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LEATHERWORKED: SCUBA AND LEATHER CLUTCH

Tuesday 31 March 2015



I truly feel like a bit of a designer. And let's make it clear I've never desired to be a designer. But perhaps our very creativity and individual preferences mean we are in some small part designer. A creator of our own very unique somewhat individual pieces. Did I just make myself sound completely obnoxious/wanky (Aussies at least will understand the "wanky" reference)? I think perhaps I did. Ah well.

What was it about creating this clutch that made me feel like a designer?

Number 1: I did not reference any existing bag or pattern in creating this piece (almost a first for me).

Laid out: figuring out how to attach leather inner to scuba outer
Number 2: I dreamt it up from scratch (even though I'm sure there is a similar bag or even tutorial/pattern out there). Every dimension, the weight, colour and combination of fabric and leather, every construction step.

Pegs: Super hi-tech stabilisers/fasteners

Number 3: I had to constantly make changes to the design and construction to suit the materials I had on hand and the incredibly frustrating mildly annoying problems I encountered.

Step by step: label to pocket, pocket to clutch backing
Number 4: I felt like my fearsome and fearless 15 year old self again. That felt pretty good.

Attaching outer to fully prepared inner
This little number came about when I picked up this stunning remnant of laser cut scuba knit from Pitt Trading.


And at 45cm x 150cm I really wasn't sure what to do with it. In an IG poll Nic suggested using it for the front panel of a pencil skirt and a matching clutch. The word clutch was all the inspiration I needed. I also had a hankering to undertake my first machine-stitched leather project after a few hand-stitched ones. And tada!


I had a small piece of very lightweight navy leather I knew would look great peeping out through the laser cuts. But the blue was simply too lightweight to hold the shape. Fully line the bag with a stiffer, thicker vegetable tanned leather?

Neither of my machines would take the heat of four layers of leather, throwing their hands up and shouting "Seriously?????".

But they would stitch through a layer of mid weight leather, two of lightweight and two of scuba. Final design decided. 

I let the fabric overhang the leather flap, with the selvedge creating a fuzzy little edging
And of course we all need a little pocket to hold the ID and credit cards so that we can get at the cocktails.

Scuba, lightweight navy leather and vegetable-tanned leather to lend structure
Whilst the result makes my heart sing, its creation wasn't terribly pretty with successes interspersed frequently occasionally with dummy spits and stomping of feet when things didn't go my way. Actually that's totally like a designer. Huzzah!



31 comments:

  1. I love this - just gorgeous. All the more so with a few swear words stitched into the seams!

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  2. You're definitely a designer... dummy spit or not. This is an amazing clutch... One of a kind in the best possible way. The process does sound frustrating but I bet you learned a lot. Another benefit of doing you're own thing. You go girl...

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  3. Ooh I saw this scuba at Darn Cheap - You've done a gorgeous job, three cheers for the House of Unravelled!

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  4. A clever idea and a gorgeous result ... by Jillian :)

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  5. That is too FABULOUS. I almost fall of my chair with envy every time I see that amazing scuba...And the shoes, I saw those gold shoes too. You're on fire lately!

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  6. That is absolutely gorgeous! Well done. If I saw that in a shop I'd buy it in a heartbeat!😍

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  7. Well done! Sometimes it is so satisfying to work it out yourself rather than use a pattern.

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  8. I am very fabulously in awe of the return of your teenage self ;) and f
    eel free to run with my random comments at anytime - this is a gorgeous & happy clutch! ;)

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  9. What a clever idea! I love that scuba.

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  10. Yep Lizzy my language was more colourful than the fabric at some stages. Let's just agree it's super colourful as a result :)

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  11. It is definitely the benefit of having skills to go it alone. What you want, how you want, when you want.

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  12. It seems this scuba gets around! And thanks for the cheers and naming my future design house ;)

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  13. Awwww thanks Sasha. I was pleased to get the damn thing to work in the end!

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  14. I thought you'd like those gold shoes! Gold shoes forever! Thank you so much for your compliment. Coming from you that makes me all giggly and goofy xxx

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  15. That's a lovely thing to say Lee! The joy of being able to create something that might very well be good enough to go in-store.

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  16. Can't agree more Mahlica! Though I must say that I had moments of almost giving up. I'm glad I kept going :)

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  17. Yeah she's alright, teenage Jillian. A bit hormonal and temperamental.... oh hang on that pretty much describes me now. Thanks for the inspiration Nic!

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  18. Isn't the scuba divine? Just got to find a use for the rest of it.

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  19. J, you are ON A ROLL! 2015 is year of you sewing like a boss. Looking forward to the next one :D

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  20. It's early days yet, but I think 2015 might see me figuring out my style. That would make my wardrobe a bit more coherent. I'm doing well so far so let's hope it's not simply good luck :)

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  21. Danielle Krivan1 April 2015 at 21:02

    Oh, that's just gorgeous! What a perfect use of an amazing fabric :)

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  22. Thanks Danielle. The scuba seemed made for this project :)

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  23. It was tricky figuring out how to make the scuba and leather play nicely together! I like it's eventual simplicity :)

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  24. Hooray for Good Friday and finally catching up on my blog reading. This is a wonderful make and so practical. Great problem resolution all the way through. You my dear ARE a designer!! Can't wait to see this in real life. I love the combination of fabrics.

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  25. www.tresbienensemble.com4 April 2015 at 03:31

    You GO, GIRL! This little clutch is fabulous! I love the scuba you found and I think you put it to work perfectly on this project.

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  26. We all need to channel that fearless 15 year old a little more - just look at the results!

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  27. Thanks Kirsty! I'm seriously thinking about some very fancy pants for Canberra Frocktails. It's way too cold for dresses and pants are kind of me. Hmmm, we'll see :)

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  28. Aw thank you Michelle. The clutch is a winner!

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