Customer Reviews

Hip Handbags: Creating & Embellishing 40 Great-Looking Bags

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book gives you the patterns & instructions to create seven basic handbag and shoulderbag types. Then the author shows you creative materials and embellishments that will inspire you to create a truly individual purse. Each variation is explained thoroughly. Several new techniques are shown in these projects.

All of the essential purse shapes are covered - clutch, tote, large purse, messenger bag, envelope and more. The patterns are in the text on graph paper. They're easy to scan into the computer and create any size.

This book begins with a great introduction on designing handbags. Just this section alone made me consider several projects. If you just want to dip your toes into making purses, the first few projects use ready-made purses.

Another chapter discusses fabric choices in depth and illustrates basic techniques like lining and pockets. These construction details help you customize your designs.

My favorite thing about this book is that this approach really teaches you to design your own bags. It is very clear how to follow one of the designs, but they also provide that extra information to help you if you stray away from the pattern, as I usually do.
Finally, if you would like to go totally hip with your bags, there's an outrageous photo gallery of the most modern of handbags.

The purses in this book are all variations on a set of basic patterns. The color pictures are great and show a lot of great ideas. The text is written in an entertaining and humorous style that is fun to read. Where this book starts to fall apart is when you go to actually make one of these purses. Vague instructions and errors abound. One one page, the instructions list the size of one pattern piece as different than what the pattern piece is drawn for. The author glosses over how to insert anything but a fabric handle. There are no instructions on how to put in a magnetic clasp or bag feet. And the measly section on how to put in a zippered pocket was so vague that I had to rip out the pocket three times. I finally went to another source to get clear instructions. The book also doesn't give guidance on when to add the extras. Should trim go on before sewing the lining together? Handsewn on afterwards? If the author knows, she's not tellling.

I can sew a straight seam on a sewing machine (and that's it !) but this book inspired me to get out there and start making handbags. The patterns and instructions are extremely clear and easy to follow and I particularly like the way the 7 basic shapes are presented at the start as basic calico forms which Valerie then gives variations for.

The other thing I really like as a beginner is Valerie's confidential, fun tone. Its like having a hip girlfriend showing you how to do it - she makes even scary stuff (zips ! linings !) seem straightfoward. This is one of the very very few craft books where I actually read it straight through, including the "boring" technical stuff at the start, because Valerie's tone is so engaging. Good thing too ! Its the boring technical stuff that makes the handbags work, but because its so fun to read you almost don't realise that she's just shown you how to make a lined pocket, or attach a clasp.

I originally picked up this book at the Library because I wanted a pretty nappy bag that didn't cost $180. My prototype was leapt on by my Mum, my sister, and various girlfriends with shrieks of delight and then gasps of amazement that I had made it myself. As I write this, I have two up for sale in a girlfriend's shop, two ordered by my Mum, one by my sister, and one for my God-sister who's just had a baby. I have given one to my sister-in-law and another to a friend for her baby shower. I have even gone and got myself some sew-in labels for my "brand" !! Crazy !!! Who would have thought that one book would spark something like this ?

And its FUN. I have a really short attention span and I keep telling myself "I'll stop when it stops being enjoyable" but I still find myself on the loungeroom floor at 10 at night cutting patterns and matching stripes with a big silly smile on my face. I'm off to a fabric sale to buy cheap chinese brocades to make some of the very "in" wristlets - its such a fabulous excuse to paw over pretty fabrics and trims - and cheap - 'cos you only need a meter and a half to make even the biggest bags.

I would very strongly recommend this book, even for someone who feels unsure of their sewing skills. Several of the pattern can be hand-sewn if you don't have a machine, and there is also an excellent section on how to add trims and embellishment to bought bags. The gallery at the back is fabulous with some really exotic and radical handbags that make my mouth water, and make me determined to get better at this craft - I suspect it will bring me a great deal of joy for a long time to come, and I hope that you'll buy this book (or borrow it from a Library :) and get the same inspiration and enjoyment that I have.

