Sunflower 2 in 1 Coin Purse: A Complete Video Tutorial Guide

If you’ve been searching for a craft project that’s both practical and absolutely gorgeous, you’ve landed in the right place. The sunflower 2 in 1 coin purse is one of those rare sewing projects that looks complex but becomes surprisingly manageable once you understand the construction. It works as a standalone coin purse and doubles as a zipper pouch large enough for cards, cash, or small essentials — making it one of the most satisfying makes you can complete in an afternoon.

This guide walks you through every step of the process, from gathering your materials to finishing the last stitch. Whether you’re following along with a video tutorial or working entirely from written instructions, this post covers all the details you need to create a polished, professional-looking result. By the end, you’ll have a cheerful sunflower purse that would make a wonderful gift or a personal accessory you’ll be proud to carry.

Why the Sunflower 2 in 1 Coin Purse Is Worth Making

Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why. The sunflower design is perennially popular in the crafting world, and for good reason. Sunflowers carry a sense of warmth and optimism that translates beautifully into fabric form. When that design is combined with the clever 2 in 1 structure — where a smaller coin pouch nests within or attaches to a larger body — you get a project that earns every second of effort.

From a sewing standpoint, this project teaches several valuable skills. You’ll practice precision cutting, working with zippers (often the most intimidating part of any pouch project), attaching dimensional petal shapes, and topstitching for a clean finish. Each of these techniques carries over into countless other sewing projects, so every sunflower purse you make builds your overall skill set.

From a practical standpoint, the 2 in 1 design is genuinely useful. Keep coins in the smaller interior pouch where they won’t jostle against your cards, or remove it entirely and use the outer shell as a standalone accessory. It’s versatile enough for everyday use and eye-catching enough to display.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting your materials ready before you begin is one of the most important steps in any sewing project. Rushing to find a zipper halfway through cutting your fabric is a great way to lose momentum, so set yourself up for success by gathering everything first.

For the fabric, you’ll want to choose materials that are sturdy enough to hold their shape but not so stiff that they’re difficult to work with. Quilting cotton is ideal for the petal and outer body sections because it comes in an enormous range of prints and solids, presses beautifully, and sews smoothly under the machine. For the lining, you can use the same quilting cotton or opt for a coordinating print that adds a little surprise of color when the purse is opened. If you want the petals to have a bit more body and dimension, a lightly interfaced cotton gives a lovely result without adding too much bulk.

Here’s a general list of what to gather. Keep in mind that specific measurements will depend on the size of purse you’re making, so adjust accordingly or follow the measurements given in the video tutorial you’re working from.

Outer fabric in yellow or a sunflower-inspired print (enough for petals and the outer body panel), a brown or dark fabric for the center circle and accent details, lining fabric in a coordinating color, fusible interfacing for the outer body pieces, two zippers in coordinating colors (typically one shorter zipper for the coin pouch and one slightly longer zipper for the main body), matching thread, a fabric marker or chalk pencil, scissors or a rotary cutter with mat, an iron and ironing board, pins or sewing clips, and a sewing machine.

Optional but helpful: a zipper foot for your sewing machine, which makes attaching zippers significantly easier, and a turning tool or chopstick for pushing out corners and curves neatly.

Understanding the 2 in 1 Construction

Before you start cutting fabric, it helps enormously to understand how the finished purse is constructed. The 2 in 1 design essentially involves two separate zippered pouches that are joined together. The smaller coin pouch forms the inner compartment or attaches to the back of the larger pouch. Depending on the specific pattern, the coin purse may zip open independently, or it may be stitched into the lining of the main purse so that opening the outer zipper reveals it automatically.

The sunflower design elements — the petals, the center circle, and any leaf or stem details — are applied to the outer body of the main purse. They can be created through appliqué, dimensional fabric work, or a combination of both. In many video tutorials, the petals are individually sewn, turned right side out, and then attached around the center circle before the entire decorative unit is applied to the outer fabric. This layered approach gives the sunflower a beautiful three-dimensional quality that makes it look far more complex than it actually is.

