diy emergency clutch

A few years ago, someone gave me a cute little organizer made from a potholder. Very cute, I thought. Then I tossed it into a drawer at my office. Wow, did I underestimate the value of that little gift! It was filled with all sorts of odd things – stamps, coins, rubber bands, ponytail holder, bobby pins…  Not only did I use it frequently, but each time I grabbed the little pouch from my drawer I was in dire need of something – whether it was a bobby pin to hold back my bangs or coins for the vending machine. That DIY emergency clutch wasn’t just cute – it was a lifesaver!
I used this emergency pouch so much that I decided to copy my friend’s ingenuity and make a few as Christmas gifts. I knew I wanted a whimsical look, so the first thing I did was order several Marimekko potholders from Finnish Design shop. 

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supplies needed:

• potholder
• needle & thread
• Ziplock snack bags
• double fold bias tape
• fabric scraps
• vintage button

step 1 – attach loop

Cut a 4 1/2″ strip of double folded bias tape, then attach it to the top inside of the potholder, stitching it in place. This forms a loop for a button. If you want to add some whimsy, check out this bias tape in pretty shades and patterns.

step 2 – attach button

Stitch button to the outside of the potholder. I found a beautiful little vintage one I used.

step 3 – make and attach yo-yo flower

To make this flower, all you need is a scrap of fabric. Follow this tutorial on how to make a yo-yo fabric flower. Then stitch the flower in place with a needle and thread.

step 4 – make and attach boho flower

With a contrasting scrap of fabric, make this raw-edge fabric flower and stitch it to the center of the first flower. See how to make this boho flower here.

step 5 – attach Ziplock bags

Take about 5 Ziplock snack bags and place them on top of each other. Using a needle and thread, make a secure stitch through the bottom center of the pile. Then stitch it to the inside center of the potholder.

step 6 – fill with supplies

This is the fun part of making this DIY emergency clutch. Fill it with supplies for lots of unexpected emergencies. 

• one dollar bill
• loose coins (a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter)
• several Q-tips
• bandaid
• several bobby pins & a pony-tail holder
• postage stamp
• paperclip
• safety pin
• toothpicks
• nail file
• Advil

Thanks to my sweet friend Robin for that little gift years ago. Now I’m spreading the love.

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