Sewing an Amy Butler Clutch Part 2

It's such a lovely clutch that I almost don't want to use it and get even a speck of dirt on it! The Amy Butler Clutch has been one of the easiest to sew. This article covers how to sew the exterior panels but if you'd like to see the beginning, please visit this post, or see this video.

After cutting everything, applying the interfacing, and copying markings on each piece (see part 1), it's time to get sewing. I used a plum colored thread that would blend in. If you want to add a pop of color, try a contrasting thread instead. Take one of your exterior main panels and make the lines at the top meet. Pin in place. Now sew down that small line. As you can see in the image below, this forms pleats. The image is of the wrong side of the panel.

Iron the pleats so that they lay flat and baste a seam to keep them in place.

You can see in the image below what the wrong side looks like now. Do this for both of the main clutch panels.

The next stem is to take the trim and fold them in half the long way. Iron them to create the nice fold.

You will then pin them to the main panel (on the end with the pleats) and stitch it in place. Before sewing, I realized I had cut the trim from the wrong fabric. luckily, I had enough fabric leftover to cut out the correct one and then simply folded the trim in half, ironed, pinned it, and finally, sewed it in place. Learn from me and don't get distracted when cutting fabric. Measure twice, cut once!

I then attached the yoke, pinning it in place on top of the trim and main panel. Right sides together, I sewed it all together.

Below, you can see the trim in the correct fabric, sandwiched by the yoke and main panel.

Below, you can see what the clutch panel finally looks like. Do this for your other exterior panel as well.

Now you'll be pinning both exterior panels together, right sides facing each other. Match the dots you transferred over. Sew the panels together from the marking on the yoke, to that dot on both ends.

Take the bottom panel and pin it (right sides together) to one of the side exterior panels. Match the dots. Then you'll sew along that edge. This took me a while because I have a hard time sewing around a curve.

Do this for the other side as well.

This is what it will look like. If you turn it right side out, you might do a little dance of excitement like me. It's starting to come together!

The only thing left to do is to clip around the curve. Make sure you DO NOT CUT INTO THE SEAM! It will just make a hole in your lovely clutch!

Want to see the video? Here's the part 2. Did you miss part 1? Check it out at our youtube channel!

How to Sew An Amy Butler Clutch ( Part 1)

I recently got the chance to sew the Amy Butler Charm Clutch and I'm very glad I did! Have you ever looked and looked for the perfect purse but can never seem to find it in the perfect style of color? Sewing your own, from a pattern or your own idea, is a great solution and not hard at all. With patterns, you can simply choose a style that you like and then order the fabric you want. It will match any dress, mood, or pair of shoes you own!

The Amy Butler Charm Clutch Pattern comes with a couple options. These range from handles to using a magnetic closure versus a zipper. I chose the latter to make sure items stay inside. The design also gives the option of adding an interior pocket panel and a cell phone pocket.

I received the fabric and pattern is this lovely package via the mail. The fabric was wrapped like a present in happy yellow tissue paper rather than simply being tossed into a box.

For the fabric, I chose these lovely florals that had a plum/burgundy type of base. The first one (left most on the image below) is called Honoka Kiku Claret which had Japanese Style Flowers on a Claret Background. The center of the flowers are a mustard while the details are in the plum color. The second fabric is called Honoku Japanese Blossom created by Anna Griffin. The center is almost a coral color with the lovely plum background. Both fabrics are perfect for fall!

Some think that using a pattern can get complicated with lots of pieces, terms, and instructions that make you wonder if you should retake your 5th grade reading class. This Amy Butler pattern is simple, came in a few pieces, and had easy to understand instructions with diagrams.

After opening the package, and squealing with delight, I set about reading the instructions and making sure I had all my materials ready. The back of the mini folder, where the pattern is contained, lets you know what you need. I purchased a zipper, interfacing of two types, and thread. A few things I had to dig out were: mat to cut on, rotary cutter, scissors (for thread, fabric, and paper), marking utensil, a ruler, and my sewing machine. A few extras? Coffee and music, great for making creative projects! Watch the video below if the following instructions don't really make sense.

The next step is to put your lovely fabric into the washer machine. I washed and dried mine as I normally would any 100% cotton fabric. While I waited for that, I cut out all the paper pattern pieces. Make sure to consistently cut around the items. Don't veer into, or outside the lines since it could cause issues later.

Once the fabric is dry, iron it, then snip off all the threads that have come loose on the ends. Finally, you get to actually cut your fabric and interfacing! BEFORE CUTTING: line up all the paper pieces on the corresponding fabric. If you're lining is a different fabric, make sure your lining paper is on that specific fabric. Double and triple check, pin the paper down, and cut. Mark all the extras such as dots that indicate starting and stopping points, lines for pleats, and measurements.

Now take your interfacing and get ready to cut it too. You can either cut them using the same method above or you could do what I did and iron on the interfacing onto the cut pattern pieces. Then cut around them.

Now take a break, refill your coffee cup, and move on to part 2! That's where I'll explain how to sew the exterior portion of the clutch. If you'd like to get ahead go to our youtube channel and watch the videos: FabricLoversChannel.

Here's what my completed clutch looks like from the outside:

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comment section, on youtube, our Facebook page, or tweet them to us! Thanks for reading and have a great time sewing!

 

~Yasmine

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Pink Tote Bag..( Very Limited Edition)

SailorBags.com and FabricLovers.com are donating all proceeds from the sale of our pink medium tote while they last.

SailorBags is donating their wholesale proceeds to the American Cancer Society and we are donating our receipts received over cost to the Stefanie Spielman Fund here in Columbus, OH.

There are a very limited number of these special Pink Tote Bags left nationwide. You can purchase from us or directly from SailorBags website.  Buy a pink sailcloth bag for $53 plus shipping and know that you are helping the cause totally.

These Limited Edition pink medium sailcloth totes will not ship until mid October 2013. You must preorder.

To purchase from FabricLovers.com click on this link.   Fabriclovers.com

To purchase from SailorBags.com click here.  SailorBags.com

If you have any questions, click the link to our website or call or email me.

Enjoy!,

~Beth
Beth@Fabriclovers.com
855-697-8458