Here it is! My new bag!
I used the Birdie Sling pattern by Amy Butler. All of the fabrics from Heather Bailey’s two new lines. I chose the fabrics with transitional seasons in mind. I think the
browns and oranges fit right in with fall while the pinks and yellows
make it springy. Of course, I think green is perfect for any season. I really really love this bag.
It’s a big bag which works really well for me. I’m a tall girl and I think that little bags look wimpy hanging on my arm. I also like to cart around way too much stuff – I can easily fit a book and a small knitting project in here along with my point and shoot camera, sunglasses, wallet and checkbook. I could probably even fit more if I tried. Because it is made of fabric, it is nice and light weight. I am really trying to take any pressure I can off of my right shoulder and my neck hoping that my wrist will benefit from less stress. Although I love my green Coach bag, it is really heavy when it’s empty, let alone when it’s full.
There are two pockets inside: one small and one large that is divided. If I were to make this bag again, I might make the bigger pocket smaller. As it is now, it’d be great for a baby bottle or sippy cup, but I don’t carry anything like that around any more. I think it’d be great to have a pocket that wasn’t so deep, but still divided so my cell phone could have a home of its own. That is the one thing I struggle with using a big bag – I can never find my phone when it’s ringing!
The pattern is very well written and the bag is fairly easy to make. I would not try it as your first project, but maybe as a third or fourth? There are lots of pieces to cut out including interfacings and fusible fleece. The pattern calls for three fabrics – one for the outside, one for the handles and one for the lining and pockets. I used four because I didn’t have enough of my lining fabric for the pockets. I also had to go back to the fabric store to get more of the brown floral because I was dead set on centering that pattern. I needed twice what the pattern called for. It was totally worth it though.
Edited to add: Caroline reminded me that while our power was out, I toted my laptop around in this bag. It fit wonderfully, power cord and all!
i’ll say it was worth it! a beauty!
love the fabric choices. i recently got the inside lining piece. for what? idk, just loved it. this looks comfortable and that is always important. really cool! nice job 😉
its beautiful! I’ve always wondered about that pattern. I’ve had good luck with Amy’s patterns, and I *always* need a new bag.
Such a pretty bag. I will have to keep it in mind for a future project when i get a little better at sewing.
cute bag! i’ve been wanting to get this pattern but haven’t gotten around to it! i LOVE the color combo!!!
It’s fantastic! I do love her new fabric line. That brown fabric is sitting on the shelf waiting to become a new fall skirt. But now I’m seeing everyone’s cute bags popping up and I want a new one for me! Waah! You always do this to me. 😉
It’s beautiful!
You forgot to mention how well it holds a computer!
Again I say, cute cute cute!
Love your new bag!
I think centering the fabric was a very wise choice. It might have had the same impact otherwise. It’s gorgeous, through and through.
It’s a great pattern and bag, isn’t it? I’ve made one for myself and love it! Pretty fabric choices, too. Fabric alone makes a bag like this “individual” and “one of a kind.” ENJOY!
That bag is awesome, I love it!
Cute and very well made. Looks like you have an admirer in the background!
Great bag. Maybe you could add an attachment for a cell phone case to hang inside the bag? Just a thought.
Love it. Love the fabric. Completely agree with the centering fabric decision. a+
It’s gorgeous! I love the fabrics you chose.
Love it! You were right to center the floral design.
well , i had a comment picked out … but my 3 yr old just said ” i like that pretty bag mama” so there you go . a very pretty bag!
I think your new bag is gorgeous. perfect for transitioning seasons. (I think about things like that, too.) I’m glad you added a shot of you modeling it-otherwise it appeared to me to be a much smaller bag.
I also made the Birdie bag last week and love it. By folding the fabric just a little different than the directions said, I had almost enough left over to make the small Frenchie too. Amy Butler bags are the best. I love your fabric choices!
wow, dang. That’s awesome! I love Heather Bailey’s new lines, don’t you? That yellow one on the handles is one of my favorites.
Very nice, Erin!
gorgeous! plus, i love your shirt. can you tell me a little bit more about it? 🙂
wow !!! I’m speechless, Love it !
You took an unintended break due to loss of power… I took one due to loss of drive. I think I’m just coming around the bend.
Had to tell you, of course, that the bag is gorgeous – perfect pattern/color combination, and just enough green in it to still be “an Erin.”
I hope all is returning to normal!
Erin, that bag turned out great! I love that your laptop fit in it! I might have to get the pattern and make that! Of course some might argue that I don’t need any more bags! But of course I don’t have one like that!
The fellow behind you on the street makes my day. He’s probably NOT a blogger, judging by the look on his face. He’s probably never photographed food as he’s eating it; he’s probably never taken a picture of his own feet in the supermarket (as I once did when I realized I had forgotten to change out of my slippers); he’s surely never been so inspired by a snappy new bag that he felt the need to model it… on the sidewalk. 🙂 oh happiness.
