Sewing Terrific Totes & Carryalls: 40 Bags for Shopping, Working, Hiking, Biking & More

Rating:
Summary: Good Concept But Not Enough Information
Review: I am an intermediate-level sewer. I sew craft items and clothing. What I liked about this book: lots of different kinds of bags, portfolios and wallets. Just what I was looking for in variety. What I didn't like: There were virtually no step-by-step illustrations/photos of the bags in process (there might have been a couple of visual details, but in general no). Most projects take up a couple of pages, but what that includes is a photo of the completed project and then some paragraphs describing how to make it. I read through many of the projects, and I just found this confusing. It made me not want to try any of the projects. Three paragraphs describing how to make a rather complicated project is just not enough for me... because there are various pieces of fabric that need to be attached to each other in different ways, and it's not like they're just saying, "sew the back to the front." It would have been SO MUCH BETTER if each project would have had a handful of detailed step-by-step illustrations/photos, showing exactly what they meant about how the pieces related together and helped with the details of the actual assembly process. I'm disappointed because I was really looking forward to this book -- but in actuality, this ended up being the first book I've ever bought at Amazon that I sent back for a refund.

Rating:
Summary: Nice looking stuff
Review: The rucksack on the front of this book doesn't seem to be as hard as it looks. I like the tapestry rucksack a little better. While I like the book and have no plans to return it, the "business on the run" was a bit disappointing. I was hoping for something closer to a big briefcase or other suitable bag that didn't look like a tote bag. The "Two Totes in One" I made recently is great, and I hope to make more. I suggest a heavy fabric if you are going to be carrying heavy books like I do. The "Double Duty" bag is also one I like, and will try that when I find the right fabric. The City Pack is another for "one day," I really like it. I plan to make several other of the projects eventually, but for right now I'm going to attempt the ones that look the easiest. I think this is for someone who has been sewing a while, not a beginner.