Tutorial: Caliti Convertible Clutch

I'm excited to bring you this clutch pattern! It converts from a tote into a clutch, with
beautiful circle handles. I wrote this pattern for Pellon Projects; it uses different !inds
of interfacing, which will give you a chance to get familiar with each.
"his pattern is appropriate for intermediate level sewing. It features inner poc!ets, a
magnetic closure, and a metal buc!le. #ou will also be re$uired to ma!e one buttonhole.
ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE 1/2" UNLESS OTERW!SE NOTE"#
$LEASE REA" ALL !NSTRUCT!ONS %E&ORE %E'!NN!N'#
$rintable !n(truction( an) $attern $iece(
Finished size: 13" tall by 10" long (unfolded), 7" tall by 10" long (folded)
SU$$L!ES
% &'( yard )or a fat $uarter* exterior fabric
% +' yard interior fabric
% &'+ yard side accent'handle fabric
% + yards Pellon ,-%&.& fusible woven interfacing
% &'+ yard Pellon -usible -leece
% &'+ yard Pellon /ecor%0ond
% magnetic snap
% metal buc!le with tongue )I used the /rit1 &%2'34 fashion buc!le*
% coordinating thread
% hand sewing needle
STE$ 1 * CUT OUT +OUR &A%R!C
&ro, the E-terior &abric
&a. 5ut + pieces, each measuring 34 x &&4. "hese will be your 6xterior 7ain Panels.
&ro, the !nterior &abric
&b. 5ut + pieces, each measuring &&4 x &&4. "hese will be your Interior 7ain Panels.
&c. 5ut ( pieces, each measuring &&4 x 84. "hese will be the Poc!ets.
&ro, the Accent &abric
&d. 5ut ( pieces, each measuring +4 x &&4. "hese will be the ,ide Panels.
&e. 5ut + pieces, each measuring +4 x 4. "hese will be the 0ottom ,trap pieces.
&f. 9sing the "op ,trap piece that you printed out, cut + pieces from the :ccent -abric.
&g. 9sing the ;andle pattern piece that you printed out, cut ( pieces from the :ccent
-abric.
&ro, the $ellon S&.1/1 &u(ible Woven !nter0acin1
&h. <epeat ,tep &a. through ,tep &g.
&ro, the $ellon &u(ible &leece
&i. <epeat ,tep &a. and ,tep &b. :lso cut two +4 x +4 s$uares from the fleece.
&ro, the $ellon "ecor.%on)
&j. 5ut 3 pieces from the ;andle pattern piece. "rim the ;andle by approximately &'(4
on all edges )e-ce2t tri, b3 1/2" in the inner circle* in order to reduce bul! in the
seam allowance.
&!. 5ut 3 pieces, each measuring +4 x &&4.
STE$ 2 * &USE +OUR &A%R!CS
+a. "a!e & 6xterior 7ain Panel and one of the corresponding fusible woven interfacing
pieces. -use the woven interfacing to the wrong side of the 6xterior 7ain Panel using
manufacturer instructions. "hen, fuse the fusible fleece to the interfaced side of the
6xterior 7ain Panel. <epeat for the other 6xterior 7ain Panel.
+b. <epeat ,tep +a. for both Interior 7ain Panels.
+c. "a!e one 0ottom ,trap Piece and one of the corresponding fusible woven
interfacing pieces. -use. <epeat for the remaining 0ottom ,trap Piece, both of the "op
,trap Pieces, and each of the Poc!ets.
+d. "a!e one ;andle Piece and one of the corresponding fusible woven interfacing
pieces. -use. "hen, fuse a /ecor 0ond ;andle piece to the interfaced side of the
;andle. <epeat so that you have fused a total of + pieces of /ecor 0ond to the ;andle.
<epeat this step for the remaining ;andle pieces, and also for all of the ,ide Panels.
