Pam Allen - Bag Style

Even though we werent there to see it, were willing to bet that the first bag was invented sometime in prehistory when cavemen and women scavenged the countryside for food and had the good fortune to find more than they could carry. Since then, bags have become a necessity of life for carrying and storing all of our stuff. In addition to the all-purpose home-away-from-home handbag we grab before heading out the door, we need book bags, garment bags, cosmetic bags, grocery bags, soccer bags, lunch bags, even garbage bags. And lets not forget about a bag for our knitting projects. Thats a lot of bags!

No wonder we think about bags so much, and no wonder theyre a favorite project among knitters and crocheters. In addition to being useful, bags are relatively quick to knit, turn out well even if your gauge is off, and offer countless creative possibilities in their design.

Following the format of the popular Style series (Scarf Style, Wrap Style, Lace Style, and Folk Style), Bag Style is a book of projects to knit as well as a book about knitting bags. Its a collection of patterns for handbags and more that range from small to large and from simple to not-so-simple. Each bag offers an individual lesson in inspiration, technique, application, and, of course, style. As a collection, the patterns will give you new ways to think about knitted and crocheted bags and provide you with ideas and inspiration for your own inventions.

After youve taken in the twenty projects, turn to the , where youll find a discussion of the elements of knitted and crocheted bags and how to combine these elements into your own designs. Youll learn how to give a bag shape, depth, stability, handles, and closures, and youll gain ideas for adding different kinds of embellishment.

Dont worry if youve never made your own bag before. At the end of the book, youll find a glossary of terms and techniques that includes illustrated instructions for all the specific techniques mentioned in the projects. Along with the easy-to-follow directions and clear illustrations in the project and design chapters, the glossary will provide the help you need to successfully complete any project in this book.

Bags have become a necessity of life for carrying and storing all of our stuff.

VRONIK AVERY

Vronik Avery designed this uptown bag to be large enough to hold a few books or important files and chic enough to wear with a business suit and heels. The front and back of the bag are identical, beginning with a narrow base, followed by stitches cast on for the side gusset, and ending with a contrasting horizontal band at the top. For stability (and to keep pens and pencils from slipping out), Vronik added a contrasting lining. The bag fastens with a snap-frame closure that holds the upper edges securely. For versatility, Vronik attached a pair of short leather handles as well as a shoulder strap.