Crocheted Heirloom Beaded Bags by Jenny King
Softbound, 31pgs, $9.95 USA plus S&H, Jenny King, 13 Murray Grey Drive, Kureelpa, Australia 4560, phone (07)5441-2683, email footyrug@squirrel.com.au, fax 07-5476-1793.

Jenny just authored this book from “down under,” and what a great little book it is.  There are 13 projects, many replicas of antique bags such as misers, the two sided 1800’s type, and other bags reflecting the 1930’s styles through today.  Each bag is unique in style.  The front and back cover include a color image of all the projects.  I was fortunate to meet Jenny and see her prototypes at a Crochet Guild of America Conference and what a treat!

 There are 11 bags, a bracelet and a rope which is also a lariat.    All the directions are easy to understand.  Abbreviations and terms for Australian, British, European as well as the USA are included.  Illustrations are included for stringing and adding beads to crochet.   Then the patterns are next and where there is a unique technique required such as Old Gold Pouch with a double crochet over ring, an illustration and instructions are provided.  Project names such as Pursefully Purple, Grape Passion and Black Knight reflect the humor and enchanting personality of this designer. 

 What I like best about Jenny’s instructions is they are clear and easy to follow. Each round and row are listed separately so you do not have to sit down and rewrite the instructions to keep track of where your are.  The stitches are easy, double crochet being the most complex, and yet each bag look like complex stitches are added.  She works the patterns so fiber peeks through the beads with textural pleasure. 

 Looking at each little bag, I can see the love and care it took in designing these bags.  Jenny includes a gauge for the stitches of each project.  This will not only help in getting your gauge correct, but also help to compute the overall size of the bags.  I would like to see the approximate length and maximum width of each bag added in the next edition along with the metal purse frame size for the Pursefully Purple pattern  Many of the bags are small enough to wear as amulet bags, however Evening Bag in Gold and Black Topaz is large enough to wear hanging from the wrist, I know this from seeing the prototype.  It is a unique shape, like two pyramids joined together at the middle with buttons at the top as closures.   There is a bag with a round top opening and another that two round flat sides joined.  There are flat pocket bags and soft rectangular bags. The shapes are very diverse as well as the overall look of the stitches.

 At the end of the book is a note from Jenny, about crocheting with beads, what sparked her interest and her thanks to those who helped her along the way with inspiration and testing.  I am proud to be one of those on that list.  I feel fortunate to have met this very talented designer and storyteller and I highly recommend her book.   Crocheted Heirloom Beaded Bags should be on every crocheter’s bookshelf for inspiration, a resurgence to crochet using beads, techniques you can add to other projects and it is small enough to add to your bead and fiber bag when you are traveling.  Don’t miss out on this little jewel!