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: