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Simply Sublime Bags: 30 No-Sew, Low-Sew Projects
You’ll tire of hearing “Where did you get that bag?”
Simply Sublime Bags offers the secrets to creating four-figure-price-tag-worthy bags. And most of them only take an afternoon! Whether it’s a casual carryall or a ritzy, patent leather clutch, the envy of your friends is only a few hours away.
Why break the bank for a designer bag when you can easily make your own unique fashion statement? In Simply Sublime Bags, you’ll find 30 do-it-yourself, clever and affordable handbag projects—all of which require little to no sewing. With inventive methods of construction (like duct-taped reinforced interiors and iron fusing), these hip handbags, totes, and clutches have all the looks that bag-lovers want—the shine of patent leather, Chanel-style chain straps, or even funky logos—and each can be personalized to your own taste. The materials are easy to find in hardware, home, office supply, and fabric stores—sometimes even in your own closet!
Bags include:
• Charmed, I’m Sure—brightly colored vinyl makeup bags with vintage plastic charm zipper pulls
• Keyhole Clutch—pink-and-white houndstooth fabric lined with duct tape, with keyhole cutouts for handles
• Shower Curtain Tote—you guessed it, a funky fabric tote made from a shower curtain
• Nights in Black Satin—an elegant evening clutch made from satin ribbon stapled together and adorned with a rhinestone earring clasp
Day to evening, totes to clutches, and everything in between, Simply Sublime Bags has something for every occasion. The results? Simply sublime!
Simply Sublime Bags offers the secrets to creating four-figure-price-tag-worthy bags. And most of them only take an afternoon! Whether it’s a casual carryall or a ritzy, patent leather clutch, the envy of your friends is only a few hours away.
Why break the bank for a designer bag when you can easily make your own unique fashion statement? In Simply Sublime Bags, you’ll find 30 do-it-yourself, clever and affordable handbag projects—all of which require little to no sewing. With inventive methods of construction (like duct-taped reinforced interiors and iron fusing), these hip handbags, totes, and clutches have all the looks that bag-lovers want—the shine of patent leather, Chanel-style chain straps, or even funky logos—and each can be personalized to your own taste. The materials are easy to find in hardware, home, office supply, and fabric stores—sometimes even in your own closet!
Bags include:
• Charmed, I’m Sure—brightly colored vinyl makeup bags with vintage plastic charm zipper pulls
• Keyhole Clutch—pink-and-white houndstooth fabric lined with duct tape, with keyhole cutouts for handles
• Shower Curtain Tote—you guessed it, a funky fabric tote made from a shower curtain
• Nights in Black Satin—an elegant evening clutch made from satin ribbon stapled together and adorned with a rhinestone earring clasp
Day to evening, totes to clutches, and everything in between, Simply Sublime Bags has something for every occasion. The results? Simply sublime!
128 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2008
3 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews
March 29, 2018
Interesting, but ultimately nothing new here. I always worry about the durability of projects like these and would much prefer putting in the (slight increase in) effort that sewing a seam would give a handbag over a melted vinyl "seam" but if you don't have a sewing machine, I guess you're stuck. Some projects are clever AND pretty, some are laughable, some look like kids' camp crafts. I don't think anyone would mistake silver bubble wrap as a Chanel bag. I liked the reuse of wrappers, Monoply money, and duct tape as fabric - that idea has lots of possibilities.
November 11, 2022
A really good set of instructions, hints and helps for putting together a unique bag. The iffy part for me was using duct tape as a bag liner. Other than that really good suggestions.
May 11, 2011
Overview: If you ever wanted to try your hand at making your own purse, but you have little or no sewing skills, start with this book. From purses lined with duct tape to potholder glasses cases to the chic place mat bag on the cover, you'll find project made from affordable materials that actually look like nice bags.
Pros: About half of the book offers true no-sew and low-sew projects that can easily be made by anyone who is new to sewing, crafts or DIY anything. Best of all, the materials are common-place and inexpensive so you don't have to make a big investment to try things. You'll find bags made from pillow cases, place mats, ribbon, old T-shirts, wallpaper, candy wrappers and even a bubble mailer. The bags get upscale touches from craft store purse handles, zippers and closures, which are easy to find and often on sale or clearance because of changing styles. You won't find yourself in the sewing expert section of any fabric stores. In fact, you'll find most of your supplies at the dollar store or even laying around your own house.
Also, the book offered a good mix of teen girl crafts like candy wrapper pouches and grown-up options like a ribbon clutch. A lot of the bags don't look crafty or homemade at all, at least not in the professional photos in the book...
