This was my project for the $5 and under for sytyc. I would first like to take a second and thank each of you for your support this past week. I was overwhelmed by the love and support I got from each of you. Thank you so very much. It meant the world to me :) And don’t worry, I still plan to do all the crafts I had thought of for the competition. I won’t be doing them in the same order/time frame as sytyc. But the good news is, you won’t have to wait 1-2 weeks for the tutorials for these projects ;)
Ok, to make this awesome clutch, you’ll need an old suit jacket. I found this one at the thrift store for $4. Sorry for the yucky lighting. I was taking this pic in the bath tub….seriously. I was trying to disguise my photos for the competition.
All you’ll need to make a suit coat clutch is a suit jacket (duh), seam ripper, scissors, sewing machine, magnetic snap, and needles and thread.
First I used a seam ripper and separated the sleeve seam.
Move the lining out of the way.
Cut off the sleeve cuff and save this. You’ll use this later.
Cut a 13″x18″ rectangle from the sleeve.
I was not able to get a big enough piece, so I cut a small section to make up the difference….
which I sewed on and ironed open the seam.
Next, divide your 13″x18″ piece into thirds. (Dividing the 18″ into 6″ segments.) Put a pin at each 6″ mark. Now take the sleeve cuff and cut to 1″x13″ and pin the cuff centered at 6″ into the rectangle.
Sew cuff into place.
Now cut a 13″x18″ rectangle from the jacket’s silk lining. This will be your clutch’s smooth interior. I forgot to take a picture, but you’ll want to attach your magnetic snap in the center of the lining on one of the 13″ wide sides about 1/2″ down. Be sure to put interfacing where you’re going to attached the snap. Attach the other half of the magnetic snap on the clutch outer about 1″ away the cuff on the opposite side of the cuff.
Place right sides together and pin in place. Be sure the snaps are on opposite side of the cuff.
Sew the lining to the outer piece.
Leave a 2-3″ opening.
Trim the corners close to the seam without cutting the seam. This will give you better corners when you turn the clutch right side out.
Turn your clutch right side out and pull out the corners.
Tuck in the opening and…
iron the clutch, making sure the opening is tucked in.
Next you’ll top stitch around the entire outside of the clutch. This will close the opening.
Next, locate where the cuff is sewn. The cuff is going to be the bottom of the clutch. With right sides together, pin the sides up next to the cuff. You are making the pocket part of the clutch.
Sew the sides together so that you have a triangle hole at the bottom next to the cuff.
Next, fold the bag flat and sew straight across to close the triangle hole. Go slowly, this will be thick.
Turn your clutch right side out and fold over and sew 1/4″ along the sides of the clutch flap. (in the photo, the left side is the pocket of the clutch, the right side is the flap.)
Turn your clutch pocket wrong side out and pinch along the cuff (bottom of the pocket) and pin, if needed, and sew along the edges catching both layers. This will give the clutch more structure.
Next, fold over the corners of the flap and sew in place.
Hand sew on 3 sleeve buttons to the outside of your flap and you’re done!
Now think of all the different types of suit jackets. Wouldn’t they make sweet clutches?
*This is for Personal Use Only. If you’re interested in buying one, you can find them in my shop.*
Hi! I'm Linda, the craft addict behind Craftaholics Anonymous®, a craft blog. Crafting is cheaper than therapy, right? When I'm not DIYing something, I can be found taxiing around our 4 crazy kids or working out. Or shoe shopping... because you can never have too many shoes! Happy crafting! ♥
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totally in love! I can't sew a stitch… well maybe a stitch… but holly cow, LOVE THIS!
This is so adorable! I wish I could sew better. I'm still learning but this is going on my to do list!
My husband is a preacher and we have several old suit coats that are no longer the right size. I would love to make some of these. Is this a "use for personal use only" tutorial? I make bags and would love to put this in my ShopHandmade shop. Thanks!
This is so cute! You have the best idea's!
Also – I wanted to tell you that I felt so bad for you when you announced you were withdrawing. It doesn't seem as if you were treated fairly, and my heart broke for you. Just know you have a ton of support from those of us hooked on your blog – and I am so happy that we still get to see all of the ideas you were going to do there. Keep it up girl!
This is too cute! I really need to work on the sewing skills so I can make one of these. Thanks for sharing =)
Very very cute!!! Too bad I don't have an old suit laying around!!! But I think it would work great with any fabric so I think I'll try it out!!! I am going to miss competing against you…and I was laughing so hard at you trying to disguise your photo by taking a picture in the bathtub…only cause I probably will end up doing that once I run out of places!!!
