A Beginner's Guide to Bag Making: 20 Classic Styles Explained Step by Step

Description

This easy-to-use beginner's sewing book contains 20 stylish and contemporary bag designs, from tote bags and box bags, to a courier bag, a sports bag and a bowling bag. A range of techniques, styles, fabrics and finishes is used to ensure that you can create exactly the bag you want. The projects are interspersed with 20 step-by-step techniques so that you can treat the book as a course and work through it in order, trying out the techniques as you go, or simply pick and choose your favourite styles. Each of the bags is graded 'beginner level', 'intermediate level' or 'confident' to help you. The projects and techniques are explained with a mix of photographs and illustrations to provide the clearest possible instruction. All the pattern pieces required are given at full size on the pull-out template sheet at the back of the book.

Estelle Zanatta and Marion Grandamme are stylists and designers, and together they created their own company, CO-MODE, which specializes in clothes and accessories. They work for many luxury French brands and their office is based near Paris.

A great beginners book, includes patterns for all bags. Great instructions in words and pictures and cross references. It includes several ways to attach fasteners, straps and handles and how to insert zips and pockets (inside and out). There is lots of advice on fabrics and interfacings. I would recommend this book 100%. -- Sue Johnson * Customer review * I love how this book feels and looks, there are lots of tips and techniques on each page. There's also snippets on the history of bags and other bits of information. The authors are stylists and designers with their own fashion company and this shows in how the completed bags have a very professional look. The best part about this publication though is the full sized patterns that are included - no scaling up or photocopying required and that the level of ability required for each project is stated on each page. Once again Search Press has produced another beautiful craft book. -- Marion Dickins * Customer review * The book features 20 bags in a range of styles. Most of the bags are for beginners or intermediate level with a few that are for more confident sewers. One of the best things about the book are the full size patterns in a pouch at the back so no confusing enlarging to do. I am very much looking forward to making my first bag. -- Jane Turnbull * Customer review * I like the way the patterns are on separate paper so I do not have to break the spine to get the book into the photocopier, also that they are full size so no messing about with enlarging. The instructions seem very clear. The illustrations are very helpful as I am a visual learner. I also love the way working through the projects in order builds up the techniques required. The glossary and tips make it easy for a beginner to get started with all the information needed in one place. -- Linda Ingram * Customer review * This fabulous book makes bag making so easy. It includes full-size patterns and easy to follow instructions with full colour photos and diagrams. I'm a total beginner to making bags but this book really did help me get started. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is either getting started or has made bags before but wants some more styles and inspiration. -- Jen J English * Customer review * This lovely book has instructions to make 20 different styles of bags to suit different skill levels. They are all nicely photographed, with photos and diagrams to show step by step techniques. The thing I most like is that paper templates are included with the book, so it's a simple matter to trace off the pattern you need. No trying to photocopy and enlarge! All in all a lovely book. -- Pat Darlington * Customer review *