Free Amy Butler Pattern

Get a free pdf pattern of Blossom Handbag/Shoulderbag from Amy Butler’s Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags from Sew Mama Sew. 

Even if you aren't sure you will make it, it is worth getting!

A new bag

I bought this pattern quite a while back.  It wasn't really my style.  My love of all things Amy Butler dictated that I must buy it.  (Crazy, I know!)  I decided to make it for a friend.  It was quite easy.  Tons of ironing interfacing- but I am used to that, having made many an Amy Butler bag in the past.  The hardest part of this pattern is sewing the strap to the band, and the bands to the main body of the bag.  This is because of the curves.  I countered this by using a stay stitch and then clipping before sewing it together.   It is a great bag for someone who is starting out.  I highly recommend it!

This is the first one I made.  It was for Marianne's birthday.  Kristin offered to take it if Marianne didn't like it.  Unfortunately for Kristin, she did like!  The fabric I used was Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane.

It has been a few months now.  I planned to make a bag for my sister, but somehow the instructions got lost in our move to the desert.  I decided to make a bag for myself to be sure I knew how to put it together before starting her bag.  I only made a few mistakes on this one.  Sure am glad I made this one first! I used Amy Butler's Midwest Modern and Midwest Modern 2 fabrics for this bag.

This is the bag for my sister.  I used Heather Bailey's Pop Garden fabrics for it. I am excited to take it to her next week.  She is getting married!  I can hardly wait.  I am going to be making some goodies to dress up her kitchen.  I will post those after the wedding.

So if you like a nice big bag, this is a great one!  It is easy to make, and even easier to wear.  You will end up with plenty of scraps for more projects.  Large scraps!

Many people use it as a diaper bag as well.


**** This makes a great personal item when traveling via airplane.  With new restrictions on checked baggage, it is nice to have a LARGE "personal item" or purse.****

Amy Butler Bags

Hey!  Have you tried this bag pattern from Amy Butler yet? 

It's so easy!  I love it.  I am using this as my handbag right now and sometimes I wonder if it's one of those magic bags that Mary Poppins had.  I can stuff so much stuff in there that there's no need for a book bag, a diaper bag, or a toy bag to go with us anywhere anymore.  I stuff shoes and socks, toys, crowns, clothes, mail, books, you name it, it's probably in my bag at some point during my day.  I'm in bag love, and of course the best part is that you don't have to settle for what's at the store.  You get to incorporate the fabric to coordinate with your own style, and therefore you can be as unique as you are.

If you haven't tried it out yet, pick a pattern up or email me and we'll get you going.  You'll love it!  (and no, I"m unfortunately not being paid to promote Amy Butler's designs here on the blog.  I don't get paid to promote anyone's stuff, including my own.)

Happy Creating!

Make It Monday

I was reading along in Google Reader on Thursday when I came across an awesome tutorial.  I stopped what I was doing and got out my fabric scraps.  I knew exactly for whom I would be making it.  It was quick and easy.  I am thinking it might be the perfect gift for my many sisters this year (I have six).

Are you curious yet?

Here it is:

 

This gathered clutch tutorial by noodlehead is so wonderful!  The above picture link is directly from noodlehead's blog.  Thanks for the awesome pictures.  So click on the picture or any of the links in this post to head over and get started on your own gathered clutch!

So, I made this project on Friday.  I used the scraps from previous projects from Pop Garden by Heather Bailey and Lotus by Amy Butler fabrics.  It was very easy to follow the instructions in the tutorial.  I did do a few things differently.  On the inside pockets, I made it so that the cards could go in sideways allowing for 3 cards to fit across.   I also went back and sewed the lining an 1/8 inch inside the original seam so that it would fit inside the bag a little more nicely.  

Here is my finished clutch:

Make It Monday

Welcome to a new week around here.  I've got sooo many projects on my plate, I'm wondering how I'm going to get them all done.  But For Make-It-Monday, I wanted to feature a project I recently found and tested from none other than... (drumroll please) Prudent Baby.

This changing table pad cover might as well be straight out of a high end boutique, but the funny thing is, it's so stinkin' easy and inexpensive to make yourself.  Love It, Love It, Love It!!!

My thanks goes out to everyone over at Prudent Baby for their ingenius changing table pad cover and also the images seen here!  This pattern can also be modified to make fitted crib sheets or if you really wanted, any larger size sheet.

Happy Creating!!

