Book Review Occasion Bags by Debbie Shore, hardback published by Search Press. ISBN 9781782216193, price 15.99 available from www.searchpress.com
Debbie Shore provides insight into bag making. I love the format of this book – the package includes a paperback book and re-usable templates bound in a hardback cover. There are 15 projects to sew. There are only two templates however, and this has limited the scope of bag styles. Having a different fastening or flap is not sufficient in my opinion and the book desperately needed a wider range of bag shapes and sizes. The concept is however fantastic. Owing to the limited number of styles, I would say that this book is excellent for beginners. Get to grips with basic bag making. The projects include: curved, round and scalloped flap handbags; bow, curved, zipped, patchwork and scalloped flap, slim, chain strap clutches, cosmetic bag; fringed, piped, triple pocket handbags and a zipped purse. The illustrations are very good and the instructions clear and easy to use with step-by-step images for you to follow. The templates are drawn around and can be used time and again. You could change the size with a little initiative and add your own embellishments, however to me this is more like 4 patterns dressed up to look like 15 but still good value.