Understanding this structure helps you follow along with the tutorial more confidently, because you’ll know why each step exists and how it connects to the next.

Step One: Preparing and Cutting Your Fabric

The first real step is cutting all your fabric pieces accurately. Accuracy at this stage pays dividends throughout the entire project, so take your time and double-check your measurements before you cut.

Start by applying fusible interfacing to the wrong side of your outer body fabric pieces according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves placing the rough, adhesive side of the interfacing against the wrong side of the fabric and pressing with a hot iron for a few seconds at a time, moving across the surface rather than sliding, until the interfacing is fully bonded. Let the pieces cool completely before moving on.

Next, cut your petal shapes. Most sunflower purse patterns include a petal template, and if you’re following a video tutorial, the creator will usually have a free or purchasable PDF template available. If you’re drafting your own, a petal for this type of project is typically an elongated oval, slightly pointed at the tip and rounded at the base, somewhere between 2.5 and 4 inches long depending on your desired purse size. You’ll need to cut two fabric pieces per petal so that each one can be sewn and turned right side out. A typical sunflower uses between 12 and 16 petals, though this varies by design.

Cut your center circle from the brown or dark fabric. This piece sits at the center of the sunflower and covers the raw edges where the petals meet. Cut it generously enough that it will overlap the bases of all the petals by at least a quarter inch all around.

Cut your outer body panels, lining panels, and any inner coin purse panels according to your pattern dimensions.

Step Two: Sewing the Petals

With your pieces cut, you’re ready to start sewing, and the petals come first. Working in batches makes this step feel manageable. Pair up your petal pieces with right sides together and sew around the curved edges, leaving the straight base open for turning. If your petals are quite small or have tight curves, clipping the seam allowance before turning helps them lie flat and smooth.

Turn each petal right side out using a turning tool, chopstick, or even a pencil eraser. Take your time at the tip — the more carefully you ease the tip out, the sharper and cleaner the finished petal will look. Press each petal flat with your iron once it’s turned.

If you’d like topstitching on your petals for added definition and a more polished look, now is the time to do it. Run a line of topstitching close to the edge all the way around the finished edge of each petal. This step is entirely optional but adds a lovely professional detail.

Step Three: Assembling the Sunflower

Once all your petals are prepared, you can begin assembling the sunflower. Lay your outer body fabric flat and use a fabric marker to lightly mark the center point where the sunflower will sit.

Arrange your petals around this center point, spacing them evenly. Most crafters find it easiest to start by placing petals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions (like a compass), and then filling in the spaces between them. Pin or clip each petal in place once you’re happy with the arrangement, with the raw base edges pointing toward the center.

Sew each petal base down using a basting stitch or a short straight stitch close to the raw edge. The stitching doesn’t need to be pretty here because it will be covered by the center circle.

Once all the petals are stitched down, press the center circle under at the raw edges. You can either clip the edges of the circle to help it curve smoothly, or cut small notches around the circumference. Pin the center circle over the petal bases, covering all the raw edges, and topstitch it in place close to the folded edge. For extra texture and visual interest, you can sew a spiral of stitching across the surface of the center circle, or use a zigzag stitch to mimic the seed pattern of a real sunflower.

Step Four: Attaching the Zippers

Zippers intimidate many sewists, but once you’ve done a few, the process becomes second nature. For this project, you’ll be attaching a zipper to the top edge of both the main pouch and the coin pouch.

Begin with the coin pouch, as it’s smaller and slightly more forgiving. With your lining and outer coin purse panels right sides together and the zipper sandwiched between them, stitch along the zipper tape using your zipper foot. Flip the panels away from the zipper and press. Topstitch close to the zipper tape for a clean finish and to keep the fabric from getting caught in the zipper pull. Repeat on the other side of the zipper with the remaining panels.

The main pouch zipper follows the same logic but works with larger panels. Keep the zipper partially open before you begin — this is a critical step that many beginners overlook, and it makes it much easier to turn the finished pouch right side out.

