Zipper & Bow Clutch


Zipper Week sponsored by Zipit Zippers

Since we’ve had a blast perfecting the art of the zipper we wanted to take a gander out there and see who else was brave enough to tackle the zipper. Whitney, from Elm Street Life, had a bunch of adorable tutorials like making a pillow out of a placemat, a cute and girly heating pad and adorable ruffle kitchen towels and then we spotted it, this adorable bow clutch complete with a zipper. What perfect timing with Mother’s Day right around the corner.

What do you say? Let’s get started…

Zipper & Bow Clutch

** This is for personal use, only. Please do not make this to sell it. Thank you! **

And fiiiinally… the tutorial you’ve been waiting for. This is my first real sewing tutorial – which scares me a bit, because I’ve never actually taken a sewing class, so I don’t know all the terminology. What I do know is that I’ve learned to sew lots of things by reading tutorials, so hopefully I can make this simple enough that even you beginners can feel confident making a bag. And yes, a bag with a zipper! It can be done, I promise.There are plenty of photos, so hopefully that will help. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section and I’ll be happy to clarify.

**Also, please note except where I say, “Sew close to the edge,” I am using a 1/2″ seam allowance throughout. I have my machine set to this, so I am using the presser foot as my guide to sew 1/2″ from the edge of the fabric.

Ok, let’s get started!

Supplies you’ll need:
1/2 yard exterior fabric*
1/4 yard interior fabric (I recommend a quilting cotton)
9″ zipper that matches your exterior fabric
1/4 yard #808 Pellon Craft Fuse interfacing
Sewing thread that matches your exterior fabric
Sewing machine
Scissors
Pins
Iron & ironing board
*I recommend a medium to heavier weight cotton for this. Linen is what I’m using, and it works perfectly.  You don’t want to use a quilting weight cotton or something really light – it will make the final product too flimsy.

1. Start by cutting your exterior pieces. I use a quilting cutting mat which makes things as accurate as possible.

2. Now cut interior fabric pieces.

3. Cut interfacing.

4. Bring your strap piece to the ironing board.


Sometimes, at the end of this step, if my strap doesn’t feel sturdy enough, I’ll cut a thin strip of interfacing and tuck it inside the crease before sewing. This is an optional step.

5. Now it’s time to sew your strap.

6. Set the strap aside and let’s work on the “knot” of your bow.


7. Once you’ve gotten the “knot,” let’s work on the other part of your bow.


8. Set your bow aside for now, and grab your interior and exterior fabric pieces and your pieces of interfacing.

9. Now it’s time to attach your bow.

10. Set those pieces aside and let’s work on installing your zipper.

You can find a wide selection of colorful 9 inch zippers to match your fabric at Zipit Zippers.


11. Attach the exterior fabrics to the other side of your zipper.

12. You’re on the home stretch! Let’s add the strap and finish the bag!






WHEW! I hope you enjoyed that – please let me know if you try it at home… I’d love to see the results (it might make all of this sewing tutorial work worth it!). 🙂

Also, if you like the bag but aren’t a seamstress, I sell these bags in my Etsy shop: Brighter Day, and I’m happy to make them in just about any color!

*The only difference in the one I just made and the photo at the very top of this post is that I rounded the corners a bit and added a darker zipper – both of which are options you could try!

Thanks so much Whitney from Elm Street Life!

Start your zipper foot! You will be pleasantly surprised to find how easy zippers can be. Need some zippers to get started? Check out our intro to zippers post.

Zipper Week – Sponsored by Zipit Zippers.

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42 Comments

Susan Brooks

Your tutorial is fabulous. I’m thinking of making this for a special occasion.

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Min

Thank you so much for this lovely tutorial! It was so straightforward that it gave me the courage to try my luck with zippers for the first time.

Reply
Wednesday Pinspiration «

[…] and other crafty stores. I bought red linen and a navy blue lightweight cotton print to make this! I also got to visit one of my favorite stores ever, Anthropologie. I am not necessarily the […]

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Denise

Thank you SO much for this tutorial! I’m a “hot mess” when it comes to sewing, and I was actually able to pull off this purse! It’s not 100% perfect, but close enough that a sentimental Mother-in-Law will use it with pride 🙂

The only times I’ve taken out my sewing machine in the past have been to hem pants and to make some “Dammit Dolls” for my mom, and this actually came together pretty quickly and easily, even for me lol The only thing I changed was the zipper, I could only find a 7″ or 12″ zipper in a matching colour, so I went with the 12″. I also found it a little easier to sew with the zipper ALL the way open. I pinned before hand to make sure both sides were matched but when I attached the zipper I opened it all the way so I was just dealing with “half”. I also used the “Dressmaker II” which is an itty-bitty sewing machine, so I think I did an awesome job lol

Thanks for the awesome instructions!

