The Bircham Bag PDF Sewing Pattern – 1940s Retro Crossbody Purse
- Sep 25, 2025
- 1 min read
This is a PDF sewing pattern for the Bircham Bag, a stylish and functional accessory inspired by 1940s designs, enhanced with Charlie’s Aunt’s unique asymmetrical flair. The bag features curved seams on its body and flap panels, crafted from two contrasting fabrics, and is adorned with a decorative row of buttons on the flap. Named after the Norfolk village of Bircham, which boasts an 1846 windmill still in operation today, the Bircham Bag is compact and perfect for everyday use. It pairs well with materials ranging from tweeds and corduroy to moleskin, velvet, heavy linens, upholstery, or printed fabrics. Inside, there is a patch pocket.
This PDF sewing pattern consists of 23 pages, including 12 pages with the cover, general information, cutting instructions, and step-by-step guides with diagrams, plus 11 pattern sheets with templates that you need to print and cut out. All templates are full-sized with seam allowances included. Three templates are too large for a single sheet, so you will need to cut and tape them together as directed. The instructions for this process are straightforward.
The approximate finished dimensions of the Bircham Bag are: Height 10” (25cm), width at the widest point 13.5” (34cm), base width with darts approximately 2” (5cm), and strap length about 38” (97cm).
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