Expose That Zipper! An Essential Fold-Over Clutch

Zippers can be tricky in an accessory like a bag, especially if you want your zipper to add to the style of your accessory. We’ve got a tutorial for a beautiful fold-over clutch, one of our favorite styles because you can showcase a great zipper in this project. Coats and Clark offers a huge variety of zippers for style and function, and our favorite for this project is a brass or aluminum fashion zipper with gold metallic tape — we just can’t get enough of the exposed zipper look!
The binding zipper closure on the fold-over clutch gives a perfectly manicured look to the bag, so you can avoid any awkward pinching at the ends. The bag is lined and only uses three supplies with really simple cutting involved. We love an easy sewing project that yields such beautiful results!
You’ll apply your zipper with a standard binding on either side and short ends. This is an opportunity to either blend with the fabric or add a pop of color to really make your opening stand out. The zipper placement at the top allows for a quick lining addition, without having to worry about hand-sewing any remaining holes. We always recommend you use a light colored fabric for the interior, to improve visibility when you have to find things in your bag. A final binding encloses all interior raw edges (another opportunity to add a complimentary color!), making this a great project for any level of sewing experience.
We love the leather strip as a zipper pull — what else would you use here? This tutorial is so great, it’s easy to sew up in a variety of colors & patterns for any clutch-toting opportunity.
Ready to sew? For the full tutorial, visit ECAB.