At the markets in Shanghai we spotted some Clam Shell cases made with some beautiful silk fabrics. We were fascinated by their design. They consist of three sides and when the ends are pushed inwards, they open. We later discovered they are called Clam Shell Cases.
We spotted more in souvenir shops in Japan, covered in lovely chirimen crepe. At Okadaya in Shinjuku, a Japanese craft store, we found that Clover have made plastic forms in three sizes to use when making the clam shell pouches. We bought a kit and some traditional Japanese crepe fabric to make our own. They are also available on the Clover USA site and a number of Etsy sellers also stock them (search for Clover Clam Shell Kit).
Over the weekend, I made my first pouch using some Japanese Chiromen Crepe. It was a fun hand sewing project to do in front of the TV. The kit included Japanese instructions which I was able to follow by looking at the diagrams.
You cover the outer forms in wadding first and then the fabric. The inside forms are slightly smaller and are just covered in fabric.
They are fairly quick to stitch together. They are a handy sized pouch to store small items in your handbag.
The January 2013 issue of Cotton Time (Japanese Sewing Magazine), included a feature on these clever clam shell pouches (You can spot them in the middle of the front cover).
They have decorated them with embroidery, beads, handles, and other embellishments to create some original cases.
The possibilities are endless.
You will find it hard to stop at one! They are certainly easy to make using the Clover kit. Alternatively you could make them using sheets of acetate, cut to size.
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I’ve made some of these recycling our UK plastic milk containers instead of buying acetate!
These ones are extra cute though!
I was giddy when I found these at the last Quilt Market. Thank’s for your post – I shared it on our facebook page.
Sandy
Pine Needles at Gardner Village
I have one that i picked up from a fair a few years ago to keep my thimble in. Always wanted to make more though.
These are so cute! Oh my, I love the cat and dog ones in the magazine. Wow.
I found a Clover kit at Hobby Lobby yesterday. They only has the large one…and I had a 40% off coupon! I think I will scan the pieces into the computer and come up with smaller ones! I’ll probably use quilt template plastic… I always have that around! Loved the brown and white kitty in the magazine. After I’ve made a few I’ll try to copy that!
I made one of these 15 or so years ag as part of a Chataleine. I use it to hold my reel of thread when hand sewing or hand quilting. I used pretty silk ribbon embroidery on the outside and i made the pattern out of cardboard. It is still in use today.
Well done for reviving interest in them. Yours look very pretty.