How to Make a Cute Clutch Purse

A large purse or a tote is handy when you have a lot of stuff to carry, but you might prefer something smaller and sleeker for nights out on the town or for a quick trip to the store. For those occasions when you want something less bulky, reach for a clutch. Make your own clutch -- perhaps one for each outfit -- with an inexpensive placemat and some simple straight stitches.

Things You'll Need

• Decorative cloth placemat
• Ruler
• 1 yard of cotton quilting fabric in coordinating color or design
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting mat
• Iron
• Tailor's chalk
• Sewing machine with buttonhole capabilities and both buttonhole and button foot
• 1-inch wide button

Instructions

1. Measure the length and width of your placemat. Cut a piece of fabric that is 1-inch wider and longer than the placemat. Use a rotary cutter, with a ruler to guide it, to cut the fabric on a cutting mat. Use long smooth rolls -- not short choppy back and forth rolls -- to cut the fabric for a clean cut edge.

2. Fold each edge of the fabric in 1/2-inch toward the wrong side. Press the fold. Fold all the edges in 1/2-inch; press these folds as well.

3. Place the fabric, right side up, on the wrong side of the placemat centered. You should have roughly a 1/2-inch border of placemat showing around the fabric. Stitch around all four edges of the fabric 3/8-inch in from the edges.

4. Fold the placemat into thirds, with the fabric-covered side inside the fold. Now, adjust the fold so that the top flap is roughly 1 1/2-inches shorter than the other two sections to create the top flap of the clutch.

5. Unfold the top flap of the placemat and sew the pouch of the purse in place by sewing down the sides of the folded portion of the mat with a 1/4-inch inseam.

6. Sew a buttonhole in the top flap that is centered along the flap's bottom edge and is 1-inch up from the edge. Follow the instructions in your sewing machine's manual to complete this task -- steps depend upon make and model of machine.

7. Fold the top flap down over the pouch of the purse, as if to close your clutch. Stick a single straight pin through the center of the button hole, through to the layer beneath the flap. Gently lift the flap from over the straight pin, being careful not to remove the straight pin. Make the location of the pin with tailor's chalk. Sew your button centered over the chalk mark through only the top layer of the pouch so as not to accidentally sew the pouch shut. Again, follow your machine's instruction manual.

Tips & Warnings

• Read through your machine's manual's instructions on how to sew buttonholes and buttons completely before you start the process so as to avoid having to rip seams and start over.

• Look at dollar stores and thrift stores for inexpensive placemats to use in making your own clutch.

• Check out after-holiday clearance sales for placemats you can use to make holiday-themed clutches for next year.

• Your clutch is machine washable in case you spill food or drink on it, or if makeup explodes inside. Just throw it in the wash and wash it the same as you would a garment made of similar fabric.

• Embellish your placemat with fabric bits such as ribbon or lace before starting the construction of the clutch to add a decorative touch to the finished purse.