Sweet Repurposed Vintage Tablecloth Clutch

Anyone who knows me can tell you, I am head over heels for vintage tablecloths! I collect them, but I also love to sew with them! I never pass up a tablecloth that has stains or holes because often there is still some good usable space that I can cut out and use as fabric. Vintage tablecloth fabric is usually a really nice thick cotton, so they are a perfect weight for bags. The pleather accents really give this little pouch an extra pop and style! The best thing about this clutch is that it can be done in less than an hour!

Here’s What You Need:

*Pattern (below)

*Cutter Tablecloth or remnant of at least 3/8 yard

*3/8 yard lining fabric such as quilting weight cotton

*Pleather or leather 1/8 yard

*Zipper

*Sewing Machine and Thread

*Sewing awl and scissors or marking paper and tracing wheel

*Marking pen

Here’s The Pattern- Print out to 8.5×11

 

Instructions:

First, you need to cut out your pattern. Lay out your fabric and trace your pattern onto the fabric with a marking pen or pencil. To mark the darts you can use marking paper and a tracing wheel. I use an awl and mark down 1/2 an inch from the peak of the dart and then I clip into the edge of the pattern 1/4 inch on each end of the dart line. Now, line up the darts and edges on the outside pieces and the leather accents. Top stitch all the way around the edge of the leather accent stitching it down to the tablecloth fabric. Once your four leather pieces are stitched down to the front and back pieces you are ready to sew the darts. Fold your dart in half and stitch your dart. If you used the awl method you would match the two clip lines at the bottom and then stitch up 1/2″ past the awl hole to make the dart. Once you stitch all of the darts in the main and lining fabric pieces, press all darts in towards the middle.

For the zipper: With the zipper right side up, lay a main fabric piece wrong side up on top of the right of the zipper. On the bottom of the zipper place one of the lining pieces face up onto the bottom right of the zipper. So you should have a main piece and a lining piece with right sides together with the zipper right side facing the right side of the main piece sandwiched in between the two. Pin the layers and then stitch down with your zipper foot. When you get to the slider of the zipper, turn your needle into your fabric, lift the presser foot, and shimmy the slider down past the presser foot into the area already stitched. Continue stitching the zipper to the end. Now do the same thing with the other side of the zipper, and stitch down. Now top stitch around your zipper.

Now, open up your zipper about half way. Match the main fabric pieces right sides together, and the lining right sides together. Pin all the way around. Now, stitch around your bag starting at the bottom seam of the lining fabric. Stitch up the lining, around the main fabric and back down the lining leaving a few inches at the bottom for turning. Clip around corners. Pull your bag right side out through the hole in the lining. Press bag. You can stitch the hole in the bottom closed by hand or by machine. Push the lining into the outer bag. Zip up your bag and you are done.

I LOVE this bag! This little clutch can be used as a light little purse to hold your essentials when you go out. You could also use it to organize and hold your make up, jewelry, craft supplies, etc. This diy is so fast and it’s quite fun! So next time you are at your local flea market, grab that ragged tablecloth and repurpose it into this cute clutch!

Happy Crafting!