STE$ 4 * ASSEM%LE TE !NTER!OR
a. "a!e + of the Poc!et pieces and place them, right sides together. ,ew along one &&4
edge. Press seam open.
b. "urn the Poc!et so it is wrong sides together. Press again along the sewn edge so
that it lies flat. "opstitch &'(4 from the edge.
c. <epeat ,tep a. and ,tep b. for the + remaining Poc!et pieces.
d. "a!e one of the Interior 7ain Panels, right side facing you. =ay one Poc!et with the
raw edge even with the bottom of the Interior 7ain Panel. Pin, then baste along the raw
edges of the Poc!et )you will not baste the sewn edge of the Poc!et*. <epeat for the
remaining Interior 7ain Panel and Poc!et.
e. "a!e one of the ;andle Pieces. ,ew along & long edge, pivoting through the curve,
approximately &'(4 from the raw edge of the fabric. :lso sew &'+4 along the inside
circle of the ;andle. 5lip the 'valley' of the fabric with slits, and notch the 'pea!' of the
fabric with small v's, approximately every &'+4. 0e sure not to cut in to your stitching.
f. "urn your iron on. 9sing your fingers, turn the fabric to the wrong side at your
stitches, then slowly ease along your fabric with your iron. It is especially important to
press the inside circle ver3 5ell#
g. <epeat ,tep e. and ,tep f. for all ( ;andle pieces )set + of the ;andles aside for
the exterior*.
h. "a!e one Interior 7ain Panel and measure down '(4 from the top )the poc!et will
be at the bottom*. 7a!e a mar! on the top left and top right corners. :lign the bottom
straight edges of the ;andle along the mar!s that you made, and pin to the Interior 7ain
Panel. 6dgestitch on the ;andle along the long pressed edge, &'34 from the edge. +ou
5ill not (titch the in(i)e circle o0 the an)le at thi( ti,e#
i. "rim inside the inner circle of the ;andle where the Interior 7ain Panel is stic!ing
out. #ou'll want to flip it over to the wrong side and trim an additional &'+4 away.
j. <epeat ,tep h. and ,tep i. for the other Interior 7ain Panel and ;andle.
STE$ 6 * !NSTALL TE MA'NET!C SNA$
(a. "a!e & Interior 7ain Panel piece and & of the fleece s$uares that you cut in ,tep
&i. Take the washer from one of the prongs and mark the prong placement with a fabric
marker or chalk, approximately in the center of the Thermolam. Cut small slits at the
marks. The reason that you are using the feece is that it will help to reinforce your fabric
against the pull from the magnetic snap every time you open and shut the clutch.
(b. >n the Interior 7ain Panel piece, ma!e a mar! that is centered, and 34 up from the
bottom of the Interior 7ain Panel.
(c. With the snap washer in the middle of the mark on the Interior ain !anel, mark the
prong placement with a fabric marker or chalk. Cut small slits at the marks.
Helpful Hint: I like to put a dab of Fray Check on the slits that were cut. I feel this helps
the fabric hold up a bit better under the stress of the magnetic snap.
"d. #lide the prongs of the snap through the right side of the Interior ain !anel. !lace
the feece s$uare, then the washer, over the prongs. Close the prongs outward %use
pliers with a piece of scrap fabric over the metal, if you need to&, making sure they lie
fat.
"e. 'epeat #teps "a. through "d. to attach the other half of the snap to the other Interior
ain !anel.
STE$ 7 * ASSEM%LE TE E8TER!OR
2a. "a!e one of your 6xterior 7ain Panels and one ,ide Panel. ?ith right sides facing,
place the ,ide Panel along the &&4 edge on the left%hand side of the 6xterior 7ain Panel.
,ew along the &&4 edge. Press seam toward the ,ide Panel. <epeat this step for another
,ide Panel and the right%hand side of the 6xterior 7ain Panel.
2b. 6dgestitch on the ,ide Panel &'34 from the seam on the left side of the 6xterior.
"hen edgestitch &'(4 from the stitches that you just made. ,ew slowly, and ma!e sure
that the seam allowance is underneath your stitching; this will ensure that it gets tac!ed
down securely. @ow your ,ide Panel will have a nice finished loo!. <epeat for the right
side of the 6xterior.
2c. <epeat ,tep h. to attach each remaining ;andle to each 6xterior 7ain Panel.
STE$ 9 * ASSEM%LE TE STRA$S/%UC:LE
8a. "a!e both of your 0ottom ,trap pieces. Place them right sides together, and stitch
along each 4 edge. "urn 0ottom ,trap right side out and press.
