Stand Up Clutch Zippered Top Tutorial!

A little while ago I was asked to make a Stand Up Clutch with a zipper across the top. Today I am going to share how I did it! This hack is an excellent way to take your clutch and step it up a bit! To get started, you will need the Stand Up Clutch Pattern from Andrie Designs. You want to have all your outer pieces completed however, not sewn TOGETHER. You will have 4 completed pieces.

Other items you will need:

• Zipper- 9in for Small, 11in for Medium or large
• 4 Zipper tabs cut at 1in wide by 1.5in long (if you are using #5 or larger zipper, adjust width to fit!)
• Wonderclips and various sewing tools!

Adding the Zipper Tabs

Mark 1/4 inch away from the stopper at the end of the zipper. Line up 2 zipper tabs on either sides of the end you just marked using a 1/4 inch seam. Cut excess zipper tape off, flip the tabs right sides together and top stitch!

To apply the other end of the zipper tabs, mark the opposite side as follows from the end of the tab zipper WITH the tab on. Include the tab in your measurement:

• Small 8
• Medium 9.25
• Large 10

Use this line as a guide and line up the other 2 zipper tabs and stitch down using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Snip off the excess zipper (save for another project if desired) and turn tabs right sides together and top stitch.

You now have all the pieces ready that you will need!

Attach the Zipper to the Body

Take on of your exterior pieces and face it RIGHT SIDE UP. Lay your zipper RIGHT SIDE DOWN on top of it. Snip the curve of the zipper if you are finding it’s not following the curve as nice as you want, just make sure you don’t snip too much! Baste it down with an 1/8 inch seam allowance.

Now lay your lining piece RIGHT SIDE UP and lay the piece you’ve just sewn with the zipper, on top with RIGHT SIDES facing. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew this side down following your previous stitching.

Now you will flip that out so the wrong sides are together and top stitch along the zipper. I find I don’t need to trim the foam as it has been stitched twice so is fairly flat. Trim if you desire before top stitching.

Repeat Steps above for the other side! *Tip- open the zipper as you top stitch the other side. It will be much easier!

Sew it all Together.

This is where things get a little different from the pattern! We are going to place everything RIGHT SIDES together. Outer will face outer, inner to inner. Pin along the sides and bottom! BUT FIRST-> Open your zipper, don’t do what I did and struggle 😀

Now here is a trick to getting perfect zipper tabs! You want the zipper tabs to be facing or pointing towards the LINING! This will give you perfect corners every time! This photo will explain what I mean:

Using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, stitch the 2 long sides, the outer bottom. Be sure to leave an opening on the lining bottom to turn it. Once done you will square your corners as per the Stand Up Clutch Pattern!

Not turn that clutch out, top stitch up your lining opening and admire your little beauty! Oh and please iron it, that’s a mega pet peeve of mine 😉

Adding a zipper top isn’t hard if you know all the little tricks! Now that you do, you can add zippers to ALL THE CLUTCHES…. or maybe that’s just me who has the zipper obsession.

Thanks for following along! Feel free to pop over to the Andrie Designs Patterns Facebook Group and share your finished Clutch!