Here is a tutorial to make the placemat clutch. I provide a few different options for working with different shapes of placemats. Have fun! These are great simple and easy gifts to make for yourself or someone else.
What you need:
-Placemat
-Plastic Canvas (found near the thread/yarn sections in craft stores)
-A piece of felt or other fabric (to cover the piece of plastic canvas in the bottom)
-Velcro, snaps, a vintage pin, etc. (Something to use for keeping the clutch closed)
-Optional: Glue
-And of course, all the things you need to sew and cut 
Let’s first go over how to cut the placemats. The first example will be with a quilted oval shaped one:
Get your placemat
Fold it in half to determine where you want to cut for the “body” of the clutch.
Cut off on one end where you chose.
Serge the edge or just do a v-stitch across to secure the layers of material.
This next cutting option is for a circular placemat:
Get your placemat
Fold it in half
Cut off the edges of one side. These will be the sides of the clutch.
This is what it will look like.
A Rectangular Placemat:
If you have a rectangular one, you don’t have to cut it at all. I just folded the corners in at one end and sewed them in place like this one:
You could cut it and just serge or V-stitch the edge if you like. Or you could make a flat clutch like this:
Just fold up one end to be the “body” of the clutch and sew up the sides. (I added some ruffles) All done!
Now for the sewing. To create the boxed bottom corners:
1. Pin sides together right sides facing. Bring the cut off edge to where you like.
2. Sew down the sides, just leave about an 1.5″ opening at the bottom (you could do bigger if you want; the bigger the amount left, the larger the bottom of the purse will be.
3. You are going to take the bottom of the opening on the bottom and put the middle up to where you just sewed. See above pictures. This will create the box corners.
(Hint: You might have to lay the sides down like this when you sew if they are giving you problems. If not, just lay them to one side).
4. Sew straight across the bottom (the straight part you just created).
5. It will look like the first picture. Then trim the edges. You could finish it off if you like (serge or V-stitch).
6. Turn right side out. You will now have a box bottom for your clutch.
Creating the plastic canvas insert:
1. Measure how wide the bottom of your clutch is. It should be the same length of the opening you left at the bottom (Ex: 1.5″)
2. Measure how long your clutch is.
3. Get your plastic canvas (available in craft stores near needlework/thread/yarn stuff).
Cut out the size of what you just measured.
4. Cut a piece of felt or fabric that is bigger than the piece of plastic canvas you just cut. You are going to sew it on.
5. Start by pinning the felt on the short sides first. Sew them on. ***PLEASE NOTE: USE A HEAVY DUTY NEEDLE JUST IN CASE IT HITS PLASTIC AND USE A LARGE STITCH. GOING SLOW TO WILL PREVENT MISHAPS. If you are worried about doing this, you could just glue it on, or hand stitch it on.)
6. Now fold the long felt sides over and sew them on.
(Picture of the top)
7. Glue it in. I used fabric glue. You could sew it on, or if you are really ambitious, cover the whole piece of plastic canvas and make it removable.
Keeping it closed:
Being the lazy crafter I can be, I just glued snaps on for it to be closed. I covered the top one with a piece of felt with a hole in it. You could sew these on as well, or you could use Velcro, or just use a vintage pin to keep it shut (see below).
Now I just have to figure out who will get which 
Happy Sewing!
Cute, thanks for sharing ways to make each shape work. I am curious to see how the round one turned out (or was it a craft fail??
) I’ll post about this at Dollar Store Crafts in a week or so. You are awesome!
“I am curious to see how the round one turned out (or was it a craft fail?? :)”
lol. It kind of was a craft fail, but only because the placemat was made out of nonfabric stuff (basket like). Each round was sewn together, and when I cut it, they just kept coming undone. I could try and glue the rows together and make it work, but I figured it wasn’t worth it. I def would have finished it had it been fabric. Oh well. Live and learn, right?
LOVE this.
Love these!! I’ve made a couple clutches recently, and love them! They’re so easy! And cute! And I love that you used a place mat! Perfect for those lone ones you find at the thrift store!!:)
the purple one is still the cutest! the quilted mats make for a cute clutch!
