Spice of Life Striped Clutch

Spice of Life Striped Clutch by Susan Kennedy

Project Overview

The Spice of Life Striped Clutch is an intermediate-level crochet bag design created by Susan Kennedy of PrettyPeacefUL. This finished clutch measures 9 x 5 inches (23 x 13 cm) and features a vibrant striped pattern created by alternating multiple yarn colors throughout the construction. The design combines crochet craftsmanship with functional hardware, making it a practical accessory perfect for storing small essentials or as a decorative pouch.

What Is Being Made

This project creates a structured clutch bag with a striped color-block design. The finished piece is compact and portable, designed to hold everyday items like keys, cards, or cosmetics. The clutch is completed with a 9-inch invisible zipper closure and a decorative 4.5-inch keychain fob attachment, adding both security and style to the finished accessory.

Crochet Techniques and Construction

The Spice of Life Striped Clutch employs stripe-work as its primary design technique. Crocheters will work with multiple yarn colors, changing colors at regular intervals to create the distinctive striped pattern. Each stripe requires 84 inches (7 feet or 2.1 meters) of yarn, allowing crafters to plan their color changes and manage yarn transitions throughout the project. The intermediate difficulty level indicates that this pattern is suitable for crocheters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle color changes and structured shaping.

Yarn and Materials

Yarn Requirements: The pattern calls for 224 yards (205 meters) of dk weight yarn (light, category 3). The sample clutch was created using scraps from two skeins of Lion Brand Mandala 100% acrylic yarn—one skein in the colorway Centaur and one skein in Chimera. Approximately 65 grams of yarn total is needed if using Mandala yarn scraps. Crocheters are encouraged to select their own color palette; the sample features dark purple, brown, and red tones from Centaur paired with light yellow and gold tones from Chimera.

Additional Materials: Beyond yarn, the project requires a 9-inch (23 cm) invisible zipper for the clutch closure, a 4.5-inch (11.5 cm) keychain fob for decoration and functionality, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, a sewing needle, and sewing thread matched to Yarn A for secure zipper and hardware attachment.

Stitches and Stitch Work

While specific stitch names are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, the intermediate classification and striped construction suggest the use of fundamental crochet stitches worked in structured rows or rounds. The color-change technique is central to this design, requiring crocheters to manage yarn transitions smoothly while maintaining consistent tension and stitch definition across the multiple color sections.

Finished Specifications

• Finished dimensions: 9 x 5 inches (23 x 13 cm)
• Total yarn needed: 224 yards (205 meters) of dk weight
• Yarn weight category: DK (light, category 3)
• Difficulty level: Intermediate
• Closure: 9-inch invisible zipper
• Embellishment: 4.5-inch keychain fob