Purses can be a quick and easy accessory, but they can cost a lot.If you know how to make a clutch purse from inexpensive supplies, you can expand your accessories wardrobe without spending a lot of money.If you recycle kitchen linens or old fabrics around your house, you can make your new clutch a green project too.
Step 1: You can choose a fabric for the clutch.
If you find a pattern that you really like, you can choose cotton instead of a thick fabric because it will provide a thicker lining for your clutch.You can find half a yard of this fabric at your local craft or sewing store.Lining fabric is needed to line the inside of your clutch.If you are using a dark fabric, you can choose a darker color or a fun pattern that will not show through your fabric.You need metal clutch frame hardware for your clasp and some fusible fleece on top of those fabrics.You can find all of these items in the sewing section of a craft store.
Step 2: Lay the fabric out.
Take your fabric and put it on a table with a decorated side.Cut your fabric so that it is 13 inches tall.Cut a piece of lining fabric that is 13 inches tall.
Step 3: Attach the craft to the main fabric.
If you want it to be smaller than your main fabric, take a piece of craft fuse and cut it.Take a fourth of an inch off each side.Attach it to your fabric with an iron.It's important to spread it evenly across your fabric.
Step 4: Fleece should be put to the fabric.
Once you have fused your craft fuse to your main fabric, you can take a piece of fusible fleece and cut it 10 inches wide and 13 inches tall.It should be spread evenly on your fabric.It should be the same height as your main fabric, but there is a 1.75 inch gap between it and the edge of your fleece.
Step 5: Make a seam by sewing around your fabric.
The front and back of the main fabric should be turned over.Put your lining on top of your fabric.Take a half inch seam across the top and bottom of your fabric.You should place your fabric on the horizontal side so that the 13 inch side is vertical.If you have placed your fabric on the table, make sure you sew a seam along the top and bottom of the fabric.
Step 6: Right side out is where you should flip your fabric.
After sewing two of the sides, turn your fabric to face the outside.You can iron your fabric to remove anywrinkles.The two seams are on the top and bottom of your fabric.
Step 7: Put the seams of your fabric together.
If you want the two seams to line up, fold your fabric in half.Your fold should have the decorated side on it.The left and right side of your clutch should be open once you have created your fold.Before sewing, pin the top of your fabric with paperclips or pins.The pins or paperclips should be placed an inch away from the left and right sides of the fabric.
Step 8: A 3/8 inch seam is needed.
After sewing a seam on both sides of your clutch, place two pins or paper clips on the top of it to hold it together.Simply, sew a 3/8 inch seam from the top to the bottom and then trim the sides an eighth of an inch.Through the stitching, clip a tiny corner at the bottom right and left corners of your clutch.Start from the edge of the clutch and clip upwards.
Step 9: Attach your fabric to your sewing machine.
You need to flip it inside out because you still have a raw edge.You just sewed a seam along the two sides of your fabric.When you flip your fabric, you'll get rid of the raw edge.Once you've sewn both sides, clip the bottom corners.
Step 10: Go to the bottom corners.
The decorated fabric should be on the outside when you flip it right side out.Place the side seam on the table.To mark it, push the corner out and measure about an inch and a half.Cut that seam to an eighth of an inch and repeat on the other corner.Once more, turn the fabric inside out.To create this stitch, you want to place your clutch on the table so that you don't have to lie it flat on its side with the seams on either the right or left.You should make a triangle on both sides of your clutch with the seams as the height.The top point of each triangle is the corner you want to mark and sew.
Step 11: Place glue on the corners.
Stitch the corner again when your clutch is inside.If you flip your clutch right side out, you'll get the final shape of the clutch.Start with half an inch from the edge of your clasp's inside frame.Take a bead of glue and place it on the other side of the frame.Wrap tape around your clutch to hold it in place as the glue dries.On the other side of the clasp frame, repeat.It will take a few hours for your glue to dry.Make sure you use a multi-purpose cementing glue.These are usually found in small tubes.It's a good idea to mark the borders of your clutch.It can take a little bit of work to attach the clasp to the clutch, so be patient as you fit the fabric into the frame.
