Varsity Letter Coin Purse Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This varsity letter coin purse is a small, cheerful project that brings a little preppy school spirit to your everyday carry. It's written for beginners, so if you can make a single crochet and work in the round, you can absolutely finish this purse. Worked in two flat circles of worsted-weight yarn, it has a soft, sturdy feel and a neat 5-inch round shape that fits coins, earbuds, or a few small essentials. The big appliqué letter in a contrasting color is the star of the show, and the zipper and wrist strap make it genuinely useful, not just cute.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) acrylic yarn — approximately 50 yards of main color (A) and 20 yards of contrasting color (B).
• Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9) crochet hook.
• Notions: A 5-inch (12.7 cm) zipper, sewing needle and matching thread (or a zipper foot on a sewing machine), yarn needle, stitch marker, and scissors.
• Finished size: Approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm) in diameter.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• inc — increase: work 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch.
• MR — magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into to start a circle with no hole.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• Rnd — round: one complete circle of stitches.
• Row — one straight line of stitches worked back and forth.

Gauge

16 single crochet stitches x 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm). Work a small swatch in single crochet and measure it; if you have more stitches than 16 in 4 inches, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Make two identical circles for the pouch — one is the front and one is the back. The instructions below are written once; simply repeat them for the second circle.
• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you don't lose your place in the continuous spiral.
• Keep your tension even and fairly firm so the finished purse holds its round shape and the zipper sits flat.
• Plan your letter before you sew: fold the rectangle into your chosen shape (a triangle for "A," an arc for "C," and so on) and pin it in place first.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Pouch Circle (make 2, Color A)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48 sts).

Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54 sts).

Rnd 10: [8 sc, inc] x6 (60 sts).

Rnds 11–20: sc in each st around (60 sts).

Fasten off. Repeat all rounds for the second circle.

Letter Appliqué (Color B)

Row 1: Ch 15, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (14 sts).

Rows 2–8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (14 sts).

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Shape the letter as desired: for an "A," fold and stitch the rectangle into a triangle; for a "C," curve it into an arc.

Wrist Strap (Color A)

Row 1: Ch 30, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (29 sts).

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (29 sts).

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Edging (Color B)

Rnd 1: With B, join yarn at any stitch around the top edge and sc evenly around (approximately 60 sts).

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly and Finishing

Place the two circles together with right sides facing out and align the top edges. Attach the zipper along the top opening using a whipstitch with sewing thread, or sew it in by machine; stitch through both layers of crochet so the zipper holds the purse closed. Sew the letter appliqué to the front of the purse using the long tail, working small, even stitches around the shape. Fold the wrist strap in half and sew both ends securely to the side of the purse at zipper level. Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side. To block, lightly mist the purse with water, shape it flat and round, and let it dry completely before zipping.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the letter for a small crocheted star, heart, or number for a different look.
• Use a contrasting zipper tape color to make the closure a design feature.
• Make a longer strap (chain more stitches) to turn the coin purse into a small crossbody bag.