This is where you'll find the demo for sewing up the Ruth Clutch pattern.
Need the pattern pieces and quickie written directions? The Ruth Clutch pattern is here.
In this free video tutorial, Natalie of Sew Hungry Hippie sews the Ruth Clutch from start to finish: cutting the PDF pattern, fusing a cotton lining to vinyl, binding the top edges, sewing the frame channels, boxing the corners and inserting an 8-inch carpet bag frame. It's a quick, beginner-friendly frame purse you can finish in a morning on a home sewing machine.
Get the Ruth Clutch PDF sewing pattern here →
Jump to a step
- 21:12 – Cutting out the PDF pattern
- 23:25 – Cutting the vinyl exterior on the fold
- 25:00 – Cutting the lining fabric
- 27:18 – Fusing Steam-A-Seam to the lining
- 30:38 – Adding the metal label plate
- 33:43 – Fusing the lining to the vinyl
- 36:36 – Clipping the binding to the top edges
- 39:15 – Topstitching the binding
- 43:32 – Making the frame channels
- 45:26 – Sewing the side seams
- 48:03 – Boxing the corners
- 49:42 – Binding the inside seams
- 53:29 – Inserting the clutch frame
- 57:42 – The finished Ruth Clutch
What you need to sew the Ruth Clutch
- Ruth Clutch PDF sewing pattern
- Exterior: Metallic Emerald Green Vinyl (used in the video) or Metallic Olive Green Vinyl, 18" × 22". One roll makes 2 clutches. Cork, bonded nylon, canvas or faux suede also work.
- Lining: quilting cotton, 18" × 22" (more for directional prints). Shown in the Natalie Purple Paisley print by Jennifer Paganelli
- Frame: one 8" carpet bag frame
- Fusible web: Steam-A-Seam 2, two 12" × 17" pieces or one 22" × 22" piece
- Binding: two pieces of extra-wide double-fold bias binding, each 8–10" long
- Optional: "Look Within" metal bag label
- Helpful tools: Teflon pressing sheet, sewing clips and a Clover Hot Ruler for pressing the frame channels
Want everything in one box? The Ruth Clutch Kit has the fabric, vinyl, frame, binding, label plate and Steam-A-Seam.
How to sew the Ruth Clutch: the steps at a glance
- Print and cut the pattern. Print at 100% and check the test square, then cut the single pattern piece.
- Cut the vinyl and lining on the fold. Watch the direction of the print on the lining.
- Fuse the lining to the vinyl. Iron Steam-A-Seam 2 to the back of the lining, peel the paper, and press it to the vinyl under a Teflon sheet.
- Bind and topstitch the top edges.
- Make the frame channels. Fold the top edges down 1 inch and stitch along the binding.
- Sew the side seams. Don't sew the channel ends closed, or the frame won't fit.
- Box the corners and finish the inside seams with binding.
- Turn it right side out and insert the frame, then join the hinge pins.
Ruth Clutch FAQ
How long does it take to sew the Ruth Clutch?
The full video demo, with explanations, runs about 37 minutes. Most sewists can finish a Ruth Clutch in a single morning; it is not an all-day project.
What materials do I need to make the Ruth Clutch?
You need the Ruth Clutch PDF pattern, vinyl (or faux suede) for the outside, quilting cotton for the lining, a double-sided fusible web such as Steam-A-Seam 2, extra-wide double-fold bias binding, and an 8-inch carpet bag frame. A metal label plate is optional.
Is the Ruth Clutch pattern good for beginners?
Yes. It uses a single pattern piece cut on the fold, and the video walks through every step, from cutting the PDF pattern to inserting the frame.
Can I sew the Ruth Clutch on a regular home sewing machine?
Yes. Natalie sews the entire clutch on a domestic sewing machine, not an industrial one.
What sizes does the Ruth Clutch pattern come in?
The video shows the small size. The small finishes at about 12 inches wide, 6 inches high and 4 inches deep. A large, oversized version that uses a 16-inch carpet bag frame is being added to the PDF, and everyone who bought the pattern will get it by email.
How do I make sure my PDF pattern prints at the right size?
Print at 100% with no scaling, then measure the 2½-inch test square on the pattern with a ruler before you cut.
Can I use a directional fabric for the lining?
Yes, but you may need to turn the pattern piece or add a bottom seam so the print runs the right way when the clutch is open. The Ruth Clutch Kit fabric is already cut so the print faces the right way.
