Choly Knight - Sewing Stylish Handbags & Totes: Chic to Unique Bags and Purses that You Can Make

I am a self-professed bag-o-phile, bag-o-holic, bag-a-maniac, or whatever else you want to call it! Im sure if youve picked up this book, you might be the same way. I myself prefer utility-type bagssling bags with loads of pockets or messenger bags with zippers and flaps to hold even the smallest items. And Im sure others lean toward luxurious designer-style handbags. Im here to satisfy both of those cravings in this book, where I hope all my projects can get you the bag (or bags!) of your dreams.

My first real sewing project was a drawstring backpack I made at age twelve in my Home Economics class. Everything I had made before was mostly dabbling, so the prospect of making a full-fledged project excited me to no end. The pattern was very simple, yet in the end it was baffling how long it took to put together. It wasnt because I was a beginner sewer, but because my teacher had so many rules for sewing: This fabric cant go with that, You cant sew your seam before this, and Your project wont look right unless you do this. It was a lot of fussiness for what, in the end, was just a simple cotton bag. I feel most crafters tend to view sewing this way: a bit of a persnickety hobby that means hours spent doing careful hand stitches with the end result of a frumpy, plain project that looks better on a thrift store shelf than in your closet.

Considering how old-fashioned sewing can be, you might not believe that by using traditional sewing methods, you can achieve some of the designer looks on department store racks. With the right techniques and attention to style, you can make your own accessories at a fraction of the cost of designer names. Unlike more conventional sewing patterns, the projects youll find in this book have a fun and modern look. Youll see lots of ways to embellish your bags using hardware like zippers, snaps, metal rings, buckles, and eyelets. Using a little bit of elbow grease (rather than delicate and painstaking needlework), you can make a big impact with eye-catching metal. The Mod Weekender Bag is a favorite of mine in that way, where the shape of the bag, the stenciled designs, and bold hardware are unapologetically geometric and vibrant.

And if youre willing to get your hands dirty, the wide array of stencil designs in this book can give your bags any style you like with a bit of paint and a craving for color. The same stencils can also be used for appliqu designsand I dont mean the kind that go on your grandmothers quilts! These appliqu designs are fresh and artistic patterns that can add a whole new dimension to your projects. You can create some really show-stopping looks with just some scrap fabric and a readiness to experiment.

I personally get a lot of my experimental inspiration from the things Im surrounded by in my work studio. Both my computer and sewing machine are focal points in my workspacegetting down and dirty and drawing by hand is a great way to unlock my creativity, but I love the organization, efficiency, and simplicity I can get from working on my computer.

Sketching designs is a great way for me to get my creativity out on paper, but I love the streamlined efficiency of working on my computer as well!

By giving a twist to good old- fashioned sewing techniques, I find it easy to create stylish and modern designs that suit my taste.

My sewing machine is the workhorse of my studio and helped me piece together every design youll find in this book.

In that sense, technology motivates me deeply, whether Im creating computer-inspired motifs, like those for the Laptop or Tablet Bag, or simply working toward designs that are more bright, modern, and bold, like those for the Roundabout Purse. I think the technology I grew up with has helped me work and see things in a streamlined way.