DIY: Crocheted Tassel Clutch — the little onion

I found this adorable purse online a few weeks ago and immediately thought, ~~“take my money”~~ I could be thrifty and make that! I often find myself looking for a clutch to grab when I'm running out without the kids and refreshingly don't need to carry everything we own on my back like a sherpa. This one is chic, modern, and matches with anything- so I tried to recreate it!

Project Overview

Time: 2-3 hours (2 to crochet, 1 to line and assemble)

Cost: ~$12 ($10 yarn on 30% off yarn week, $2 clasp, had everything else)

Skill level: Medium (a bit easier without liner)

Required skills: Very basic crochet. Sewing optional (if you want to line).

Tassel Crochet Pattern

Let me start by saying… I’ve never written a pattern before. I usually just mess around until I get something I can live with, refuse to document it, and then get to figure it out all over again 3 months later. “Work harder, not smarter,” I always say. Anyway, I have no idea what I’m doing here. So buckle up.

You’ll need:

Size J crochet hook (or something around there… just a large hook)

Extra bulky yarn (approx. 100 yards)

One magnetic clasp

Darning needle

Needle and thread to attach clasp

1/4 yard fabric (optional, for lining)

Purse body (just a big rectangle!)

Row 1: Chain 22; double crochet in 3rd loop from hook; double crochet across; ch 2, turn. (20 stitches)

Rows 2-13: double crochet across, ch 2, turn (20 stitches)

Bind off.

Purse flap (a triangle)

Row 1: Chain 27; double crochet in 3rd loop from hook; double crochet across; ch 2, turn. (25 stitches)

Row 2: 9 double crochet; double crochet 2 together; double crochet 3 together; double crochet 2 together; 9 double crochet; ch 2, turn (21 stitches)

Row 3: 7 double crochet; double crochet 2 together; double crochet 3 together; double crochet 2 together; 7 double crochet; ch 2, turn (17 stitches)

Row 4: 5 double crochet; double crochet 2 together; double crochet 3 together; double crochet 2 together; 5 double crochet; ch 2, turn (13 stitches)

Row 5: 3 double crochet; double crochet 2 together; double crochet 3 together; double crochet 2 together; 3 double crochet; ch 2, turn (9 stitches)

Row 6: 1 double crochet; double crochet 2 together; double crochet 3 together; double crochet 2 together; 1 double crochet; ch 2, turn (5 stitches)

Slip stich center of flap together.

tlo pro-tips:

You need to make sure the width of the flap matches the width of the body (or close enough to stretch). I made one of these where the flap was too small, so I added another row of double crochets around the outside of the flap (not the part that gets stitched to the body, but the other 2 shorter sides).

You can make this clutch wider, narrower, taller, shorter, etc as desired. There are no ‘right’ dimensions. Just remember if you alter the width that you need to make the flap to match. You could even make a rectangular flap and just add ~3 more straight rows to the end of the purse body instructions.

After crocheting and stitching together, your clutch should like like this.

Tassel (this is just a variation on my pompon tutorial)

Cut two 12”pieces of left-over yarn and set aside. Using the skein, repeatedly wrap yarn around 5 fingers of left hand until you achieve desired fullness for your tassel. I take a ‘more is more’ approach, but tastes vary. Thread one of the 12” pieces through the middle of the yarn wad, and tie in a tight knot at the top of your hand. Pull yarn off hand. Smooth out yarn, maintaining loops, and tie second 12” piece of yarn around ALL yarn (front and back of loop) approx. 1” below the top. Cut the loops on the bottom of the tassel. Trim and hide ends of 12” yarn tied around the middle of the tassel. The top piece of yarn will be used to attach to the purse.

Assembly:

Whip stitch flap to body. Bind off all tails.

Lining: (Skip if you don’t want to line! But if you don’t line, you’ll want to go with thicker or stiffer yarn as the lining helps hold the shape of the purse). Trace the outline of the opened-out clutch on the fabric of your choice. Hem slightly (1/4” or so- just enough to ensure it doesn’t show around the sides when the purse is closed). Using a sewing machine, stitch hemmed fabric to the inside of the clutch with wrong sides together (this was a little dicey with the thick yarn I used- I really had to baby my machine because it was so bulky).

Sew up purse: whip stitch sides of purse together using extra yarn, or sew together with sewing machine.

Using needle and thread, stitch male side of magnetic clasp to underside of flap. Close flap and mark location where female side should go. Stitch female clasp in place.

Using darning needle, attach tassel to point of flap.

Bind off all ends.

Ta-dah!!!

I made another one using Yarn Bee Velvety Smooth in Olive and I definitely like the first one better. The chenille was tougher to work with, especially threading through the darning needle and binding off, and I think the dark color makes it harder to see the tassel and crochet stitch details. It’s also much stretchier than the first yarn I used, so it was tougher to line and definitely needs the liner more. I do love the striped lining, though!