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Polka Dot Fold Over Clutch Tutorial (with custom stenciled fabric)

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

It was a long and horrible winter, have you heard??? I’m sure you didn’t hear me complain about the cold dark winter at all huh?!? (ha! who are we kidding?) The winter started early and lasted FOREVER, in fact we are under a freeze warning today…. AUGHH! Totally NOT normal for Kentucky… but I digress.

During this long cold winter, I left the house as infrequently as possible, I mean I didn’t even want to go get the mail… towards the end of the winter, my friend Gretchen, emailed me and said “Hey I found this cute clutch online, do you think we could make it?” – and with that a crafternoon was born.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

 

To be honest, I don’t know why I didn’t reach out and try to spend more time with like minded friends all winter long- but like I said- I didn’t want to leave the house.  We had a great afternoon, just what the Dr. ordered.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Today I’m going to share with you how we made the clutches.  If you’ve ever sewn a zip pouch, they were very simple, there are just a few tricks, which I’ll share with you today.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

 

That being said, I was chatting away the entire time we were sewing, so I was not the best “step by step” picture taker- if any part of this tutorial throws you off, refer to my Necktie Zip pouches for help- it’s the SAME pattern, just with a bit of leather added.

Since we could not find the fabric we wanted anywhere- We made it!! I used the Medium Polka Dot stencil sent to me by Royal Design Studios for project polka dot last month, and some acrylic paint- more on that part in a bit.

To make the clutch you’re going to need:

2- 13” x 13” pieces of cream fabric- get lighter than a denim fabric, but heavier than quilting cotton

2- 13” x 13″ pieces of fabric for the lining

2- 13” x 13” pieces of fusible fleece

2- pieces of leather 3” x 13” -something lightweight- I used lambskin

also- I would recommend 2 pieces of 13” x 13” shape flex to press onto the back of the clutch outside pieces- I didn’t use this but I would if I made it a second time.

9” metal zipper

2- 3”x2” pieces of fabric for zipper tabs

Leather Needle

Heavy Duty Thread

Regular Thread

Metallic Paint

Fabric Painting Medium

Spray Adhesive

Royal Design Studios, Medium Polka Dot Party Stencil

Foam roller brush

 

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

 

First up you’re going to need to stencil your fabric.  To do this mix 1 bottle of metallic gold acrylic paint with one bottle of Fabric Painting Medium.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.comWe used Martha Stewart Metallic Gold paint and DecoArt Americana Fabric painting medium.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Spray the back of the stencil with reposition-able adhesive spray.  Then on a clean surface (one thats disposable, like the craft paper in the photo above) place your fabric. Place the stencil on top of that. Check that the stencil and fabric are lined up how you want them.

Pour your paint mixture into the plastic tray that came with your foam roller brush… load up the brush with paint then blot off the excess on a paper towel. Roll over the fabric until the desired color is achieved. Do NOT over apply your paint, it will bleed and look bad.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

When you’re done you’ll have a piece of custom gold polka dot fabric! Let the fabric dry well, then set the paint with a dry iron. If desired apply Shape Flex to the wrong side of these two pieces.

Using binding clips attach the 3” x 13” piece of leather to your stenciled fabric, with bottoms even.  If you need tips for working with or cutting the leather, check out my Monogrammed Leather Zip Pouch tutorial. 

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

With a leather needle in your sewing machine, and heavy duty thread in the upper thread (you can leave the bobbin as standard thread) Stitch the leather trim piece to the stenciled fabric.  Repeat for the other clutch outside piece.

Using a CD round the bottom corners of the pouch on both the front and back clutch outside pieces.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Do the same thing to the clutch lining pieces (shown being cut out here).

Apply the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the two clutch lining pieces.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Next fold your  3” x 2” pieces of fabric in half parallel to the 2” side. Open up and fold the raw edges to the center fold. Refold.  Pin the folded piece over the raw edges of your zipper (think of the folded fabric like an alligator, chomping the ends of the zipper— silly analogy I know, but it works for me ).

Stitch along the side of the fabric closest to the zipper. Trim the fabric flush with the zipper.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Pin the zipper piece to the clutch outside piece, with the right side of the zipper facing the right side of the clutch. Center the zipper on the clutch piece, it will be smaller than the clutch piece. Pin the right side of the lining piece on top of this, the right side of the lining, facing the wrong side of the zipper. Put a regular needle back in your machine, and standard thread. Stitch with a zipper foot.

Repeat for other side of the zipper.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Open up and press the seams away from the zipper.  Top stitch along both sides of the zipper. Unzip the zipper.

Pin the 2 clutch outside pieces together, right sides facing. Pin the two lining pieces together.  Have the zipper seam allowance folded towards the lining pieces. Stitch around the perimeter, with a 1/2” seam allowance, leaving a 2” opening to turn the clutch right side out.

Clip your curves well (if you’re not sure what this means check out this tutorial). Turn right side out.

Press well, AVOID ironing the leather.

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

There you go!! Enjoy your clutch! Now to plan another crafternoon- just need something else to make!

 

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com

Polka Dot & Leather Fold Over Clutch Sewing Tutorial on polkadotchair.com
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12 Comments

  1. Beautiful purse! I know what you mean about the weather! I have many beautiful spring flowers blooming. The redbuds have started blooming. The dogwoods are showing color. My West Va. friends are in ‘Almost Heaven’…but we in eastern Ky. are blessed to be in Heaven…haha! I have a gallon baggie full of flower seeds for my flower beds. I have seed potatoes to plant down the middle of a raised bed….I grow veggies in one bed beside my carport. I have spent the winter making bookmarks for my fellow church members and cards for our card ministry.
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful projects!

  2. thankyou for your tutorial. I’m about to try my first clutch tomorrow & was wondering why the fusible fleece is attatched to the lining & not the outer? Also you mentioned you would next time use shape flex – assume this would be on the outer- would you mind expanding on why. I get very bogged down on interfacings- when & which to use & really appreciate your time.

    1. The outer fabric is a heavier weight material and didn’t need the extra interfacing. It was a lightweight home decor fabric. If you use quilting cotton I’d add the extra interfacing.
      In the end, I wanted it a tiny bit more sturdy, the addition of the Shape Flex would have added just a bit more stability without adding bulk.

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