Sometimes, a little desire can be a mighty force. For example, two of our staffers ho’d themselves out at Market to get a copy of Sara Lawson‘s spanking new book, Big-City Bags: Sew Bags with Style, Sass and Sophistication (Martingale, November 2013). Now, we do get review e-copies, but GenQ publisher Jake Finch and associate editor Tracy Mooney wanted the hard goods. And they got it! So we pumped these two to give us five reasons each why this book is worth your hard-earned stitchy cash. (More on that later, plus a reader giveaway!)
Big-City Bags has been on tour now for several days and was promoted heavily at the recent Fall Market. It features 12 original bags designs by Sara, a Chicagoland designer/teacher who blogs at Sew Sweetness. She’s making a name for herself as a painstaking designer of bags with structure, style and detail. (No wonder Jake and Tracy worked so hard to get their own copies!) And Sara was so dedicated to the book’s success that she even modeled for the photo shoot to give the layouts an extra touch of authenticity. The 12 new designs, including the Bee Sweet Bag, which has extra-creative flap details, or the Go-Go Bag, which uses a twist-lock closure, something that may be new to some sewists. And Sara gives authoritative and specific info on interfacings that will make your bag go from homemade to haute!
Bee Sweet Bag
what our staff says
Here’s what Tracy thinks about Big-City Bags:
- Sara Lawson kicks ass. I have actually overheard quilters talk about taking a class with her and saying “Look at how great this bag is!” She is not only talented, she is prolific!
- Her combination of interfacing is unlike what anyone else is doing–and it works!
- Simple diagrams, great photographs and snazzy designs make this book a keeper. You can just jump right in.
- All 12 of these super-cute bags have been pattern-tested to ensure accuracy. This means you are guaranteed to make a great bag.
- I don’t even know where to start on which bag to make first… This isn’t me being nice, either. The bags are all so cute, there are at least four I want NOW.
Here’s what Jake thinks:
Sara is my hero! I love making bags. I don’t do it too often because bags are never a no-brainer project. They require having all of my brain cells engaged and I don’t usually have the luxury of focusing on just one thing at a time. That’s a big part of what I love about Sara’s book, that she writes her instructions so clearly that I can follow her successfully even when I’m a few brain cells short of brilliant.
So my five other things I love are:
1. She’s got a great conversion list for similar interfacings between two major manufacturers.
2. She explains in luscious detail what each type of interfacing is used for.
3. The illustrations are accurate, easy to follow and pretty.
4. Ditto on the pattern pieces, which are well-marked.
5. Her zipper instructions are truly the clearest I’ve ever read!
I too am not sure which bag I want to make first. It’s a toss up between the Fireside Bowl Bag and the Go-Go Bag.
want your own e-copy?
Comment here–on this post, not Facebook–and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free e-copy of Big-City Bags. And let’s make this interesting….tell us about a must-have feature that makes a purse or bag work for you (size, little card slots, enough room for your kid’s collection of toy minions…you get the idea). We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook page on Nov. 8. (E-copy will come directly from Martingale.)
but wait, there’s more!
Check out what the rest of the q-niverse has to say about Big-City Bags:
Oct. 28 – Craft Buds
Oct. 29 – Sew Mama Sew
Oct. 30 – Aurifil
Oct. 31 – Fat Quarterly
Nov. 1 – Craft Gossip
Nov. 4 – Fat Quarter Shop
Nov. 5 – Pellon
Nov. 6 – Craftsy
Nov. 7 – Pat Sloan
Gen Q Magazine
Nov. 8 – Sew Can She
COMMENT #1
I love Sara’s bags – I’d love to take a class with her!!
My must-have feature is zippered pockets!
COMMENT #2
my bags have to have a zipper at the top. three little girls? they turn my bag upside down way too often, and without a zipper at the top, stuff just falls out!
COMMENT #3
I love a bag with outside pockets! I always need to have sunglasses, reading glasses or car keys where I can reach them quickly without having to root around inside my bag. This book sounds like a winner!
COMMENT #4
I need lots of pockets, preferably with zippers. And a safe-place for my keys and mobile phone.
COMMENT #5
I am new to quilting and relearning my sewing skills from when I was in high school. I would love to lean how to make handbags and I just love the bee sweet bag. I would really love to win a copy of this ebook to get me started on my way.
