Customer Reviews

Making Handbags & Purses: 50 Patterns & Designs from Casual to Corporate

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

If I'd had the chance to flip through this in the bookstore, I never would have bought it. There are no diagrams or illustrations, the directions are confusing, and the bags are generally hideous. (I would say that they were out of style, but virtually none of them could be said to have been stylish in any era.) If you're tempted to buy it based on the other reviews, do yourself a favor and check it out at a library or bookstore first. The (very) few tips it has to offer are better found elsewhere.

After spending a number of years making rudimentary custom clutch bags to sell at craft fairs, this book would have made our life quite easy with ideas, innovation, and technique. After reviewing a copy of Carol Parks' book, we are considering re-entering the designing of custom purses. It definitely provides the beginner and master designer with "design food" for thought.

In my opinion, I found this book to have some of the ugliest handbags / purses that I have ever seen. I have no desire to recreate any of them.

Not a single bag style that I would recreate, I had started making handbags when I bought this book for inspiration, big mistake. All of the bags look like home-ec projects (and not from the talented kids) in unattractive colors and fabrics. The patterns are not cute or trendy, and I struggled to pick out even one good tip I could use. If you're the type that likes to wear sweatshirts with embroidered kittens and flowers on the front you might like this book, if not, don't waste your money.

You don't want to buy this bag if you are looking for handbag patterns to follow. The bags are ugly, but some of the design elements can easily be modified to make something a little more fashionable. There are some decent construction tips, which was the whole point of me buying the book.

This book is not that great. It is the same purse pattern (fold over flap sack type bag) just has differant designs. Many are for people that crochet... I dont!! And it doesnt' even show how to crochet. What a waste of money... I sent it back!! I did read all the reviews and orederd it any way. Take heed... don't buy it!!

If you are wanting to sew handbags for fun, for gifts, or so you will have one to match each outfit you own, this is the book for you! The designs vary from easy to more complicated, from dressy to fun, from classic to . . . well, whatever! There's something for everyone here. There are also good instructions for sewing leather - a process to me that always seems scary - but after reading the suggestions, I tried it, and it's easy! My favorite design is the teardrop bag - one of those "ergo-dynamic" designs that really works! There's a lot of inspiration here as well, if you want to take and idea, run with it, and make a design of your own. Have a great time!

There are some hideous bags in here. I bought the book for tips on sewing handbags, not for patterns luckily. The handbags features are more of a fiber art style, not fashionable. There are a few decent tips on construction, but nothing too fabulous.

This book used creative ideas with a blend of coloful colors to create unique and fun handbags and purses. It is a great source for those wanting to creat their own unique items. I recomend it.

This is a very good inspirational book on making bags and purses for any occasion. Many times when looking through a craft book written by one person, when all the ideas are theirs, there tends to be a sameness about the projects, but not this book. More than just the author's ideas, there are purses made by many contributors which helps give an even larger variety of ideas than one person can accomplish on their own. There are also many different needlecraft types used for the different purses, so whatever your favorite type of needlecraft, you can find a purse to make. There are purses made in leather, cloth appliqués, crocheted, needlepoint, etc. The bags come in every size too, from larger tote style bags to tiny purses that you can use for a necklace. Lots of full color photographs of the projects also.

The only really bad thing I observed in this book is no actual patterns which for some of us that are drawing impaired could be a problem. But all in all a good book that should inspire you as you craft your next purse.

I was surprised to see the many negative reviews here on this book. I will admit that I wouldn't want to make some of the bags in this purse, but then I have seen advertisements for purses that cost over $13,000 that I wouldn't use if you paid me. Everyone has their own tastes. If you are looking for ideas on different types of bags to make, this book will give you plenty of many different types.