Folk Bags: 30 Knitting Patterns and Tales from Around the World (Folk Knitting series) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The Maori, a tribe of Polynesian ancestry, were the first to land on the shores of New Zealand over one thousand years ago..." (more)
Key Phrases: cintachi red, cire needle, smooth waste yarn, Shigra Floor Basket Chart, Chart Illa, New Zealand (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Every project includes easy-to-follow instructions, clear illustrations and a fascinating tale of the author's travels." -- Country Marketplace

Product Description

Thirty projects from 23 countries offer a worldwide representation of bags, from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas. From the fish-shaped Japanese felted bag to the Persian carpet-inspired handbag, each bag is a product of its cultural history. Each pattern begins with a brief history describing the source behind these contemporary interpretations of folk designs. Folk stories also accompany many projects. Included are designs for bags for work or play, and bags of all shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Using this collection, knitters can create bags for children, for market, for everyday, or for a special evening event.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press; illustrated edition edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193149925X
• ISBN-13: 978-1931499255
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #539,145 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It IS my bag--Baby!, October 6, 2003

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Many knitters request patterns for smaller projects, good for taking on a trip, good for using up leftover yarn, good for a break from sweaters or afghans. While socks are often the choice for small knits (as are hats and mittens), now there's a growing trend to knit useful and ornamental bags.

You can let your creativity loose on a bag--somehow people will carry a crazy purse even if they won't wear a funny hat. Vicki Square, author of the bestselling "Knitter's Companion" has collected 30 interesting bags here for the most jaded of knitters.

You could do a standard French Market string bag, or an Irish creel in imitation basketweave stitch. All pretty standard. But what about a Tibetan monk's satchel or a bag shaped like a lucky fish, or an origami-folded bag of linen? And then there are the rich textiles of South and Central America; Inca, Guatemalan, and some really fetching designs from Ecuador that were my personal favorites--diamonds in black and white. Not every design depends on colorwork; some are stunning with the simplest of texture stitches.

Many techniques are here--cabling, felting, embroidery, intarsia, applique. The bags are mini-lessons. I recommend this book to knitters who are bored with their usual project and to anyone who is looking for great gift ideas that don't need to be fitted (and it's not too soon to do a few for Christmas.) Even beginners can knit some of these and aspire to the fancier ones as they climb the learning curve. A fun and useful knitting book, indeed.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fun & funky!, September 30, 2003

By	Seven Kitties "7kitties" (Blue Point, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This book is a world tour of cultures around the world, boiled down into knit bags. Bags of all sizes, from the classic French mesh grocery bag to an adorable fish-shaped felted bag fill this book from cover to cover! The "Folk" series is a high-quality, high-content series, and this book is a great new addition to this respectable series. Knitters, you will flip through the book for *hours* trying to decide which project to make first! I plan on making some as holiday gifts this year--but they're all so original and cute I don't know if I'll be able to part with any of them!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Did I really need another knitting book?, March 31, 2004

By A Customer

Yes I did. I needed this book. The stories about ethnic fiber traditions really interesting and the patterns are inspirational. My head is spinning from being unable to decide which project to start first. I'm also getting ideas about motifs to use in sweaters. All of the 30+ knitting books I own this is in my top five list.