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My Josy Clutch is Finished!

So I made the Josy Clutch by ithinksew. (The pattern is on sale now at 50% off at this Etsy Shop )

I had enlarged the pattern by 25%, used a recycled wool skirt, and some mint green sheeting for the lining. I added a zipped pocket and a divided slip pocket in a patterned fabric. I chose to have a ring on both ends of the handle instead of just one end, and use rivets to finish the handles. This meant putting it aside while I waited for the rivets I had ordered to arrive.

While I waited I looked at it. The more I looked at it, the more I was unhappy with it. So I removed the mint green lining, and replaced it with a terracotta one. I found the perfect coloured zip to match and recycled it (even though it was an invisible zipper) using my new zipper foot.

The next idea I had was to add some hand embroidery to the flap. I have the book "20 Floral Bags to Make" (aka Bags in Bloom) by Susan Cariello. She lives in Norwich, and I have been on one of her workshops. This is the bag from her book that inspired me, though my design is simpler.

Here is the new lining and zipped pocket. I felt the rings I had used were too big, and when I made the Zip and Go bag I saw the lobster clasps and D rings and thought they would suit better. I shortened the tabs, and when the rivets arrived the new straps were ready to clip on.

So here is my finished embroidered Josy Clutch, with the new detachable handle!

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Comment by Karen on August 27, 2013 at 2:30am: Glad you all like it. My sister does too so she has asked me to make her one using the rest of the black and white houndstooth skirt we used to make her the Melly & Me 25% bigger Sherbert Bag. Not sure about embroidery on that!

Comment by Christine Welsh on August 26, 2013 at 12:41am: Very nice job indeed! :) Thanks for sharing at the ChrisW Designs Bag Brag Tuesday linking party! :)

Comment by Karen on August 24, 2013 at 5:10pm: I have added this to Chris's Bag Brag Tuesday for week 13

Comment by Robyn on August 24, 2013 at 1:44am: Wow! The terracotta lining is perfect -- really brings it to life. Well done for making the extra effort to replace it!

Comment by Nadia Rosie Echlin on August 23, 2013 at 8:40pm: Lovely.love the bag!

Comment by Carol Fryer on August 23, 2013 at 1:34pm: Sorry for the spelling ..lol. Typos

Comment by Carol Fryer on August 23, 2013 at 1:33pm: You got my juices flowing on designing a bag tailored just for my own needs. Fron pockets for calculator and time card and keys. Zipper on that back section is good. Center partition with slanted pieces for pencils and a simple elastic to h*** a pad . I love that embroidery too. Thank you really got me thinking.

Comment by Phyllis Chambliss on August 23, 2013 at 1:10pm: I really love that's bag thanks for sharing, that is great ideal. I thing i will try to make one.