Fabulous Bags to Stitch and Make

Summer 10

This book did exactly what the title promised. Starting with the basics of materials and equipment, it gave plenty of examples which could be followed by a beginner or expanded upon by the more experienced sewer. Each step was well described and the accompanying illustrations were easy to follow as they were clear and large enough to see exactly what to do. The section covering machine embroidery was so well described that it felt that once mastered it would open up endless possibilities to embellish quite ordinary fabric and create something special. With a variety of shapes, luxurious velvets or fabrics you have made yourself and decorated, whether by machine or embroidered by hand, it would be possible to make some stunning bags whatever your level of ability. Also a lovely way to make use of all the beads, threads and bits and pieces that we all acquire because it is sure to come in useful one day! (Margaret Cox)

Nov 09

Jenny Rofle's unique style makes this book stand out from other bag books. Her sense of colour and choice of fabrics, threads and embellishments, combines with her designs makes this book a fantastic collection of projects.

The step by step photography and clear instructions makes this a book for all levels.

Jan 2010

Fabulous Bags to Stitch and Make works on two levels. Firstly it provides inspiration and information for people who may be looking to extend their sewing skills to include decorative sewing techniques and surface design. The projects use relatively small amounts of fabric making these ideal projects for beginner machine embroiderers and textile artists. The book also works well as a handmade bag project book with a good range of projects. The bags and purses are designed to showcase the stitched and decorated fabric and are wearable works of art rather than every day grocery bags.

Dec 09

You can make a whole lot of bags with this book to match every outfit in your wardrobe. Choose from casual to dressy and utilize your hoarded stash of fabrics and embellishments as you quilt and adorn your creations using your sewing machine. This book is a lot of fun. As long as you have a swing needle sewing machine, other basic sewing items and a stash of pretty fabrics of all kinds and some embellishments then you have everything you need. You are given an insight at the beginning about how the author works, keeping a design sketchbook and lots of inspiring fancy fabrics and this might inspire you to do something similar to aid your designing. Instructions are given on how to do freestyle machine embroidery and designs of basic patterns made with this method are shown to start you off. Then you can have a go at machining ribbons or fabric strips together, making cords, embellishments and using heat bondable fibers (such as Angelina Fibers). The bags themselves come in some fancy shapes such as a petal bag and a half moon as well as conventional rectangles and rounds, and each project has a different way of decorating it using the methods described at the beginning as well as few others. With some basic sewing skills and a bit of practice you can have a lot of fun with this book, which is of the type that you keep dipping into for ideas over and over again.

Sept 12

The unique use of fabrics and embellishments make the projects in this book a lot more unusual than those that you would normally find in other books. Jenny Rolf talks you through how to piece different fabrics together then she uses free motion and embroidery techniques to embellish it. There are then step by step instructions on how to make a variety of styles of bag using your newly created piece of fabric. This book allows you to make unusual and quirky bags, that are individual to you and ensures nobody else has a bag in the same style!

Mar 10

Jenny shows how to create interesting fabrics using quilting and free machine embroidery techniques and how to make them into fantastic bags and purses. Her sense of colour and choice of fabric, threads, embellishments and designs make this a unique and appealing collection of projects. Step-by-step photography of techniques, projects and clear explanations make them achievable for needle workers of all skill levels. Starting with a comprehensive list of materials, equipment and designs, Jenny suggests the best way to organise supplies and get started. Various methods of creating and building fabric designs are explained including weaving, bonding, cording and beading. Bags vary from the small unusually shaped petal bag to a boxy oriental style bag; from a crazy patchwork and beaded bag to elegant clutch evening bags.

July 09

There's nothing quite like owning a stylish and unique handbag or purse that you've created yourself. Jenny has used quilting and free machine embroidery techniques to create a stunning collection of bags and purses for all occasions. All the techniques are explained fully, including how to make your own fabrics using ribbons and bondable fibre and how to make cords to give your bags and purses a really personal touch. Detailed step-by-step photographs and easy to follow text show how to construct and decorate five bags and six purses.

Jenny Rolfe is a textile artist with a background in quilting. Feeling restricted by traditional quilting, she took a course in design and discovered a whole new world of colour and form. She began to make her own fabric using dyeing, painting, printing, stamping, sponging, stencilling and free machine embroidery techniques, and moved on from quilts to wall hangings. Later she combined her passion for textiles with her lifelong love of bags. Jenny has won many prizes and her work has been widely exhibited in the UK and USA. She teaches classes for quilting groups and Embroiderers' Guild groups and has had many articles published in patchwork and quilting magazines.