For a video tutorial, this is typically the section where watching the instructor’s hands in real time makes the biggest difference. Seeing how they handle the layers, manage the zipper pull, and press the seams as they go demystifies the process far more effectively than a written description can.

Step Five: Completing the Pouches

With the zippers attached, you’ll close the remaining seams of both pouches. If your design calls for the coin pouch to be inserted into the main pouch, this is the step where that happens — typically by stitching the coin pouch to the lining of the main pouch before closing everything up.

Leave a turning gap in the lining of the main pouch (a section of roughly 3 to 4 inches where you do not sew all the way through). This gap lets you reach in and pull the entire project right side out. Once you’ve turned the purse right side out through this gap, poke out any corners or curves neatly, and then close the gap either by machine stitching very close to the fold or by hand stitching with a ladder stitch for a completely invisible finish.

Give the finished purse a thorough press with your iron, using a pressing cloth if needed to protect any dimensional elements or delicate fabrics.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

A few finishing details separate a good sunflower purse from a truly beautiful one. Pressing at every stage — petals, seams, zipper areas — is perhaps the single most impactful thing you can do for a polished result. Many sewists skip ironing between steps and then wonder why their finished project looks a bit rumpled; consistent pressing changes everything.

Thread color matters more than many people expect. Using thread that closely matches your fabric for construction seams keeps everything looking clean, while deliberately contrasting thread for topstitching creates a nice visual detail. On the sunflower center, dark brown or black thread for the spiral stitching mimics the real texture of sunflower seeds beautifully.

When selecting your zipper colors, consider the overall palette of the purse. A yellow zipper pulls on the main pouch and a contrasting brown or green zipper on the coin pouch can tie the whole sunflower theme together in a subtle but delightful way.

If you’re making this as a gift, consider personalizing the lining fabric. A recipient’s favorite color or a print that holds special meaning for them transforms a lovely handmade item into something truly thoughtful.

Variations to Try Once You’ve Mastered the Basic Design

Once you’re comfortable with the sunflower 2 in 1 coin purse, there are plenty of ways to expand on the design. Scaling the pattern up creates a full-sized zipper bag large enough for makeup or toiletries. Scaling it down produces a charming key fob or earbud case. Swapping the sunflower appliqué for a daisy, rose, or even a cactus opens up an entire world of themed variations using the same basic construction method.

You can also experiment with fabric types. A sunflower purse made with vinyl or faux leather outer panels has a completely different character — sleek and modern rather than cozy and cottage-like. Cork fabric is another interesting option that adds texture and a natural feel.

Adding a wrist strap or lanyard hardware to the finished purse makes it even more practical. A short loop of ribbon or a D-ring attachment is easy to incorporate before you close the final seams.

Following Along With the Video Tutorial

If you’re working from a specific video tutorial, the written steps in this guide are designed to complement what you’re watching rather than replace it. Video tutorials are particularly valuable for zipper attachment, petal arrangement, and any freehand machine embroidery on the sunflower center. Pause freely, rewind without hesitation, and don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t perfect. The second sunflower purse is almost always significantly better than the first, and the third is better still.

Take note of the specific measurements the tutorial creator uses, as these have usually been tested and refined. If you’re adjusting sizes, keep the proportional relationships between the petal length, center circle diameter, and body panel size in mind to ensure everything still looks balanced.

Final Thoughts

The sunflower 2 in 1 coin purse is the kind of project that reminds you why handmade things are so special. There’s a particular satisfaction in holding a finished item that you’ve assembled from flat pieces of fabric into something three-dimensional, functional, and genuinely beautiful. The sunflower design taps into something joyful — it’s hard to look at a sunflower and feel anything but cheerful — and that quality carries right through into the finished purse.

Whether you’re a beginner tackling your first zipper project or an experienced sewist looking for a quick and rewarding make, this project delivers. Gather your materials, set up your machine, pull up your favorite video tutorial, and give yourself the pleasure of making something lovely from scratch.