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How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse

September 4, 2012 3 Comments

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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
1/4 yd. felt
tapestry needle
thread in color coordinating with your ribbon & felt
regular needle
sewing machine (optional)
scissors

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.

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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.

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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.

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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.

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

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! ;)

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

 

Filed Under: Back to School, DIY Style, How-to, Sewing Tagged With: clutch, diy, felt, purse, ribbon, Ruler, yardstick

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. Cat T

    February 21, 2016 at 5:14 am

    Love your project! If you wanted to make it vintage-y looking, you could apply a medium to dark or even a gray stain to your rulers 1st. Congratulations on getting finished with school. I remember that joyous feeling as well.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Geek Crafts: Back-to-School Ruler Craft Roundup says:
    July 24, 2014 at 11:14 am

    […] How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse from Hands […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Pencil Clutch Tutorial at Hands Occupied says:
    August 25, 2014 at 6:01 am

    […] and my alarming level of nerd love for school supplies has yet to wane. A couple years ago, I made a clutch using rulers and felt that I am still pretty excited about and use all the time. Since I can’t get enough of […]

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year update, and for the first time in years, I feel like I have some clarity about what I’m doing next. ❤️ Head to the blog to read all about it, the 1ink is where you’d think. 
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