Musings by Knitwits - Amy Butler's Style Stitches

Released: August 2010

Publisher: Chronicle books
Pages: 182

Copy provided by: Owned by me

Summary: Goodreads

Celebrated designer Amy Butler's most coveted products are her handbag sewing patterns. In Style Stitches, Butler presents an array of new bag designs for her fans across the globe. The book offers 12 basic patterns with enough variations to achieve 26 unique looks. Ranging from chic clutches and delicate wristlets to pretty hobo bags and handy coin purses, with instructions for altering dimensions, straps, and embellishments to get the desired look, each project incorporates Butler's fresh, modern style and attention to detail. With illustrated step-by-step directions, a comprehensive techniques section, and a bound-in pocket filled with the patterns themselves, Style Stitches is an essential and fashionable addition to every sewer's library.

Oh Girls, if any of you out there are sewers, you are in for a major treat. Have any of you made bags before? Any kind of bags - tote bags, hand bags, make-up bags, computer bags. They are so much fun to make and each one is an original. I have one favourite that I have made over 10 times (and gifted 8 of them) each one made completely unique just by changing the fabric I used. And you don't have to use expensive fabric - check out sale bins or ends of rolls.

This wonderful book by Amy Butler gives you directions and patterns for 12 different bags - but change the sizes and you have 26 possibilities - change the fabrics, and the possibilities are endless. The patterns are listed in the book in order of difficulty. They are all shapes and sizes and have many different functions. There are shopping bags, handbags, check book covers, coin purses, clutch bags and more.

The book is packaged with a hard cover and is spiral bound, so it will lie flat - a must when you have to refer to it mid-stitching. All the patterns are included in a pouch at the back of the book. The instructions are very clear and the diagrams are well-labeled and precise. All-in-all a wonderful book for sewers. I'm hoping to get started on the Cosmo bag (that's the one on the cover) in the next couple of days. I'll let you know how it turns out.