I finished my library science Master’s last December and am really excited about not being in school this fall. In honor of the start of the first year in several that I haven’t been enrolled in school, I designed a cute academic-y clutch purse using wooden yardsticks, ribbon and felt.

Supplies

3 yardsticks

hacksaw

drill & a 5/64″ drill bit

spool of 1/8″ ribbon

small amount of felt

tapestry needle

thread in color coordinating with your ribbon & felt

regular needle

sewing machine (optional)

Directions

Cut each yardstick into four 9-inch lengths with a hacksaw – 12 total pieces. Drill two evenly-spaced holes on each end of each length, for four holes per piece.

Sew all of your piecestogether with the 1/8″ ribbon and a tapestry needle, knotting each end.

If you want to ensure all of the rulers lay right side up on the front & back of the purse, have four rulers point one way and five the other way. The group of four will be the clutch’s flap, and the five will be the clutch’s back.

Cut a rectangle of felt that’s about 9 1/4″ wide by 18″ long. Hem each of the short sides of the felt by hand or with a sewing machine.

Fold over and sew 6″ of one end of the rectangle, forming an envelope shape.

Sew your strip of rulers to the felt pouch, starting at the hem of the flap, as shown. I used a metallic red thread so the hand sewing would blend in with the ribbon & felt. Sew right through the felt pouch, and sew down both ends of each ruler.

This clutch is a great size for fitting a phone, lipstick & wallet in – just what you need for hitting the clubs and not the books this fall!