Hello everyone! It’s Tori again from One Eleven Studio and I’m back with another tutorial! This time I’ll be teaching you how to make a foldover clutch with an emphasis on how to install a zipper. Now, I know zippers can be very intimidating, but I assure you it’s not bad at all. There are a few different ways to install zippers into bags but I find this way to be very simple, and because I produce bags in bigger quantities, installing a zipper this way helps me cut back on time. I love a good print so for this project I used a beautiful Woven Ikat Striped Cotton fabric and for the lining I used this extremely soft Reversible Two-Toned Rose and Chocolate Cotton Twill fabric. That being said, let’s get started!
Finished Measurements
Approximately 10” w x 6” h
Materials
½ yard fabric for the exterior of the bag
½ yard fabric for the interior of the bag
9” zipper
Zipper Foot
Matching thread
Construction Notes
Use ¼” seam allowance throughout
Cut Fabric
Outer Fabric
Cut two rectangle pieces from the exterior fabric measuring 11” w x 12” h
Lining
Cut two rectangle pieces from the interior fabric measuring 11” w x 12” h
Installing Zipper
Attach your zipper foot
Place zipper right side up across the top edge of one of your lining pieces. Your lining piece should be facing right side up as well.
Take one of the exterior pieces, with the right side facing down and place over the zipper with edges aligned. Pin in place and stitch across.
Take the other side of the zipper and with right side facing up, place it on top of the other lining piece, right side up, making sure the edges are aligned.
Unzip your zipper a few inches back to make it easy for the zipper head to pass by the zipper foot.
Place the other exterior piece on top of the zipper right side facing down. With edges aligned pin in place and stitch across.
Finishing the bag
Now that you’ve installed your zipper, you should have one exterior piece and one lining piece on each side of the zipper.
- Unzip your zipper about half way through. This step is important for turning the bag inside out.
- Take the two exterior pieces and pin together with right sides facing each other. Take your two lining pieces and pin together with right sides facing each other.
Stitch around the entire bag leaving about a 4” gap at the bottom of the lining so that we can turn the bag inside out. Trim excess fabric.
Pull the exterior fabric through the 4” opening of the lining. Tuck the edges in and press the opening gap. Stitch closed.
Push the lining into the exterior of the bag making adjustments until everything is nice and neat. Press. Now fold your clutch over to the desired length and press. Pat yourself on the back and admire your work!!
