Has anyone seen "Extreme Couponing?" I'm not a huge fan of hoarding, but that show gave my husband and I the idea to collect coupons in order to make eating organic possible. But how do you organize them? Well, I looked on the interwebs for a tutorial, and I found a couple projects that looked similar to this:
The catch? Either there was no tutorial, or you had to buy an expensive pattern. I understand that many bloggers sell patterns to help support their families and whatnot, but I am already on a tight budget (hence the couponing). So what did I do? I made one up! For cheap! And I am posting the tutorial for it! And I am offering the pattern on my Etsy for only $2.00!
Onto the tutorial! I used bright white thread and contrasting colors so you can see each step more clearly. First, cut the pattern pieces.
I started sewing with the dividers and the accordian sides. Stack them with the two fabric pieces on bottom (right sides together), and the interfacing on top (for the dividers). Then stitch up the long sides.
Next, use a straight edge help turn out the seams and press. Then topstitch the top and bottom to seal it in place. This also helps keep the interfacing stable.
Next, it's time to sew the cover. Stack the fabric the same way you did the dividers: right sides together, interfacing on top. Then stitch the scalloped edges on top and bottom to make the seams. The curves and turns are a little tricky, but if you go slow you will be fine.
Then, turn it inside out, and push out and press the seams. You may need some kind of tool to pop out the corners and curves. Then-you guessed it-topstitch.
ASSEMBLY:
First, I attached the dividers to the accordian. Fold the accordian piece in half, and slide the divider all the way up into the crease. Then stitch it down about 1/4 inch from the edge--just enough to catch all the layers.
Now, fold the fabric back, and a little farther down, make another fold (how many folds you make and how far to space them will depend on how many dividers you choose to have-on my pattern I have drawn the lines to make 8 dividers--it's a pretty tight fit). Again, stick the divider into the crease and stitch it down.
Once you have sewn in all your dividers on one accordian side, then repeat with the other. It may be slightly trickier on the other side, but just start in the middle and you will be fine. I was able to eyeball the spacing just fine.
Now, you should have some extra fabric at the ends of your accordian sides. This is what you will use to attach your dividers to the cover. Decide where you would like the dividers to be inside your clutch, leaving plenty of room for the file to expand (The pattern also has a rough guide to where the folds should be in the cover). Then pin it down and bast it close to the edge.
Once you've done this to the front of your cover, roll the cover up around to the other side of the dividers, and attach the other side of the dividers to the back side of the clutch.
Congratulations! You are almost there! Now you just have to do a little finishing and you are done!
Take a strip of bias tape and pin it along the side of the clutch, covering the basting work you just did.
Topstitch it down, then repeat. Then add a snap or button closure to the front and you are done! Take a look!
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| oh snap! |
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| a little peek-a-boo of the dividers |
Closed:
Open:
Now, the part you have been waiting for: How do you get the pattern? It's simple: just visit my Etsy and put in an order! I will email it to you as soon as I can!
