Quilted Bags & Purses

The bags are very beautiful, and the photos of the finished bags clear. The finished photos show front, back, inside, and side gussets well. However, a warning is necessary. THERE ARE NO - NONE - PHOTOS OF IN-PROCESS BAGS. This makes the instructions really difficult to understand. The short instructions for special techniques (applique's various methods, beading, and hand embroidery stitches) are also too short for a first time introduction. Most of the bags have medium to simple construction methods. An experienced sewer should not have much trouble figuring it out, even though the instruction are hard to follow. An exception is the bag on the cover, which uses about 20 applique pieces. It is the most complex bag in the book. I think making a pattern first using typing paper or muslin would be a REALLY good idea for this bag. Some of the patterns are for the back-side of the fabric. Some of the patterns are on a fold (half sized). The patterns use different seam allowances. I think it would be IMPOSSIBLE NOT to make several mistakes if you were cutting the fabric first. Make sure the patterns are marked with seam allowances and the color of the fabric as well as front or back-side labeled. Glue or tape the pattern pices together to make sure the seam allowances will work. This pattern calls for silk and velvet or microfiber, which are rather expensive, and aggrevates the problem if the cut pieces do not fit together. I still gave this book 5 stars because, I am not sure if the complex designs of certain bags COULD have been explained simply (short of including full-sized, correctly labeled patterns), and because the workmanship of the bags in the photos are excellent. The color choices and materials are also well thought out. You can just copy the fabric choices as is and get a great bag out of it. For most books on bags, I have to substitute the fabrics on many of the bags because the color choices are bad or the fabrics are too weak for the size and use of the bag.

I haven't actually made any of the bags yet but I have read over the patterns and instructions and it looks like Mary Jo has done a good job in designing these bags. The book is very pretty to look at and makes you want to jump in and use up some of those quilting scraps to make a new purse.