Pursenalities: 20 Great Knitted and Felted Bags

by Eva Wiechmann

First knit, and then felt to create sleek handbags, roomy totes and other projects that rank high on style. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1564775658
• ISBN13: 9781564775658
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Martingale and Company
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.1" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Pursewayshuns - all about this book

I just love this collection of handbags. Each book is so fun to knit and the end results are always awesome. If you are interested in variety as well as fashion, and love to knit, this book is a must for your colletion. The instructions are easy to follow and felt up nicely. Even mistakes are hidden once felted. Enjoy.

Fabulous! But not for the novice felter...

Those knitters who love this book are inspired by the really creative yarn combinations - let's face it there are only so many bag shapes and as for textures? In felting, they all tend to look alike once felted. So what makes a bag "creative" is the color changing, the novelty yarns, the closures and other doodads once the bag is finished. This book is loaded with creativity - I've made all the bags and all but one was great fun. All the bags look great, even those that didn't turn out like the pictures. However, I don't think it's the best book for the new felter. The basic instructions are fine to get the bag felted (especially if you use Cascade 220 which is a 'can't miss' felting yarn.) Even so, the felting process relies on so many factors - water temperature, whether you use a spin cycle, your own knitting tension and also the fact that real mistakes can happen unless you have some felting expertise under your belt. For example, some colors can bleed if you try and change the color palette, the felt can get permanently wrinkled on the bigger bags unless you do a lot of checking - and not all washers are good for felting, etc. Those of us looking for inspiration and ways to expand our bag repertoire love this book as an addition to our library. The grommets, handles, and novelties are useful even if you expect never to felt a bag again. That said, those looking for a first time felting bag book should start with a book such as "Knit One, Felt Too : Discover the magic of knitted felt with 25 easy patterns"

THE book for felted purses

I work at a great yarn shop, and "Pursenalities" flies off the shelves every time we get a shipment in. It's the number-one felting book I recommend to customers who are interested in felting their knits (felt a garment too tight, you can't wear it -- felt a purse too tight, no worries, you've got a slightly smaller purse). The purse shapes vary pretty widely, which is the best thing about this book. I can't stand novelty yarns, but who cares how many Weichmann used? I don't have to use them -- they usually don't change the gauge anyway. Most of the patterns use Cascade 220, which makes most of the projects totally affordable (especially if you, like me, shun the eyelash and the glittery gunk.) People who like their purses gaudy love this book because the novelties are all over the place, and people like me love it because there are a lot of nice, varied shapes -- though I'm partial to the bubble bag combining Cascade 220 and Noro Silk Garden, and have made two. I gave one to a friend as a gift and kept one for myself, and we both get loads of compliments. Love it!

A Must Buy If You Love Felted Knits

After making more than 20 felted bags, I consider myself a felting veteran, but I was blown away by the fantastic patterns found in Pursenalities. The patterns are clear, the results are amazing (I really wasn't sure I could do that with yarn until I tried, but the finishing touches on the bags (the zipper pulls and grommets) is where these patterns stand out. I thought I was tired of making felted bags until I bought this book. Now I am ready to keep on knitting!

Fabulous Purses!

This is a terrific book full of easy-to-knit, unique designs. Almost all of the patterns use the same size needle (#15 US) which is very convenient. The instructions for basic knitting stitches and for felting are at the front of the book and are clear and easy to understand. The bags themselves are terrific-looking, with beautiful color combinations, a variety of different shapes, and different techniques used in each. Detailed instructions for making each bag are included next to the pictures (great for easy reference). Many of the purses use novelty yarn, in addition to 100% wool, to add texture and interest to the bags. These would make great gifts for those who like to knit for others as well as themselves.