There
is more inside this book than paper pages! The cover sports
a ruler in imperial and metric and the whole is held together
by an elastic strap. Why? Because inside the cover is a pocket
of reusable plastic templates for making fifteen different
satchels, plus as many variations as you can imagine.
Whatever
your own views about plastic I think that having a template
made from it is a good idea, because it is something you can
use many times without it getting dirty or tatty. Search Press
is adept at coming up with innovative ideas for their art
and craft books, and this is a particularly good one. Satchels
tend to be associated with school but have come of age with
an array of pretty and practical designs that can be customized
with the help of the template. This does not require pins
as it is semi-transparent so you can see where to draw, and
you can mix and match the various options once the basics
have been mastered. There are instructions with staged photographic
steps for fifteen bags and these include bags with various
pocket types, straps for hand or shoulder wear, a variety
of fastenings plus extra details like bows, different shaped
straps and ideas for using more than one fabric. At the front
there are pages showing how to use the template, plus tips
for working with laminates and faux leathers, what fabric
supports, threads, tools and hardware you will need plus how
to make your own bias strips, make straps, pipe seams, make
a zippered pocket and put in several modern types of clasp.
There is a page of tips plus a useful Oops! troubleshooting
page. Turn to the back for a glossary, index plus how to make
a shoulder pad to slip onto the strap to make it more comfortable.
This is definitely a book destined for my keeper shelf and
one I heartily recommend to anybody who wants to make bags
that are modern, attractive and useful.
Also
new out in this series is a book on making backpacks.
This contains a plastic template too plus fifteen different
ways of making backpacks, rucksacks and drawstring bags. Make
one with a teddy head, a useful bag for shoes or storing hair
tools, bags with shaped corners and more. Finally at the back
is a project for a cosmetic purse; another winner that adds
a less featured type of bag to the sewist’s repertoire.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Half
Yard Bags and Purses
If
you cannot find a good range of general sewing tools and materials
locally try www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers.
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