Hello!
I posted a "Blue Vintage Clutch" I made a week or so ago and everyone loved it so much (thanks again everyone) that I decided to make a tutorial to show how much I appreciate everyones comments. This Brown Classy Clutch is a little different in that I changed up the shape a little (you'll see how below). You'll be able to make either of the clutches by using this pattern. I only request two things for those who decide to use this pattern. 1) Give me some credit. When you post it please include a link to me. and 2) Please post pictures if you can. Please let me know if you have any problems using this tutorial so I can fix it. Have fun!
Ta-da! first, a picture of the clutch for your viewing pleasure.
And now for the moment you've all been waiting for...
Pleated Classy Clutch Tutorial by Underhill940
Time: 2-3 Hours
Level: Intermediate
Materials You Will Need w/ Abbreviations:MF (Main Fabric) - you will need at least 1/4 yard. I barely made it with that so you may want a little more.
CF (Contrasting Fabric) - 1/4 should do it
Heavy Interfacing - 1/2 yard of a nice thick fusible interfacing
Medium Interfacing - 1/2 yard of fusible interfacing
Magnetic Snap
Thread and all your other normal sewing supplies
Pieces to Cut:6 pieces of heavy interfacing. 14 inches across. 3 inches on the side. and coming down to a point in the middle making the middle 4 inches long like this...
4 pieces of MF that are 14x3 inches with a middle increase of 1 inch like the interfacing pieces above. (I suggest using the heavy interfacing pieces as a sort of pattern to cut these out).
2 pieces of MF 20x7 1/2 inches
2 pieces of medium interfacting 20x7 1/2 inches
2 pieces of contrasting fabric 15x7 1/2 inches
Time to begin!
1. Once you have all your pieces cut, go ahead and fuse the 6 interfacing pieces to the 4 matching MF pieces. 2 of the 4 MF pieces will get two pieces of interfacing. These two double interfaced pieces will be the outside handle part.
2. Take the two 20x7 1/2 pieces of fabric and fuse with the medium interfacing pieces. Now you can begin adding the pleats with an iron. You may choose to spread the pleats across the fabric or make a few small pleats in the middle. the choice is yours. Continue adding pleats until your piece is about 2 inches longer than one of the handle pieces. Pin the pleats in place.
Now sew across the pleats staying very close the the edge.
Repeat with your other piece.
3. Time to attach the outside handles. lay the handle piece on the pleated piece right sides together like this. manipulate the pleated piece so that the edges line up. Sew following the edge of your handle piece.
Once you unfold it, the piece should look like this
repeat with other pieces
4. It's time to get rid of rough edges. First you need to hem the top of each piece. I wanted my handle to be dainty so I hemmed the piece so that each side was only 2 inches tall. Do the same to both pieces. Lay the two hemmed pieces with right sides together and pin the top. Up until now you've been working with a pretty shapeless piece of fabric, it's time to decide what type of shape you'd like your clutch to have. Here's what I mean.
If you'd like a more straightbottom purse then measure across and cut a straight line. If you want a rounded bottom then cut the piece that way. Just make sure you keep it even! I suggest pinning the pieces together and then cutting at the same time. Once you've got it the way you want you need to secure every pleat at the bottom, and then sew around from side, bottom, and back to side.
Turn the piece and you end up with this!
5. So close! Time to repeat the steps with the CF. This time you will not be pleated so you can move straight to attaching the handle to the CF.
Repeat on both sides.
Now you can hem the top of both pieces (however big or small you made the outside). Make sure you measure all sides to make sure you've kept it even! Before you can sew the two pieces together you'll need to add the magnetic snap. Make sure its at least an inch down from the top. Put the two pieces right side together. Pin and sew!
6. Place the CF piece inside your MF piece and pin together. Keep it even at the top and make sure you're magnetic snap is all lined up. Once you're ready, stich all the way around the top.
TA-DA you're done!
I was really tired when I wrote this tutorial so I hope it made some sense lol. Got questions? Post here and I'll answer them asap. Hope some of you use this
