Beaded Bags has enough techniques for everyone; bead knitting, bead crochet, quillwork, bead loom weaving and many beading techniques to create 30 bags.  Some of the embellished bags begin with a basic purchased bag and then chazaam, after beading, it is turned into an heirloom bag with a contemporary flair! 

The bead crocheted bag by Sheila Cleary is a step back in time with a 1900’s swingy bag that will bring comments to anyone who owns it.  Don’t let the hook size scare you, use a larger hook if needed as long as the bead stitches do not get loose.  This bag is 10”L by 5”W, not counting the tassel, long enough to actually carry some items in it.  My preference would have YLI Jean Stitch instead of YLI silk since the silk will wear faster from the bead weight and very little of the fiber shows.  However, we are all individual in our choices of materials.  I am very pleased to see some diversity in the crochet stitches including triple crochet.  Bead crochet is becoming more popular with beaders today.  No lining is required for this bag. 

The bead knitted bag by Lori Kindle is also a return to the early 1900’s and what a scrumptious bag.  The bag is knitted with #8 pearl cotton, 8 ¼”L x 8 ½”W, not counting the tassel and is lined.  I love the way the handle is worked and the closure used, very ingenious.  The bag is worked in very easy knit stitch. 

There are three more bead crochet bags and 2 more bead knitted bags, all very different in appearance.  Thanks so much Interweave Press, for including knitting and crochet in addition to beading techniques for these bags. 

David Dean shares techniques to make a beaded pouch, which has tin cones as dangles and will make an enchanting sound as they bump each other when you wear it.  He also includes instructions for a Sioux pipe bag with quillwork.  Pat Mayer makes a bag from scratch and embellishes it with bead embroidery including ladybugs!   

Barbara Grainger shows you how to make a purse using velvet and silk and then embellishing it with bead masses that look like a thick moss, yum!  Chris Prussing shows you how to embellish a velveteen drawstring pouch with bead netting.  You can purchase a drawstring bag for this project. 

Judi Wood starts tubular peyote over an oatmeal box and works you through steps for making the beaded bag.  The bag looks like leaves and foliage and is shaped into an elegant clutch.  The graphs are in color and accurate, however, you will lose your mind working with such a small graph and being able to see each line of beads.  You will need a magnifier for this one.  Nancy Zellers makes a tubular bag with a cover.  The dancing stick figures makes for a unique finish.  Although the graph is too small to actually use, step-by-step instructions are provided to make the whole bag. 

Dustin Wedekind adds his tooth fairy bag, which is actually in the shape of a tooth in peyote stitch and big enough to hold a few teeth.  Kids would love this bag.  If you do not normally check Interweave’s magazines for knitters and for spinners, you might check them out sometime.  You will often find Dustin’s unique and creative work in both magazines.  Julia S. Pretl has a soft undulating bag worked with right angle wave and the lining really brings depth to the beading. 

Every Bead Creates book has too many projects to describe them all, every bag created by a beading artist, and a pleasure to see.  All the techniques are at the back of the book.  Some of the projects are for beginners and others are for intermediate to advanced beaders.  If you have never beaded before, you may want to purchase the Beader’s Companion, an Interweave publication, to learn the basics of beading before embarking on these project.  There are several how-to crochet and knit books are available for learning the basics of both crafts.  When you finish learning the basics, you will have lots of bag patterns waiting for you to dive into.  What a terrific little book!