COMMENT #6
That does look like an amazing book… I am just getting in to making bags. I hate buying them because they never have exactly what I have in my head! I need a place for several things but lately my earbuds keep getting tangled up in the bottom of my purse. I want a little zippered pocket easily accessed for my earbuds! Going to check Sara out now. 🙂
COMMENT #7
Would love to make some of these bags!!!
COMMENT #8
A must have feature is plenty of room with secure access. Can’t wait to get the book!!
COMMENT #9
I cannot wait to get my hands on this book! I have to have a little narrow pen pocket…and a skinny one for a stylus, too, but those are difficult to find. I also like a place to attach a carabiner with some hand sanitizer, like a ring of some type. I prefer cross-body bags or those with long enough straps to fit at or above my hip.
COMMENT #10
My must have for a purse is a zipper. I can’t stand it when my bag tumbles off a chair or gets kicked over by a passerby and its contents spill out. Because I insist on a zipper and am afraid of working with zippers, I haven’t made my own bag yet. Hearing the praise for Sara’s zipper instructions makes this book very appealing. She’s quite the wiz, isn’t she?
COMMENT #
Good morning Beth!
Ye ol’ random.org picked your number as the lucky winner of an e-book of Big-City Bags! Yay! We’ll give your email details to Martingale, Sara’s publisher, and they’ll make sure you get your prize. Thanks for commenting!
COMMENT #11
I need a clip for my keys so they aren’t at the bottom of the bag. I also need a pocket to hold head ache tablets and chapstick so THEY aren’t on the bottom either!!!
COMMENT #12
This book looks great!
COMMENT #13
I love bags but find that sometimes they are too complicated to make. If hers are easy with clear, concise directions it would be wonderful to win a book copy!
COMMENT #14
I met Sara earlier this year and took a class w/her, she’s awesome and my bag hero too! I get to take another class w/her next week too, I can’t wait!! Thanks so much for the opporuntity & I love your magazine!
COMMENT #15
Love them!
COMMENT #16
I haven’t made any bags as of yet. They intimidate me a little. I am proud of my work if it looks HANDMADE, not so much if it looks HOMEMADE. This book looks like just the ticket to get me over that confidence slump. The one thing I really like in any type of bag is a specific spot that my cell phone can fit in that is also easily accessible and identifiable as the “phone pocket”.
Pam in Brush Prairie WA
COMMENT #17
This book has such cute bag designs that I so want to make. Would love to win an e:copy.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
COMMENT #18
I must have a purse with a wide bottom and it has to be strong enough to hold lots of weight. I carry multiple cosmetic type bags with items ranging from lotion, lip gloss, medications, band aids, notepad, pens, and everything else needed to take care of the whole family – plus my wallet, phone, etc. I’ve found that little pockets- zippered and not- are necessities. I don’t like middle pockets that divide the purse- I haven’t found one that is the right size and they seem to make it impossible to properly utilize the rest of the purse. I would LOVE to find a purse or bag that has enough pockets for me to easily get to my measuring tape, notepad, sewing kit, multi tool, pocket knife, flashlight, scissors, AND phone, wallet, and pen.
COMMENT #19
One of the most important features of a great bag is the bottom of the bag. It must be strong and sturdy. Women especially put tons of things in a bag while out and about. Next would be a great handle.
Love these bags. I am into making bags at this time. Always looking for a new pattern. Very excited about this book.
Thank you, Kathryn
COMMENT #20
Great bags with terrific style! Can’t wait to see all the rest!
COMMENT #21
I need pockets…lots of pockets! Inside, outside, open and zippered!!
COMMENT #22
I love Sara’s blog & I think she is a natural teacher & gifted instructor, her patterns are fantastic & easy to follow. My favourite bags have great detailing with clever pockets &/or compartments. Thanks for the chance to win an e-copy of this fab book.
COMMENT #23
I am loving these bags! My must haves in a bag are plenty of inside pockets and long straps.
Leah B.
COMMENT #24
For me, bags must have a zipper, so I don’t have to worry about anything falling out. Plus a long strap so I can put it diagonally over my shoulders and be hands-free. Thanks for the giveaway!
COMMENT #25
I really like lots of organizing pockets in my bag with zippers.
