‘Make it Yours’ One Piece Clutch Bag Pattern and SEWING CONTEST

'Make it Yours' clutch bag pattern.  Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

A simple one piece only pattern that folds ingeniously while sewn to create a basic clutch purse.  Pattern available in two slightly different sizes.  Make the purse plain with some top stitching around the flap, add some piping, add decorations, ribbon, flowers or embroidery to the flap or body of the bag.  Add internal pockets or a strap.  It’s all up to you – make the bag and then Make it Yours with this free clutch bag pattern!

The ‘Make it Yours' Sewing Contest is also launched today.  Find out more at the bottom of this post about how you can win some great prizes just for sewing this bag!

Features:

  • Uses just one pattern piece
  • Super quick to sew
  • Simple design
  • Two sizes
  • Magnetic snap closure
  • Make it yours – add your own design features

Bag sizing – The small pattern makes a finished bag approximately 8 inches wide across the bottom and 5.5 inches deep.  The larger pattern makes a finished bag approximately 9 inches across the bottom and 6.5 inches deep.

Skill level – Beginner for the basic bag.  Instructions for adding your own design elements, pockets, straps, embroidery etc are not included.  Let your imagination go wild!

Useful tutorials

You can find a range of useful sewing tutorials and videos at So Sew Easy – tutorials page.

Pattern pieces and printing.

One pattern piece only, in two sizes.   Follow the instructions in the downloaded instruction sheet for how to print and put together the PDF pattern.  Don't worry – it's easy!

Materials needed

  • Outer fabric  – I used a sturdy faux suede
  • Inner lining fabric
  • Firm Interfacing such as Pellon Decor Bond
  • Magnetic snap, or design your own closure
  • Optional – piping cord, extras for your design features or pockets, straps etc

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Go to the 'Make it Yours' Clutch Bag Pattern

Sew the 'Make it Yours' Clutch Bag.  Easy to sew and a great base pattern for your own designs and customization.

Directions for sewing the ‘Make it Yours' Clutch Bag Pattern

Full sewing instructions are also supplied with the pattern download.

1.  Cut your fabric as follows:

  • Outer fabric x 1
  • Lining fabric x 1
  • Firm fusible interfacing  x 2
  • Optional – pocket, piping, your design features

2.  Fuse your interfacing to the reverse of your outer and lining fabrics.  Mark on the interfacing where the magnetic snap should go for each piece, and reinforce that area with extra interfacing, transferring the placement mark to the top.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

3.  Check that your markings are centered and then install magnetic snaps.  IMPORTANT – take note that placement for the outer fabric and lining fabric is in different places. See pattern piece for details.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

4.  With right sides together, sew together the bottom seam with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

If you wish to add any internal pocket, do this now to the lining piece.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

5.  Open out the bag flat, press seam allowances towards the lining and with the right side up, understitch on the lining side, close to the seam line.  See this tutorial on understitching for more details.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

6.  Place the bag flat on your work surface, right sides up with the outer fabric at the bottom.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

Bring up the bottom seam line and line up the side seams as shown.  Fold down the lining flap and close the magnetic snap.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

Adjust the placement until you are happy and open up the flap and pin the side seams in place.

7.  Bring up the outer fabric and match it to the fabric at the top and pin in place all the way round, moving side seam pins to the top of the fabric sandwich .

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

8. OPTIONAL – if you wish to add piping around the top flap of your bag, make and insert this now.  You will need approx. 18 inches of piping.  Layer it in between the inner and outer layers of the top flap, bringing the piping out of the seams just above the corners at the fold line.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

9.  Stitch the side seams on each side and across the top, leaving a gap in your stitching of about 4 inches in the center of the top flap for turning the bag.

 10.  Snip close to the corners and trim the seams to reduce bulk, especially around the flap of the bag.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

11.  Turn the bag the right side out.  Use a blunt tool to push out the corners.

12.  Top stitch around the flap evenly for decorative effect and to close the gap left for turning. If you have added piping, you may choose to hand-stitch the gap closed and leave off the top stitching – it’s up to you!

'Make it Yours' clutch bag pattern. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

13.  Add any decoration to your flap, taking care if you stitch through, not to hit the magnetic snap on the inside.  I left one of my bags plain, just with the top stitching, and on another I added some suede leaves, and then made one more in the larger size with piping.  How about adding a cute bow, a wrist strap or a long thin shoulder strap.  Scrappy or felt flowers could also look great depending on your choice of fabrics.

'Make it Yours' clutch bag pattern. Free pattern with ideas for how to customise the bag to make it yours.

12.  Go out, take your new purse, and enjoy yourself!

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Go to the 'Make it Yours' Clutch Bag Pattern

Sew the 'Make it Yours' Clutch Bag.  Easy to sew and a great base pattern for your own designs and customization.

 

The Make it Yours Sewing Contest

 

Make It Yours clutch bag sewing contest on So Sew Easy. 3 categories with lots of fun sewing prizes. Sew a bag and win!

