Travel Clutch Tutorial

I'm going on an overnight trip this weekend and decided to make a little clutch that will hold my allergy medication. It will also be perfect for other things.....

reading glasses ,costume jewelry, socks or hose,chocolate, sewing supplies, keys,cell phone,underwear...use your imagination.

For the basic clutch (without the gathers or trim) you will need to make a pattern (I used paper) for one half circle and a second half circle with 2" added at the top for a flap. (Instructions for gathering the side are near the bottom of the post.)

Place your fabric (outer fabric and lining fabric) right sides together and cut your half circle using the pattern. Sew across the straight top, turn right sides out and press. Also cut two pieces for the half circle with added flap. Do not sew this piece as you did the one above.

  Place the first half circle piece INSIDE the two half circle with flap pieces, which you will have right sides together. Fold the flap over and trim so that it has the same curve as the top of the inner piece. (In the photo you can see that it is not straight out from the edge, but follows a line as thought it were continuing the circle.)

Sew all around the edge and across the top, leaving about one and a half inches unsewn so you can turn the piece right sides out. If you want to add trim, place it inside the top of the flap before sewing. The part you want to show will be hidden inside the flap at this point.

  After turning, sew the opening closed either by hand or by sewing across the entire top.

 Turn the flap back over itself (don't turn it over to the other side).

 Sew very close to the edge to attach it to the sides.

 To close the clutch, just turn the top back over the opening.

This is the basic clutch. You can make it fancier by adding gathers and trim. Make one fabric of the half circles wider to accomodate the gathers. (Mine was about 8" wider, but you can vary that. You can also choose to gather only the top edge, in which case you would leave the bottom curve the same, but add width at the top only.)

  Find the center of each piece and place a pin to mark it.

Sew a basting stitch across the top. Also sew a basting stitch around the bottom curve. Gather the top and pin in place, matching the center pins to help distribute the gathers evenly. Sew across the top with your 1/4" seam. Turn right sides out and press well. 

I chose to pin across the top edge to keep it in place. Now gather the bottom curve and pin in place. Sew a basting stitch to keep the gathers in place without pins.

 Now sew in between the two pieces with the flap just as shown for the plain clutch. When you turn the piece right sides out, you will be able to turn it so that the gathers show and are not on the inside piece. 

Continue as for the plain bag.

You can add a loop for a button if you want, but it should stay closed pretty well unless you really stuff it! 

Now you're ready to pack! This little clutch will make the contents easy to find when you are ready for them. You can make it the size you want by varying the size of your pattern. 

I hope you have fun with this!    

 Until next time..... Bee Blessed!