Custom Camera Strap

As promised, and barely finished, I have a Custom Camera Strap tutorial for you.  Keep in mind, this camera strap is designed for a canon DSLR camera, it is not a wrist strap for a point and shoot and I haven't tested it on any other brand of camera.  You may need to test webbing widths on your camera before purchasing the webbing.

Supplies:

• 1/4 yard fabric
• 2 - 2 1/2" x 32" strips of thick fusible interfacing or you can use batting or fleece.
• 1 yard 1/2" webbing
• 2 - 1/2" wide clips

Cutting and creasing fabric:

Cut fabric to 34" long.  Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.  Press, then open with wrong side facing up.

Using center crease as a guide, fold raw edges toward center, leaving 5/8" between raw edges and center crease.  Press.

Open out.  Fold 1/2" toward wrong side of fabric at each end.  Press.

Assembly:

Place one strip of interfacing, fusible side down on top of wrong side of fabric, between outer crease and center crease.  Repeat for other piece of interfacing between other outer crease and the center crease.

Fold fabric over interfacing.  Turn entire assembly over.  Press to fuse, following instructions provided with interfacing.

Turn back over.  Fold in half along center crease.  Press.  Your strap should now look like this.

Top stitch both long edges of strap 1/4" from edge backstitching at both ends.

Adding Quick Release Straps:

Cut 2 strips of webbing 7" long.  Using 1 strip of webbing and the male side of one clip, thread male side of clip onto webbing.  Fold webbing in half lengthwise.  Insert ends into end of strap.  Don't overlap ends.

Stitch, going over stitching 3 times.  Backstitch at the start and finish.  Repeat for other end of strap, this time using the female part of the clip.

Topstitch around all edges of strap 1/8" from the edge, going over the stitching 3 times at each end with webbing, to strenthen.

Camera Side Straps:

Cut two 9" strips of webbing.  Using 1 strap and the male end of the other clip, thread the male end onto the webbing.  Fold over 3/4".  Stitch closed going over stitching 3 times.  Stitch another line 1/8" from original seam, going over 3 times to strengthen.

Repeat with other strip of webbing and female side of clip.

Tip:  To keep ends of webbing from fraying, melt them with a lighter before sewing.  Be careful, you're playing with fire.

I cannot and will not be held responsible for any damages.  If you don't know how to do this, don't do it.  There are also non-fray liquids at the fabric store that you can apply or you can use clear fingernail polish.
Attaching to Camera:

To attach your quick release straps to your camera you will need these small pieces off of your original camera strap.  I call them "stays" since I don't know the technical term.

Once you have the quick release straps on your camera, you wont ever have to take them off to change your camera strap.

Thread  one of the stays onto the strap, then thread the strap through the loop on the camera.  Thread the loose end of the strap back through the stay and tighten down.  It should now look like this.

Repeat for other strap.  Now you can attach your padded camera strap by clipping the male end of the neck strap to the female end of the camera side strap.  Repeat for the other end.  You're done!

Fabulous?  I know, it is, isn't it.

Wanna win one?  Comment  and/or become a follower of miymdiary.blogspot.com and you're entered to win the strap I made for the tutorial!

Want an extra chance to win, Blog about it and put a link to miymdiary.blogspot.com in your post.  Then comment to let me know you blogged, leaving your blog address so I can come check you out.

This giveaway closes on Make It Monday, so make sure you get your comments and blogs in before then. 

I must have at least 6 entries to do the giveaway.  If there are not enough, the giveaway will be cancelled.  Please comment! 

Happy Creating!!

In The Works

First off this weekend, I'm hoping to figure out how to make a fully padded camera strap, or slipcover for my existing camera strap. 

I know there are tutorials on the internet for this project, but I didn't think any of them were quite right for me, so I'm making my own.

Watch for a tutorial the week after spring break, since I'm taking spring break off.

Also in the works this weekend is this project that I found over at Little Birdie Secrets. 

Thanks Little Birdie Secrets for the photo and tutorial!

Love it!  Greatest thing?  Although you can buy wet bags in the store, you can't get them to coordinate your diapers and wipes clutch or your decorative wipes clutch or your handbag.

So to make your own wet bags in the size and color of your choosing, check out this tutorial.

Happy Creating!

Decorative Wipes Clutch

This project is FANTASTIC!!!  I tried it out yesterday and it turned out great!

For my first time doing it, it took me about an hour, but now that I know how, it will take much less time next time. 

