I took a trip to Denver last month to see my twin sister and her new baby. I drug her to a quilting store to look at fabrics (addiction, you know) and she picked up an example in the store and came running up to me with it. It was Amy Butler’s Birdie Sling. I groaned because not only did I not like the shape and size of the bag, but the Amy Butler thing is so overdone. I told her I would consider making it for her. A month later, she called to inquire about the bag so I decided I better get on it. On Tuesday after work, I ran up to my favorite local quilting store, Honeybee (bad website, GREAT store!) I get excited when I walk into craft stores, hardware stores, and fabric stores. It’s ridiculous, but the idea of creating things makes me really happy.
Back to the point. I whole-heartedly resisted making this bag, then when I started looking for material, I kept traumatizing myself by looking at too many different things. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to go wild or go practical. Then I saw it. Totally wild, totally NOT my sister’s style, but I fell in love. It was RJR’s Red and Black Soiree (the pictures there do not do this collection justice.) I specifically stayed away from Amy Butler fabrics, even though my sister loved the whole collection — I couldn’t handle it… it’s way too overdone. I walked over to the ladies at the cutting table and laid it out for them — they both loved the idea of making it into Amy Butler’s birdie bag. One of them teaches a class every month on making this bag, so she’s seen lots of combinations. She loved my idea so much she bought the same fabrics for herself!
I got home and immediately started on the pattern. I have to admit, I was having a ball with this pattern. Even cutting it out (my least favorite thing ever!) was fun. I was scared because this bag had pleats and bands and TONS of interfacing… but I couldn’t wait to see it come together.
I thought it would take me a week to finish, but I completed in about 4 hours. I even added a bunch of stuff to it that the pattern didn’t call for. I did some research, since it’s such a popular bag, and lots of bloggers out there had “things I would do next time” so I took that and ran with it. The “large interior pockets” were too deep, so I shortened them about 2 inches. They’re still big, deep pockets. I added a zippered interior pocket and put the “small pocket” right over it. I also added a keyfob and a magnetic snap on the band. I had SO much fun with this bag. I can’t wait to make another Amy Butler bag. I know, hypocrite! But, I’m admitting it.
Let me say that Amy Butler’s bags are popular for several reasons. The first, they’re super cute and modern. The second — these patterns are a breeze to read. They work more like tutorials than patterns, and I think that’s why most of our generation has shunned pattern-sewing, because they rarely come with instructions. Amy Butler’s patterns come with illustrated instructions, walking you through every step. I felt like I had a teacher. I never got hung up once. It was a blast.
with Jasmin, for size
interior