Leather and Bow Fold Over Clutch

I think I’ve become addicted to the Fold Over Clutch.

Or maybe I’m just addicted to cute and easy accessories. Because seriously, fold over clutches are just really tall zipper pouches that are . . . . wait for it . . . . folded over. Genius right? Since they are super easy to make, you can dress them up in all kinds of fun ways, like this Leather and Bow Fold Over Clutch I’m sharing today!

I found this amazing green leather at Mood in LA and I’ve been saving it up for something fun. I think it works perfectly as this clutch! For the pretty accent fabric and bow I used some fabulous fabric that are from the Modern Eclectic Collection from Blend Fabrics. I am so in love with this collection. It’s all bright colors, paired with black and white, and they have a retro feel – so you know I’m all about that.

It’s a nice big clutch too – about 14″ long – so you have plenty of room for your phone and wallet and whatnot. As a random tangent – what is something random you have in your purse? I just cleaned mine out and found 3 different measuring tapes, and some washi tape. Craft much?

So let’s dive into the tutorial! Here’s your materials list:

• Leather piece – you’ll need approx. 15″ x 30″
• Fabric – 1/2 yard for lining
• Fabric – 1/4 yard for stripes and bow and pocket
• 14″ zipper – metal is great for the heavier leather
• leather needle for your sewing machine
• needle and thread for hand sewing
• optional – leather cording for tassel, jump ring
• Pattern for Bow

Start by cutting out the fabric for your pocket. You will need a piece that is 8″ x 8″.
Fold the fabric in half, right sides together. Stitch along the two short sides and the long bottom side, but leave an opening about 2″ wide in the bottom. Use a 1/4″ seam allowance. Clip the corners.

Turn the pocket right side out and press. Make sure you press the seam allowances in the opening to the inside as well.

Cut out two pieces of fabric for your lining, 15″ x 15″ each.

Place the pocket on one of the lining pieces, centered in the middle and 2 1/2″ up from the bottom. Sew around the two short sides and the bottom, just inside the edge of the pocket. If want you can divide the pocket by sewing a seam down in the pocket.

Cut out your two outer pieces from leather (or you can use a fun home décor weight fabric too!) – you want these 15″ x 15″ each. Cut out your two stripe fabrics as well, you’ll need two pieces 4″ x 15″. Press the long sides of each stripe piece in 1/2″ to the wrong side.

Place the stripe on one of the leather pieces, 3″ from one side. Sew down both sides of the fabric, just inside the folded edge. You can use pins for this, as long as the pins don’t go through the leather outside of the fabric. Those little pin holes will show up. Repeat for the other stripe on the other outer piece.

Lay one of the leather pieces face up. Place your zipper face down on the top edge. Lay a lining piece face down on the zipper, lining up the top edges. Use little binder clips to hold everything together.

Sew the top edge together – and make sure you are using your leather needle. You might need to try out a practice piece with the fabric, to determine which side should be up on the machine. Sometimes leather has a tough time with the feed dogs. Mine did best if the leather was facing up while I sewed.

Open up the pieces and repeat the process with the other side of the zipper. Match up the leather so the stripes meet, and make sure on the lining piece that the pocket is at the bottom of the piece. Sew along the top of the edge. When you open it up, the two leather pieces should be on top and the lining pieces should be on the bottom.

Now bring your outer pieces and lining pieces together, so the right sides are together. Make sure you OPEN your zipper before sewing this next part.

Sew all the way around the pieces, leaving an opening of about 4″ in the bottom of the lining fabric. Trim all your corners. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Turn the clutch right side out through the opening in the lining. Sew the opening closed by hand and tuck the lining inside the clutch. If you need to press your clutch, use a pressing cloth over the leather. You never want to iron directly onto leather.

Now we’re going to work on our bow! Cut out all your bow pieces, according to the pattern. Place your top and bottom bow pieces right sides together. Sew around the top bow piece, leaving the two short sides open. Sew around the bottom bow piece, leaving a space open on top for turning.

Turn the pieces right side out and press. Press the center bow sides to the inside, so the center bow piece is about 1″ wide. Fold the short edges of the top bow piece to the back center.

Layer the top bow piece on top of the bottom bow piece and wrap the center piece around them both. Overlap the center piece in back and trim off the extra fabric. Hand sew the center piece around the bow, sewing everything together. Hand sew the bow to the top portion of the back side of the clutch, so that when you fold over the top the bow will be on the front and facing the correct way.

If you want, make a small leather tassel for the zipper pull. Cut small pieces of leather cording and feed them through a large jump ring, then wrap more of the cording around the pieces and sew in place. Add the jump ring to the zipper.

That’s it!

I really love the colors in the floral fabric paired with the leather don’t you?

I’m excited to let you know that I’m now on the Sewing Team for Anna Griffin Fabrics, so I’ll be bringing you projects from their fabric lines every month. How fun is that?? I’m pretty thrilled. :)

I hope you give the clutch a try!!

If you want to try making some other bags, you might like these too!