Tutorial: Diagonal Fold Over Clutch

The saying a woman can never have enough handbags rings very true to us here at AGF. But in our case, it should be rephrased as "A woman can never have enough handbags and fabric to make them with!" They're one of our favorite sewing projects to participate in and we're less like grownups and more like kids in a candy store when it comes time to pick our fabric choices.

We narrowed down a few different mockups using completely different collections of fabric (any would have worked just as well) and decided on the peachy, pastely, vintage-inspired prints of Reminisce by Bonnie Christine. 

So, what we've created for this end-of-week tutorial is a modern and youthful design inspired by the recently trending fold-over style clutch. We like this type of clutch because it's got a relaxed sophistication about it. Very stylish, but it's the kind that doesn't take itself too seriously, or rather--it appears effortless. 

If you haven't been won over yet by this trend, our tutorial is a great way to test the waters. We guarantee this one will be super fun and recommend you give it a try!

Let's start with the sizes and quantities of fabrics and supplies you'll need:

1. (1) 14” x 13” Rectangle of Sweet Nostalgia Antique (Reminisce collection)
2. (1) 14” x 13” Rectangle of Wonderment Teaberry (Reminisce collection)
3. (2) 14” x 13” Rectangle of Freshly Picked Sherbert  (Reminisce collection)
4. (2) 14” x 13” Rectangle of heavy iron-on interfacing       
5. (2)  4” x 4” squares of Apricot Crepe (Pure Elements collection)
6. (1) 14” long zipper

To begin, take the top right corner of fabric 5 and fold it diagonally. Cut along the fold to end up with two triangles. Do this for both pieces of fabric to end up with 4 new triangles.

Using your iron, press ¼" of all 3 edges of your triangles toward the wrong side of the fabric.

You’ll now align and sew these triangles directly on the bottom corners of fabric 1 & 2.

Now onto the step that will give your clutch that special detail—the diagonal cut. For this, you’ll take fabric 1 & 2 and align them together facing the wrong side. Pin them, and measuring 2” from the top left corner, place a small indication or pin for marking. Using a ruler for a precise line, cut from your mark to the top right corner.

Repeat these steps for both pieces of fabric 3 and your interfacing. However, for your interfacing, measure and cut 2 ½” from the top left corner instead of 2”.

The next step is to align and iron your pieces of interfacing onto the wrong sides of fabric 3. The right side of these two pieces of fabric will become the clutch’s lining and the interfacing will give body and structure to the clutch.

Now onto the zipper application. Take the zipper and lay it across the top of fabric 1 (zipper should be facing the right side of the fabric). Now take one of your lining pieces (fabric 3 now with interfacing attached) and place it right side down on top of fabric one, aligning the top edges with the zipper. Sew the fabrics and zipper together along the edge of the zipper.

Repeat these steps on the other side of the zipper with your remaining pieces of fabric 2 & 3. With your iron, press the fabrics away from the zipper.

Open your zipper and have the two outside fabrics (1&2) facing each other on their right sides and do the same for your lining pieces. Making sure your corners line up, sew around all sides, leaving a 5” open section on the lining (as shown in the diagram below) to turn your clutch right side out.

 

Once you’ve turned it right side out, iron your clutch and hand stitch the opening on the lining to close it. Fold over the top part of your clutch and iron along the fold to create your fold-over crease. That's it!