Free tutorial -Beginners sewing project _ learn to sew and make a gorgeous Clutch bag to gift or keep
Materials and Equipment
For the velvet clutch
40cm of velvet fabric I got mine here
1 fat quarter I got mine here
Batting I got mine here
Tassels I got mine here
Green and Gold Clutch Bag
2 x fat quarters ( 1 x lining 1 x main fabric)I got mine here in the store
batting as before
I meter of ribbon
10 small beads
Tips for beginners
Seam allowance 1 cm this is the distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitch line. You will find a series of parallel lines engraved on the needle plate of your sewing machine pick the one marked with the measurement you need and keep the edge of the fabric to this guide
RS = right side of fabric WS = wrong side of fabric.
Matching thread or contrast thread, pins, tape measure, chalk and scissors, safety pin or rouleau tool
The total length of the bag is 48cm and the total width of the bag is 22cm before you start to make the shaping for the front of the bag. Measure up from the 22cm to 34cm, mark with chalk, to start the shaping. Mark the middle of the 22cm (11cm) and mark 0.5cm either side of the 11cm mark, join that line to the mark you made at 34cm.
1.Make a paper pattern following the measurements, use the paper pattern as a template, pin on to the fabric and cut as follows,
2.Cut x 1 in batting
Cut 1 x lining
Cut 1 x main fabric
3.Cut the tie (no paper pattern piece) in the main fabric 3cm x 45cm x 1
3a. cut the ribbon to 67cm (if you are using ribbon for the tie)
4. Pin RS together joining the long seam. Leave a long thread.
Trim the seam you have just sewn, in half, to make it easier to turn inside out.
Either attach the thread to a safety pin and drop the pin back inside the seam you have just seam you have just sewn, or use a rouleau loop turner tool and turn the right side out.
5a. If you are using ribbon for the clutch tie, omit section 3,4,and 5
6. Pin and stitch the tie (or ribbon) onto the lining fabric, fold the tie onto the lining, sandwich the 3 fabric together, as follows
Bottom layer, batting,
Second layer, lining RS facing up
Top layer RS facing down to the RS of the lining.
7. Pin the 3 layers together with the tie, tucked into the middle and not touching the seams. Stitch around the layers leaving a gap as shown.
Trim the seam with the batting in half (this will make it easier to turn through and lay flat)
8.Turn the bag inside out and press.
9. Hand slip stitch the gap, using matching thread and
10. Fold the bag into the 3 sections as shown, pin into place.
11. Either hand stitch using slip stitch or machine stitch the 2 seams that you have just pinned.
12. Fold the raw edge of the wrap around tie inside the seam, insert the tassel into the seam and machine or hand sew into place. Inserting the tassel into the seam is a little fiddly, but worth the effort.
12a. Fold the end of the ribbon of 1cm fold again for 1cm, slip stitch onto place and sew on a few beads.