The other half of the book lands itself in the con section below for sewing machine requirements. However, the sewing machine projects are still simple enough that they would be a great place to sewing machine novices to start learning.
Cons: The book's tag line, "30 no-sew, low-sew projects," impiled a needle and thread would be the most required so I expected my lack of sewing machine would be no problem. However, as mentioned above, such a machine would actually be quite helpful with about half of the projects. And most of the bags that need a sewing machine are exponentially cuter than the ones that don't. I was a bit bummed because I think I'm beyond the candy wrapper travel pouch days and what to make the grown-up place mat tote bag.
Favorite Projects: Perhaps the easiest sewing related project is the pot holder case. Find a cute pot holder, fold it in half, whip stitch the bottom and side. Keep you glasses, sun glasses, iPod, smart phone or (if you find a larger top holder) your Nintendo DS cozy and stratch-free inside. I'm currently tracking down the perfect pot holders for my sunglasses and DS. Since most dollar stores and clearance bins have cute ones, I should get cute cases at super low prices.
A zipper pillow cover was transformed into a surprisingly cute bag with just some snaps, nylon ribbon and an iron. No sewing! Plus, it looks really easy to clean and folds up small so it's great for everything from groceries to shoes to an extra travel bag.
Another great no-sew project is the fringe duct tape bag. It does not look like duct tape. There is no sewing required, but a grommet tool is needed. Although, the inventive person may find a way around that.
If you have an old twister game, you can turn the mat into a tote. I think this would the cutest ever board game tote for game night!
My favorite project in the book was the picnic tote. It's probably the most complicated and sewing intensive project too, but I am determined to conquer it before summer is out. It's just too adorable.
Pros: About half of the book offers true no-sew and low-sew projects that can easily be made by anyone who is new to sewing, crafts or DIY anything. Best of all, the materials are common-place and inexpensive so you don't have to make a big investment to try things. You'll find bags made from pillow cases, place mats, ribbon, old T-shirts, wallpaper, candy wrappers and even a bubble mailer. The bags get upscale touches from craft store purse handles, zippers and closures, which are easy to find and often on sale or clearance because of changing styles. You won't find yourself in the sewing expert section of any fabric stores. In fact, you'll find most of your supplies at the dollar store or even laying around your own house.
Also, the book offered a good mix of teen girl crafts like candy wrapper pouches and grown-up options like a ribbon clutch. A lot of the bags don't look crafty or homemade at all, at least not in the professional photos in the book...
The other half of the book lands itself in the con section below for sewing machine requirements. However, the sewing machine projects are still simple enough that they would be a great place to sewing machine novices to start learning.
Cons: The book's tag line, "30 no-sew, low-sew projects," impiled a needle and thread would be the most required so I expected my lack of sewing machine would be no problem. However, as mentioned above, such a machine would actually be quite helpful with about half of the projects. And most of the bags that need a sewing machine are exponentially cuter than the ones that don't. I was a bit bummed because I think I'm beyond the candy wrapper travel pouch days and what to make the grown-up place mat tote bag.
Favorite Projects: Perhaps the easiest sewing related project is the pot holder case. Find a cute pot holder, fold it in half, whip stitch the bottom and side. Keep you glasses, sun glasses, iPod, smart phone or (if you find a larger top holder) your Nintendo DS cozy and stratch-free inside. I'm currently tracking down the perfect pot holders for my sunglasses and DS. Since most dollar stores and clearance bins have cute ones, I should get cute cases at super low prices.
A zipper pillow cover was transformed into a surprisingly cute bag with just some snaps, nylon ribbon and an iron. No sewing! Plus, it looks really easy to clean and folds up small so it's great for everything from groceries to shoes to an extra travel bag.
Another great no-sew project is the fringe duct tape bag. It does not look like duct tape. There is no sewing required, but a grommet tool is needed. Although, the inventive person may find a way around that.
If you have an old twister game, you can turn the mat into a tote. I think this would the cutest ever board game tote for game night!
My favorite project in the book was the picnic tote. It's probably the most complicated and sewing intensive project too, but I am determined to conquer it before summer is out. It's just too adorable.
September 6, 2009
I really only glanced through this book as it is due at the library and I am not going to have much time to get to know it intimately. One of the things I like about it is the tone in which the author writes. Her introduction is really nice in that she tells the story of her sewing life.
As with many project books, there are a few projects that I really like and others that I would never make. Still, Jodi Kahn talks about the project in a conversational way. She tells the reader why he is having them do things and gives tips about the materials. There is an undertone of encouragement in the writing, which I like.
I also like the novel materials that she uses. One thing that I thought was a great idea was the t-shirt bag. She uses Duct tape a interfacing, which I think is ingenious.
Definitely worth a look.
As with many project books, there are a few projects that I really like and others that I would never make. Still, Jodi Kahn talks about the project in a conversational way. She tells the reader why he is having them do things and gives tips about the materials. There is an undertone of encouragement in the writing, which I like.
I also like the novel materials that she uses. One thing that I thought was a great idea was the t-shirt bag. She uses Duct tape a interfacing, which I think is ingenious.
Definitely worth a look.
December 24, 2008
I liked this book, it was just what I was expecting ... clever, sometimes off-the-wall, ideas for making bags at home. The subtitle of "Low-sew, no-sew" is true, since many bags need no sewing (staples & duct tape, anyone?), and the ones that do need sewing are so simple even I (!) could manage it!
I also like where she gets her materials from ... she uses things such as placemats and pillowcases which are already sewn, to reduce the amount of sewing required. And the pillowcases are the zippered kind - so no need to sew a zipper!
I think my favorite idea is the simple, vinyl makeup bag, which you melt the seams together using an iron. No sew!
Her ideas were very creative, and even if you don't like any of the bags in the book, it will get you thinking outside of the box and help you make your own creative bag.
I also like where she gets her materials from ... she uses things such as placemats and pillowcases which are already sewn, to reduce the amount of sewing required. And the pillowcases are the zippered kind - so no need to sew a zipper!
I think my favorite idea is the simple, vinyl makeup bag, which you melt the seams together using an iron. No sew!
Her ideas were very creative, and even if you don't like any of the bags in the book, it will get you thinking outside of the box and help you make your own creative bag.
May 15, 2012
These projects go beyond most of your typical no-sew bags and you can make some tote worthy bags with just a stapler and duct tape. These are great projects for teens and craft groups, but not for the sewing enthusiast. If you want a quick, easy project that you can be proud of and don't need to haul out the sewing machine, there are many stylish options in this book that would fit the bill. Happy stapling.
June 25, 2009
This book is full of great, fashionable, affordable AND EASY bag ideas. Although I would've liked to see a little more variation in the bags shown (and less use of duct tape), the book was EXACTLY as I expected, and like I said, many of the ideas are downright cute and trendy.
Overall, a great book!
Overall, a great book!
September 30, 2008
Bags are exhausting. But I love some of the designs. This even shows you how to make bags out of pillowcases, old Twister boards, and placemats. No-sew, low-sew and recycled products are featured. Very cool for the hip crafter
January 11, 2009
I guess in general, with crafts and sewing, you get back what you put in. This book's focus is keeping you away from the sewing machine, and I'd much rather stitch a bag than use tape or other adhesives. Not for me. I didn't like the look of the finished products.
September 7, 2008
I may well try making a tote bag from place mats!
October 25, 2008
Easy instructions and nice designs. Many of the bags that are in stores can be made at home with inexpensive materials.
November 18, 2008
dreaming of making every bag in this book;)
January 7, 2009
fun bags, i really love the crafts.
February 5, 2009
Really cute purses, totes, and wallets from a wide variety of new and salvaged materials. I haven't made any, but they look doable.
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February 26, 2009Make a bag from a zippered pillow case? Brilliant, because putting in zippers is a concept invented by the devil himself.
April 29, 2013
This is a really cool book that I read about in a magazine. A lot of the projects are beyond my abilities but I like the concepts!
August 17, 2009
I think I may have found my calling. Sewing is fast and this book provides great instructions for incredible stuff!
December 19, 2009
I sit, look and add these ideas to the long list of things I want to make.
June 15, 2010
interesting bags with interesting materials, but nothing startling.
May 17, 2010
Lots of great bags in this book and as it says little or no sewing on most of them, utilizing some really unique material. I can't wait to try some!
August 21, 2010
way creative, broad range of projects, make a bag from duct tape or an old t shirt or a twister mat. some bags I wouldn't mind having!
March 4, 2012
Crappy, crappy, crappy. These bags are not meant to be used more than a few months. I was looking for good bags that have simple, easy to understand projects.
November 15, 2010
good ideas, but i don't want bags made mostly out of duct tape!
January 8, 2013
Going to try out the zipper pouch and keyhole clutch for the library. Yay, for duct tape and staples. :)
November 2, 2013
Cute, simple sewing projects!!!!!!! Excellent addition to my pattern collection
crafts
May 23, 2013Fun projects using stuff you wouldn't normally think to make a bag out with.
September 6, 2015
eeehh... I hope you like oil cloth...
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December 31, 2011cute bag projects
Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews