Review: Clutched by May Chappell

It's been a while since I've written a review, so I guess it's time to try to get back into it. I'm going to start with a pattern that is both quick and fun to sew. Today's review is of the May Chappell pattern, Clutched.  This bag is part of her Mini May series that focuses on projects that are designed to be completed in a 3 hour class.  As a side note, I had the opportunity to meet the super awesome Lee Monroe at QuiltCon, and she is the greatest!

After I downloaded the pattern, I decided to jump in and use some of my beloved long out of print Tula Pink fabric. The pattern uses only 2 fat quarters) plus some fusible fleece - I used Pellon 987F), so I pulled pieces from Parisville and Plume. 

The bag is super quick to cut, fuse, and sew.  I found the written instructions and diagrams in the pattern were very straight forward.

I was very pleased with the frame that I ordered from While Baby Naps on Etsy. It shipped quickly and proceeded to promptly delayed in transit, of course.  I selected the gunmetal color frame for this project. 

The most nerve-wrecking part of the whole process was gluing the bag into the frame because it was a little fiddly. As long as you let the glue set for a minute to get a tacky (and you do one side at a time as is recommended), it is pretty painless.  The recommended glue, made by Gutermann (While Baby Naps also stocks this item), is pretty smelly, but it seems to hold very well.  I'm asthmatic whose lungs haven't been the most cooperative lately with major shifts in weather, so I recruited my husband to do the glue work.  He did a great job, and I'm pretty pleased!

I showed my May Chappell Clutched bag off at work, and my boss decided she needed one of her own. Inspired by this Instagram post of Tula holding a clutch made by Lee, she selected fabric from Tula Pink's latest collection, Elizabeth.

Look what I made @tulapink!! #alwaysfussycut #maychappellquiltmarket #quiltmarket #tulapink #tulapinkelizabeth

A photo posted by maychappell (@maychappell) on Oct 26, 2014 at 2:37pm PDT

I've already agreed that I will make a couple of the Clutched bags for a friend's bridal party as my gift  to celebrate her summer wedding.  She's an awesome friend, and these will be amazing.  I can't wait to go look at fabric with her next week!

So, that's the scoop on the May Chappell Clutched bag.  Its small size and quick to sew style make this bag a hit.