LUDLOW QUILT AND SEW
Seminole Clutch Bag
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How to make an unusual seminole patchwork
clutch bag
Seminole patchwork originated with the Seminole Indians of Florida, unsurprisingly. The patchwork patterns that they created are really stunning and enable you to produce work that looks really complex but is relatively simple to make - just up my street!
For this Seminole patchwork clutch bag, I used a 2.1/2" strip of blue cut across the width of the fabric and a 1.1/2" strip each of black and orange. Seminole patchwork tends to use more variety in the width but I am keeping this one simple. With right sides together and using a 1/4" seam, sew all 3 strips together along the length.
Press the seam allowances all in one direction, then cut the strip into blocks 2.1/2" long.
Play with the seminole patchwork blocks. There are several different ways of combing them. Decide which one you want to use.
I decided on the layout shown left, but the overall block was too square so I added a 2.1/2" strip of black at each end to make a rectangle.
Lay down a piece of wadding, then the bag lining with right side up, then the seminole patchwork with wrong side up.
Fold the rectangle in half along the long length and cut a curve in one end using a plate or something round.
Remove the seminole patchwork layer and add the first part of a magnetic fastener to the lining and wadding in the curved end. Then replace the patchwork layer.
Beginning about a third of the way across the short, flat end of the rectangle, sew all round the outside of the bag shape, stopping a 3rd of the way across the edge that you started from. This leaves a gap through which you can turn the bag inside out.
Pull the bag through the gap you left, add the other half of the magnetic catch through the gap so that you only catch the seminole patchwork layer and the wadding. Stitch across the whole edge to close the gap. Fold the rectangle into roughly thirds to make the bag shape and stitch up each side and across the top of the bag to hold it all in place.
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rose@ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
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