Knit a Fabulous Fabric Clutch

July 17th, 2008 in patterns & designs, knitting

Tina Hilton, contributor

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The finished size is 10 inches x 5 inches.

The finished size is 10 inches x 5 inches.

Photo: Tina Hilton

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Knitting with fabric is a fun way to use up the yardage collecting dust in your craft stash. This is your opportunity to utilize that “what was I thinking?” fabric taking up valuable space in your cupboards and closets. Knitting with fabric has a utilitarian feel when you are whipping up place mats and rugs, but crafting a cute clutch with fabric highlighted with a bit of gold along with a splash of novelty yarn elevates it to the high-fashion realm.

What You'll Need:
Cotton fabric (1-1/2 yards total is plenty)
   I used three different fabrics:
   A: Blue-green with gold metallic highlights
   B: Rust with gold metallic highlights
   C: Sage green and pumpkin
Novelty yarn (I used a gold-tone loopy yarn and a gold-metallic eyelash yarn)
Size 15 knitting needles
Large tapestry or yarn needle
Scissors
Magnetic snap
Large decorative button

Prepare the fabric
Cut fabric strips 1-1/2 inches wide. Fold the fabric lengthwise, selvage to selvage. I used a quilting rotary cutter and mat board to make the cutting process easy and fast.

Join the strips together to create one continuous length either by sewing or tying together. I used the slot knot method, where you overlap the ends of the strips by 1 inch with the strip you are adding on the top.

Overlap the ends of the strip.

Fold the strips in the middle of the overlap and cut a 1/4-inch slot midway.

Make sure to cut the slot accurately.

Unfold the strip and take the opposite end of the yarn you are adding up from the bottom and pull it through the slot.

Don’t twist the strip as you pull both ends tight to join the knot.

Here is the completed slot knot.

Repeat with the other fabrics. If you want a random color pattern for your clutch, alternate the fabrics you join together as opposed to joining all one fabric together separately.

Fold the joined strips in half lengthwise and iron smooth. You now have a sturdy two-ply fabric strip perfect for knitting a purse that will keep its shape.

Roll the strips into balls and pin the end into the ball to avoid tangling until you are ready to knit.

Commence Knitting
With fabric A, cast on 20 stitches. Odd rows are on the wrong side.
Note: All rows will be knit in garter stitch (knit every row), except for row 14
Rows 1–5, knit in garter stitch (knit every row)
Rows 6–8, knit in garter stitch with color B
Rows 9–13, knit in garter stitch with color A
Row 14, with color B purl. This will give you two consecutive purl rows establishing the bottom of the clutch.
Rows 15–16, knit with B
Rows 17–19, knit with A
Rows 20–22, knit with C
Rows 21–22, knit with A
Rows 23–25, knit with B
Rows 24–27, knit with C
Row 28, knit with A
Rows 29–30, knit with A, decreasing one stitch at each end (knit two together)
Rows 31–34, knit with B, decreasing one stitch at each end (knit two together)
Bind off all stitches

The completed knitting should look like this.

Finishing
Weave in all loose ends. With right sides together, sew the edges together with a strip of the fabric using a whipstitch.

Insert the needle just under the first loop on the edge.

Install a magnetic snap and sew on a decorative button.

Magnetic snaps are easy to install.

You now have a fab-tastic little clutch to use on those evenings out where you just want a little something to throw in your lip gloss, Tic-Tacs, and a credit card.

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