I love to see what you sew from my patterns so I've decided to run a contest which anyone and everyone can enter.  There will be 3 categories for prizes and it's open to anyone Worldwide.

Just briefly, to enter, you'll use this pattern to sew your own bag, but you'll need to ‘Make it Yours' with your own design elements and ideas.  Full details of the contest will be posted on the 4th, or can also be found in the download.

The contest is now open – read more about it here.

Last day to accept entries is 30th May and voting begins on 1st June, throughout June until 30th.  There will be two winners, chosen by you, and you will also get an entry into a prize draw just for voting!  

I'm so looking forward to it.  I hope you will enter.

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Zoe
Zoe

Hi Deby thanks for the pattern and tutorial but is is coming up with an error message when I click any of the links..is it still available on Craftsy? thanks Zoe

Kathleen Robertson
Kathleen Robertson

Hi Deby, I know it’s rather late in the day but I’ve only just joined your mailing page and recently your FB page, so today I’m taking a couple of hours to browse. I love this clutch and just wonder if you have posted anything on the winning bag or pics of the entries. I’ve looked but can’t find anything, would love to see what others have done. I’m hoping to sew one of these in red velvet and silk, bit ambitious for me, but if you don’t try……………………………………LOL
Thanks Kathleen

Kathleen Robertson
Kathleen Robertson

Thanks for the links Deby, aren’t they all gorgeous? so many wonderful ideas that have got me thinking on what to do to my bag. Oh my this may take some time LOL thanks again.

Lathleen Robertson
Lathleen Robertson

The wonder bag is fun but I can’t quite see me using that on my honeymoon, then again why not 😉 LOL

Janet Kendall
Janet Kendall

It’s a lovely clutch, I made mine yesterday, hopefully it was uplifted for the competition. Where can I check to confirm please. Thank you .

Lorena
Lorena

Yes, I sent yesterday my a photo

Lorena
Lorena

awe Thank you, means a lot to me that you like it, make me so proud

Lorena
Lorena

I love it. THank you for the pattern I made 3 in two days.

Julie

What a lovely, not too complicated, bag pattern. Now you mention it I think I do NEED a lovely new bag so I really want to give this a try. Whether I can fit it in by end May I don’t know (time flies and all that) but I’m already thinking of embellishment ideas! Thanks for the lovely pattern

Jan
Jan

What are the three categories for the contest?

Deb Sullivan
Deb Sullivan

This looks like fun but when I open the PDF to print the pattern, both the large and small are the same size (fit on one page). I can’t seem to find anything in adobe to change…help!

Erin
Erin

Hi Deby,
Quick Question. When the pattern is downloaded, does the pattern itself show how much fabric you need? I didn’t see it here on the blog or the pattern page on craftsy. By the dimensions, it seems that 1/4 yard would be plenty, but I just wanted to be sure. It’s OK to buy extra fabric but not buying enough would be bad. 🙂 Thanks!

Noreen

A nice little easy to make bag! Thanks for sharing it.

msjay160

Awesome Idea, I’m gonna give it a whirl.

Val Hatton
Val Hatton

Yes, that makes sense Deby. Thank you :o)

Marina
Marina

Thank you for this free pattern – can’t wait to try it – I really need one (or maybe more 😉 ) clutch to be able to change from my boring black one…
I really enjoy reading your blog and hopefully this will be my first project after one of your patterns.
Will let you know if it turns out acceptable…
Kind regards
Marina

Val Hatton
Val Hatton

What a great fun competition. I already have a few ideas! Deby, is it one entry per person?

ROBIN
ROBIN

Deby, I had an event to attend last night and I decided I needed a new bag. I had an hour and a half only and I got it done. I will send a pic soon. Now that I have done it once, I think I can do it a lot faster, however, next time, I may try doing the cording. I did not have time to embellish the first one, but it’s pretty cute just because of the fabric. My Decor Bond doesn’t have directions as to how long to press it. Do you know? And I noticed a little “bubbling” where I guess it didn’t adhere so well. Joe couldn’t believe I had made it, and so quickly. Thanks so much for this pattern. It came just at the right time.

ROBIN
ROBIN

Thanks, Deby. I’ll try pressing a little longer. I think I was counting to 10. I used a press cloth also as I didn’t want to scorch my cotton fabric.

Embroiderymad

Gorgeous clutchs!!!

Cheryl
Cheryl

I can’t download the pattern, either. It just comes up with a blank screen. Heading to Craftsy.

Prerna
Prerna

I can’t find the link to download the pattern!

Kellie Avon Alexander
Kellie Avon Alexander

This is awesome! Thanks!

Anne Weaver

What a fun little bag! I’ve linked to your post on Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-make-it-yours-clutch-bag/2014/04/04/
–Anne

Ana Love Craft

Beautiful clutchs!!! I love both! Thanks for sharing!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft