Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (39 page)

a.
First, cut out the Clutch Handbag pattern pieces provided in the pocket at the front of this book.

• Main panel

• Tab closure

• Lining/divider panel

b.
Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric according to the instructions below. Then, using your scissors, cut the fabric according to the outlines on the pattern pieces, in the quantities given below.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE EXTERIOR

•
Cut 2 main panels on the fold:
*
Use the main panel pattern piece provided in the pocket at the front of this book
.

•
Cut 2 tab closures: Use the tab closure pattern piece provided in the pocket at the front of this book
.

•
Cut 1 fabric flower strip: 4″ wide × 38″ long (Measure across the width of your fabric and mark these dimensions directly onto the
Wrong
side of the fabric, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil. Then, using your scissors, cut out the panel following the marked lines
.)

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE LINING

•
Cut 2 lining panels on the fold:
*
Use the entire lining/divider panel pattern piece provided in the pocket at the front of this book
.

•
Cut 2 divider panels on the fold:
*
Use the lining/divider pattern piece, first folding it down at the guideline
.

FROM THE BATTING

•
Cut 4 main panels on the fold:
*
Use the main panel pattern piece
.

•
Cut 2 tab closures: Use the tab closure pattern piece
.

FROM THE TIMTEX

•
Cut 1 divider panel on the fold:
*
Use the lining/divider pattern piece, first folding it down at the guideline.

*
To cut your pattern piece on the fold of your fabric, first fold the fabric with
Wrong
sides together and the selvage edges aligned. Then lay your pattern piece so that the edge to be cut on the fold is even with the folded edge of your fabric. Once the piece is cut out, open it up to make one full panel.

Step 2: Attach the batting and Timtex to the main panels, tabs, and divider panel.

a.
Place 2 batting main panels onto the
Wrong
side of the first exterior main panel, matching up the raw edges, and pin the batting in place. Then, machine baste
*
a
³
/
₈
″ seam completely around the batting on the main panel.

*
See page 171
for an explanation of machine basting
.

b.
Using your scissors, trim the batting in the seam allowance close to the basting stitch to help reduce bulk in the seams.

c.
Follow the instructions in steps 2a and 2b to attach the other 2 batting main panels onto the other exterior main panel.

d.
Follow the instructions in steps 2a and 2b to attach one piece of batting onto the
Wrong
side of each of the tab closures.

e.
Place the Timtex divider panel onto the
Wrong
side of the first divider panel and pin it in place. Then, machine baste a
¹
/
₂
″ seam completely around the Timtex panel.

f.
Using your scissors, trim the Timtex only in the seam allowance close to the basting stitch to help reduce bulk in the seams.

Step 3. Attach the Velcro to the front main panel and one of the tab closures.

a.
First, fold the front main panel in half lengthwise,
Right
sides together, matching up the side raw edges, and gently press a center crease for use in centering the Velcro. Then, open up the front main panel and, using your ruler and chalk pencil, measure 2
¹
/
₄
″ down from the top raw edge along the center crease and make a mark. Center a 2
³
/
₄
″ piece of the male half of the Velcro over the center crease and below the 2
¹
/
₄
″ mark and pin it in place. Attach it by stitching completely around the edge of the Velcro, backstitching at each end.
(FIGURE 3A)

Set the main panel aside.

b.
Fold one of the tab closures in half lengthwise, with
Right
sides together, matching up the side raw edges. Gently press a crease to use for centering the Velcro. Then, open up the tab closure and, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil, measure
³
/
₄
″ up from the bottom raw edge on the center crease and make a mark. Center a 2
³
/
₄
″ piece of the female half of the Velcro over the center crease and above the
³
/
₄
″ mark and pin it in place. Attach it by stitching completely around the edge of the Velcro, backstitching at each end. This is now the tab closure lining.
(FIGURE 3B)

Step 4. Make and attach the tab closure.

a.
Place the tab closure and the tab closure lining
Right
sides together, matching up the raw edges, and pin them in place. Attach them by stitching a
¹
/
₂
″ seam down both sides and around the bottom raw edges, leaving the long top edge open.

b.
Using your scissors, trim the seam allowance
*
to
¹
/
₄
″ around the outside curved edges of the tab closure. Clip into the seam allowance
*
around the inside curved edges, making sure not to clip your stitching. This will allow the curves to turn neatly.

*
See pages 172
and
170
for explanations of trimming and clipping the seam allowance
.

FIGURE 3A

FIGURE 3B

FIGURE 4E

FIGURE 7B-01

FIGURE 7B-02

c. Turn the tab closure
Right
side out using a turning tool
*
to push out the curves on the tab. Press the tab flat.

*
See page 172
for an explanation of a turning tool
.

d.
Pin the top raw edges on the tab closure and the tab closure lining together, then machine baste a
¹
/
₄
″ seam across the matched raw edges. Topstitch
*
across the tab closure 1″ in from the matched raw edges and then again 1
¹
/
₂
″ down, backstitching at each end.

*
See page 172
for an explanation of topstitching
.

e.
Then, topstitch a
¹
/
₄
″ seam around the outside finished edges of the tab closure, backstitching at each end.
(FIGURE 4E)

f.
Next, find the center of the back main panel by folding the panel in half lengthwise, with
Right
sides together, matching up the side raw edges. Gently press a center crease to use in centering the tab closure onto the top of the back main panel.

g.
Place the
Right
sides of the exterior tab closure (the side without the Velcro attached) and the back main panel together, matching up the center crease and the top raw edges on the each panel, and pin them in place. Then, machine baste a
¹
/
₄
″ seam across the top raw edges.

Step 5. Attach the exterior front and back main panels together.

a.
Place the
Right
sides of the front and back main panels together, matching up the side and bottom raw edges, and pin them in place. Starting on the right side of the panels,
¹
/
₂
″ down from the top raw edge, stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam down both sides and along the bottom raw edges, stopping
¹
/
₂
″ down from the left-hand top raw edge, backstitching at each end.

b.
Using your scissors, trim the seam allowances to
¹
/
₈
″ around the outside curved edges of the exterior main panels and press the top part of the side seam allowances open. (You may find it difficult to maneuver the panels to press the seam allowances, so use the tip of your iron and press a little bit at a time.)