More pattern testing!
This is the new envelope clutch pattern due out very soon from Noodlehead. I was thrilled to be able to test again for Anna – her patterns are so easy to follow, with lots of photos and detailed directions, and they result in great looking finished products, too! The clutch pattern has lots of great options – you can choose from two sizes, a flat or pointed flap, and there’s an optional zipper pocket and card slots inside. You can also add a wrist strap or a skinny shoulder strap if you’re so inclined. The flap shuts with a magnetic snap (which I first learned how to use when I made Anna’s Go Anywhere bag) – they take some brute force to install, but they’re easy to use and a make for a nice secure closure.
As it turns out, I don’t actually go anywhere that would necessitate carrying a cute little clutch like this, so I decided to use it to organize all my fabric store coupons, which have a tendency to overtake my bag (especially when Joanns sends out pages and pages of them – Coupon Commotion!). I made the small clutch – the card slots are holding my fabric store gift cards and punch cards, and I’ve got the coupons and a little pen and notebook (I’m a list maker) in the main compartment. I pretty excited that I don’t have to dig around for these things anymore!
I almost always pick grays and greens and blues, but I went with bright springy colors this time – Lizzy House’s Pearl Bracelet for the exterior, lined with a Secret Garden solid from Sandi Henderson, and some Anna Maria Horner Fortune scraps for the card slots and pocket lining.
I’m a total zipper novice, and I almost chickened out when it came to putting in the optional zipper pocket. I’m so glad I didn’t – it was simple! I wasn’t able to find a 5-inch zipper, so I used a 7-incher and trimmed the excess off at the pull end. And my machine handled the layers (the exterior is basted to canvas, and the interior is interfaced) just fine without a walking foot or a bigger needle.
The clutch sewed up quickly and easily, and there are so many ways you can make it your own – yet another fabulous Noodlehead pattern!
Update: the pattern is now for sale – click here to get sewing on a clutch of your own!
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it looks adorable–i’m with you i would have considered not doing the inside zipper. glad you didn’t let your fear take over!
i love the colors you used. way to get organized! and once you make one of those zippered pockets you will want to put it into everything:).
it’s so pretty gail. and thank you again for being such a great tester! 🙂
I love the bright, spring-time colors that you chose! They make me happy just looking at it!
And what a great way to put the clutch to use…I usually get the store and then realize that I forgot all my coupons. Doh!
great spring-y colors! and what a good idea for its use – I tend to find old Joanns coupons waded up in the bottom of my purse weeks after their expiration. This would be an attractive solution to that problem:)
I was hopping you were one of Anna’s testers! When I saw the sneak preview I thought, “I’d love to see what Gail does with that.”
Thanks for the tip about the walking foot and larger needle. My machine can struggle with layers but I never thought to try another foot. As always, it is a pleasure to stop by and see what you’ve been creating!
love the colors you chose… love love love.
love it, gail! wonderful springy colors. great idea to use it to store coupons, too. that darn coupon commotion mailer is the bane of an organized purse. 🙂
such a cute clutch. love it! great work! 🙂
as always, gail, fabulous fabric choices! i love it! i would most definitely lose a clutch, but enjoy admiring yours!
OK, even the coupons can be cute. I’m in! Thanks for this!
I love your fabric choises a lot lot lot lot lot.
I bought this pattern, can’t wait to see it. Even if you’ve already made the perfect version! 🙂