Sewing Pretty Bags

May 1, 2015

The Valencia sisters began sewing as teens and embraced DIY style before it became trendy. Both pursued careers in the creative arts--Debra as a fabric designer and Cheyanne as the owner of a craft business. In their first print collaboration, they present a collection of brightly colored bags in designs ranging from totes, slings, and other purse-style handbags to a lunch bag set, a yoga mat tote, and a dog carrier with coordinating pouch to hold various canine necessities. Style-wise, several of the bags are reminiscent of Vera Bradley creations, with bright prints and quilted texture, while others feature embellishments such as beads and hand embroidery for added flair. Step-by-step image and text instructions for cutting and construction guide sewists through the process of bag making. VERDICT The patterns in this collection are fairly typical of most beginning bag-making books, but the instructions are easy to follow and the photographs explain some of the complexities of the craft in a clear manner.

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