DIY Oversized Tassel Clutch Bag: Tutorial

I love huge bags. My boyfriend doesn't understand them and wonders why I can't just use my pockets. So I tell him that just wouldn't be as much fun!

I made this bag this afternoon from some good quality synthetic leather I found in a shop and thought it was time for another tutorial to show you how to make your own.

To make the bag you need:

- Leather or other material for the outer

- Material for the lining

- Stiff Quilting

- Long zipper

Measure out the size and shape of your bag on the quilting. Make sure that the zip will fit it of course!

Then measure out the lining. This should be about a cm bigger all round. You should then pin this to the quilting, folding the excess material over the edges.

Stitch all the way round to attach the lining to the quilting. Next fold it in half (right sides together) and sew the sides together, leaving the opening at the top.

Next measure out th outer material. This should be at least an inch bigger at the sides and at the opening.

Fold it in half, right sides together, and then stitch up each side. Rember the quilting needs to fit inside so make sure it fits comfortably before sewing.

Turn it the right way round. You then need to insert the quilting inside the bag.

Here is the tricky part!

To insert the zip you need to insert it between the quilting and the outer material. To do this you will need to fold over the edge of the outer fabric as this should not have been stitched yet.

 The zipper needs to be inserted in between and pinned as above. You then need to sew the zip in place.

At each end of the bag, either side of the zip, you need to sew the bag together like a seam to ensure that when it is zipped up the bag is fully closed.

I then wanted to add some tassels to the zipper on the bag. Tassels are everywhere right now so I thought they might look quite cool on the bag.

To make a tassel in the same material as the bag, take a piece of the material and cut into it like above to make a 'fringe'. You then need to roll it by rolling the uncut part into itself.

Next take a long piece of the material, or a piece of riibbon, and wrap it around the top of the tassel to tie it together. Take one end and thread it through the zipper and tie off.

I also picked up this tassel in the home furnishings department which I also threaded through the zipper.

Together they should look like this! There you have it; a finished clutch bag.