How to Sew an Upcycled Envelope Clutch

This stunning clutch is easy to make and features upcycled fabrics from family heirlooms, prom dresses, and thrift store finds.

Finished size: approximately 6″ x 10″

Supplies

• Wedding or eveningwear garments to upcycle
• Rotary cutter and mat
• 12″ x 12″ (or larger) square ruler
• 1/3 yard lightweight fusible interfacing
• 11″ x 18″ piece of OESD Fiber Form Craft Interfacing
• Matching thread
• Pins
• Vintage buttons, brooch, or silk flowers
• ¼″ presser foot (BERNINA Patchwork Foot #37)
• Walking foot (BERNINA Walking Foot #50)

Step 1) Prepare the fabric pieces.

“Harvest” fabric from your garments. I took satin from the skirt of an ivory evening gown, plus turquoise satin and light blue-green chiffon from a blue party dress, and a sleeve from a lace blouse.

You will need:

• Two pieces of satin, about 11″ x 18″
• One piece of lace, about 11″ x 10″
• One piece of accent fabric, about 11″ x 15″, to insert behind the lace

Apply fusible interfacing to the back of the ivory satin following the manufacturer’s instructions to stabilize it.

Cut two 11″ x 18″ rectangles from the interfaced satin.

Cut one 11″ x 18″ rectangle of Fiber Form.

Stack all three layers and use a small plate as a guide to round off the corners on ONE of the 11″ ends.

Step 2) Make the front band.

I removed the sleeve of a lace blouse for the band on the front of the clutch. If you don’t have a sleeve, cut an 11″ x 10″ piece of lace, fold it right sides together, and sew a tube lengthwise. Turn the tube right side out.

Insert a piece of accent fabric through the center of the tube (I used light blue chiffon). The accent fabric does not need to have finished edges, as it will be enclosed in the lace.

Lay the filled lace tube flat about 1″ from the rounded edge of one of the ivory rectangles.

Step 3) Assemble the clutch.

Pin both sides of the clutch, right sides together, matching the curved ends and the square ends. Using a 1/2″-wide seam allowance and Walking Foot #50, begin stitching 1/2″ from the lower square edge, sew around the curved edges, and stop 1/2″ from the other square edge.

Trim the seam allowances, clip the curves, and turn the tube right side out.

Turn the edges of the opening 1/2″ to the inside and press.

Use Edgestitch Foot #10 to sew along the edges of the fold and close the opening.

Stitch a straight line across the width of the clutch, 5-1/2″ from the straight edge.

Stitch another straight line across the width of the clutch 5-1/2″ from the curved end.

These are the folding lines.

Fold the straight edge up along the stitched line.

Stitch the sides of the clutch together starting at one folded edge, around the curve of the flap, and back down to the other folded edge, using a 3/8″-wide seam allowance.

Use a stack of vintage buttons, an antique brooch, or some beautiful old ribbon to gather the front band in the center.