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Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review : Amy Butler Birdie Sling

 This post is part of Purse Palooza 2013.
For full schedule of guest post pattern reviews and prizes, click here!
 
Kaye of Miss Print is a stitching extraordinaire – she has lots of beautiful goodies on her blog, including all of these patterns and tutorials! Pop on over and check it out!

Hey y’all! I can not tell you how excited I am to be here! Big thanks to Sara for asking me to join in. Today I’ll be reviewing the ever-popular Birdie Sling pattern from Amy Butler.

While it seems that everyone and their sister has made a Birdie Sling over the past few years, I hadn’t made one until now. After receiving a beautiful one from my dear friend Jennifer, I knew that I finally needed to try the pattern out for myself.

I’ve heard from a number of people who have the impression that Amy Butler patterns are hard, but really and truly this pattern is pretty easy going. You don’t even need any fancy hardware or tools; aside from your everyday sewing notions like thread, scissors, a sewing machine, etc. all you need is fabric, interfacing, and fusible fleece! Totally rad!

I used the downloadable PDF version of the pattern and printed off the pattern pieces without a hitch. It’s obviously a little bit more work to go this route but I like that I will always have the pattern pieces to print off again. The instructions and diagrams included in the pattern are excellent, although I did find the diagram for the gusset to be unnecessarily complicated making that one step a little bit more difficult to figure out than it should have been.

The pattern recommends Pellon Shapeflex for the interfacing but that isn’t easy to find in Canada so I just used a mid-weight interfacing that I had in my stash and that worked just fine. I’m not going to lie, I don’t have a lot of patience for ironing on interfacing but this wasn’t too bad because there aren’t an excessive number of pieces. Other than changing the type of interfacing used I didn’t change anything in the pattern.

All three of the fabrics that I used for my bag were 44″ wide (the pattern also gives instructions for cutting from 54″ wide) and I was able to cut all of my pattern pieces using less than a yard of each of the fabrics. The pattern call for 1 1/8 yards of each fabric and I always recommend following the pattern when buying fabric, but if you are pulling from your stash or only have one yard of a special fabric, test you pattern pieces against it to double check and see if it will fit.

I would rate this as an advanced beginner pattern since there isn’t any hardware or fancy equipment needed, the pattern pieces are easy to differentiate and cut, and the bag comes together with minimal fuss and bother.

I am in love with my new Birdie Sling and can’t wait to start filling it up with all my “stuff” and carrying it around everyday! If you are scared of making bags (or scared to try one of Amy Butler’s patterns), I say give this one a go – you won’t regret it!

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10 thoughts on “Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review : Amy Butler Birdie Sling

  1. Very scared to give the bags with a lot of interfacing a go, but all of these example are heartening me for sure 🙂 What a lovely example

  2. Jake says:

    It looks like the interal pockets have binding…I do all my internal pockets like this. Much more durable and professional looking. Also, I stitch a small v at the tops and divider lines. Much more durable! Cute bag and looks very easy. Thanks for sharing in this fabulous venue!

  3. Lori says:

    so very pretty

  4. I actually have this pattern, I never tried making it. Now, I am encouraged to make one.

  5. Beth says:

    I always thought it looked really big on the pattern cover. Looks cute, would love to know the size.

  6. Mama Lusco says:

    Great bag! I have had this pattern on my Wish List and this makes me want it now 🙂

  7. Lovely bag! This is a pattern I’ll have to try!

  8. Colleen says:

    Its a great bag, very big. Ive made 2 and would love to make more!

  9. I’ve just cut out the pattern for the Birdie sling, and I agree with you that one yard, rather than 1-1/8 yard, was sufficient for the fabric.

    1. Diane McSpiritt says:

      I have the birdie sling pattern and have made several bags. My favorite bag has been so lovingly used that it has worn out and I need to make a replacement.
      Problem is that I can’t find the instructions!!! I have the pattern pieces and the envelope, but I cannot for the life of me find the directions.
      Anyone willing to share? I can post photos to show I have the pattern envelope and pieces. I just need to know the right order to put it all together!
      Thanks so much!

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