Chic Bags: 22 handbags, purses and accessories to make

Chic Bags - 22 handbags, purses and accessories to make
By Marie Enderlen-Debuisson and Caroline Laisné
Published by Search Press
ISBN 10: 1-84448-285-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-84448-285-6
Price: £12.99
Reviewed by Diane Watson

This is an exciting new book offering more than 20 colourful and attractive bags to suit many different tastes and needs. Many of the bags are extremely practical and will serve a wide range of everyday requirements, while others are for those occasions when you really want to ‘look the part’. One of the things I particularly liked is the wide range of fabrics used: cotton, linen, felt, fleece, fake fur, furnishing fabrics – including mattress ticking and canvas, and various vinyl coated and glazed fabrics, there is even a bag made out of rubber matting.

The book starts with four introductory sections covering tools and equipment, fabrics, handles, fasteners and trims, and techniques and tips. The latter two sections are really useful to refer to when making some of the individual projects.

Each project is clearly described with step-by-step instructions, and several close-up photographs and excellent illustrations, to guide you through the various stages in the construction of the bags. Some of the bags are easy to construct while others are more challenging. The tips and notes that accompany each project assist with any tricky bits and inspire confidence to ‘have a go’.

All the patterns for the bags are provided at the back of the book with clear instructions for pattern layout, photocopying and pattern enlargement.

This book offers many new bag designs that offer lots of opportunities for you to personalise by your choice of fabrics and embellishments. There are projects in the book to inspire both the beginner and the seasoned bag maker.