This is a fabulous idea for "sleeves". And think of the larger bags you could fabricate out of the rest of the suit jacket. Very clever!
PLEASE sell this in your store!!! =]
Very clever and totally cute!
Thanks for posting this!!! I saw it on SoYouThinkYoureCrafty and immediatly went on a hunt for suit jacket. picture will come soon….follow my blog! http://www.avidaccents.blogspot.com
You are just soooo talented! I love it!
OH how I LOVE this!!! It's SO awesome!!!! I'm on the look out for old suits now too! :)
This is a great project for those fabulous suit fabrics that make their way to goodwill.
I'm sorry to see you leave the competition. I don't think you overstepped your bounds by any means. It is perfectly acceptable, in my opinion, to ask people to vote.
I'm looking forward to your future projects.
Blessings, Kathy
Your stuff rocks. Don't listen to any negative comments. Those people are just jealous of your creativity :-). I love your zipper flowers, by the way.
I don't know how you do it! Do you not sleep at night b/c you have all these awesome ideas floating around in your head? ;) That is an awesome gift idea…okay, I'd totally keep it for myself. :)
WOW, this looks great! you have some fantastic idea's :)
This is so cute and would be so much fun to make. I'm going to have to reread your post slowly so I can understand exactly how to do it. Repurposing old clothes is such a great thing.
This is So SO cute…i am def look for an old jacket next time i go to the thrift store! Thanks for sharing!!
Sorry to hear you left the competition, but understand :) Thanks for sharing this great tutorial. I had voted for it! Linked your post here:
http://mamalusco.blogspot.com/2010/02/upcycled-clutch-tutorial.html
Wow, this is amazing amazing idea! I love it! I bet I could totally find a suit jacket at a thrift shop for cheap… but I'm still a beginner at sewing so I'm not sure if I could make this just yet. I will save it for later when I get better at sewing!!
I am so bummed you aren't in the competition anymore! BUT I am so glad you posted this tutorial. The minute I saw this I wanted to make it. It is super cute!
This is fabulous and the clutch is beautiful. Great tutorial!
Hugs
SueAnn
It looks fantastic! I wish that I could sew! Awesome tutorial skills btw!
Brilliant – makes me wish I cared clutches occasionally but I am just not a clutch girl but if I did this would so be what I would carry…
I LOVE this clutch!!!
This is definitely my favorite item you've ever made. It rocks. Can't wait to find a great suit coat to cut up. They would make fabulous gifts. You should definitely sell them in your Etsy store!
this is such a great idea…you make it look easy!
Ok, that is seriously too cute! I found you through Tote's Life, glad I did!
How pretty! What a fun idea! I actually made a tote bag that was similar a few years ago…
Do you have anything planned for the remainder of the jacket???
I was so bummed when I saw you were gone from the contest? I just subsribed to your blog so I'm going to have to read and find out what happened. I think you're super crafty and I totally voted for this project. Thank you so much for making it available for the world!
this is just amazingly pretty!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!
I love this beyond belief! Need to find a blazer now!
this purse is SO awesome!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-tweedy-clutch-from-a-mans-suit-jacket-sleeve/2010/02/26/
–Anne
I love this (and voted for it!) I am headed to Goodwill tomorrow to find a jacket to make one! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!
This is awesome!! My BF wants a clutch, and now I have a tut for one!!! YEA!! Thanks SOO much! :)
Amazing work! Such a gorgeous clutch I can't believe it's from a coat, great repurpose project. I'm so going through my dad's closet for his dusty old coats! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial :)
I love it! And would totally add one of your sweater flowers to it to fem it up. Right above the bottone.
yay!!! Thanks for the tutorial! time to look through my closet.. and my sister's.. and my mom's…
I just found this from Sew Mama Sew and it's brilliant! Using the cuff to make a stiff bottom is just so simple and nothing I would ever in a million years think of. Love it!
Found a great old suit at a thrift store for $5. This is a super cheap project!
This is a beautiful idea! My goal in 2011 is to learn to sew. I would love to make one of these!
This almost made me cut up one of my fiances jackets because I didn’t want to wait to find another one!
I don’t think you finance would like me very much if you did Emily! lol thanks for stopping by !
happy crafting,
Linda
Is there a pattern available for this project?