Create a Patchwork Panel

1. Decide which of the three coordinating fabrics will be the lining of your clutch bag and set this aside. Take the two remaining fat eighths and cut both into four long 6cm wide strips. Layer the strips accurately, and place one end directly over the 5cm square on the die. Sandwich the die and fabric between two cutting plates and pass through the diecutting machine. Remove the cut squares, reposition the fabric layers and repeat until the whole length is cut. Provided your placement has been accurate you can cut up to 80 squares from both fabrics in this way.

2. Sew the squares together to make ten strips of eight squares, alternating the pattern and using a 0.6cm seam allowance. Press the seams open and pin the strips together, dropping down a square each time so the materials form a checkboard pattern and the completed panel can be turned 90 degrees so the squares run diagonally. Stitch the strips together and press. This should result in a parallelogram with a long side of approximately 48cm and a short side of 28cm.

Make a Bag

1. Locate the bag template on page 79. Lay the patchwork panel flat and lay one pattern piece on the left side, as close to the diagonal as possible while still keeping the base of the bag in line with the bottom edge. Draw around the pattern with tailor’s chalk, remove and flip over so that the other bag piece fits on the remaining piece of patch work. Cut out both pieces on the drawn lines (seam allowance is included on the pattern).

2. Place the wadding over the lightweight fabri