A few years ago I purchased some patterns and materials from Emmaline Bags. While I sewed one of those projects soon after receiving my package, it’s taken me a while to get around to the next project. In this post, I review the Necessary Clutch Wallet by Emmaline Bags.

Purchase the product PDF here:

Necessary Clutch Wallet

Note this project is for personal and limited commercial use.

For the purposes of my review, I’m going to summarize the tutorial, tell you what I did differently (if anything) and share my general thoughts about sewing the project.

The tutorial beings with a photograph of a finished wallet and some notes about printing the PDF pattern. Next the materials, tools and notions are covered. The notes section includes seam allowance information.

Step 1 Cut your materials

The cutting list includes check boxes to help you keep track of which pieces you have cut. I used scrap paper to make pattern pieces for each the rectangular pieces I would need to cut. Then I highlighted each material on the list a different color and used the same colors to highlight the materials on each of my pattern pieces.

I used stain-resistant quilting weight cotton for my exterior, broadcloth for my lining and quilting weight cotton for my pockets. (The stain-resistant cotton was one of my “Re-Use It Centre” finds and I didn’t realize it was stain-resistant until trimming the selvage for this project.) My interfacing is medium weight and I had a scrap piece of card-like stabilizer.

Step 2 Attach interfacing

I forgot to trim the seam allowance width from the interfacing of the A and D pieces.

Here’s a photo of my cut and interfaced pieces.

Step 3 Make Exterior

I made the front flap as instructed and used my plinking shears to notch around the curve before turning. .

My card-like stabilizer isn’t fusible and I don’t have any double-sided tape so I improvised for the border piece. Several short pieces of HeatNBond Ultrahold paper backed iron on adhesive helped me fuse my card-stock interfacing to one side of the border piece. I used school glue instead of fabric glue or double-sided tape on the wrong side of the border. A few dozen paperclips held the fabric in place while I waited for the glue to dry.

This was my first time using a turn lock. The detailed instructions, photographs and diagrams made the installation process easy. I fused a scrap piece of fusible fleece over the prongs and washer instead of felt. I basted my flap in place before sewing both main pieces together.

Step 4 Make Pocket Pieces

The Card Slot Pocket instructions include a link to a Youtube video in case you’re having difficulty understanding how to fold the pieces. I’ve made card slots before and found the instructions and diagrams clear. When I got to the step for dividing my card slot pocket unit in half, I drew my card slot diving line on the wrong side of the card slot piece and sewed it wrong side up.

I completed my Card Slot Pocket as per the instructions. Notice the raw edges along the left and right sides.

The numerous diagrams made sewing the Zipper Pocket quick and easy. I used my narrow zipper foot to sew on the zipper and top-stitch along it.

Step 5 Attach Pockets To Exterior

The stain-resistant cotton is both thicker and stiffer than regular quilting weight cotton. I found if difficult to pin my Card Slot Pocket in place due to the additional thickness of materials. Making sure everything is square and the edges are straight are important for a good finished product, so I persisted despite several bent pins.

Having spent the extra time to square my wallet clutch made it easier to attach the Zipper Pocket. This step requires sewing through a significant number of layers so I sewed slowly.

Attaching the side flaps was a bit fiddly as you have to maneuver around the rest of the wallet. The results are worth the effort.

That’s it! There are only five steps.

Here are some photos of my finished Necessary Clutch Wallet:

Conclusion

Given how many pieces there were to cut, I was surprised by how quickly my Necessary Clutch Wallet came together. The instructions are exceptionally well written and illustrated. While my finished Necessary Clutch Wallet is larger than I expected it to be, its dimensions match those of the reported finished size for the project. It is a clutch and a wallet so I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was large enough for my smartphone. Photos don’t do this clutch wallet justice; the flap border is much more distinctive in person. Selecting different fabrics for the flap and for the border would make this detail pop. I look forward to making this project again and see great potential for giving this as gifts.

Did you try the Necessary Clutch Wallet? Comment below and/or Pin me for later!

Tanya

Feb 15, 2024 update:

I purchased the Mini Necessary Clutch Wallet pattern when I purchased the Necessary Clutch Wallet pattern. The Mini instructions have been written and illustrated by Natell Webb of Tanglewebb Design [https://www.facebook.com/TanglewebbDesign], in collaboration with Janelle MacKay of Emmaline Bags [https://emmalinebags.com/products/the-mini-ncw-mini-necessary-clutch-wallet]. Click here for more information about the Mini NCW [https://emmalinebags.com/products/the-mini-ncw-mini-necessary-clutch-wallet?]

Recently I sewed a Mini NCW with horizontal card pockets. I was expecting it to be 5.5” inches wide by 4 inches high by 1 inch deep (14.0 cm wide by 10.2 cm high by 2.5 cm deep) and it was. Here are some photos of it and my matching Necessary Clutch Wallet.

The Mini NCW can also be sewn with vertical card pockets. This changes the finished dimensions to 5.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches high by 0.5 inch deep (14.0 cm wide by 11.4 cm high by 1.3 cm deep).

Tanya

Help support Sewn By Tanya

If you love what I do, have learned from reading my blog, and/or want to support my work financially, consider becoming a Sewn By Tanya patron. Your monthly donation of $1 or more will help Sewn By Tanya grow and expand. A minimum $6 per month gives you access to Sewn By Tanya Patreon only content. There’s so much I’d love to do and you can help make it happen.