Looking for a fun and useful craft? These felt piggy banks are so easy to make with cheap craft felt that won’t break the (piggy) bank!

When I was a kid I had a ceramic piggy bank I kept at my grandparent’s house. I remember very vividly that I had wanted some finger paints from TG&Y. But I went with my grandmother and she asked me how much money I had to get them. Since I had no money on me being a child and all I didn’t get them. I remember being so disappointed she went to the store instead of my Poppa. If I went with my grandfather my fingers would be covered in weirdly transparent, gloppy paint imminently!

Back at the house I had brought out my piggy bank. But there was no hole in the bottom to get the change out. I took it to my grandmother and asked her to help me. That’s when she told me I had to make a decision. The piggy bank did not have a hole in it because there was no easy way out. Was it worth it to me to take the money I had been saving knowing that to get it I would have to smash my piggy bank to get it?

My run of saving would be over and also I’d have to use what was inside to also buy another piggy bank.

In the end, I did not smash my bank and waited until my grandfather took me to town. We got finger paints and even new construction paper :) The whole thing did teach me a lesson, though. Was what I wanted really worth it or did this whole thing show I could have done without?

If you’re wondering, this is the kind of piggy bank you have to “destroy” to get your change out. So it’s less of a change purse, if that’s what you’re looking for. Feel free to modify the pattern to, say, include a snap or some Velcro to be able to open and close it. If you decide to make them as is, luckily, you don’t really have to smash and totally destroy these little felt piggy banks. Simply snip the embroidery floss and pull out to open the bank and stitch back up. It will take just a few minutes, tops!

Want to make some cute felt piggy banks?

If you have a cutting machine that can handle felt, like the Cricut Maker, this project is going to take no time at all. I used a gray piece of felt to show how to make these guys. But for all of my little banks that are colorful, they were cut out of scraps. I just LOVE using scraps from other craft projects because that means they’re practically free to make. Huzzah!

But if you don’t have a fancy cutting machine and don’t want one, you can easily cut these little piggy banks out by hand. In fact, that’s how I initially created these cute little guys way back in June of 2014. I can hardly believe that these little felt piggy banks were first shared here on the blog almost SIX years ago. Crazy :) If you want more information on making these without the machine be sure to hit up that post. (The original post also includes how to reinforce the coin slot with a stitch if cutting by hand).

Here are a few other posts that might be helpful when working up this project, too:

Supplies needed to make felt piggy banks:

If cutting by hand you will need:

Freezer Paper

Craft Acrylic Felt

Really Sharp Scissors

Embroidery Floss & Needle

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Cutting your Piggies with a Cricut:

Place a piece of Cricut felt onto a purple cutting mat and use a brayer to firmly stick in place. You can, alternatively, use any other felt but you’ll need to practice and figure out the best cut settings to use it. I prefer to use the Cricut felt because there’s a quick setting that I don’t have to fuss with how many passes or how deep the blade needs to go. The brayer may seem like an unnecessary tool, but I promise it’s worth it’s price. Rolling it over your felt (or other cutting material) makes it stick to the adhesive all the better. As such, the felt won’t flip around as it’s cut meaning less mistakes and more clean cuts.

Cut one solid and one slotted pig for each piggy bank. If your cuts are fuzzy, change to a newer or sharper blade for better results.

Cutting your Piggies by Hand:

If cutting by hand cut out pieces of freezer paper to 8.5″ x 11″ (standard letter sized). Print the second page of the PDF pattern onto the flat (not waxy) side of the freezer paper. Adhere the pattern to your felt, waxy side down, with a hot iron. Use very sharp scissors to cut out the shapes. Take care to make decisive cuts… don’t drag the blade as you cut as that will cause the cuts to be fuzzy rather than neat.

Piece Your Pigs Together:

Place the 2 pieces together and blanket stitch closed. The blanket stitch is really easy. Bring your needle up partway through both pieces of the felt.

Wrap the thread around the needle in the direction you are sewing. Keeping the thread in place around the needle finish pulling the needle through. If you need more help with this stitch, including how to start and stop your stitches, please see our how to blanket stitch post.

Stuff with Change and Enjoy Your Felt Piggy Banks!