Step 12: Lift up the frame to finish your clutch.
Lift up on the sides of the clasp frame when the glue has dried on your frame.Lift up the sides of your clutch.You are done if you remove the tape and close the clutch.
Step 13: Pick out your supplies.
You will need two different fabrics for the outside and lining of the clutch.All fabrics should be cotton.If you want to be safe, you should get a yard of each fabric.You will need any sewing tools you like to use, like a ruler, pins, and a rotary cutter.For a really cute clutch, use two fabrics that work well together.You can use fabrics of the same color or different colored fabrics.Make sure you like the way the fabrics look together.You have the option to use any type of fabric.Make sure the fabric you choose is strong enough to hold the items in your clutch.There is flexibility inquilted weight cotton because it is heavier and will hold its shape better.
Step 14: Measure and cut your fabric.
Measure and cut a piece that is 12.75 inches by 19 inches for your main fabric.Cut two pieces for your second fabric, which will be the flap in the envelope.The lining needs to be at least 25 inches in length.Measure and cut the interfacing to 12.75 inches by 29 inches.
Step 15: Line up the flap fabric.
The decorated side of the table has your main flap fabric on it.Place your flap fabric on top of your main fabric with the decorated side facing down.Line them up so the long side of the flap fabric is in line with the short side.There is a quarter inch seam along the top of the lined pieces.You should not sew along the sides of the flap fabric.You should only sew along one side of the fabric if you want to leave those open.
Step 16: The main fabric needs to be joined to the second flap fabric.
The other piece of flap fabric should be placed at the other end of the main fabric with the right sides facing each other and the two 12.75 inch sides lined up.The two 5.5 inch sides and the middle 12.5 inch side are open if you sew another quarter inch seam along the top of the fabric.You should have a long piece of main fabric with two flap pieces on each end.You should be able to see the right side of your main fabric, but not the wrong side.
Step 17: Open up your piece and attach it.
The fabric should be one long line if you flip your flap pieces over.The seams should be iron so that they are flat.Put your fabric over the wrong side and the right side down.Place your shiny side on the wrong side of the fabric.Line it up and press it down.
Step 18: In half, fold your fabric.
If you pressed the interfacing on your fabric, you should fold it in half so that the two flap pieces meet.The decorated side of the fabric should not be showing.To sew along the right and left sides of your fabric, use a quarter inch seam from the flap to the end of the main fabric.
Step 19: You should fold and sew your fabric.
Take your lining fabric and fold it in half with the right side facing in, so that you have a piece 12.5 inches by 14.25 inches.Next, sew along the sides with a quarter inch seam.
Step 20: You need to iron out the top edge of the clutch.
The flap fabric is about a quarter of an inch from the open end.If you want it to stay in place, press your fold down and iron it out.Keeping the wrong side out and right side facing in is what you can do with the top edge of the lining.
Step 21: Right side out, flip your clutch.
Turn your clutch so the fabric is on the right side.Press down the seams to iron out your fabric.Push down the corners of your lining into your clutch.You have to leave the lining inside.The top of the lining should be about an eighth of an inch below the clutch.When you look in your clutch, you'll see the right side of the lining.It's fun to use a cute color or pattern for your lining so that you don't see a white or black lining when you open your purse.
Step 22: The top edge of the clutch is where you want to sew.
Attaching your lining to your clutch requires sewing a top stitch.Start at the right or left seam of your clutch and sew a straight line along the top of it.Then, sew another line, starting at a seam about a quarter of an inch from the fabric edge.Attach your lining to your fabric with this.
Step 23: Pull your clutch over.
You can see about three quarters of an inch of the main fabric at the top of your clutch by folding it over.You're done if you fill it with your items.Adding a button or two to the top of your clutch will allow you to button it closed while you are holding it.Nothing should fall out of your purse if the fold in the envelope is long.