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Wednesday 2 July 2014

Indelible pleated zipper clutch bag tutorial - pattern


Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial
It's time for my first free Indelible tutorial.  
Clutch zipper bags are so easy to make and once you learn how, you will be addicted!!!  You can decide if you want to add the handles or not, but they may be useful;)

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

This tutorial is scrap friendly, so you can combine 2 different fabrics for the main sides, just like I did.

Needed supplies:

1. fabric: 1 fat quarter of the fabric for the main sides ( or 2 different fabrics) + 1 fat quarter for the lining +  1/8 fabric for the handle (optional)
I used my Indelible fabrics: IDL-2223 Doiland Gloss Silver + IDL-2227 Flutter Folds Spark for the lighter one and IDL-1229 Stamped Grove Nightfall + IDL-1223 Doiland Gloss Plum
2. medium weight fusible interfacing (to obtain the more durable bag)
3. 8" long (20 cm) zipper
4. 1/2 yard of the decorative trim or ribbon
5. sewing machine, thread (for the best results - use Aurifil), scissors, pins, iron, zipper foot (optional, but preferable)
6. 2 metal rings and 2 Swivel clasp snap clips


So, let's get started!

Print the template . If you want to make the bag in this dimension, like mine, be sure to print it at 100% scale, but you can also print this sheet much bigger and make a bigger bag (in that case just be sure to choose the zipper in appropriate size)

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

The template sheet includes the upper - smaller piece and bigger - bottom piece.
So, using this template, you need to cut on fold (to obtain the entire, doubled pieces):
2 pieces of the upper main fabric, 2 pieces of the bottom main fabric,
2 lining bottom pieces, 2 lining upper pieces,
2 interfacing bottom pieces, 2 interfacing upper pieces

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Iron the fusible interfacing on the back (wrong) sides of the main fabrics.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Trim the eventual interfacing excess.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

So, this is what you will have:

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Let's prepare the loops with ring and swivel clasp first. Cut an approximate 6 x 2" strip of some fabric leftover.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Fold it in half lengthwise and iron it, then open and press both sides toward the center crease, press center crease close again and topstitch.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Cut it in two.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Pull the swivel through one end and the ring through the other. Loops are ready to be pinned to one of the upper fabric pieces. The second ring and swivel will have to be placed on the strap's ends.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Let's prepare the zipper now by covering it's ends with some fabric leftovers.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Cut an approximate 6 x 3" strip of any fabric leftover. Fold it in half lengthwise and iron it, then open and press both sides toward the center crease and press center crease.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

This way, you are making some kind of the tabs or covers for the zipper ends. Cut the strip in two, so that you can cover both zipper ends.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Place the zipper's ends into a sandwich of this fabric tabs. If you want, you can even cover the small metal piece at the end, than just make a bit larger the fabric tab-strip.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Topstitch it.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Pin the fabric loops with metal ring and swivel on both sides of one of the upper main pieces, approx. 1" from the upper, zipper edge.
Pin nice decorative trim onto the bottom edges of both upper main pieces and sew it.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Now lets prepare the bottom pieces, creating the pleats on them.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

With any kind of the pencil or marker ( it will not be visible), mark the pleats on the right sides of the fabric, both main and lining pieces.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Fold the fabric into a concertina to make the pleats: fold them going toward the center.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Place pins into the pleats.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Stitch over that edge.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Now we need to join this two pieces together. Find the centers by folding both pieces and marking the centers with pins.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Right sides together, match the centers and pin them together.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Continue pinning along the edges and sew these two parts together.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Turn to the right side and top stitch that edges.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Repeat this on the other side and on the lining pieces.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Now let's sew the zipper in a sandwich between the main piece and lining (right sides together), facing the right side of the zipper with the right side of the main fabric.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Using your zipper foot (if you don’t have a zipper foot, don’t worry as this can be done with a regular presser foot as long as you go slowly and move the slider to avoid jamming), sew them together using the 1/4" (6 mm) seam allowance. 

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial


Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Repeat the same on the other side of the zipper.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

I suggest either pressing (on low heat setting) the both sides at this point or top-stitching.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Place right sides of the main fabric together and lining right sides together. Make sure to unzip the zipper so that is in the middle of the pouch (as you will need to turn the pouch through that gap).

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Starting from the lining part, sew all around (be careful when sewing over the zipper) using the 1/4 seam allowance (6 cm). Stop sewing approx. 3-4" (7-10 cm) from the starting point, as you need this gap for turning the bag inside out.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Through that gap, turn the bag inside out.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Check if you have sewn all nicely, especially the zipper area.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Press the bag and close(sew) the gap.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Push the corners out (the zipper's ends) and put the lining inside.
Now you are all done with the bag and just need to sew the handles. Cut an approximate 30"(make it shorter or longer, upon your needs) x 3" strip of fabric. Fold it in half lengthwise and iron it, then open and press both sides toward the center crease and press center crease.

bag straps bag straps

bag straps bag straps

Insert the metal ring on one side and Swivel on the other side. Pin and sew all way around.

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Indelible clutch zipper bag tutorial

Hope that this was useful and that you will make tons of these (and add them to my flickr groups):

x projects using this or any of my tutorials or patterns, please add them to my flickr pattern group and
x projects using Indelible fabrics, please add them to my flickr Indelible group

xo, Katarina

17 comments :

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
jeifner said...

These are good looking!

Lexdray Bags said...

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