Customer Reviews

Nicky Epstein's Fabulous Felted Bags: 15 Bags to Knit And Felt

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

 

 

This book has fun, whimsical designs for some very unusual felted bags. I knitted the Wisteria bag first and it was pretty straightforward, as most of the decoration is in the form of knitted flowers and leaves attached to the completed bag. I am not exactly a novice knitter and I found the instructions to be too skimpy, sometimes ambiguous, and sometimes wrong. You can find corrections on the internet and hopefully they are included in subsequent printings. I then knitted Tropicana which is intarsia, although the picture is partly done in duplicate stitch. Do not use the Jamieson yarn called for in the book and provided in kits, as it does not felt well at all. The owner of my local knit shop did some bags in this yarn and it pilled and sagged. I used Cascade 220 and mine felted very nicely. There were a few errors in the Tropicana instructions as well, and these are not all covered in the errata. Even so the bags are very different and are good for learning new skills without worrying about fit. Also, felting is great for hiding the occasional small mistake.

Creativity: check - wonderful ideas: check - eye catching: check - little crazy: check! While I think Epstein is BRILLIANT - this book was not particularly one of my favorites. Many of the patterns were a bit too far off the "normal" scale for daily use - but could be modified. I wasn't sure of the intended audience - some of the bags look too childish but seemed intended for adults. Several petterns were creatively spectacular, but just too over the top. Did not anyone learn from Bjork's tragic swan dress?

While I think many of Ms. Epstein's books are brilliant, this was a disappointment. Who actually over the age of 6 wants to knit a bag that looks like a swan? (think Bjork.) This book incorporated many techniques from her other books; so if you own these, skip this one and make your own design. Trust me. A design of your own could rival many of these.

This book goes above and beyond the typical "knit a bag" books that are out there. It's as if an artist let you in on her secrets. Some of the bags are a little goofy in design, but the ones that are fabulous (Wisteria, Jacobian, etc.) are well worth the price of the book. Wherever I go, people say, "What a fabulous bag!" - Thanks Nicky!!! I want to own every one of her books!

I loved this book and have knitted two of the purses - Striped Houndstooth and Fuschias. Both patterns are well written although not as detailed as I feel they could be. I do have to give customers one warning -- I didn't like the Shetland yarn. I bought a kit and I was satisfied with it until I felted it. It stretched like heck. I think it would be better to substitute the yarn and then possibly use it doubled. For the Striped Houndstooth I used Lion Wool (one strand) and it came out great - unbelievably thick and so nice. I think the colors are comparable to those called for in the pattern. I would suggest buying this book and then substituting the yarn so you won't be disappointed in your project. As always, I love Nicky's imagination. They are not boring to make to say the least! Keeps you interested until the last stitch.

I, like other reviewers, found some of the ideas inane, some foolish and others exciting. One of the exciting ones I tried (with, unfortunately the Jamison's yarn in the kit, which felts poorly and pills easily) was written extremely badly, and it took me 4 tries to finally get it right, and only after completely disregarding the colorwork instructions. This is really inexcusable in a book of this cost, and I only hope that later editions were corrected. I won't blindly follow the insrtuctions in any other bag I try in this book, I'll follow what's on my needles.
Still, the book has some good ideas, but I would only recommend this to experienced colorworkers and felters.

Nicky's new book, Fabulous Felted Bags, is a treasure chest of delightful bags to knit and felt. She pulled out all the stops when she designed the hand bags presented in this book. The bags range from the traditional to the fun-fun one of a kind bags that only you will carry when you knit and felt it. I have scanned a few pictures from the book for you to get a taste of the lovely bags. What an awesome gift to give to a knitter that has been yearning to felt, because this book will inspire them. This fabulous book is a work of art with amazing pictures and detailed instructions. Amazon carries this book and if you purchase $25 worth of books, like Nicky Epstein's, Knitting-Never-Felt-Better and you get free shipping and I hope this is something Amazon will keep as a part of their site to promote book sales with the gas prices so high!
Introduction,
When asked to do a book of hand knit handbags, I jumped at the opportunity, because I love bags-- they're practically indispensable! I've incorporated many different shapes and motifs that range from whimsical to haute couture, and have tried to make them functional, fashionable and fun.
You'll find an added element that is very exciting to me ... they're all ... felted. Felting adds whole new dimensions to the bags--texture . . . durability . . . cohesion . . . and distinctive style. I well know how nerve racking it can be to throw a lovingly-knit project into the uncharted territory of hot and soapy water and hope that the gods of the washing machine will be kind. Not to worry! If you follow my felting hints, it most always works. And the good news--a bag doesn't have to fit! So knit . . . felt . . . and be merry.

If you enjoy knitting totes, handbags,etc. this is a good book to own. A nice variety of styles and ideas even if you don't necessarily want a "felted" bag.

several bags are way out there and i would never waste my time making them; however, there are several that i intend to make. Large small and inbetween sizes and shapes.

The book was most tempting and the photographs delicious, ideas to use .. gifts to make....but when I began knitting..my gosh did anyone bother to make corrections!!! I made six purses and in five I found that only by stint of my own experience was I able to finish. In the sixth ( The Flapper) a miracle, no errors !! Three stars for designs, ideas. zero stars for directions..
NOT a book for a beginner or even intermediate knitter.