Today I spent the day playing with rubber…rubber bicycle tubes that I recycle into usable items.
So I decided to try making a cute little zippered coin purse that is fully lined. I used my I-Zip Wallets sewing pattern as a guide for determining size and basic construction (note: sewing with rubber instructions are not provided in this pattern).
Here is what I came up with:
Here’s a peek inside:
Working with recycled rubber–especially recycled bicycle tubes–presents a number of challenges. One must collect it, clean it (many bicycle tubes are filled with SLIMEâ„¢ or other sealants), cut & prepare it (it curls, stretches and bulges in places due to the circular shape of the tube) and you need to know how to sew it.
Sewing rubber can be tricky in a number of ways. For example, once the needle goes in, there WILL be a hole (that will be seen if you have to remove stitching). Additionally, the rubber likes to “grip” and stick to many sewing machine beds as well as the presser foot.
I find it extremely worthwhile to make the effort in order to keep the tubes out of landfills. It’s especially rewarding to turn toxic trash into an attractive, functional item that is super durable and FUN to carry.  🙂
If you like the style of this coin purse and would like to make one for yourself out of fabric, you may be interested to learn more about the I-Zip Wallets sewing pattern by clicking here (note: sewing with rubber instructions are not provided in this pattern).