My Grandma passed away a year or two after we moved to Chicago and before I got married. My mom’s mom was one of those special people who just truly loved and accepted everyone (she had 6 kids and always said that she had 6 points on her heart so that everyone was loved equally) and she was always there for every big event in my life (along with my wonderful Aunts who are the exact same way). She was proper, funny, and spunky all at the same time, she loved her jewels, her stories (soap operas), her dog Vanna, and was not a fan of cooking. ย I am the oldest grandchild and she lived about 90 minutes from us growing up so we were close.
In fact, one of the major pluses that made me choose grad school in Milwaukee was that then I could visit her in the nursing home regularly. It was clear at that point that she was declining so I consider those visits, in the midst of the stress and chaos of grad school to be a blessing. I’d meet my mom or my aunts at the nursing home, we’d visit with her, bring her a Krispy Kreme and help her choose her lunch and dinner menus for the week and then we’d go have Chinese at a little place in a strip mall nearby. ย And I would leave feeling so loved and so much less stressed. Even when I think that some of the time she didn’t know quite who I was, she was so sweet and happy to see you that you didn’t feel too sad. So when Aa and I got married in 2009, I was definitely sad that she wasn’t going to be there.
At some point, when she moved out of her apartment into the nursing home, my Aunt, who has so kindly acquired an entire basement of other people’s stuff, set aside her wedding dress and someone suggested we do something with it for the wedding. It was teeny tiny, about a size 0 and was a kind of itchy polyester satin that had quite a few large stains. So there was no chance that someone was going to wear it again. But after thinking for a while, I knew I wanted a part of it with me on my wedding day so it would be like she was there.
I thought and thought and thought and sketched and thought some more and eventually settled on a clutch purse to hold lipstick, kleenex etc. And let me tell, you, taking a scissors to a vintage wedding dress is incredibly stressful! I do not recommend it for the especially sentimental or faint of heart! ย Anyway, in all this planning, my mom also offered up the use of her dress. She’s never been particularly attached to her dress. It was in our dress up bin growing up, but I have always loved it. It’s a long periwinkle floral dress with ruffled hem and a shirred top. And it had a matching ruffled shawl. Did I mention that she got married in the 70’s or is that obvious, lol? But actually, I have always thought it was beautiful! ย But again, it’s polyester and very 70’s. No one’s wearing it again. Although in this case I was able to just use a small piece of the shawl so the dress itself is still intact.
I ended up with a simple envelope clutch with some of the lace and beading from the neckline of my Grandma’s dress hand-stitched to the outside. That beading was set in mesh so I had to carefully trim it all the way around and then hand stitch it onto the front of the clutch. ย It has a magnetic clasp and is lined with the beautiful periwinkle print from my mom’s dress. It turned out lovely and got about a gazillion compliments on my wedding day both on how it looked and on the story behind it.
I think the 70’s floral lining is my favorite part. I have always thought that print was beautiful. I hope someday to give it to a daughter, if I am lucky enough to have one, to remind her of both my mom and my grandma! Maybe I can even add a little pocket inside made out of a piece of my dress!
Anyway, on to the tutorial! I thought with this project, I’d try something new, I don’t have any photos of how I made this clutch so I’ve made you some quick diagrams. Take a look and tell me, do you like them? How do you feel about diagrams vs. photos for projects like this, I’m really curious to know!
Easy Envelope Clutch Tutorial
1. Cut your fabric into a house shape via the diagram below. Cut one each of outer fabric, lining fabric and cotton batting. If you want the finished size of your clutch to be X inches by Y inches, the overall size of your fabric shape will be X+1″ by 3y+1″. (For example, say you want a clutch that is 8 inches by 4 inches, your fabric shape overall will be 9 inches by 13 inches)
2. Insert the magnetic snaps. I always like to add a little fusible interfacing on the back of the fabric where I insert the snap for stability. For good photos and detailed description of how I insert magnetic snaps, see my Preschool Tote Bag Tutorial.
3. Layer your fabrics, put the batting down first, then the Lining Fabric, right side UP and then the Outer Fabric, right side DOWN. ย Pin all the way around.
5. Clip the corners,being careful not to clip your stitches. Then turn the clutch right side out and press. ย At the opening, press the edges inside and if you want, pin it closed. You will close that opening in the next step.
6. Being careful to keep the opening neatly closed, fold your clutch in thirds, pin and sew up the sides close to the edge as shown, and you’re done!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- 30+ Best Valentine’s Day Knitting Patterns - February 6, 2025
- Valentine Heart Wreath Knitting Pattern - February 5, 2025
- Julehjerte Knit Woven Heart Knitting Pattern - February 4, 2025
Beth Mackey says
Thank you! Glad my daughter found this link. I used the sleeve from my 1984 dress to make her a beautiful clutch. I added D-Rings so that she can add a strap. What a great memento to tie our weddings together. Thanks for the great directions.
