Little Clutch Bag ~ How to make your own ~ with a free tutorial

I have a friend’s birthday coming up, and she’s the kind of woman who already has everything, so thought I might try and make her a unique clutch bag. The idea has been building for a while as to how to best make this, and I finally got round to creating it today.

While I think it’s pretty, I’m really not sure it’s right for her. It may end up in the Little People’s dressing up box…, and I think it might work better with different fabrics. What do you think?

Still, this is how I made it.

 

Tutorial for a simple but elegant Clutch Bag

Materials Needed

2x main fabric for body (I used 6″ x 12″ including seams)

2x lining fabric (I used 6″ x 8″ including seams)

[same again for interfacing if you’re using it]

2x fabric for band (I used 2″ x 8″ including seams)

2x lining fabric for band (I used 2″x 8″ including seams)

[same again for interfacing if you’re using it]

2x magnetic clasps (I used 18mm thin nickel ones)

thread

fabric scissors

seam ripper

iron

tape measure and/or metal ruler

 

1. Start by cutting all the main fabric down to size.
2. Sew or Iron on any interfacing now.
3. We’re going to make the outside of the bag first.
   1.  Along one top edge of the fabric, start to make folds in, starting about 2 inches in. I made six folds, but you can make as many or as few as you like.
   2. Pin these in place before stitching them down roughly just to keep them secure.
   3. Repeat with the other outside fabric.
   4. Place and pin both of the outside fabrics together, right-sides-together [pattern touching each other].
   5. Stitch the two side edges and the bottom edge together.
   6. Trim the corners.
4. Now we’re going to make the inside of the bag.
   1. Sketch around the outside of the pleated oustide bag onto your lining, and cut out (two pieces)
   2. Place and pin both of the inside fabrics together, right-sides-together.
   3. Stitch the two side edges and the bottom edge together.
   4. Trim the corners.
5. Creating the bag base.
   1. Turn the inner bag in on itself (so that the right-sides are together).
   2. Push the outer bag inside the inner bag, so that the patterned sides are touching. 
   3. Match up the raw seams of the two bags, making sure the edge seams match up. Pin in place.
   4. Sew around the top, leaving a gap of about 2″ for turning. Back-stitch a couple of times on the start and finish.
   5. Turn the base of the bag, poking out any corners, and top stitch over the gap you left for turning. This doesn’t need to be particularly neat as you’re about to hide it with the band.
6. Now to make the bands.
   1. Firstly you need to attach your magnetic clasps to each side of the band (to the lining fabric);
      1. Mark the centre of each band.
      2. Using the seam ripper, make little cuts in the fabric for the prongs to go through.
      3. Poke the prongs of the magnet through (making sure the clasp is on the right side of the material).
      4. Add the washer and a scrap of felt or some other tough but soft material to give it more strength
      5. Fold the prongs in.
      6. Repeat for both sides of the band (that is to say, on both of the inner fabric bands).
   2. Lay the outer fabric band and the inner fabric band together (right-sides-together), and stitch along one long edge. This will be the top of your bag.
   3. Fold the two fabrics together (wrong -sides-together), folding in the seam at the bottom too, and press (but don’t stitch the bottom seam yet).
7. Finishingthe clutch bag.
   1. Position the band over and encompassing the top of the base of the bag.
   2. Make sure the side seams match up and pin in place.
   3. Stitch the bottom of the band to the top of the bag base. Your material may be quite thick at this stage, so use an appropriate needle if needs be.
   4. If you have any spare fabric, you can make a small loop by folding the length in on itself and stitch. Stitch in place.

Ta Daah! Made By Yours Truly. You’re done! Sit back and admire your work, or, if you’re feeling crafty, have a go at this clutch bag as well.