The Better Bag Maker: An Illustrated Handbook of Handbag Design • Techniques, Tips, and Tricks Kindle Edition

Like many other reviewers, I have been sewing for 30+ years and still enjoy the process. Recently, I decided to put myself through a "skill review/building" course before setting off on making new clothes/accessories for myself (lost weight; hard to fit on top); to me, making bags seemed a great way to exercise my creativity as well as warm up the sewing brain. I have bought on-line classes and started looking for really good and contemporary books. THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE BEST. Yes it is about bags, not clothes, but it is also very thorough, very well written, very thoughtfully organized, and conversational but not chatty in tone. Today I sat with my Kindle open to the book and laptop open to a well known fabric/sewing supply online store, looking at interfacings. Not only does the book's author name the one's she likes, but explains clearly and concisely WHY plus gives choices and details those as well; this let me choose the best for my budget and intended use. What I saved here paid for the book. She has a real gift for sharing what is really pertinent and helpful information about several subjects without going into unnecessary detail.A word about the Kindle version: it is VERY usable because of the organization of the book and list in the table of contents. In addition, it includes a link for downloading the patterns in the back of the book (use the first link provided and you will get all of them at once). AND they are in printable form so no tracing or photocopying; just cut and tape together.I am on a tight budget and had to think twice about buying this book. It is well worth the money!! I am now off to look what Amazon carries of her other books!

This review is for the book The Better Bag Maker by Nicole Mallalieu. One of my favorite things to do is add another How-To book to my library. And I read and use them all. This book is the best one I have. Here’s why: It is organized in a thoughtful and logical way; the instructions are extremely detailed, and there are lots of helpful photographs; there are 11 bags to make, and each one uses some skills covered in previous projects but also teaches new skills not previously covered; the first part of the book explains how to use the book; the second part of the book covers tools, supplies and materials you will need; the third part of the book explains some key skills needed to make professional looking bags; the fourth section contains detailed instructions for completing various parts of a bag such as altering patterns, pockets, flaps, straps, bases, and closures; the text is peppered with very helpful tips—we are not only told what to do, but we are also told why; and finally, are the 11 projects in order of complexity, and each project is labeled with the skill level needed to complete that project. There is also a list of materials with each project and very detailed instructions. I saw a comment that there were pieces needed to complete the project that were not in the list and only mentioned in the text, but I did not find this. I have found How-To books sometimes leave things out but Ms. Mallalieu went to extremes to explain everything in great detail. Thank you, Ms. Mallalieu. I wish all my How-To books followed your example. Well done!

I was so excited to get the book when it came out - but since then I've kind of cooled on it. Been working on the bags for months and not quite done with them all yet. I'm determined to finish all the bags but there are times I can't take anymore and walk away to give my brain a break. Get this book only if you are truly serious about slogging through problems. It's not always clear and may take you hours or days to understand.Pros:Good for learning some techniques.Cons:Sometimes those techniques are hard to figure out. Like 3 pages of instructions for straps for one bag (ie Marrakesh Overnighter) - the longer the instructions the more chances you'll miss something.You'll stumble upon additional instructions to cut out straps using more material that isn't listed in the beginning. Hope you have extra.I would love some finished product pictures that show all the components. This book is light on pictures. Sometimes there is only 1 good picture with the model holding it that doesn't show everything. Did I connect and position the straps right? Does the lining look ok? No pictures. If you were hoping to see a fully completed bag with the interior to compare it against, there are none.I wish there were more drawings or pictures like in the Japanese craft books. I can't read Japanese but I have no trouble understanding what they want me to do. If you've ever read Japanese craft mags like Cotton Time, Lady Boutique, or Patchwork - you know what I'm talking about.

I have been finding myself with a lot more indoor, home time since the Pandemic started. 2020 has given me space to explore my passions which include sewing, specifically baskets and quilts. I love working on projects that have a real Maker feeling, meaning I get to create my own patterns or at least I get to modify someone else’s pattern so I can make it my own. I feel like this book was created for me. It shows how to make different components of a bag. It walks me through materials and bag making techniques and it is an encyclopedia full of information. There are a few books in my shelf like this that I treasure—it took years before I found this type of book within knitting, which is another passion.I highly recommend this book for people who not only want to be told how to make a bag but for people who want to customize their own bags.

I have been looking for a bag book like this for a long time. I have loads of bag books with fantastic bags but the instructions are mostly sketchy. When I make a bag I am often disappointed with the zippers I have put in which are untidy. Nicole has some great tips for securing fabric pieces and zippers while you sew and I can't wait to get stuck into my first bag. Also, there are instructions for resizing any of the bags.Pictures are included with the instructions which help tremendously. Yes, some of the instructions are quite complex (as is the case with any intricate bag) but if you take the time to follow the pictures and read carefully it becomes clear. I wouldn't dream of doing a hard square bottom but I will now. I also like her array of professional looking handles and with all the patterns to go with her example bags, its an absolute steal. Yes, you can get some of these tips off the internet but not all in one place.Finally, he bag at the end of the book which converts into a backpack is exactly what I have been looking for this past year now that I don't have a car. This pattern alone would cost me the price of the whole book. Well done, Nicole.

I've bought several books about making bags and many are disappointing, or worse inaccurate when it comes to the patterns. This one is a better bag maker book. The writer really knows her subject and gives lots of tips and tricks to help things look more professional.Lots of different bag patterns are in the book starting with a simple tote pattern that develops into more complex designs, using the same pattern pieces.Well laid out with great pictures and clear instructions.

Bought as a Xmas present ~ a real hit as said to be an inspiring and excellent handbook for someone who has just started making bags in leather and other materials

This book is wonderful. The instructions for each skill are amazing. The diagrams and photographs throughout the book are invaluable. The only baffling thing about this book is the units system: instructions are in yards and inches. I am new to sewing and bag making. Following sewing instructions, figuring out patterns, and making choices for the materials is already challenging enough; having to deal with units that do not conjure an immediate idea of the size, with unfamiliar unit notation, and with unit conversions, adds an unnecessary and rather unwelcome complexity to the process.

I absolutely love this book! The patterns are great, the advice is great, the instructions are clear once you get your head around them, no wonder it's been a best selling book!