do I love this? Very much!

  2. Sarah

    July 15, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    What a great idea!

  3. 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

  4. Bonnie@WhatAboutPie

    July 17, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    that is pretty doggone clever! what a great idea!! loving it!

  5. 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!

  6. 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.

  7. Gingerale

    July 20, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    Very clever. Kind regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina

  8. 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 🙂

  9. 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

  10. Sarah Grace

    October 18, 2011 at 10:36 am

    Thanks for the idea! I made some last night.. These would be cute stocking-stuffers! 🙂

  11. 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

    • 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

  12. Annie C.

    February 1, 2012 at 10:29 am

    What a good idea! Thank you, now I must find an old shirt.

  13. Jennifer Morris

    March 13, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    Found this on Pinterest and love it! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

  14. Sarah

    March 14, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    I just made a couple of these and love them. Thanks for the inspiration!

  15. Jane

    March 29, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    Great idea ! This is one I’ll make! Thanks.

  16. angie

    April 14, 2012 at 11:42 am

    you have a great imagination, can’t wait to get started, thanks so much.

  17. 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

  18. 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!!

  19. 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!

  20. popy

    May 5, 2012 at 11:03 am

    quelle bonne idée !!!

  21. 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.

  22. Juli

    July 22, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    Very clever! I am digging into my pile of Hubby’s old castoff shirts right now.

  23. 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! 😀

  24. 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.

  25. Lori

    October 18, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Great idea!
    I have a closet full of waiting shirts : )

  26. 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

  27. Little Gumnut

    November 14, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    oooh ooh ooooh! I love this idea! Just popping by from Taylor Made

  28. 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

  29. 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 🙂

  30. 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)

  31. Cathy Francis

    May 31, 2013 at 6:42 am

    I was thinking they would be great gift card holders.

  32. 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

  33. NancyinSTL

    May 31, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    I just made two. They would also be great for keeping lipstick in my purse.

  34. 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!

  35. 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?

  36. BJ Peterson

    September 20, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Clever idea. Even. I can do this. Thanks

Comments are closed.