amy butler weekender, part 4

Evening Three. The good news is that you will essentially have done all the steps that are involved in making the lining. It uses the same pattern and procedure as the outer shell.


But you may want to add interior pockets to the main panels, so do that before sewing all the panels together. My laptop pocket was made like the main exterior pockets, but sized to the height of the laptop for additional security.

My zippered pocket, as mentioned in part 1, was made using this tutorial.

I slightly regret using a zipper I had on hand instead of buying one that matched

I had forgotten to pick up template plastic for the false bottom, so substituted a piece of lawn sign.

This worked so well that I am now always looking for discarded lawn signs as lightweight, water resistant reinforcement.


I really enjoyed making the Weekender. It was laid out so thoroughly that a novice seamstress could get through the directions, simply following it step-by-step.


My final notes:

• plan your fabric. As mentioned in an earlier post, I had visions of doing my bag in a sunny, bright floral. Unfortunately, I didn't get to the fabric store until late fall, by which time florals were depleted. I ended up choosing paisley that day: black paisley for the outside and a pale green paisley for the lining. I even recovered the rocking chair in paisley. I'm not really sure how that happened.
• on a similar note, the heavy decorator fabrics recommended for this project, while normally expensive, do go on sale from time to time. It was such a sale that prompted me to finally begin the bag.
• consider your additions, particularly your interior pockets, and mark into your pattern where they will be done. This may save you a lot of headache later.
• searching through blogs gave me a renewed appreciation for good blog organization. If you choose to write up your own experience with the Weekender (or with any other project, for that matter), please be sure to tag & label your posts, make sure your archives are visible, and consider adding a search function to your blog.

My own minor modifications have all been noted before, but here they are again:

• lengthened the bag by 1"
• made the straps in the main color
• widened the straps by 1"
• lengthened the straps by 4" (these two changes made it possible to sling the bag over one shoulder, which I really, really like)
• added magnetic closures to the outer main pockets
• changed the bottom exterior panel to pleather
• added feet to the bottom exterior panel; added a laptop pocket to the interior lining
• added a zippered pocket to the interior lining

amy butler weekender, part 3

Evening Two:

• attached zipper and end pockets to the top panel. I don't have photos of this, but I remember it was much easier than the previous evening. There are no extra layers or cording in the top panel, so it's just a matter of sewing a zipper between two pieces of fabric, and stitching the pockets on.

• attached bottom panel to this top panel. I used a piece of vinyl pleather I had for the bottom. 
• attached the top/bottom panel piece to the main panels. You do need a zipper foot, but I had one for my trusty old Singer 301 and it worked fine. There may be a few places where the cording doesn't get tucked in tight enough and need to be resewn. It would probably help if one pinned a little better than shown.

If you plan to add feet, do so now. The shell of the bag is now complete, and all that is left is sewing and attaching the lining.

amy butler weekender, part 2

The Weekender Travel Bag pattern is detailed and very clear. I can't imagine you will go wrong if you are careful in following it. Myself, I just noticed a big black ribbon across the top with advice to "...read through all of the instructions before you get started on your project. Be sure to pre-wash and press all of your fabric..." Oops.

But pre-reading (in addition to pre-washing) is a good idea. In particular, reading through the pattern is helpful in gathering supplies. As others have noted, one only needs 4 pieces of cording, not 5 continuous yards. And as the cording along the pockets runs straight, it can be covered in fabric cut with the grain instead of on the bias. I did this and was able to stretch my fabric, as I did not have quite enough. You can see below how much I had to piece fabric to get a bias strip. The two straight pieces sit beneath the bias strip.

One reason I was tight on fabric is that I added an inch in length to the bag. I wanted to be able to slip my laptop inside, and the extra inch made that possible.


The other reason was a cutting mistake. Because of the way the pattern was folded to fit inside its cover, I inadvertently used it as the fold line even though the actual fold line is very clearly and heavily marked. So my advice, if you are careless like I am, is to tape the non-functional crease straight as I finally did, below.

Evening One went like this:

• cut out all pieces, including Peltex and interfacing pieces. This is time-consuming, particularly when changing the dimensions, as I did. 1" needed to be added to all affected pieces, which is to say, to all pieces. I also added 1" and 4" to the width and length, respectively, of the carrying straps and associated Peltex pieces.
• made cording. As noted, I had to stretch my fabric a bit due to my changes and hastiness. If you make the bag as written and are careful in following directions, making the cording is a simple procedure. You cut and sew together bias strips, then wrap the strips around your cotton cording, sealing with Stitch Witchery or something similar.