I have this pattern but have yet to make it so I really appreciated what you had to say about it. I will definitely make the inside pockets a little smaller – I’m forever scrambling for my cell phone too!
Thanks so much!!
I love your bag, its gorgous. Well done.
Erin: it’s fantastic! The brown, the green…perfect. As always I really love your fabric choices.
I have had that pattern for a couple of months but just haven’t had time to make it yet with other projects taking priority. I’m SO glad to hear from someone who has made it and I am reminded again of why I bought the pattern in the first place. It is lovely and I love your fabric choices!!
It turned out great! I think you did a great job picking out fabrics that are season transitional. I like how it fits like a purse but is huge like a tote bag!
I LOVE it… I think I might just have to make me one!! It is so cute, and you picked adorable fabrics, way to go!!
Oh I absolutely love it!!! I want to make that pattern so bad – maybe I’ll reward myself and go buy it 🙂
Looks GREAT! I have the opposite problem. I’m 5’4″ and a HUGE bag is often too much. I think that with a shorter strap this bag would be great and I like your ideas about the pocket mods. Though that big one might hold a stainless steel water bottle nicely.
Looks GREAT! I have the opposite problem. I’m 5’4″ and a HUGE bag is often too much. I think that with a shorter strap this bag would be great and I like your ideas about the pocket mods. Though that big one might hold a stainless steel water bottle nicely.
Looks GREAT! I have the opposite problem. I’m 5’4″ and a HUGE bag is often too much. I think that with a shorter strap this bag would be great and I like your ideas about the pocket mods. Though that big one might hold a stainless steel water bottle nicely.
love the placement of the fabrics. the fabrics themselves, and the overall look of that bag.
beautiful, erin.
I love your bag – I think I have a problem because I cant stop making them. What a beautiful blog, can I introduce myself – I am Helen, a forty something from Yorkshire who teaches drama by day so I can craft with my daughter by evening and weekend. Please pop by and see me at ‘A time to Dance.’
I love the bag. I can spend the pattern?
mireia.
I love your fabric choices. You’re right, it is a perfect bag for seasonal transition 🙂
Love your choice of fabrics!
Love it. Your fabric choices are great.
eRin: Pretty! aNa
It’s beautiful!
I love it. You’ve done such a good job. I haven’t made a bag before…. but that laptop comment was verrrry interesting…
I love how yours came out! What ever will you do with the extra fabric? I am NOT a tall girl and I sometimes feel a bit overpowered by my Birdie Sling but I still love it and I too would have made the larger pocket smaller. My grandmother would say “use it in good health”.
Oh, I love the blouse you’re (?) wearing! The brown one!, lol… Oh, and also the bag…
erin. it turned out perfectly. and it seems totally you.
Oh yes, absolutely worth it – the centered pattern looks beautiful. The shape of this is so nice. I like a big bag, too. 🙂
wow that IS one big bag. Love it, especially the centered floral motif
Now that’s my kind of bag. Love everything about it!
Wow! I love it!
you. have. the. cutest. bag. EVER! ;]
Wow that is a really gorgous bag and looks so professional. You could so sell these. Congratulations, doesnt it feel great?
I agree that centering that fabric was totally worth it.
Love this bag and thank you for the review of the pattern. I have it sitting in my pile of things to do and will keep your suggestions in mind.
It came out great! I love your fabric choices. That brown floral is swoon worthy.
Beautiful! Just saw your article in Somerset, thanks for being such an inspiration!
It turned out fabulous Erin. 🙂
This pattern is so nice, and the fabrics you chose go so good together.
Great bag. I love your fabric choices.
I love it! And having the flower centered is worth the effort 🙂
gorgeous, erin!
I love it! It’s so pretty and useful and now I have bag envy. 🙂
I just discovered your lovely, creative blog. It’s my first visit but I do believe I’ll become a regular.
love your new bag!
perfect.
Great bag, and don’t you just love Heather Bailey’s new range- I swear I would est it if I could!
That bag is as pretty on the inside as it is the out! You really used the fabric masterfully Erin, the big floral explosion is the perfect marriage to the bag’s shape.
You inspired me – I bought the pattern and intend to make it with the vintage fabrics I have just bought – I have been looking for a design like this for ages. I went on the website and recognised the fabrics – I have a Rowan knitting bag which I think she may have designed.
Helen
Perfect! I love the colors you used!
It is GORGEOUS!!!
The bag is amazing. I love the fabrics you chose.
I love it! Plus your label looks great! Thanks for letting me know where you got them. I ordered my own today.
That guy in picture 2 is totally checking you and your cute bag out!
Just found your blog, Thought I should say ‘hi’! 🙂
I love the bag!
Kisses from Brazil!
Oh I love the last bag! It is so pretty!
I really like this bag! I am looking for a new bag pattern. I usually make my own, but they always come out looking, well, homemade! Do you have any other bag patterns you would recommend? That are just a tad smaller than this one? I find my problem with bags is my hips. I’m a little pear shaped, so if the bag falls on my hips, the strap tends to slide off my shoulder!