8b. 7a!e a mar! on the bottom of one 6xterior 7ain Panel, over (%A'34 from the left
hand edge.
8c. Place your 0ottom ,trap piece to the ri1ht o0 the mar! that you made in ,tep 8b.
>ne raw edge of the 0ottom ,trap should be even with the raw edge of the 6xterior
7ain Panel. ,lide the metal buc!le over the 0ottom ,trap, then fold the 0ottom ,trap
down so that now both of the raw edges of the 0ottom ,trap are even with the bottom of
the 6xterior 7ain Panel. Pin in place.
8d. "a!e both of the "op ,trap pieces and place them, right sides together. ,ew along
edges but do not sew the short straight edge.
8e. "rim the seam allowance to &'(4, and clip the corner off, which will help it lie more
flat. "urn the "op ,trap right sides out and press.
8f. 6dgestitch the "op ,trap &'34 from the sewn edges )again, do not sew the straight
short edge*, being sure to pivot at the corners; then edgestitch the "op ,trap &'(4 from
what you just sewed.
8g. >n the "op ,trap piece, ma!e a buttonhole &%&'+4 down from the pointed top corner.
8h. <emove the pin from under the 0ottom ,trap. ,lide the "op ,trap piece under the
0ottom ,trap piece, ma!ing sure to re%adjust the buc!le. "he raw edges of all ,trap
pieces should be even with the bottom edge of the 6xterior 7ain Panel. <e%pin.
8i. 0aste across the bottom of the 6xterior 7ain Panel, attaching the ,trap pieces. ,ew
hori1ontally right under the metal buc!le, as close to the buc!le as you are able to )you
might want to pop your 1ipper foot on for this*.
STE$ ; * ASSEM%LE TE CLUTC
Aa. "a!e both Interior 7ain Panels, and place right sides together. Pin along the
straight edges. ,ew along those straight edges only, with a 7/<" (ea,# "his will help
the interior fit more snuggly inside your exterior. "rim the seam allowance to &'(4. 5lip
the + bottom corners, being careful not to cut into your stitching. =eave the Interior
wrong side out.
Ab. "a!e both 6xterior 7ain Panels, and place right sides together )you might want to
buc!le the strap so that it does not get caught in the stitching*. Pin along the straight
edges. ,ew along those straight edges only, with a &'+4 seam. ?hen you get to the part
where the straps are, sew slowly or hand cran! your needle, and bac!stitch again )to
give the strap added strength*. 5lip the + bottom corners. Press seams open, and turn the
6xterior right side out.
Ac. Place the 6xterior in(i)e of the Interior. 7a!e sure the ;andles and the side seams
are aligned, then pin in place. 7a!e sure you pin an exterior handle to an interior handle
)otherwise you might be sewing the bag shut!*.
Ad. ,ew the top of the ;andles, all along the top of the clutch, with a 1/6" (ea,
allo5ance. /o not stitch the inside circles. 5lip the 'valley' of the fabric with slits, and
notch the 'pea!' of the fabric with small v's, approximately every &'+4. 0e sure not to cut
in to your stitching.
Ae. "urn the clutch right side out through one of the openings. 6dgestitch the tops of the
handles, &'(4 from the edge, all the way around.
Af. 7atch the insides of the handles. #ou should have a nice pressed edge to wor! with
from earlier. Pin the inside circles. 6dgestitch the inside circles, &'(4 from the edge.
Note: Depending on your a!hine, you ay not be able to se" around the entire inside
!ir!le of the handles# $ "as able to se" half by a!hine and half by hand# %his is the
tri!&iest (and last') step of the pattern, so ta&e your tie###the results "ill be "orth your
patien!e'
CON'RATULAT!ONS= +ou>re 0ini(he)=
Bive your bag a good pressing for a professional%loo!ing finish. @ow you have a tote
that collapses into a clutch, held in place with the metal buc!le!
If you have any $uestions about this pattern, feel free to e%mail me directly at
saraCsewsweetness.com, or chec! out my -lic!r Broup! I would love to see your
completed project posted there!