Thanks so much! I can’t wait to try one of these.
Pretty! They are all so very pretty… very nice tutorial
I am terrified of sewing but I may have to be brave just so I can try this.
Thanks for the tutorial, it’s a great little project.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Now I have some great ideas for Christmas…You’re AWESOME!
I’m de-lurking to to say that I’ll take the orange one! Bwahahahahahaaha!
:-D)
Thanks for posting this tutorial!
Awesome Tutorial Jessica!! I am going to have to try this one too! =) Thanks!! How much are yours?…I love them!
supeeeeer
my name is arzu
Tis is absolutely flippin brilliant x Have you thought about approaching a publisher with your fabulous ideas?
awesome tutorial! thanks for sharing!
great tutorial…love the purple clutch..thanx for sharing
i just recently found your blog and love it! and that petal backpack! too sweet! i will be going to the dollar store tomorrow! i live in jacksonville too! small world! i just started a blog and would love for you to stop by! i look forward to looking through your blog! thanks!
julie@jam-n-jilly.blogspot.com
I. LOVE. YOUR. BLOG! Thank you so much for sharing all your fabulous creations! You inspire me. I found your blog about a week ago and have already done 4 of your tutorials…I’m totally addicted!
You are amazing!!!! Love it!
Awesome tutorial!! I posted a link on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-clutch-purse-from-a-placemat/2009/09/01/
–Anne
I have made purses with placemats (ribbon as handles) but never thought of clutches. You are awesome. I so love it!
This is SOOOO fabulous! I’ve been wanting a jewel toned fabric clutch for fall. Now I just need to find the perfect placemat. You’re a rockstar! I’ll be linking.
great and so cute. Featured at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com
Wow, awesome!!!
Your hair, clothes and makeup always look amazing in your pictures!!!! Can you do a tutorial for how you get your hair into that amazing updo?
Shannon
LOVE this!
You are amazing!
So cool!!! Can’t wait to try it!! Thanks soo much for the tutorial!! Hope you have a great night! Hugs!! Britt
Love this tutorial! It’s on my list and you inspired me to use a cute placemat I found at Target the other day to make a friend’s daughter a purse (not nearly as clever as your clutch, of course). Thanks for the inspiration.
saw this on dollar store crafts- so cute!
I’ll have to keep my eye out for cute placemats!
Wow! It’s amazing
I like it and i’m gonna try it. Thanks !
wow !!! It is amazing ! very buity good =)
Are you look our blog ?
we are wait !!!
Hi Jessica!
I just made a couple of these yesterday! Feel free to take a look at how they came out!
http://fortheloveof-craft.blogspot.com/2009/09/pretty-clutches.html
The clutch idea is so much easier than what I’ve done in the past. Absolutely genius.
Thanks,
Sylvia L.
This is cool! I will definately try this!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Ha Ha
And I thought I was the only one that turned placemats into clutches. Wonderful ideas.
I am making these for my bridesmaids! I think it is a great gift and you can fill them with bridesmaid essentials! I love them! Thanks for all your great ideas!
Vanessa, Illinois
I went ahead and tried this one too.
Awesome;)
WOW!!! I knwo this is an old post but I just came across this tutorial.
You are absolutely amazing!!
I’m just saying!
Where did you find the placemats??
“Where did you find the placemats??”
I found mine on clearance at a Dillard’s.
Hi! I saw this a couple of days ago and I LOVE the idea. I went out today and found a fun placemat. It green on one side and striped on the other. So the inside is going to be slightly different.
Also I bought a cocktail ring that will look awesome as an accent. Thank for the inspiration and tutorial. I’ve been in a sewing/crafty mood but couldn’t think of what to make.
Great Tutorial. Thank you for your sharing.
Love this =)
thanks for your sharing =)
TB
http://madebyheartbytb.blogspot.com/
I’m having trouble finding a quilted oval placemat….any suggestions?
Hmm…I would suggest checking out the department stores like JCPenney, Dillards, etc. Maybe even TJ Maxx kind of stores. That’s where I found mine. You might even find one at the Dollar Store. Hope you are able to find what you need