DIY CLUTCH BAGS

It all started with a pair of fuchsia pink shoes. I had bought the shoes a few months ago in preparation for wedding season and I needed a matching clutch bag. I had my eye on a pink clutch bag for months but my new thing is being frugal so I decided to wait until the Boxing Day sales to buy it. Unfortunately, when I went to buy the clutch it was completely sold out online. I was soooooo disappointed but then the lightbulb went off over my head and my own words came back to me, “Create what you can’t find.” So I figured I would challenge myself and make my own clutch bag.

I had only intended on making one, but then I was so inspired by seeing all the clutches other people had made on the internet that I ended up making three. I happily discovered that clutch bags are very easy to make and also quite budget friendly. I never knew that you could make bags from wooden boxes or even a humble placemat!! I’m quite proud of my efforts and can’t wait to rock them. Check out the instructions below on how to make them and send me pictures of your DIY clutch bags – I’d love to see them.

♣  ♣  ♣  ♣  ♣

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DIY PLACEMAT CLUTCH

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Using placemats to make clutch bags has got to be one of the best life hacks ever. I take comfort in the knowledge that as long as placemats exists I will never be without a clutch bag.  I picked up 2 brown placemats from TK Maxx for only £3.00 – what a bargain! I decided to line my placemat with black fabric because it was a bit transparent and I didn’t fancy advertising that I was carrying a tampon (or other personal items) to the general public whilst holding it; but you can leave yours unlined if you wish. I chose to sew my placemat together but you can use glue if you’re not into sewing. I would probably wear this clutch to a smart casual event with neutral toned clothes. It would look amazing during summer with a khaki or taupe coloured outfit.

Instructions:

1. You will need:
   • A placemat
   • Fabric to use as lining (cut to the same size as your placemat)
   • Magnetic bag clasps
   • Invisible thread (but you can use any colour thread you choose) or fabric glue
   • Embellishments – I used an old leather belt and a fox shaped belt buckle, but consider using beads, brooches or buttons.
   • Glue gun
   • Scissors
2. Fold and iron a 1 cm seam around the edges of the lining fabric, then sew down the seams. You can use fabric glue for this if you wish.
3. Push the prongs of a magnetic clasp through the centre of the bottom edge of the placemat (right side facing towards you) and secure with the locking device on the wrong side of the placemat. (N.B. if you are using a fabric placemat you will have to make 2 small parallel cuts, approximately 0.5 cm long, to push the prongs of the magnetic clasps through)
4. Place the lining fabric (wrong side down) on top of the wrong side of the placemat and pin the long sides together.
5. Fold the bag into thirds horizontally to get an idea of where to insert the magnetic clasp into the lining fabric. Use tailor’s chalk to mark where you want the clasp to be.
6. Make 2 small parallel cuts into the lining fabric and push the prongs of the magnetic clasp through it.  Then secure with the locking device on the wrong side of the lining fabric.
7. Sew or glue the lining fabric onto all 4 sides of the placemat.
8. Then fold the bottom third of the placemat up and pin sides. Sew or glue the sides together. If you are using glue, place the glued sections under a heavy weight for a few hours to ensure that the glue bonds securely.
9. Fold the top section of the placemat down and then attach embellishments with a glue gun. I cut the belt to the same width of the clutch and glued it down.
10. Then I glued the fox buckle on top. That’s it…..so easy!

 

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DIY WOODEN BOX CLUTCH WITH FEATHERS

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This is my favourite bag of the 3! I love putting feathers on just about anything so this was a great excuse to use them. Looking at this bag you would never guess that I used a £2 wooden box to make it! I’m so happy with how it turned out. This feather clutch is perfect to wear with an evening dress; it reminds me of 1920’s flapper style, so I think it would look great with a beaded dress, a headband and lots of pearls.