Cassie May says
I love it, I’m so glad you liked it, thanks for stopping by!
Manda Schaffer says
I am wondering what I can add in this clutch purse to make it more stable. We are going to a dinner train and I want it to be more sturdy to place my phone inside it. Any ideas?
Cassie May says
I would use a stiff interfacing, you can find that at your local fabric store!
Barbara says
Really cute tutorial!
MPaula says
I like the diagrams and they cover all the steps. I am an engineer, though, so I am used to working with diagrams or sketches.
I recently found a small charity thrift store in my neighbourhood. All the items are donated and she shares the profits with another small group that supplies needed items for the homeless. I brought here some soap samples for the group and gave her a couple watches from my vast collection. I need large faces and numbers to see now. I have lots of nice fabric to make envelope clutches. Not sure about the fancy bit. I may have to haunt second-hand stores. Not a hardship. ๐
Maureen says
Made this today to surprise my daughter for her wedding in two weeks. It came out lovely although due to my sewing abilities its a bit crooked. But I’m pleased with it. Cutting out the lace and pearls from the bodice to put on the flap was a great idea. Great use of my 80s dress with the huge puffy sleeves. Both of my daughters thought the dress was hysterical…so no use anyone ever wanting to wear it. Of course I now need to make another to hold for if/when second daughter gets married.
Thank you for sharing this idea!
Stacey says
Thank you for sharing this. My daughter and I were going to refurbish my veil that my best friend had made for my wedding, but didnโt want to mess with dying it. I had also thought about just taking a bow off my wedding dress to wrap her flowers in, but then I read your post. So, my mom is going to help me make the clutch and we will surprise my daughter at her shower. Your drawing and instructions helped me get the pattern made so I feel very comfortable cutting the dress, knowing how much I need.
Cassie May says
this makes me so happy to hear!! ๐
Wedding Time Bridal says
Excellent work. Thanks for the information. sounds so great and helpful. Kudos!
Joanne Cole says
My wedding dress is 50 years old and with my oldest granddaughter getting married in just a matter of weeks I took apart my dress to make her a clutch. I looked up what you did and appreciate the instructions. It is what I had planned but was afraid of making a mistake so your directions helped and I thank you for that. Did not think of the batting and that makes it perfect. I do want to put something from the pearls and tiny sequins on as well but I do have 3 other granddaughters that I also want to make the clutches for and have not figured out how to divide that up 4 ways but will try to think of someway to do it.
Cassie May says
So glad the tutorial helped! If you have 3 other ones to make, I would think about how to use just parts of the dress. My cousin used just some of the swirls from the lace of this same dress for something for her wedding, you could used a decorative part as an accent on a clutch maybe instead of needing the entire clutch to be made from it? In case you missed it, I also lined mine with scraps from my mom’s dress, so that was another way to need less fabric! ๐
Clare Powers says
This inspired me to make a clutch for my daughter’s wedding with the train from my wedding dress. It was very special to make it and very special for her to receive it at her bridal shower. I forgot to snap a picture. Maybe on her wedding day next month. Thanks for the inspiration. So happy part of my wedding dress will be part of her special day.
Alka Goyal says
Just used your directions and made one! Blogged about it here…http://the5cees.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the tute!
Cassie May says
It turned out so cute, I love it! Thank you so much for sharing! Xo!
Jennifer says
I imagine this clutch being passed down through generations with bits and pieces of gowns sewn in… what a wonderful legacy ๐
Cassie May says
Hopefully someday I’ll add a piece of my dress!
Emily says
What a beautiful way to honor such special people on your big day. I love it Cassie! Thanks for sharing.
P.S. It doesn’t hurt that the clutch turned out gorgeous too! The lining is my favorite part…so unexpected and beautiful.
Sarah says
What a great way to repurpose a wedding dress! I love this! Thank you for sharing with us at the Weekend Block Party, I hope you’ll join us again this week!
Nichole Tinaglia Hoehn says
Thanks for posting this. What a wonderful way to have your grandma at your special day. I just love this!
Cassandra May says
Thanks!!
Lisa @ Wine & Glue says
So beautiful Cassie! Aren’t grandmas amazing? My grandmother passed away when I was 11 and right before my wedding I was at my cousin’s house and discovered her sewing table. There was a long beautiful piece of white lace ribbon in it that got tied around my bridal bouquet. Nothing as special as this amazing clutch, but so nice to have her be part of my day ๐