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Sewing Patterns

Clamshell Clutches
For such delicious-looking hand candy these clutches are sooo quick and easy to
make! Great for when you want to vamp up the glamour, even if you are in a
serious hurry! Just perfect for weddings, parties, cruises, snazzy gifts, and
Hollywood red carpet... Ha ha!

Pattern notes:
•
These clutches require no sewing - yep really - no sewing at all!

•
You can use the same glue to glue the fabric to the plastic shells to also glue the
shells to the metal frame, but given the choice I’d use Gutermman glue (it’s
stronger and easier to apply) to glue the plastic shells to the frame. So, ideally we
use Aleene’s glue for the fabric gluing and we use Gutermann’s for the metal frame.
See Step 13

•
Right/wrong side = front or pattern/reverse side of fabric
•
I recommend using silk/satin/cotton fabrics that are NO thicker than quilt weight
cotton
•
You will find the pattern dimensions in the individual Clamshell Clutch product
listings.

What you’ll need (to shop for supplies click on the links below):

•
Clamshell purse frame. We stock 2 yummy styles here and here
•
Aleene’s Tacky Glue and a brush to apply glue
•
Small flat-head screwdriver
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•
Gutermann CGHT2 glue (optional, see pattern notes above)
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•
Sewing clips or clothes pegs
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•
Metal purse chain (optional)

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 How to make the clutch

Steps to prepare:
1. Before you begin have a read through the
instructions and follow them in order.

2. You will find the pattern dimensions in the

individual Clamshell Clutch product listings
in our shop.

3. Before we begin I just want you to notice

the long cut-out notch on one of the plastic
shells. Both your plastic shells (or just one
Fig 1. Note the the long edge of the shell on the left has
of them) may have a notch. See fig 1. As
a long notch cut out of it.
long as one of the shells has a notch, that’s
all that matters. Read the next step to find
out what the notch is for...

4. The notch on the plastic shell is there to

accommodate the metal spring mechanism
(located inside of one of the top edges) of
the metal frame. See fig 2. It doesn’t
matter if both your plastic shells have
notches as the notches will not show on
your finished clutch. So now we know what
the notch is for we can keep in mind where
it will later be positioned on the clutch.
Anyway don’t worry about it for now I’ll Fig 2. The spring button mechanism is inside one of the
mention it again when the time comes :) top edge of the frame and comprises a long strip of metal
under tension (this sticks out a bit, hence the need for the
5. Take the Aleene’s glue and apply it to the cut out notch on one of the shells.
outside of one the plastic shells. See fig 3.
Don’t overdo it. As this glue is a bit gloopy
it’s easier to add more than it is to remove.

6. Using a brush spread the glue evenly all

over the surface of the shell. Be sure to
cover all parts of the case. See fig 4. Then
let the glue dry enough to go tacky. You
are aiming for the glue to be dry enough so
it won’t seep thru the fabric, but wet
enough so the fabric will bond well to the
shell.

7. When you are happy the glue is dry enough

take one of the exterior pieces of fabric and
fold it in half by bringing the long edges
right sides together. Now find the centre
point of the side edges of the shell. Next,
place the folded edge of the fabric onto side
Fig 3. Apply some gloopy Aleene’s across the exterior
edge centre points. Ta da! Fabric and shell
surface of the shell.
should now be positioned with each other
nice and square! See fig 5.

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8. Use your fingers or scrap of fabric to
smooth the fabric evenly and firmly over the
front surface and long edges of the shell. As
you smooth the fabric over ensure you don’t
miss any parts. See fig 6.

9. Now we are going to form nice neat fabric

Fig 4. Use a brush to spread the glue evenly all over the
corners on the corners of the shell (in a
shell. Don’t miss any bits!
similar way to folding neat corners on a bed
sheet...). So, working with one of the long
edges of the fabric: as you reach a corner
take the long fabric edge and smooth it just
around the corner (See fig 7) just enough
so that when you fold the resulting flap (on
the short edge of the shell) down the folded
edge of the flap falls nicely slap-bang onto
the shell corner. See fig 9. Repeat with the
other 3 corners.

