Designer Style Handbags

I'm usually pretty skeptical about buying craft books that I can't flip through before purchasing. I was very impressed to be able to "look inside" and see such a great variety of projects that were viewable. I still had a few reservations, but there were so many positive reviews, I decided to take the chance and get it. This book really has a lot of great ideas in it. Many of the bags require a certain degree of sewing ability, but there were some nice ideas to embellish pre-made bags as well. There are also several other styles of non-sewn bags such as a decoupage cigar box purse. No, I wasn't particularly interested in many of the purses, but there are definately 4 or 5 that I am looking forward to making. The best part about this book, is that there are NO REAL PATTERNS NEEDED! Most of the sewn purses (with some exceptions) were made from simple, rectangular pieces - nothing to enlarge or trace! While some had sewn handles, others used pre-made wooden or plastic handles (many of which I have seen in my local craft stores). With a little creativity and ingenuity, the bags can be re-sized, embellished, and details like the style of handles or straps can be interchanged. Although the sewn patterns are nicely done (with full linings) they are a little challenging to understand, and a beginning sewer might find them a little daunting. If that's you, don't try them yet. The leading pattern companies such as Butterick, Vogue, and Simplicity have many handbag patterns almost exactly like those in the book. The step-by-step instructions (and patterns) included in those will be much easier to understand and will really give you a leg up for when you attempt one of the bags from the book. So, in a nutshell, great inspiration and nice variety. Not for the beginning sewer, but the many non-sewn bags make up for that. Some bags were very polished, others more casual, some a little too crafty (but a fun project to do with a teen or pre-teen). None were overly embellished - unless you want them to be - you could use them everyday and depending on the fabric, you could wear them with a sundress or a suit. Few really had that hokey, overly quilty/crafty feel. They all used supplies that I have seen in stores locally - so no extenseve internet hunting is necessary (unless you really want to make it special)and if you do, there's a great suppliers list. I really like this book and see myself flipping through it often for ideas.

If you learn visually like I do this book has very good instructions and pictures. I'm not a very confidant crafter or sewer. This book however helped me start sewing again and to actually like what I made. I sewed the Hoop Handle Bag pictured above and although not without flaws, I was thrilled how it came out. The first part of the book has basic instructions about tools and fabrics. Pages 29-83 has sewn bags, crochet, woven, photo transfer. Even a bag crocheted out of plastic bag strips. Good for teens. I use the instructions for the Oil Cloth Tote to make shopping totes any size and out of any fabric choice. Something I did do different from this books instructions: I do not trim the seams as much as instructed or trim off the triangle after sewing the bottom of the cloth purses. I think this ruins the integrity of the stitches. Leaving that little piece of fabric does not really add bulk. I use my totes for grocery shopping and they are holding up really well. (if you have trouble finding the plastic hoops for the Hoop Bag, search ebay under stores and you can find a wide variety of colors and sizes at good prices) Pages 86-125 are all no sew and embellished bags. Honestly I will probably never make any of these bags but there are instructions for a cigar box purse, vinyl purse, tin can purses, book binding purse and more. All in all having a little sewing experience will help and you may find you do alter some instructions a little, but this book is a great place to start making purses!

This book had purses for everyone, sewers and non-sewers, old and young, small and large. The purses are hip and the patterns are easy to understand. I already had some of the patterns but they even presented them in a better way with great step-by-step COLOR photos.

I never bother with reviews, but this book was so wonderful that I couldn't help myself. It was inspiring, full of wonderful, clearly photographed instructions, and left this non-sewer feeling as if I could really pull these off. Well worth the money.

Although this is the third or fourth book I purchased on purse making, it is by far one of the best. The techniques are varied and interesting but can be done by a beginner with some experience. There's more than enough to hold your interest, along with a lot of fun purses to do. My only complaint was that I could never find any one place to purchase all the ribbon for one of the ribbon purses in the book, but otherwise a really neat book.