I've been seeing envelope clutches all over Pinterest lately and I've been brainstorming about how to make my own. I recently bought a good deal of leather from Tandy and got a bit of leather that looked like it would great for an envelope clutch. :D

This weekend I decided to draw up my own envelope clutch pattern and document how to make it - I've attached the pattern on step two for download.

If you've got everything on hand you should be able to make the clutch in about 15 minutes. :)

Step 1: What You'll Need:

an 18 x 22 piece of thin/medium leather or pleather
scissors/x-acto knife
rotary punch
7 mm screwback button stud
pattern (found on next step)

If you want your envelope clutch to be reversible, make sure to choose a leather where you like both sides. One side of the piece I'm using is vinyl-y, the other is suede-y.

Also choose a leather than can fold easily on itself - if it's too thick, it'll be hard to work with.

Step 2: Download the Pattern and Cut the Clutch Out

Many of the free clutch patterns I looked at just didn't look large enough for me, so I decided to make my own pattern.

This pattern results in a 5 x 7 inch clutch, just big enough to hold your phone, a little money and something else. :)

I drafted it out on paper and then covered in it masking tape and cut it out - this results in a stiffer pattern you can store and use again later!

You can download the pattern below. Print it out at full size (no scaling!) and line up the arrows. Tape the pages together and cut out.

envelopeclutchpattern.pdf
Download

Step 3: Fold and Punch

Fold over the edges to form the clutch and press them down with your thumbs to crease them a little. (you can have the bottom flap in front, or the two side flaps in front - your call!)

Line up the middle so the sides and bottom overlap and use the smallest hole punch to create a hole through all three flaps.

Punch hard! It'll take a little bit of pressure to make a clean cut. If you're using thicker layers, you might have to punch a layer at a time. You can use an awl to mark the punch spot through all three layers, just put a piece of cardboard inside to keep the awl from damaging the inside of the clutch!

Step 4: Insert the Screwback Stud

Depending on which flaps you want on the outside, push the stud through the one that will be on the bottom, and then push the other two flaps onto the stud.

Screw on the round cap and pull the top flap over it. Punch a hole right where the top flap meets with the round cap.

Cut very small incisions with an x-acto knife or the very tips of a sharp pair of scissors at the top and bottom of the hole in the top flap. Work with this until it fits easily but snugly over the round cap.