Product Description

This volume offers more than 50 handbags to sew, knit, or crochet - from basic hard-working everyday styles to glamorous evening bags. Patterns and step-by-step instructions are included, with tips on designing, choosing materials, plus adding decorative and durable linings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #766532 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From Library Journal
Cloth bags are practical, stylish, and easy to make. This book of step-by-step projects includes envelope bags, shoulder bags, and many small boutique-type bags in delightful shapes. Emphasis is on embellishment with beads, embroidery, tassels, and found materials. Instructions include patterns that must be enlarged, measurements for cutting straight-edged shapes, and stitch charts for several knit or crocheted bags. Each finished project is pictured in color. This book is full of ideas for using small pieces of treasured fabric. A good selection for public libraries.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Eighteen designers address the question, Why carry a purse when one can sport a work of art? The more than 50 handbags and backpacks offered here display variety, beauty, and creativity, as well as a dash of practicality. This clever collection is heavy on evening bags. Reinforced throughout is the fact that small pieces of fabric (such as tapestry, laces, brocades, and leather) can be embroidered, appliqued, tucked, beaded, trimmed, quilted, knitted, crocheted, woven, fringed, and then finished to perfection. Diagrams of techniques are scattered throughout the book to supplement precise numbered directions suitable for beginners. Parks' book will be welcomed in public library collections. Iva Freeman

Customer Reviews

Don't bother
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.

Comprehensive Ideas for the New designer
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.

Waste of my money
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.