Handmade Bags [Paperback]

Terence Terry (Author), Caroline Darke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002

A handbag can make or break an outfit. Many people spend hours–and a lot of money–searching for the perfect bag and still come up empty handed. So what’s the solution? Make one at home!

Handmade Bags provides easy to follow, step-by-step instructions for a wide range of different handbag styles, using a variety of materials. The 30 projects include everything from simple sequined felt bags to ornate leather designs. They include tote bags, a drawstring bag, a backpack, and wedding bag. Crafters of all skill levels will find a bag to suit every occasion and outfit.

Also includes explanations and descriptions of different materials, tools, techniques, and decorations, including professional tips and shortcuts to help achieve a perfect finish.

• Full-color photographs to guide readers

• 30 projects to inspire the novice and expert alike

• Create gorgeous, personalized handbags for self, friends, and family

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873493893
• ISBN-13: 978-0873493895
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,632,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Cool Book, December 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Handmade Bags (Paperback)

"Handmade Bags" has some really great project ideas. It starts out with the basics - supplies, sewing for beginners, etc. and then moves on to the projects (which have whimsical names like "Red, red rose" and "Gilded cage"). There are 30 professional looking project ideas - all with great illustrations and detailed instructions. Some of the projects use some interesting materials, however I was disappointed that there were a couple of "knitting with wire" bags - that's just not my thing.
Although most of the patterns seem pretty straight forward, they are small grid illustrations - meaning you can't take the book to the copy machine and enlarge - you have to use traditional tailoring methods/measuring/etc. to scale up the pattern. For people who have never sewn, I would advise getting "Making Handbags" by the folks from FIT first and then use this book for additional creative ideas and techniques.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where are the patterns?, February 16, 2006

By 

Librarian (Washington State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handmade Bags (Paperback)

Handmade Bags is full of unique and gorgeous bags to make from a variety of materials, with detailed step-by-step instructions, tons of photos, and an introduction to basic sewing at the beginning.

This would be a fantastic book, BUT and this is a big BUT-there are no patterns. For the purses made out of alternative materials or knitted, this is not an issue, as the instructions and photos clearly show how to make the purse. For the sewn purses there is a small photo of a grid with a pattern outline shown and each grid square equals 2". The book has a section on how to make and use patterns, but for less experienced sewers this can be daunting. For purses in a basic square or rectangle shape making a pattern would be easy, but several of these bags have unique shapes so creating a pattern for them would be more difficult. Although it states how much fabric is needed for each purse, it doesn't give cut dimensions. Making the purses without patterns would be ok if the directions stated "cut the shape with a 16" base ending with a 20" fan shaped top."

Handmade Bags sends a mixed-message. It is written in a basic, mostly easy to use format that breaks the process down, so even a novice sewer could make make one of these bags, but the lack of patterns or cutting dimensions pushes it into the realm of experienced sewers. This makes the book frustrating for folks like me with basic sewing skills, but no experience or time to learn to make patterns.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poor purses, June 2, 2005

By 

C. Clarke "trinibunny" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handmade Bags (Paperback)

This book is really well presented with amazing pictures and is easy to read. If you have any knowledge of sewing and any interest in making handbags that appear professional this is not the book for you, I think it should be reclassified as a craft book for kids. If you're an adult save your money.