Small Evening Clutch

Elegant Holiday Clutch, 11" x 5 1⁄2". #3- and 4-cut wool and gemstones on linen. Designed and hooked by Cindy Irwin, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2015.

This elegant beaded clutch combines beading and rug hooking techniques for a delightful holiday accessory to your favorite evening wear.
 
Preparation

To start, enlarge and draw the pattern on your preferred backing. Zigzag around the pattern 1" from pattern sides and 11⁄2" at top edges. Attach the beads using beading wire and crimp beads.

Insert the wire through the gemstone and place both ends of the wire through the backing. Important note: Do not take the wire through the backing too close to the gemstone. Allow a 1⁄4" space on each side of gemstone. This will ensure that the stone will lie flat.

On the back of your project, insert both ends of wire through crimp bead.

There are two holes in your crimping tool. The back one puts a crimp or divot in your crimp bead, the second one folds or rounds it. ​

Cindy Irwin has been hooking rugs since 1983 and has won numerous awards for her work. She is a certified McGown teacher and holds classes in her home studio and throughout the country. She is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, president of the Conestoga Guild of McGown Rug Crafters, and serves on the National Board of the McGown Guild. She is also the assistant director of The McGown National Teachers Workshop. (She is working on learning to say “No.”). 

This article excerpt is from the November/December 2016 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.