Ruffled Clutch Tutorial

Ruffled Clutch Tutorial
(Other Examples Here)

Begin by cutting out the following:

Main Fabric: (1) 9.5" by 17", (1) 9.5" by 22"
Ruffle: (1) 3" by 20" or equivalent length of ribbon
Interfacing: (1) 9.5" by 22"
Batting or Fusible Fleece: (1) 9.5" by 17"

Apply interfacing to the back of the longer main panel. If you are using a lightweight fabric, you will want to go with a medium weight interfacing. For a heavier weight fabric, choose a lightweight interfacing.


Sketch a curve at the bottom of the longer, interfaced panel. Generally, you would like to leave yourself about 2.5" on the short side, and about 4" on the high side. Cut along your curved line.


Working with the longer portion, press up 1/4" (make sure to get a nice sharp crease). Set aside for now.


For the fabric ruffle, press in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Run two rows of gathering (long) stitches along the raw edges. (Do not backstitch!) Pull gathers until the length of the ruffle is just longer than the curved edge. Knot gathering threads. If using ribbon, simple gather one edge of the ribbon. (In my experience, the ribbon was more difficult to work with)

Pin ruffle along curved (pressed) edge, leaving a bit at the sides for ease. (If you are into basting, this is where you would baste before you sew....I hate basting so I live on the edge and avoid basting like the plague!)

Overlap the ruffled edge approximately 1/2" over the short end. At this point, you should take care to make sure that everything will remain square once you stitch the two pieces together. As you pin them together, make sure that both sides remain straight and square. Once pinned, top stitch along the creased edge. (Keep as close to the edge as possible...about 1/8")

After stitching, trim ruffle and square up edges as needed.


One the opposite end of the ruffled panel, center one half of a magnetic snap 1.5" in from the bottom edge and install. On one end of the plain panel, center and install the other half of the magnetic snap 4 1/2" from the edge. (I installed the snap through both the panel and the batting layer for strength. Alternately, you could iron on a scrap of interfacing.)


Sandwich both panels together, right sides facing. The snap on the plain panel should be at the opposite end of the snap of the ruffled panel. (At this point, if you didn't already attach the batting via the snap, lay the batting on top of the plain panel side of the 'sandwich'. (I hope that makes sense!) So, you should have the following layers: ruffled/interfaced panel and plain panel (right sides together), with the batting layer on top of that. Pin all around.

Sew around using a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a 3-4" opening on the plain end (not the ruffled end).


Trim batting close to seam, clip corners, and trim batting along opening. Turn right-side out and gently press the whole piece, taking care to press up the seam allowance up at opening.


Top stitch along this edge, taking care to line up edges at opening. (Alternately, you could hand stitch the opening closed)

Fold up the bottom portion of the clutch, and pin. Before you stitch, fold down the flap and adjust as necessary to make sure that the magnetic snaps will match perfectly. Once you have it lined up just right, pin and stitch both layers together, close to the edge. You may have to adjust your stitch length here, depending on the weight of the fabric, as there are a lot of layers.

Voila. Pin a fancy brooch on there, or add a nice vintage button and you're set to go!