COMMENT #26
My must have is lots of pockets. Thanks
COMMENT #27
There has to be a cellphone pocket and a key pocket, plus a zipped pocket my GPS & cequebook will fit into. I also like it big enough to carry some knitting
COMMENT #28
Any purse I own has to fit an average sized book/kindle and have a side pocket! thanks!
COMMENT #29
I need an outside pocket – need to keep the cell handy!
COMMENT #30
At least one zippered pocket is a must for me.
COMMENT #31
My bags preferably have adjustable or convertible straps so I can wear them as either shoulder bags or crossover bags. I like having at least one inside zippered pocket and one inside plain pocket and one outside pocket.
COMMENT #32
I have seen this book promoted in so many places and can’t wait to see it in person!! I love outside and inside pockets on a bag as well as a way to open the bag up wide enough to see what I am looking for!
COMMENT #33
I love to make bags!
COMMENT #34
Must have- cute fabric and lots of pockets!
COMMENT #35
Love the detail on the top of the Bee Sweet bag pictured above. My bag must be big enough to hold my not at all petite billfold and either a paperback book or a small knitting project. E-readers have made the paperback book optional, most of the time.
COMMENT #36
I like bags with dedicated cellphone pockets that are easy to access but secure. Your book review was really helpful!
COMMENT #37
I must have various sizes of pockets. I like a place for my phone. a place for keys. a place for my little scissors. a place for a spool of thread….and I could go on and on. Many pockets, many sizes.
COMMENT #38
I love bags with plenty of pockets and that I can use over the shoulder. Love being able to create my own look!!!
COMMENT #39
My must have feature is interior pockets.
COMMENT #40
For me it’s a cell phone holder. An absolute MUST!
COMMENT #41
Fun bags, great website!
COMMENT #42
You can never have too many great bags!!
COMMENT #43
For me, I really need a bag to have some kind of interior filing system, which is a fancy way of saying a big pocket to hold a notebook, and slots for pens, and a clip to attach my key ring. I guess that counts as two!
COMMENT #44
Sara is such an amazing designer and a wonderful blogger, too.
I MUST have a pocket dedicated to my phone – it is a must-hVe!
COMMENT #45
I love having a few pockets in my bags. It helps with all the clutter that ends up in there. This book looks like it has some great patterns. Will probably end up buying it if I don’t win!!
COMMENT #46
I have been eyeing this book since I heard about it. I think my must-have feature is a zip closure. I like to just toss crap in my purse and need to zip it closed so I don’t lose anything.
COMMENT #47
I love to make purses and would love to have this book.
COMMENT #48
This sounds like an amazing book! I’m already itchin’ to start stitchin’! My must-have features for a purse or bag are a strap long enough for the bag to hang to my waist; Size – not luggage/backpack huge, but big enough to hold a book, papers, water bottle…; lots of pockets to hold pens, phone, keys, lotion, etc… Actually a removable purse pocket organizer is wonderfulness because I can find everything and move it from purse to purse in an instant!
COMMENT #49
I need a purse with long shoulder straps. I have to have it slung across one of my shoulders to hold it properly 🙂
COMMENT #50
I must have a place for my writing instruments. I don’t like them to be rolling around the bottom of the bag, especially the one that was custom made for me! (Sorry, bit of pen-snobbery!)
COMMENT #51
I’ve always wanted to make a bag but find it intimidating…Y’all make this book sound perfect for me!
COMMENT #52
Wow these bags are cool. And to have great, readable, doable directions is even better.
Thanks for a chance to win.
COMMENT #53
Sara does rock. Her bags are great. Can’t wait to get my hands on that book!!
COMMENT #54
These look so great!
A must have feature for me is easy, quick access to the main pocket…and a main pocket with lots of room for all my stuff and the stuff I lug around for my son.
COMMENT #55
A purse that I use must have 3 things: a zipper across the top, two large outside pockets and straps long enough so that it fits comfortably on my shoulder.
COMMENT #56
A key ring clip!
COMMENT #57
My bags have to be big enough to carry my I pad and what every quilting magazine I am studying. Sara ‘s bags look like they will meet my needs. Its been awhile since I was excited about making a new bag! Thank you Sara, your bags look wonderful!