Line It Up Clutch {mini tute}

I recently had some fun making a handmade Christmas present for a friend of mine! Knowing her the way I did, and her love for simplicity and bright colors, I decided upon a simple clutch with some fun stripes that lined up and overlapped.

The ‘Line it Up’ Clutch…

Sewing something for a fellow seamstress can be tough, and I sincerely hope she likes it! Using a basic fold over clutch pattern, I added a magnetic snap closure to let the tab snap shut exactly where I wanted it to, giving the stripes that extra kick.

And then of course Joel Dewberry makes everything better. I even went so far as to sew my very first welt zipper (which I was very proud of might I add).

Here is a mini tute of how this clutch came together…

• Cut your pieces for the clutch out your desired sizes. Mine are approx. 10″w x 20″l. Cut (2) exterior – with one of the exterior pieces have a small rectangle extended from the top as a tab.  I made some handmade bias tape in the color I wanted, and simply sewed them directly on top. 

• Cut out (2) lining pieces to match your exterior. Be sure that the tab is on the opposite side. 

• Interface the back of every fabric piece. You can choose to do only the lining if preferred, but I like an extra firm bag for a more professional and sturdy look.
• If you want to add pockets, now is the time. I added a welt pocket using the genius ikat bag welt pocket tutorial.  I wish I had added it closer to the top, because you have to dig in quite deep to find it. But I felt adding it on top would have interfered with the top closure. Something to think about next time. 

• Sew in your magnetic snaps. I didn’t want any part of the snap showing, so I bought the kind that literally are enclosed within the fabric. Be sure you test the positive and negative before sewing. You don’t want to have to use your seam ripper on these (trust me *sigh).

Once you are done with this, it is a simple matter of sewing the clutch together like any other fold over clutch.

• Put the lining right sides together and sew around side and bottom edge, leaving a 4″ opening for turning.  Repeat for exterior, without leaving the opening. 
• Slip interior inside exterior bag, with right sides facing. Sew together along entire top raw edge. 
• Turn bag right side out through opening in lining. Using a blunt edge, push out all corners. 
• Whipstitch lining opening closed.
• Push lining inside the bag, press top edge, and fold closed.

But its already on its way to California now, so she can add a strap if she wants it .   Hope you are having a very handmade Christmas!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy Sewing!