Scrap Fabric Clutch

As a result of my refashioning obsession, I’ve acquired quite a collection of scrap fabric pieces.  It’s sort of becoming an issue because I can’t seem to find enough storage for all of it. 

Just when I was considering chucking it, I realized that I could make bags! 

I used to make bags all the time, and I love them because you can mix and match patterns and make them as basic or elaborate as you wish. 

I figured my small fabric pieces would be perfect for making clutches.  Remember the leather patch work skirt that I made for Refashion Runway?  I had some leftover pieces of the funky print skirt that I knew would work perfectly. *Note:  This fabric already had interfacing.  You will need to apply interfacing to the bag and the band pieces.

I began by drawing the pattern for the bag.   If you haven't noticed already, I really like to use newspaper for patterns, mainly because it's all I have at the moment.

 

Using this pattern, I cut two pieces from the funky print. 

Next, I added pleats at the top of each bag piece.  I found the middle of one bag, folded the pleats into the middle,and  pinned them on the top and bottom.  I used this bag to measure the pleats in the other bag. 

For the band around the top of the clutch, I measured the top of the bag and made a long rectangular piece.  The height is really a personal preference.  I wanted this bag to have a short band, but on another bag, I made it longer.

I thought that the polka dots on a sleeve that I had been holding onto would go nicely with the funky print of the bag.  So, I used it for the band.

First I added interfacing.

 

Next, I pinned the band pieces to the top of the bag, right sides facing, and stitched them on.

The top one looks a bit wrinkly, but it flattened out when it was time to stitch.

Once the bands were on, I added the zipper.  I shortened it and added a rectangular piece of fabric at each end.  I'll go through the installation step-by-step below.

Lay zipper face down on the right side of band.  Pin it in place. 

Lay the lining fabric over the top of the zipper, right sides facing bag and band.  Use existing pins and pin the band and lining together. 

Stitch close to the zipper, through the bag and lining, using a zipper foot. Repeat the process for the other side of the bag and lining. 

Before I sewed the bag together, I pinned a hand strap that I had made from a rectangular piece of fabric to the edges of the bag, with the middle part of the strap facing inward.

I then flipped the bag pieces over and stitched around the edges (right sides facing).  Once this was done, I did the same with the lining, leaving about two inches open.

I left the space between the blue pins open.

Lastly, I pulled the bag inside out through the opening in the lining and whipped stitched the opening closed.

This clutched turned out so cute!  I have a feeling I'm going to be making a lot more of them in the near future.  For those of you who sew, I'd love for you to share how you use your fabric scraps.