https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/bow-clutch-2 • Posted by Cat Morley
I'm far too camera shy to be a full-time fashion blogger but when the Pick Your DIY girls asked me to take part in their Spring/Summer 2013 collaboration, I jumped at the chance. Seven DIY bloggers took part, pulling inspiration from Pinterest to craft the most liked & repined ideas.
My challenge was this gorgeous bow clutch from Ruche, which I knew would be a piece of cake thanks to my trusty Crop-A-Dile.
Gather your materials and begin by drawing out the measurements on the wrong side of your faux leather. The bag should measure 10.4" wide by 24" tall, leaving a half inch seam allowance at the edges.
Cut this out. You'll notice that the bag is made from one long tall strip which we'll fold over multiple times.
Now cut a slightly larger rectangle of lining fabric and another of fusible interfacing.
Iron the interfacing on to the wrong side of your lining fabric, to give the bag a little more strength.
Pin the lining fabric on top of your faux leather, wrong sides facing out and sew around the edges with your sewing machine, remembering your half inch seam allowance...
and leave a small gap unstitched at the top edge.
Fold your bag inside out and hand stitch the small opening closed.
Fold the bottom of the bag up by 6" and pin at either side.
Sew along both sides, and fold your bag inside out.
Cut two more strips of faux leather measuring 2" x 6".
Place on top of each other and neatly sew around the edges.
Now here's a fun part. Grab your leather punch or hole punch and start punching a pattern in to the strap.
I punched one large hole in the middle with six smaller holes around the outside, to resemble flowers.
Keep punching until your satisfied with the design.
Fold the top flap of the bag down and place the punched strap in the middle at the top of the bag. Pinch the fabric so that the end of the strap fits neatly in to a fold at the top of the bag and pin in place.
Stitch the strap in place.
Now it's time to make our bow. Your clutch should look like this currently.
Starting at the bottom, evenly fold the bag up. Folding three or four times until it creates a pretty bow at the top of the bag. This might take a few attempts until you find a look you like but pin in place when you're happy with it.
Sew a small line along the bottom of the bow to hold the frills in place.
Fold the flap around the center of the bow and stitch in place, underneath the flap.
Optional: If you'd like to attach a handbag chain to your clutch, stitch to small strips of leather at either side of the bag, underneath the flap.
Finish the bag off by punching a line of small holes around the edges of the bow.
Congratulations, you're all finished! Now take your new clutch out to a party and celebrate.