On Thursday afternoon, after finishing piecing a scrap-quilt top, I was still feeling sew-ish. After chatting with my mom and discussing all the potential projects I have floating around in my head, I decided that my sewing energies would be best devoted to making myself a spring/summer purse. And I finished it this morning!
My pattern of choice was the Blossom Bag from Amy Butler’s book Style Stitches. I got the pattern for free on the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog last fall when they released it to promote the release of the book. The bag is a large, structured hand- or shoulder-bag with two pocket dividers inside: one with a zipper and one without. The pattern is categorized as “Advanced”– and I agree with this rating, based on the amount of patience and time required to make the bag. There is no one step that is particularly complicated (however, see below), but working with the Pelltex-backed fabric required a lot of concentration and careful maneuvering.
The fabric should look familiar! I had quite a bit* of beautiful fabric left over from my Field Bag (see below for more on the yardage requirements), and I was able to use them to make this entire bag by carefully planning my cutting layout, as well as piecing the lining and interior panel pieces.
The pattern calls for home-dec weight fabric to be used in the exterior and lining, but this cloth left over from my Field Bag project was quilting-weight cotton. To compensate for the weight difference (which I felt was important for such a structured bag), I applied a layer of interfacing to all the exterior pieces before moving on to the interfacing steps as written in the instructions. (I learned the double-layer of interfacing trick from the Field Bag pattern.)
The strap length is the only “sizing option” given in the pattern: short or long handles. Because I was working from my scraps, I was limited to what I had on hand, and so if I had purchased fabric specifically for this project, I would have chosen the longest length; instead, I ended up cutting the strap pieces at 28.5″ long (an inch-and-a-half shorter than recommended). However, the finished length is perfect for my shoulder.
After making this pattern, and my experience with the Field Bag pattern, it seems as though Amy Butler patterns are extremely generous in the yardage requirements given in the instructions. I had a good half-yard of untouched Pelltex left over after I cut out my pieces. Perhaps I was much more careful and space efficient about cutting out my pieces than the pattern testers expected? I would report the extra yardage for the fabric and interfacing, but as I said before, I was using scraps*, plus I doubled up the interfacing for the pieces that were supposed to be made from home-dec weight fabric.
For the most part, I was able to follow the instructions fairly easily. It would have been nice to have more than the four diagrams that were included, but at least the beautiful photographs of finished bags at the beginning of the pattern were very helpful for clarification. I did break three leather/denim weight sewing machine needles attaching the straps to the bag! To be honest, it probably was because I was trying to sew too fast. (I really need to put the speed control slider on my machine to more use. After the breakages, I finally started using it to control my lead-foot tendancies, and subsequently, I was a lot better off, especially in the tricky parts such as constructing the exterior.)
The most confusing part of the instructions, however, was the construction of the zipper pocket/panel insert (which surprised me, since I thought that would be one of the more straightforward parts!). After trying for a while to understand the instructions as written, I did some internet searching to see if there were any reviews or errata available. No review that I read mentioned anything specific about putting together the zippered divider (other than, in a few cases, people leaving it out completely), so I improvised. Basically, I just ignored the instructions given in the actual pattern (steps 16h-16o), and created the zippered pocket/panel by following Lisa Lam’s zipper pouch instructions from her Bag Making Bible (a fabulous reference book for purse-making!!). It came out looking great, in my opinion!
The reviews I read were otherwise very helpful! One of the most useful reviews I found was at THIS BLOG, and I have to say, I pretty much agree with the entire review of the pattern and the experience constructing the bag. On THIS BLOG, I learned an extremely useful tip: remove the presser foot to do the bar-tacks that secure the dividers into the bag. I think that it is due to this tip that I avoided breaking any more sewing machine needles!
In the end, I am absolutely delighted with the way this bag turned out. I’m not entirely sure that I would make the pattern again, but only because it was a TON of work and I like to try new patterns… But it is a lovely end result and I think it’s worth the effort, so who knows? Maybe a couple of years from now I’ll make myself another 😉
*Some of the excessively extra (navy floral) fabric from the Field Bag was due to the fact that we purchased extra yardage because it was end-of-bolt.
I love how this turned out!
Hi! Thanks for referencing my review – I thought I’d pop by to see if your bag was done, and whoa, it’s a beaut!! Nice job. I wish I’d known that tip about removing the presser foot. It makes total sense. I’ll have to jot that down on my pattern for the next time I make it….NOT! That’s a once in a lifetime purse. Know what the brutal part is? The purse is way to big for me. I’m not sure I’ll ever use it. It looks lovely hanging on my doorknob, though. The two-tone straps on your bag are really pretty and the main floral is a gorgeous print, too. Well done!
This bag is FABULOUS! I found you through sewmamasew forum,and had to come and take a look! I might have to try this sometime!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Beautiful purse and you did a GREAT job. I just made Amy Butler’s Everything Clutch and ran into problems with it too because of the Peltex being in the way of where I needed to sew. I too had to improvise and remove the inside dividing panel. I had to back up quite a bit and it added a couple of hours to how long it took to make the purse. Once the inside divider was out, it was a breeze and the purse turned out great. This isn’t the first Amy Butler purse I’ve made and I had problems understanding her instructions with both purses. I doubt seriously that I will ever use one of her patterns again. But I do lover her designs!
Wow! You’ve done a really nice job. I’ve had similar experiences with Amy’s bag patterns. They usually ask for too much yardage, give too few pictures, and usually include some baffling instructions which I have to dismiss and make up my own method. I sometimes have trouble interfacing the quilting cottons and I get a bumpy look to the fabric. Do you use iron on or sew in? Yours looks so nice.
I belong to two flickr groups which I’ve fallen a little behind in. Amy Butler Style Stitches Sew Along and Style Stitches Monthly Bag Challenge. You should add your photo and link to your blog there. It would be helpful for others too.
Natalie, you never cease to amaze me with your amazingness!
[…] smaller purse as well. Done! See the Amy Butler Field bag HERE and the Amy Butler Blossom Bag HERE. I hadn’t initially thought that I would make both out of the same fabric, but I just love […]
I’m about to undertake this bag myself, and was so happy to find your review! I hadn’t heard about the double-interfacing trick, and am thrilled to hear that the quilting-weight fabric I have will work for this project after all. Thanks for the great review and awesome tips! I know they will be a huge help as I work on my version. 🙂
Hi Robin,
So glad that my post helped! Just as an update… I’ve been using my purse every day since I made it… I sprayed it with Scotch Guard to protect it (I didn’t want it to get stained after all that hard work, if I could help it!!) but I have noticed that the thinner fabric is wearing out a tiny bit in the spots that rub the most when I carry it. Just thought I’d warn you!!
Happy sewing!