I met Amber last year when I joined the Palmetto Modern Quilter’s Guild (she’s the founder & President) and she has been blowing my mind with her bag-making skills ever since.
When she mentioned she wanted to design her own bag patterns, I almost leaped out of my seat! YES PLEASE. If you’ve ever seen the bags she makes, you know how thoughtfully designed they are (not to mention adorable – she really has an eye for pairing fabrics). I saw her call for testers and immediately jumped on the band wagon!
I am so proud of my sweet friend for launching the pattern design wing of Roar Haus!
I was chosen to test the pattern (which very well may be because I badgered Amber into letting me) and am SO excited to tell you all about the Gatsby Clutch!
The Bag
The bag is a fold-over clutch with a top zipper and detachable cross-body strap.
There is a tiny zipper pocket hidden when the bag is folded over. This sneaky little pouch is perfect for keeping your tiny items from getting lost in the bottom of the bag.
The Pattern
The instructions are so easy to follow! The best part is that Amber took the time to photograph each step. It’s more like following a sew-along than a traditional pattern.
Material
Fabric
All of the fabric I used for this bag came from my stash! I’m trying really hard lately to focus on utilizing the fabric I have {the stash is getting out.of.control.}.
I find it easier to use up scraps when making bags. Garments require so much yardage, but for all the bits and pieces of a bag, you can usually get away with using a variety of fabric so you can stash bust quite a few patterns in one project. You could even piece together scraps for a patchwork exterior if you were feeling adventurous!
For the exterior of my Gatsby Clutch, I used a vintage cotton print that I snagged from Butterfly Vintage. I used it for the Scarf Swap last year and have been holding onto the scraps for the perfect project.
What better project than testing your sewing bestie’s first bag pattern!
For the strap, I used some green rayon I had leftover from a dress pattern I recently tested {Unfortunately, I couldn’t participate in the final round of testing so I didn’t finish my version, but it was the Auberley Dress from Blank Slate Patterns. I am hoping to make the final version soon because it looks amazing!}. The rayon lost its slinkiness but maintained the soft feel when fused with the SF101 so it worked perfectly.
I picked up the interfacing from my local JoAnn’s. I had fusible fleece in my stash already but picked up a little extra just in case. You really don’t need much so if you have scraps those will likely do. Additionally, you could probably substitute quilt batting if that’s what you have handy, but because Amber is the expert on interfacing, if you can use what she recommends – do it!
I noticed on Amber’s bags that she sews a few random straight lines across the exterior which I think is so cute! I copied her and added a few to my exterior after adding the fusible fleece. {If you have trouble sewing a straight line like myself, take a light colored permanent marker and draw straight lines onto the interfacing and follow those when you are stitching. I wouldn’t recommend a washable marker – you wouldn’t want it to bleed onto your fabric if it gets wet. You could also use a fabric pen or marker obviously 😉 }.
This was my first time using SF101. I have used lightweight fusible interfacing before, but it was not woven like the SF101. I really loved the stability it added to the cotton – making it durable, but not too heavy. I might be hooked on the SF101!
For my main interior fabric, I used some purple cotton from my scrap bin.
For the lining of the tiny pocket, I used a light blue gingham cotton scrap. This pocket interior is perfect for scraps – you only need two tiny pieces. The O-ring loops and zipper tabs are also a great place to use tiny scraps.
Hardware
I had the larger zipper on hand, but have never used a 4 inch zipper (so tiny!) so I didn’t have any. Luckily Amber came to my rescue and let me borrow one. I have since ordered some from Zipit on Etsy (these!). I have ordered zippers from Zipit in the past and am always pleased with the quality. The donut pull metal zippers are my favorite!
I had some D-rings in my stash, but none as small as what is recommended. I was determined to follow the pattern as closely as possible using the recommended material so I could provide valid feedback to Amber. I quickly ordered the O-rings, swivel clasps, and sliders from Bagmaker Supply on Etsy {a shop Amber recommended}.
I really like the swivel clasps I ordered (these)! They have a little rhinestone in the corner which is just so fancy. I also ordered some of these plain swivel clasps for future bags. {You can find the sliders I ordered here and the o-rings here}.
Final Thoughts
I’m really excited for Amber to release this pattern! As soon as I started working on mine, I started seeing fold-over clutches everywhere – they must be in style right now {I’m usually out of the loop on that 😉 }.
I have found in the past that it’s hard to get a fold-over clutch to lay right. Amber’s balance of the interfacing is a perfect match and allows the bag to fold over and lay perfectly.
Overall, the pattern is not incredibly difficult – even if you have never installed a zipper, Amber does a great job of walking through the process with instructions and photos. That being said, I think this bag could be completed by a beginner (especially one who is determined!).
Where to purchase the pattern
You can find the Gatsby Clutch Pattern at roarhaus.com.
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** Disclaimer: As I’m sure you can very much tell, Amber has become a great friend of mine. I admittedly try to be the biggest cheerleader for my friends’ creative ventures, but I do hope you’ll trust me when I say: This pattern review is 100% truthful.
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resliced by Jordan 