Customer Reviews

Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses and Totes (That Patchwork Place)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I like the book, love the ideas and the inspiration. The variety is great with zippers and open tops and metal hex closures. A great way to expand your bag making! The patterns do not come full size or with dimensions to fudge them to the right size. Instead, you are given a pattern shape and instructed to "Enlarge 111%" or "Enlarge 150%." Kind of kills the spur of the moment creativity, unless you have a large copier in your house or pre-copy all the patterns ahead of time.

Good basic shapes and the introduction offers clear instructions to insert pockets and how to put together linings. Designs include multiple opening styles, including how to put together a bag with a hex opening (snaps together in a spring loaded fashion) which was my reason for purchase. Patterns are on pages of the book with info on how much to enlarge each sheet on a copy machine to achieve the size of bag illustrated. Most of the bag designs are simple rectangles of different sizes.

I think this book is well done. It would be improved by adding an inch-square grid to the patterns to make manual enlargement easier, but I've had good luck with my scanner and printer. As for "too too", the point of making your own handbags is to come up with something unique to you and your personality. All of these bags can be customized to express your personality.

The patterns for purses in this book are marvelous and I want to make all of them. The instructions are quite clear and explitive but have only one complaint about the book. The patterns are not in actual size and all have to be taken to a printer to be enlarged 200% and for someone who doesn't get out too often this is an inconvenience but I will do it because the purses are so functional and uniique.

I had higher hopes for this one. If you like the crafty look, you'll love these as is. I prefer a "real" looking handbag, but by steering away from their cutesy-crafty fabric & embellishments, I found some cute bags in here. I am not a novice sewer, but I felt the directions were a bit lacking here & there if you are new to sewing handbags. Directions for the zippers & such could be better, at least if it had more pictures...which is always a plus when you are flipping & turning fabric this way & that.

I love this book. The bag pattern instructions are easy to read and follow and most can be finished within a few hours. Although one has to enlarge the patterns, it cost me only $11.50 for the entire book at my local copy center. If I had to purchase each pattern separately, at approximately $10.00 per pattern - a real bargain. I've already made three of the bags from this book and plan to make more.

Clear instructions, varied shapes, a variety of techniques. A good book to have if you want to sew your own purses. Some patterns need to be enlarged on a copier, but that's not much of a problem for most of us.

Very disappointed with this book. You have to enlarge the patterns to use them. And it isn't just a little enlargement you have to enlarge some to 111%. Would have been nice to have this in the description before I spent money on it. I like the design of the purses.

Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place)
The book offers some cute designs, but the explanations aren't always simple [inserting linings, for instance]. I made some simple changes to the bags that I made but I think it turned out well.

I am very particular when it comes to purses and totes that I make as gifts or carry myself. I was disappointed to find there were only four of the eighteen patterns that I would consider making. The other bags/purses are either too small or too exotic for my tastes. They are odd shaped or just not a useful item for me.

The book contains templates if they are needed to create the bag/purse. Graphics are included along with the written instructions. There are materials and cutting lists and sections that explain handles, straps, closures and image transfers.

All in all, if you are as particular about your purse/bag as I am, you will do better to grab an individual pattern than to be disappointed with this book.