Handbags are the ultimate fashion accessory - they can pull an outfit together, suggest a mood, or serve a range of practical functions from workplace tote to weekend travel bag. And in a fashion environment where color and originality reign, the style possibilities are endless. Making Handbags shows readers how they can create affordable, designer-quality handbags right in their own homes - even if they've never sewn a stitch. Using just four master patterns, readers learn to alter fabrications and embellishments to make everything from vintage styles to fun and trendy beaded bags, and from faux fur to fringed bags. Each bag takes cues from major fashion houses, highlighting the best styles from recent decades. Complete with shortcuts, tips, and secrets from the Accessories Design staff at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, this smart guide can turn any reader into a do-it-yourself fashion designer.