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How to make a book clutch
I wanted to make one of my own, to upcycled an old book (or, perhaps I should say recycle, since an old book is already quite a lovely and useful thing). But, when I scoured the internet for a good tutorial, I couldn't find a method that pleased me. There were suggestions to place a zipper where the pages would be, or to fasten the whole thing with a big button and an elastic loop. These are all convenient ideas for a DIY version, but I wanted my finished product to look almost exactly like a book from the outside with no visible zipper or other closure. So, I created my own method.

There are quite a number of supplies, but nothing you can't find on one trip to Hobby Lobby and one to Half Price Books.

I hope you like the technique for making book clutches that I've shown here and that you find the tutorial helpful. When you make your own, please do send me a link.

Posted by Célèste B. from Cincinnati, Ohio, United States • Published See Célèste B.'s 8 projects »
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  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 1
    Step 1

    Measure the length and width of the book's pages (not its cover). You will want to cut one strip of wood the length of a page and two strips of the the width of a page minus the thickness of the wood -- i.e., if a pages is 4 1/2 inches wide and the wood is 1/4 inch thick, the two strips should be 4 1/4 inches long. If this is confusing, have no fear; it will all make sense soon when you see the wood lined up.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 2
    Step 2

    Cut the wood to desired length. You may also need to cut it to the desired width if it is too wide. It should be about the thickness of all the pages stacked together, but it doesn't have to be exact.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 3
    Step 3

    Check that the wood is the right length by lining it up on top of the pages to form three sides of a box.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 4
    Step 4

    Laying down newspaper first, spray paint the strips of wood taking care to get the thin edges painted as well as the surface. Don't worry about the bottom side, as it will be hidden by fabric.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 5
    Step 5

    Using your craft knife, carefully cut the pages free from the cover.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 6
    Step 6

    You will be left with the cover (the only part we'll be using), some lining pages (if decorative, these could make cute stationary), and the majority of the book (which can be salvaged with a new cover made from a cereal box, brown paper, etc. if you wish). But those are projects for another day.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 7
    Step 7

    To make the pattern for the lining, trace around the open book cover on a pice of newspaper, leaving enough room for a seam allowance.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 8
    Step 8

    Set the cover upright on another piece of newspaper, as shown, opened as far as you'd like the clutch to open. Trace the shape it makes, leaving a half inch to an inch of space to the edge of the cover.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 9
    Step 9

    Using the triangular pattern, cut a quadruple layer of fabric. Cut a single layer of fabric with the rectangular pattern. Also, cut a strip of fabric the width of the gold-painted wood strips (plus a seam allowance) and the length of the three of them together.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 10
    Step 10

    Sew two of the triangular pieces of fabric together (rights sides facing each other). Cut a few notches in the seam allowance, turn the piece right-side-out, and iron it smooth. Do the same with the remaining two triangular pieces.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 11
    Step 11

    Sew a hem around all four edges of the rectangular piece of fabric. You needn't bother turning the hem under twice, as the raw edges will be hidden by fabric glue later.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 12
    Step 12

    Sew the short edges of the triangular pieces to the long sides of the rectangular piece, centering them as shown.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 13
    Step 13

    Sew each long edge of the triangular pieces along the sides of the rectangular pice as shown.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 14
    Step 14

    Hem the long strip of fabric all the way around making sure that, once hemmed, it's exactly the width of the wood strips.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 15
    Step 15

    Using the wood glue, attach the wood strips to the back cover (and to each other at the corners) with the gold sides facing out. Let dry before proceeding to step 15.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 16
    Step 16

    Using the fabric glue, attach the thin strip of fabric all the way around the inside of the frame made by the wood stripes.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 17
    Step 17

    Still using the fabric glue, attach the lining to the inside of the book cover as shown.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 18
    Step 18

    Using the wood glue, attach the remaining edges of the wood frame to the book cover as shown.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 19
    Step 19

    Cut the craft magnet to desired length (and width if needed) and glue a strip to each edge of the clutch as shown. I used hot glue here, but wood glue would work as well. My craft magnet strips came with a peel-away adhesive side, but it wasn't strong enough.

  • How to make a book clutch bag. Book Clutch - Step 20
    Step 20

    Enjoy your new book clutch!

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Comments

Mvndres
Mvndres · Richmond, British Columbia, CA · 5 projects
This is probably one of the most amazing things I've seen on here for a while. Now, I just have to make this a bit more masculine to pull of off. =S
Reply
Erin  R.
Erin R.
Just made my own and i love it. However the magnet strips weren't quite strong enough. Any suggestions?
Reply
honey bunny
honey bunny · Tel Aviv-Yafo, IL · 12 projects
its lovely!!! great idea Happy
Reply
Willow Bon-Bon
Willow Bon-Bon · London, GB · 29 projects
This is AMAZING!!
Reply
Willow Bon-Bon
Willow Bon-Bon · London, GB · 29 projects
This is AMAZING!!!
Reply
PattyMadeIt
PattyMadeIt · Maricopa, Arizona, US
I agree - I have not seen any book-clutch tutorial that I like .... until now! Wood strips! What a great idea!!! Thanks for sharing. (c:
Reply
Julia Oreo
Julia Oreo · Bayamón, Bayamón, PR · 6 projects
ditto. thank you!!
Reply
Heidiboo
Heidiboo · Newcastle upon Tyne, England, GB
Cannot wait to try this!!
Reply

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