To make your own, check out this tutorial from homemade by jill.

Just because it's called decorative wipes clutch, don't discount it's usefulness.  These would make great pencil/crayon cases, or think "that time of the month" or how about to keep all those stray buttons in.  Think outside the box and you'll find endless possibilities for this fantastic decorative wipes clutch.

Oh, and I almost forgot about cost.  I've checked around online and found these for anywhere between $10 and $30.  I spent a grand total of $3.76 for all the supplies.  Definitely better than buying in my book.

Happy Creating!!

Diaper Clutch

 

This is a very simple and useful project, borne from my desire to save money and also be organized.  My friend Laura came over and talked me through it and helped me make a sample or 2, and now we've got a tutorial ready for all you that want your own diaper clutch.

Diaper Clutch

• Supplies: You will need the following items:

• 3 pieces of 8 1/2" x 11" printer paper
• scissors for paper
• pencil
• tape
• ruler
• fabric tape measure
• scissors for fabric
• pins
• thread
• sewing machine (obviously)
• 2 coordinating 1/4 yard pieces of fabric
• velcro

**This tutorial uses a 1/2" seam allowance unless otherwise specified**

Section 1: Make A Pattern

Although you can make this without a pattern, I've found it's much easier when it comes to cutting and getting angles and curves the same if you use a pattern.

• For Front Piece:
• Using 1 piece of paper, draw a curve in one corner.

• Fold the paper in half the long way an cut both layers of paper along curve line.
• Open paper out, this is your pattern for the front section of the project.
• For Back Piece:
• Tape the remaining 2 pieces of paper together the long way so it is 15 1/2" long.

• 
  
  
  At the top, make a mark 1 1/2" from the left side of the paper. Repeat for the right side.

• Measure down 5 1/4" from the top of the paper. Using a ruler, draw a line across pattern. This is your tab fold line.

• Using a ruler, connect fold line at right edge of paper with right side mark. Fold paper in half the long way, and cut along line.

• Using the front pattern as a guide, cut a curve in the bottom corner, then open flat. This is your pattern for the back section of the project.

Section 2: Cut the Fabric

**For purposes of the tutorial, I will be using Hop Dot-Tangerine from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane Collection as my lining and Welcome Road-Pink also from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane Collection for my outer fabric. I will reference them yellow and pink for the remainder of the tutorial.**

• Layer a single layer of each fabric then lay the pattern on top of them. You can pin the pattern to the fabric if you wish.
• Cut around each pattern through both layers of fabric.
• You should now have 1 pink back piece, 1 pink front piece, 1 yellow back piece, and 1 yellow front piece.

Section 3: Assembly

• Front
• With right sides together, stitch top edge of front pieces only. Open flat.

• With right sides up, stitch seam allowance to yellow lining 1/8" - 1/4" from original seam.

• With right sides still facing up, measure 2 1/4" from original seam in center of pink fabric. Mark with a pencil.

• Center bottom edge of hook side of velcro rectange on mark, then sew 1/8" from all edges of velcro to attach.
• Back
• With right side facing up, measure 1" from top in center of yellow fabric. mark with a pencil.

• Center top edge of loop side of velcro on mark, then sew 1/8" from all edges of velcro to attach.
• Fold down top edge of yellow fabric 1/2" toward wrong side of fabric. Press. Repeat this step on pink fabric also.

• Putting Sides Together
• Layer back pink fabric, right side up, then with wrong sides together layer front assembly with yellow side up. Last, layer back yellow fabric, wrong side up.
• Pin into place.

• Stitch around 3 sides leaving folded top side open for turning.
• Trim seam allowances to alleviate bulk. Turn right sides out.

• Stitch opening closed 1/8" - 1/4" from edge.

You're finished!! That's all there is to it.

So, according to my assessment, this project costs less than $6 and it takes less than 1 hour. Hmmm, I don't know about you, but that's definitely worth making myself instead of buying one.

If you have any questions, please contact me at kristinslearningmoments@gmail.com.

Oh, did you want to win one?  Well, all you have to do to win this diaper clutch is comment.  If you want another chance to win, become a follower of my blog.  For one more chance to win, post about this tutorial on your blog, and link back to me in your post.  Comment to let me know you did.

This giveaway will close on Friday, March 12.  I will announce a winner on Make It Yourself Monday!

Happy Creating!

*fabric purchased at Piece By Piece, Eugene, OR.  Other supplies purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics.