Product Description

"When asked to do a book of handknit 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 is - a bag doesn't have to fit! So knit...felt...and be merry."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #422320 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 84 pages

Review
"Just look at that cover- sumptuous, and this book does not disappoint. 15 fun felted bags based on themes such as flora, fauna, pictorial, tapestry, geometric and textural. Expert knitter, Nicky Epstein, puts her versatility into felted bags to create some of the best around. They not only look good but are practical too. So when you want your felted frog, cat, flapper bag or houndstooth, you know what to do. This 82 page book with lavish photography, has easy-to-follow knitting instructions for the bags which are then felted in a washing machine." KarenPlatt.co.uk

About the Author
Nicky Epstein is one of today's most prolific and versatile knitwear designers, authors and teachers. She has gained worldwide recognition for her artistic, distinctive and innovative work, whimsical sense of style and informative workshops. Her designs continue to be featured in many knitting magazines and publications, on television, and in museums.

Customer Reviews

Great Designs, Skimpy Instructions
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.

More ugly duckling than beautiful swan!
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.

Creative Curiosity
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?