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Kara

This is such an adorable little clutch! I love that bow on the front, and I can’t wait to make one! 🙂

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Peggy

Thanks for sharing your design! This was a really well done tutorial – well photographed and instructions are clear and concise. I’ve been sewing for over 40 years (yikes!) and have actually felt bad for novices trying to follow some online tutorials because they are so confusing. I’m going to make one for my niece’s birthday.

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Yael

Thank you so much! I made this and it turned out spectacular! there was no room for error! now i want to make one in every color!!

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Tilly

Beautiful! I love this. I have a wallet a bit like this which I need to replace as the colour has faded big time… now I can make my own! Thank you for the tutorial.

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Rox

I loved your tutorial and featured it on my blog. I was wondering if poplin would be too flimsy a fabric to use for this clutch?

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Brit

Thank you for posting this, it was wonderful! This was only the second thing I’ve ever made (the first being a blanket). I found the tutorial VERY easy to follow. I ended up making two! The only part that tripped me up on the first one was the strap. When I flipped my bag right side out, the strap appeared to be in between the bow and the bag. I was so confused… I followed the directions to a tee. I painstakingly ripped it out stitch by stitch, moved it to the other side of the bow and sewed it again only to have the same problem! I gave up, cut it out, and turned it into a zipper pull (also adorable). The second time around I realized- you just flip the bow to the other side of the bag… problem solved. I feel both silly and brilliant for figuring that one out!

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Rachel

As a seasoned seamstress, I found this tutorial so good! Very easy to follow instructions and the photos where perfect! Well written! I’m so happy with how my clutch turned out and will definitely be using the pattern again!

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Grace

This little clutch is so cute! I might make one for each of my daughters. You did a terrific job on this tutorial. The pics are very clear. Thanks for sharing!

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Tammy

Hi, Can this clutch be sold by me online or at local craft fairs? I’ve seen many similar ones on Etsy, but wanted to ask your permission before selling it. I love your pattern and you’re very generous to share this tutorial.

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Recherche Mlle Parfaite

Hi,

First time on your website. I was looking for inspiration for my next DIY, and you gave me the perfect one.
It’s a superbe tutorial. COngrats
I did it with pleasure and I’ve made the tutorial in French.
You can see it on recherchemlleparfaite.wordpress.com

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Bonnie

Hi! I wanted to let you know that I made 5 of these today in matching fabric as gifts for my daughter to give her bridesmaids at her wedding this summer. Terrific tutorial…easy and clear instructions…and pics were great for those of us visual learners. Thanks so much…I am so pleased with how they turned out! Now to fill with some small “Day Of” essentials…

Reply
Gifts | CreepingThyme's Blog

[…] together and whip up some gifts out of those fat quarters I just bought. I made a clutch using this tutorial by Colleen over at Pretty Prudent Baby. I made it a little bigger, but changing the dimensions wasn’t difficult at all. The […]

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Vanessa

Love this tutorial with all the pictures and step by step instructions! Makes it so easy to follow!!

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Autumn

According to the original website: “YES! You can sell this if you make it! Thanks for asking. Please give credit to Whitney Newby (www.elmstreetlife.com) for the pattern and design.”

So you claim that this cannot be reproduced and sold is inaccurate.

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Amber

Love this tutorial, very easy to follow. This was my first time working with a zipper and i was a little woried but i had no problem at all. The only thing i did differently, was adding a few stitches in the bow loop to secure it to the body. I love it though.

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sarina

I have this same colored fabric (leftover from a skirt project) – definitely making this. The bow looks so cute

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Ela Isabella

Amazing information with some witty description of Bow Clutch but if will get some embroidery classy designs then it looks sassy classy.
But still i go in flow with sarina.
Waiting for more posts.

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Sussudio

Hello! I am planning on making this as a Christmas gift and was wondering how the dimensions would change if you were to do the bow in a different color than the body and strap of the clutch?? I’m really not good with figuring out how much fabric I need for projects! Thanks!!

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