10. Use Aleene’s glue to glue all 4 fabric corner

flaps down. See fig 8. Use a sewing clip to
help fabric bond. Don’t clip too high up the
corners otherwise the clip indents will show
on finished clutch (yes I am an uptight
perfectionist and I love it). See fig 10.
Fig 5. To neatly square up the fabric with the shell place
the folded edge of the fabric onto the side edge centre of
the case.

11. Wait for the glue to dry on everything. Time

for a cuppa and maybe and tasty sandwich.
Now cut the excess fabric all around the
shell. Be reasonably neat, but don’t worry
too much as the edges of the shell will
eventually be concealed inside the metal
frame See fig 11. Repeat steps 5 - 11 for
the other plastic shell.

12. If you want to line the case read on, if not

skip this and head straight to Step 13 To
line the plastic shells repeat steps 5-11
(except this time you are obviously working
with the inside of your shell and lining
fabric). See fig 12 & 13.
Fig 6. Carefully and firmly smooth the fabric over the
front and side edges of the shell. Don’t smooth fabric
onto the side edges just yet.

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13. Now we are going to glue the plastic shell
into the metal frame. So as I mentioned in
the pattern notes you can use the Aleene’s
glue for this step if you like, but if you
happen to have some Gutermann glue to
hand it’s better to use that (it’s stronger and
easier to apply). So, take the metal frame
and begin working with side that has the
spring button mech. Apply glue all around
the side and top edges of one side of the
metal frame. See fig 15. Then take a shell
with has a notch cut-out and immediately
Fig 7. Take the long edge of the fabric and fold and smooth
apply glue all around the edge of shell See
fig 16. Leave the glue to dry (to go tacky; it down around the next corner - just enough so that folded
you can even make a cuppa!) on both the edges of the resulting flap fall nicely onto the corner of the
frame and shell for 6/7 mins. shell (see fig 9.)

14. Now take the plastic shell and ensure the

notch is facing up (in other words, the notch
needs to be at the top edge of the clutch).
Place the shell into the metal frame so that
the notch of the shell will sit over the spring
button mech. You will probably find that it is
a tight-ish squeeze in the side edges -
especially at the corners where there are a
good few fabric layers (but tight is good, it
will help with bonding). If things are tight
use your screw driver to gently ease the
plastic shell into the metal frame. See fig
17. Repeat steps 13 & 14 for the other shell
and side of the frame. Ta dah! All done,
How fabulous, now get me to that party!!
Fig 8. Now we need to glue the flap down. Fold back the
flap on the side edges and apply some Aleene’s glue as
shown.

Fig 9. whilst the glue is still wet fold the flap down and
check the folded edge of the flap fall neatly onto the corner
of the shell. Readjust if necessary.

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 Fig 13. Use sewing clips to help the lining fabric corners to
Fig 10. Use sewing clips to help the fabric corners to bond.
bond.

Fig 14. Trim off the excess lining fabric all around the
frame.
Fig 11. Trim off the excess exterior fabric all around the
frame.

Fig 15. Apply glue to the channel of the metal frame. Don’t
miss any bits.
Fig 12. In the lining form ‘hospital corners’ in the same
way as Step 9.

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 ©2012 U-Handbag Patterns. Copyright
Notes:
You are welcome to hand make items from our
patterns for commercial and non-commercial use.
We are happy for you to sell items made from our
designs on Etsy or market stalls etc. However,
permissions for commercial use do not include
factory manufacture for mass production and selling.
We respectfully ask you to not pass off our pattern
designs as your own creation. Do not show any part
of this pattern anywhere without permission. Thanks
for your understanding :)

Fig 16 Apply glue all around the edge of the shell. Don’t
miss any bits.

Fig 17. If things are a tight squeeze, use a screw driver to

gently ease the corners into the frame. Watch your fingers!

Fig 18. Aw yeah! Check out those neat and crisp corners!

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