• made the main pocket with cording
• made the handles
• attached the handles, main pocket and cording to the main panels. If adding any details to the main pocket (i.e., a snap closure or zipper), do so before stitching the pocket to the main panel.

This first evening ended with the two main panels complete.

amy butler weekender, part 1

Last year when I was thinking of making a bag for short trips away, I started running into the name Amy Butler. Or more specifically, into the name Amy Butler as modifying the noun Weekender. Amy Butler, it seems, is a well-known designer and her Weekender Travel Bag is pretty much the pinnacle of amateur bag making—at least, as measured by sewing blogs.

I was at first turned off by complaints about the pattern, the difficulty and the sheer number of hours that making the Weekender required. But slowly I became intrigued by just how many people had taken the time to log their experiences making it. It amounted to a huge body of collective experience: what worked, what to avoid, tips and shortcuts and additions. How could I not use such a reference?

And once I did, how could I not add to it?

So here is Part 1 of my Amy Butler Weekender experience: namely, a summary of the best information I could find in reading through the blog posts.

• There are old and new versions of the pattern. As far as I can tell, the new version uses peltex instead of timtex, which was harder to work with; and fusible instead of non-fusible interfacing. I made a point of searching for the new version, which looks like this:

• It is expensive to make. Budget $60-80, even if you buy everything at discount.
• Prepare for it to be somewhat time intensive. I made mine over 3 long evenings. 
• You will have to handstitch and baste the layers. This is why most people considered the bag a headache or especially time-consuming. I happen to enjoy handsewing and used the time to listen to podcasts.
• Nearly everyone added interior pockets as there are none in the pattern. I added a simple pocket to hold my laptop, and used this zippered pocket tutorial (I'm not sure how I found this tutorial, but it is linked to in nearly every post with a zippered pocket addition).
• You can machine stitch the lining in. This wasn't important to me since the handstitching gave me more podcasts to listen to, but it's good to know if you just want the thing done.
• Most people added an X-in-square pattern to reinforce the strap on the body. Some also lengthened and widened the straps for extra comfort and the option of carrying the bag over one's shoulder or added a removable shoulder strap.

Some of the blog posts I found helpful or inspiring in some way (in Fall 2011):

http://mylilsliceofpie.blogspot.com/2008/05/hallelujah-its-done.html

be sure to check out her series of blog posts, Days 1-5, in April 2008

http://jenandfranz.blogspot.com/search/label/Amy%20Butler%20Weekender%20Bag

this blog included the single most helpful tip I found, which was to make the cording with stitch witchery

http://beezekneesfashions.blogspot.com/search/label/Amy%20Butler%20Weekender%20Travel%20Bag

two more additions which I used: magnetic clasps on the outer pockets, and feet on the bottom

http://needlebook.blogspot.com/2008/05/weekender-progress.html

additions include: a bias tape zipper pull, magnetic snaps & a detachable shoulder strap

http://needlebook.blogspot.com/2006/07/weekender-sneak-peek.html

the above blogger's first Weekender

http://notquitevintage.typepad.com/not_quite_vintage/2007/03/for_dawns_weeke.html

more solid tips

http://www.elliphantom.com/completed_in_2006/weekender_travel_bag/

these photos show why it's worth taking time to match the print on the outer pocket to the main panel

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=amy+butler+weekender&s=rec

I used a flickr search to view different color and print choices. Conclusion: the bag looks great in almost any combination

http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2008/09/14/second-times-a-charm-orchristmas-in-september/

includes a link to a tutorial for making a handle grip

http://hiuma.blogspot.com/2008/10/first-big-project-weekender-bag.html

I loved that she used her treadle machine to sew the heavy layers

she also mentions, as do others, that you need less cording than is called for

http://craftoholic.blogspot.com/2006/05/my-weekender-bag.html

although I had every intention of choosing a large, colorful floral print for my bag, I ended up with the same colors as this woman's beautiful bag & can't help but wonder if I was influenced by her striking photos

http://knitlint.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/finished-object-amy-butler-weekender-bag/

I love that she documented how much she was able to fit into the finished bag—including her sewing machine!

http://www.stitchesandscissors.com/2011/10/my-weekender.html

used manufactured cording to save time, lengthened & widened the handles, & added a secret zippered pocket to outside pocket

and still more:
http://www.madebybird.com/4-weekender-bags-in-4-weeks/

http://kristinlaflamme.com/musings/?p=143

http://allbuttonedup.typepad.com/all_buttoned_up/2006/08/the_weekender_i.html

http://marynannasews.blogspot.com/2010/05/thank-god-for-sallies.html