This book is the best handbag design book I have found to date. It provides 7 designs (with patterns and instructions) with various alternate bags based on these designs. The gallery of other designer bags is awesome (even a stain glass bag!) and it also gives tips for embellishing pre-purchased bags.

This book is a definite winner!

I start sewing a year ago and I started with bags. So this book really appeal to me. Let me say that I was really disappointed when it arrives from amazon. Actually I didn't even bother to keep it and return it a couple of days later. They're better books on the subject (Make Your Own Handbags)

There's seven different patterns in this book and a few variations on each pattern and embellished bags. For my taste, the bags didn't look great and some of the were overdone (too embellished)
You can have a look at some of them if you google the book on google books.

I have been making clothes for about 47 years so am quite experienced and therefore feel qualified to give an opinion.
This book has some great ideas, but the "instructions" and "patterns" are dire. For beginners attempting to make one of these bags could be an absolute nightmare. What a shame that proper instructions for cutting a pattern are not included. I see that thanks are given to a host of advisors, even a technical consultant...I wonder how much time she actually devoted to the so-called "technical consulting", or anything else for that matter.

Suffice to say, I think a beginner should stick to decorating a purchased bag, or getting professional help if attempting to make a bag from scratch, especially any designs from this book!

I was not too thrilled by this book. It has some good basic ideas and a few embellishmet ideas. But most were just not my cup of tea.

This book is really good because instead of giving exact patterns, it gives patterns for about eight different styles of bags. Then it shows variations on those eight styles. The instructions are good but I would not recommend this book unless you have at least a small knowledge of sewing. It also tell about many different materials for purse making. Overall, a book with endless possibilities and good instructions to accomplish a variety of ideas.

I've been making handbags for myself for a couple of years now, and this is one of my go-to books for instruction and inspiration. There are seven basic bag instructions (Messenger, Clutch, Tote, Tuck, Flirt, Vessel, and Travel), each with between three and five variations. There are decent instructions for the basic bag, and the variations tell you what's different, but it does not provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project. That's fine - I don't want to make the exact bag they show. I use this book for inspiration and basic construction methods.

The first section of the book talks about the basics - designing, embellishing, and sewing. It talks about material choices, how to make linings and pockets, use interfacing, install zippers, add straps and flaps, and close the bag. It explains decorative techniques like piping, grommets, handles, feet, frames, and fabric panels. There is a brief section of embellishing with beads, buttons, trims, jewelry, flowers, applique, embroidery, ruffles, and topstitching. The next section shows the effect that embellishments can have on a plain bag. They show several different before and after photos of purchased bags with embellishments. This is a great section for inspiration. There's a sewing section that explains the tools you'll need, basic sewing terms, and pattern making. The patterns are very simple line drawings on a grid. That makes perfect sense - you can make your bag as large or as small as you'd like or change the shape. Many of the pattern pieces are composed of straight lines, and it's easier to cut them with a rotary cutter anyway.

The last section of the book is pure inspiration. It's called the Gallery of Totally Hip Handbags, and it's full of "art" bags. It's interesting to see the color, material, and shapes, although I can't imagine I'd ever carry a ceramic bag. I tend to make my bags freestyle - no pattern, just an idea that I play with until it turns into a bag. This book helps with both the construction techniques and the inspiration for new ideas.

If you're looking for a detailed pattern book so you can make exactly what they show in the photo, this may not be the book for you. If you prefer to work a little less structured, and are comfortable making some things up as you go along, this is a great place to start.

I first got this book out of my local library and was very impressed with the majority of the patterns (not all but then that's to be expected!), good instructions and the range of alterations to the basic patterns they explored in more detail. Impressed to the extent that I had to buy it. I'm in the middle of making one of the bags and the instructions have been good and to the point. The only downside is that the patterns aren't as exact as I would like and there's a bit of figuring out to do before you can cut into your fabric.