a quick and easy clutch

This weekend I decided to whip up a little clutch for a friends birthday. It's the Artsy Clutch pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. The instructions were clear and easy to follow and I still managed to screw it up about 4 times before I got it right! Note to self: don't sew when tired and feeling rushed.

I love the end result though. I used Heather Bailey's Zag Stripe in Lime from her Pop Garden collection, and a coordinating forrest green solid for the lining. The pattern called for a cotton fleece between the layers, but I used a piece of thin cotton canvas from Ikea, and it worked really well. Not too bulky, and just enough stiffness.

For the button(s), I went digging in my button jar and found an oversized plain white button that I combined with a smaller peralised one and used some green wool thread from a button packaged attached to a sweater I purchased years ago.

It's a small triumph for me, since I tend to be so terribly at reading patterns (even great, easy ones like the Artsy Clutch!) but I managed to finish this little bag to my satisfaction and to the satisfaction of my friend Amanda who received it for her birthday.

Right now I am also working on a new purse to replace the one I have been using since August and is starting to look really sad. I found a link for a cute and easy shoulder bag on Tiny Happy that I love and so far I've only messed it up twice and had to rip it apart to re-stitch it. Once again, this is no fault of the pattern author, just my inability to read directions clearly. I'll post pictures as soon as it is done.