Bow Hand Strap Clutch Tutorial

Bow Hand Strap Clutch Tutorial

by Karla Fidoe (owner and maker of Pop of Color Bags)

I hate to watch videos or print out patterns. Let's be honest, most sewing patterns for handbags start with a rectangle and build from there. If you can sew a zipper, you can build almost any bag through trial and error. This tutorial is meant for those of you who are comfortable sewing a zipper pouch and are looking to branch out from there into other design aspects.

Materials:

* (cut 2) 11 x 8 inch rectangles for exterior (I used cork fabric for the base of my wristlet clutch)

* (cut 2) 11 x 8 inch rectangles for interior (I prefer to use cotton on the interior)

* (cut 2) 13 x 10 inch rectangles for bow hand strap (a sturdier fabric like outdoor fabric or canvas works best)

* 12 inch zipper

* d-ring

* lobster claw

* 1 x 3 inch rectangle of exterior fabric (for center of bow)

* (cut 2) 2 x 4 inch rectangle of interior fabric (for ends of zipper)

** depends on size of your d-ring and lobster claw, but you'll need to cut a tab and wrist strap

Steps:
1. Attach the zipper to the outside and inside fabrics on both sides.

2. Sew the bow fabrics down the top and bottom sides, right sides together. 

3. Turn bow right side out and iron the seams flat.

4. Sew cork, right sides together, at ends to make a circle.

5. Turn cork fabric circle rights side out.

6. Accordion fold the bow so you can slip on the cork fabric ring.

7. Once the ring is in the middle of the bow, fluff out the ends to make the bow, rather than have accordion pleats.

8. Use wonder clips to pin the bow onto the front of the zipper pouch. Line up the top peaks of the bow with your top stitch seam line.

9. Sew a baste stitch along each side of the bow to keep it in place when you construct the wristlet.

10. Sew the wristlet as you normally would a zipper pouch. Make sure to add your d-ring for the wrist strap.  *When you pull everything through to make the bag right side out, it will look frumpy. Notice the d-ring is tucked under the bow?

11. The bow is on the wrong side of the bag! Simply pull it through the bottom of the bag to re-situate it on the correct side.

12. Your bag is finished! Notice the d-ring is now visible, and the bow lays flat. The back is also flat.