[pin tuck pleats] Wallet - Clutch Tutorial

Such a fun wallet clutch tutorial, make with any fabric

Last week, I shared with the Ribbon Retreat blog this pin tucks pleats clutch tutorial, and now I get to share it with everyone here.

It is super easy and makes for a great wallet, but it can also be used to carry your wallet, cell phone, keys, and whatever else you fancy. I have made smaller and bigger sizes to use as an organizer in my purse for misc items that always fall in the cracks.

let's get started!

Step 1: Gather supplies and fabric

Supplies:

1/4 - 1/2 yard each of two coordinating fabrics (I use up to 1/2 because I like to play it safe just in case i mess up : ) I used Micheal Miller's Gray Parade Day and Turquoise Falling Flowers

Thread

a coordinating zipper

1/4 yard medium weight interfacing

1/4 yard fusible fleece or cotton batting

Step 2: Because we are doing pin tuck pleats, we are going to make some before we cut out our fabric.

Pin tucks are super easy and kind of fun to sew. If your fabric is specific to direction (like mine is), then you want the pin tucks to go vertical with the fabric direction.

Start by folding over the edge of your exterior fabric by at least an inch and pin. Then as close as you can set your needle, sew a straight line very close to the fold (the yellow line below is a good idea where you should sew your pin tucks). Repeat this process until you have as many pin tucks that you desire.

I did pin tucks for about 6 inches into the fabric. Also, I like to vary the width apart between my pin tucks, but you can measure each one if you like.

Step 3: After finishing your pin tucks, it's now time to cut out the fabric. Here's what you need:

- For the exterior, cut two 7" by 12" pieces of fabric

- For lining, cut two 7" by 12" pieces of fabric

- cotton quilt batting or fusible fleece, cut two 7" by 12" pieces

- for the pocket, cut one piece of fabric 7" by 12", and cut one piece of the medium weight interfacing 3 1/2" by 12"

- for the outer handle, cut one piece of fabric 12" by 2"

*use a 1/4 inch seam allowance unless I say otherwise

Step 4: The Pocket (you can skip this step if you are not interested in having pockets)

using the pocket piece, fold it hot style and press; then insert the interface piece inside the folded piece.

Step 5: Next sew two stitches (1/4 inch apart) on the fold of the pocket piece (as seen below).

5b: Now place your pocket piece on top of one of the lining pieces and pin.

5c: Next you're going to sew the pocket piece to one of the lining piece. I only sewed two vertical lines which made three pockets total, but it's up to you. You can choose to only sew one line down the middle to make two pockets.

Step 6: next we're going make the handle for the clutch. Fold your fabric piece hot dog style inside out and sew. Then turn into right side out and press. I then sewed three lines along the length of the handle for the look, but you don't have to do that.

Step 7: Ok, let's assemble all the pieces and sew them to the zipper. Your going to want to lay your fabric on top of each other as shown in the above picture with (a) being the bottom and (b) being the top: a - fusible fleece or quilt batting, b - exterior piece RIGHT side UP, c - zipper (zipper should be face down on exterior fabric), d - lining piece RIGHT side DOWN.

Step 8: using your zipper foot, sew all the pieces together. Make sure your tension is adjusted correctly for thick fabric. If you don't know the setting, then practice on scrap fabric.

Step 9: Flip your sewn fabrics WRONG side together to get it out of the way. Repeat step 8 with the remaining fabric for the other side.

Step 10: Now flip both sides so that WRONG sides are together. Press and top stitch both sides along the zipper (as seen in yellow)

Next lay on the fabric where you want the handle to be then pin in place. You want it to be touch the exterior fabric.

Step 11: First make sure your zipper is unzipped then, flip fabrics around so that the exteriors are facing RIGHT sides together and the linings are facing RIGHT side together.

Step 12: Now pin around the whole perimeter. Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew around the whole thing leaving a 3" to 4" opening on the lining side.

Step 13: after you sew around the whole thing snip off the corners so that they will look sharp. Then through the 3" to 4" opening, turn the clutch right side out....and your almost done!