Amy Butler's Reversible Everyday Shopper

Everyday shopper, right side

In order to try the new sewing machine out, I whipped up this shopping bag.  It is IKEA printed cotton outside, and rough IKEA natural linen inside.  It only took an evening to make and was the perfect quick project to test out the new sewing machine.

I was a little dorky/naff and embroidered my name on the inside.  I wanted to make sure the embroidery module was working and couldn't think what else to do.  I'm not all that drawn to machine embroidery, but I should find some chances to use it so I get in some practice and learn about my new machine.

Everyday Shopper, inside-out

This bag was taken from Amy Butler's Reversible Everyday Shopper pattern in her book "Amy Butler's Style Stitches."  I am going to post these pics on Jemilia's flickr group because, who knows, I could win a gift certificate!


I had to return the book to the library.  There is a waiting list for it.  So this could be the end of bags for a while.  (I am relieved to know that no Essex libraries are being cut.  Locally, we will lose only one hour per week.  I can live with that!)  


In the meantime, I have another Hotpatterns Riveria Cardigan Jacket cut out.  And, I am about to trace off a Burda pattern for a maternity dress for my little sister.

Amy Butler's Cosmo Bag

Amy Butler's Cosmo Bag in Amy Butler quilting cotton

Why did I make a bag, when really, I find it such hard work?  Well, my husband and children gave me Debbie Bliss's Knitting Workbook for my birthday.  (My dear husband thinks that hand-knitted garments look far superior to what can be bought in the shops.  I am not sure he feels quite the same way about my sewing efforts, though!)  Once, I had a couple of balls of wool/yarn and some knitting needles, I needed somewhere to stash it all.  Ideally somewhere portable so I could bring it along to swimming and dance lessons.                                                                                                                                 I was able to check out Amy Butler's in stitches from my local library.  (I'll be in despair if my local library closes as part of the austerity measures.)  The first project was the Cosmo Bag.  It was big, roomy, and labelled "easy."  I was sold.  I was able to buy the fabric at John Lewis in Blue Water Mall.*  John Lewis does not have the interfacing Amy recommends.  They also didn't have the recommended substitutions.  The only woven fusible interfacing they had was very thin and light.  So I bought some standard vilene fusible (I hesitate to call it cheap because it was £3/m.)  I reasoned that the bag wouldn't be worn or washed, so it would probably be OK.  Let me just add my voice to the chorus of seamstresses on the web warning not to use this stuff, ever.  Once fused to the fabric, it makes easing very difficult.  Also, while manipulating the bag during construction, it got a bit lumpy and bubbly.  Not enough to ruin the bag, but enough for me to know that it is not the right stuff to use.

I think it would be accurate to say that the bag wasn't difficult.  No advanced techniques or tools were required.  On the other hand, there were a lot of pieces to cut out, keep track of, and fuse together.  So it was a little tedious.

Also, Amy Butler's instructions aren't bad, but there aren't many pictures.  I am ashamed to say I have a hard time following written instructions only.  (Nobody moans more than me about Burda and Hotpatterns for example.)  Luckily, help is only a mouse click away!  I found a whole Cosmo Bag sew-along with lots of pictures and explanations, as well as a cute new blog to follow: JemJam.  I am so pleased with my new bag that I am considering hopping on board for the next bag sew a long, I have some IKEA canvas just waiting to be turned into an up-market shopper for lugging around towels, goggles, ghillies, hard shoes, etc.)

*I went there with my three and six year old on my own. Not really a relaxing thing to do, but they were as good as gold.  Well, as good as a three and six year old can be anyway.  I bribed them with KFC.  (KFC in Britain just isn't the same: no green beans, no mashed potatoes and gravy, and wait for it, no biscuits!!!!)