Can you guess I’m excited about this latest project??? I almost never take photos of myself but last night, I couldn’t help it. I was compelled to be associated with this clutch both mentally and visually!
I was inspired by this little sewing book I purchased from Stitch Social.
It’s a really fun book filled with crazy anecdotes from the 1950′s plus lots of pages to jot down ideas for your own projects. Most of the stories are excerpts from an article where women shared what they made and how much they sold it for. Crazy thing – most women were making things and selling them for $1! Wow, their profit margin must have been AMAZING!
Well, somewhere in the back of the book is a simpler version of what I’ve done here. The drawing in the book looks similar to my tissue pouches … and it inspired me to wrap up the day yesterday by making my very own clutch.
Don't you just LOVE this fabric designed by Ty Pennington!?!
If you’ve got about thirty minutes …. Why don’t you make one for yourself!
First you need to decide how big/small you want your clutch. I decided that I wanted mine to be half the length of this magazine and exactly the same width. So, I just used this as my template.
You can see I just cut about .5" from the magazine at the bottom and the sides. PLUS: I extended my shape beyond the magazine so that I have a fold over to close up the clutch. My finished shape was roughly 17" x 10".
Next, cut out an identical piece from your lining fabric.
I also knew I wanted to add a little row of ruffles/pleats on the clutch flap, so I cut a strip off the selvege of my lining fabric. This way, I could use the frayed selvege as an accent and not have to hem it!
Get yourself some of this Pellon Decor Bond fusible interfacing. It's pretty rad. It is a lot stiffer than regular interfacing but it isn't crazy stupid stiff!
Cut the Pellon the same size as your fabric - only cut one piece. Fuse it to your outer/main fabric - shiny side down.
If you're adding an embellishment, add it now. Also - it should be noted: if you're going to use one of those awesome purse snaps, do it NOW. I forgot this step last night so I had to come up with something inferior! Read on.
Now pin your lining to your outer fabric - right sides facing.
Stitch all the way around the fabric, leaving an opening like you would a pillow. Clip your corners, turn right side out....and PRESS! I haven't said it in a while, but ....IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO PRESS YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO SEW. Am I clear??? wink.
When you press, be sure to tuck the opening in nicely and press firmly.
Lay your piece in front of you with the lining facing up. Bring the bottom up to form the actual purse part. When you determine how far up you want it, you can pin it if you like. CONFESSION: I didn't use a straight edge when I cut my fabric, so you can see here that I got a little crooked. BIG WHOOP! The flap covers that up! Whew!
Starting with the bottom right corner, stitch all the way up, around over the flap section and back down to the other corner. You're enclosing the purse portion and will end up topstitching the flap portion.
Here you can see how the stitch runs from the bottom all the way around to the top ... and back down again (except that's not showing!)
Be sure to do some sort of reinforcement stitch where the bottom meets the flap. This will get alot of tugging everytime you put something in or take something out of your clutch, so be sure it doesn't start coming apart!
At this point last night, I proudly patted myself on the back and enjoyed my beautiful clutch. Oh. Wait. Yuck. I had forgotten to add any sort of enclosure. DANGIT. So, I was forced to add little squares of velcro. Not horrible but not great.
As a result of that tiny little detail (cough cough), I needed to add something to cover up the seams from the velcro. So, I added a fun little yo yo and a button. I would've added this anyway, but I had planned to place it on the SIDE of the clutch and not the dead center!
I've decided to call it a "happy accident" because I am super thrilled with my clutch! Sorry '50s gals, I'm not selling this one for a buck!
Here’s the breakdown for y’all:
Time: 30 MINUTES! Seriously. If you’re super meticulous, maybe (MAYBE!) an hour max. I triple dog dare you to do it in 30 minutes though!
Cost: Anywhere from FREE if you use what’s on hand…to about $5. You’re using such a small amount of fabric and a tiny bit of Pellon!
I know I said I want to be generous….but I’m keeping this one!!!
Hey this is quite similar to a clutch I made for a giveaway on my blog…Yours is really cute with the ruffles!
Hey Mruna! I visited your blog just now to see yours – yes, very similar, how fun! I love how you created yours as a wristlet – great idea! These certainly aren’t rocket science to come up with which is why I really enjoyed making mine. Like a simple dress, it’s so fun to see how creative it can become!!!
Really cute and maybe easy enough for me to do! lol
Thanks for sharing this tutorial;)
Really really cute! Loved your tutorial….very easy to follow – am camping now but when I get back home I’m going to try it! By, the way, love your blog…just found you!
I am thinking about making this from upcycling table linens…I was wondering if it could be made reversible? Maybe with a buttonhole on the flap and buttons on both inside and out of clutch?