How to Sew a Clutch Bag for Beginners

How adorable is this bow clutch bag? Aside from the fact that this project is an eye-catcher, I am sharing this tutorial I found on Gathered because it is easy to follow and written simply for beginners to be able to see quick results using little materials.

But wait! Before you jump down to the tutorial, let me give you a few pointers if you are the newest of new to sewing.

RS – Means right side. The right side of the fabric is the side you want to show or the side with the print on it.
WS – Means the wrong side of the fabric. The inside that does not have the print on it. The part that is “wrong” and you do not want it to show after your project is done.
There is no #3 – it is that simple!

To be best prepared to sew this project, you will want to have a little knowledge in sewing a zipper, or you can always be creative and use an alternative method for closing your pouches such as magnets or snaps.

How to sew a bow clutch bag

By Jennie Jones

You will need

Two fat quarters of fabric
Lining fabric: 27x38cm (10⁵⁄₈x15in)
Zip: contrasting color, 25cm (10in)
Basic sewing kit

Notes

Use a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance.
We’ve used: Foxglove by Aneela Hoey for Cloud9 Fabrics

Bow clutch bag tutorial: step by step

Cutting the pieces

Step 1

Cut one of the fat quarters to use for the bag outer to 27x38cm (10⁵⁄₈x15in).

Step 2

Cut the other fat quarter into: a Main bow piece: 30x20cm (11⁷⁄₈x7⁷⁄₈in) and a Bow center piece: 8x4cm (3¹⁄₈x1⁵⁄₈in).

Making the bow knot

Step 1

Take the bow center and fold it in half lengthways with right sides (RS) facing, then stitch together down the length.

Step 2

Turn RS out and press.

Step 3

Turn one short end under by 1cm (³⁄₈in) then slip the other short end just inside. Slip stitch closed all the way around to make a ring.

Making the bow

Step 1

Take the main bow piece and turn both long edges under by 5mm (¹⁄4in) then the same again to the wrong side (WS). Stitch to hem.

Step 2

Feed the hemmed main bow piece through the ring.

Step 3

Place the bag outer RS up with the short edge running horizontally across the top. Place the bow RS down on top.

Step 4

Fold and pleat both edges of the bow piece so it measures 14cm (5¹⁄2in) wide then pin to the edges of the outer fabric with the top of the bow 3cm (1¹⁄4in) from the top short edge of the outer fabric. Tack into place.

Inserting the zipper

Step 1

Place the bag outer RS up. Place the unzipped zip RS down centrally along the top edge, matching the raw edge of the fabric to the edge of the zip tape. Place the lining piece RS down on top, matching raw edges and sandwiching the zip between the fabrics.

Step 2

Using a zip foot, stitch the three layers together all the way along the top edge.

Step 3

Repeat this to stitch the other short end of the outer and lining fabric to the other side of the zip.

Assembling the bag

Step 1

Open the zip then pin the bag together so that the main fabrics are RS together and the lining fabrics are RS together.

Step 2

Pin the zip teeth towards the outer and the tape towards the lining.

Step 3

Stitch the fabric down both sides, enclosing the ends of the bow pieces as you go but leaving a gap in the center of one side of the lining for turning.