Instructions:

1. You will need:
   • A wooden box (I got mine from The Works)
   • Wood primer (either liquid or spray)
   • Black acrylic paint or black spray paint
   • A paint brush
   • Feather trim, approximately 1 meter
   • Black kick tape or ribbon
   • Scissors
   • A glue gun
   • A gold chain and 2 metal picture hanging loops (optional)
   • Satin fabric to line the box (optional)
2. Remove stickers and the metal corners from the box, then spray or paint on the wood primer. Make sure you cover the clasp with masking tape to prevent paint from staining it, or you can just unscrew and remove it.
3. Once the primer is dry paint the box inside and out with black paint (I didn’t like the paint I used in the picture above so I used a simple black acrylic paint from The Works). Once the paint is dry remove the masking tape from the clasp or re-attach the clasp if you removed it.
4. Cut 2 x 24cm lengths of the feather trim and glue them to the sides of the box, approximately 0.5 cm from the top, with a gap at the sides of the box – this will ensure that the box closes properly.
5. Then glue the kick tape/ribbon  to the top edge of the box and wrap the ends around the sides and insides of the box. Secure with glue. N.B. make sure that the tape/ribbon is straight and flush with the top edge of the box so that you get a neat finish.
6. Since I wanted the clutch to hang from my shoulder I attached a chain as follows: glue two metal picture hanging loops to the inside of the box approximately 2 cm from each corner. Then attach the chain to the metal loops.
7. To line the box, cut out 2 pieces of satin fabric much larger the box (approximately 6 cm larger than all 4 edges of the box) and glue it to the inside of the box, tucking the cut edges underneath as you go along.
8. Line both sides of the box. I recommend folding and ironing the cut edges of the fabric inwards (approx 1cm seam) before you glue it to the box – it looks much neater and is easier to work with.
9. That’s it, your box is done and ready to be shown off.

 

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DIY FELT COVERED WOODEN BOX CLUTCH

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This clutch is probably one of the craziest things I’ve ever made! To be honest, when I first glued the felt onto the box the glue seeped through it and created ugly grey patches all over – arrgghh! (N.B. always do a patch test first when applying glue to fabric)

I almost discarded the clutch but decided to cover up the grey patches with buttons and I’m actually happier with the end result . The felt was so thick that the clutch wouldn’t close with the clasp, so I removed it and made a new closure with an elastic hair band and a button. It’s a really fun clutch that I’d wear with jeans or a skater dress. Give this clutch bag a go and be as wacky as you dare.

Instructions:

1. You will need:
   • A wooden box (I got mine from The Works)
   • 2 sheets of felt (I got mine from Hobby Craft)
   • Scissors
   • Ruler
   • Craft glue
   • Glue gun
   • Buttons
   • Tailor’s chalk
   • 1 hair elastic band (black)
   • Needle and thread
   • Slim black cord
   • Satin fabric to line box (optional)
2. Measure the dimensions of your box and cut out a felt rectangle with a 9 cm allowance for the length and 7cm allowance for the width. So my box was 17.5 cm long and 9.5 cm wide, so I cut out a rectangle 26.5 cm x 18.5 cm (these measurements are just a guide, so tailor your measurements to the size of your box; watch this tutorial for more guidance). Then in the middle of the piece of felt, draw a box with the same dimensions of your box (e.g. 17.5 cm x 9.5cm) and cut out the excess fabric in the corners. Save these squares for step 3.
3. Glue the felt onto both sides of the box and wrap the excess felt into the inside of the box (I used pegs to hold the felt in place as I worked). Leave to dry. Once dry make the button clasp: use a glue gun to attach the hair elastic to the top of one side of the box and then glue a felt square on top of it. (N.B. Make sure the hair elastic is in the centre of the top of the box and use lots of glue to secure it)
4. Then sew a big button onto a small square of felt and glue this onto the middle of the other side of the box.
5. While these sections are drying use a glue gun to stick buttons all over the box.
6. Since I wanted the clutch to hang from my shoulder I attached a cord by gluing it to the inside of the box approximately 2 cm from each corner. To line the box, cut out 2 pieces of satin fabric much larger the box (approximately 6 cm larger than all 4 edges of the box) and glue it to the inside of the box, tucking the cut edges underneath as you go along.
7. Admire your finished clutch and strut like a peacock.

 

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I encourage you to give these clutches a try and experiment until you discover a style that you love. I think I’m going to be making more of these next time I’m in need of clutch bag.

♣  ♣  ♣  ♣  ♣

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