You can't go wrong with any pattern written by Joan Hawley of LazyGirl designs. All of her patterns have detailed instructions complete with color photos of each step! I'm partial to Margo and Mini Miranda myself.

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/produ...urses_Bags/c50

Bow Tucks only I put zippers in them. Have made at least 100. Gave lots for gifts and sold lots.....have lots for myself in my closet for each holiday, season, etc. Just love the size, pockets, coordinating fabrics to use. And of course now I can make them without even thinking about the pattern, just know it all by heart........that is unles I would go a couple months without making one and THEN I would surely forget and have to dig out the pattern.[ATTACH=CONFIG]364273[/ATTACH]

I found this one. It has 4 outside pockets. It's great!! http://store.annamariahorner.com/muto.html

Dakota..thanks so much for that link. I saw several I'd love to try.
What a sweetie you are to take time to do that for us out here in cyberland.
Vickey

My favorite is Amelie by Geta Gramma. have made several of them in different sizes, including the one I made yesterday for my Mom's b'day. I always get compliments on them. Nobody can believe that I made them, but they are so easy and fun to make. I have Nicole also by Getta Gamma cut out, but not sewed together yet. I have the Belle pattern also but haven't made it yet. I am in the process of making a Mini Bow Tuck (also for my Mom). It looks like it is going to be another favorite.

http://romanianquiltstudio.com/english/bag-patterns.htm

OMG! I LOVE the Amelie! I will have to put on my wish list....not in my budget currently since I just got a new sewing machine!

I love to make this one purse from McCall's. It just has a real style to it. There is also another one that I made and gave to a very classy friend and she adores it. I do like the bo-tucks, they are perfect for my older friends. I always look through my purse patterns and I now have over 12 of them and then figure out which is best for the person I am making it for. When I made one for my friend Ginger, I knew she liked Bo-tucks and loves lilac/purple so I found the most beautiful fabrics and we were both happy with that one. I guess to answer your question, it's style first and then ease of instructions. But style always comes first with me.

Charlotte, how difficult would it be to make the Amelie not so tall? I like the size of my Mini Bow-tucks and I wouldn't want it any bigger?

Fellow Purse makers!! I just ordered zippers from http://sewtrue.com/ what great prices!! I will have to let you know how the service is..couldn't beat the price!

Thanks for this site. I spent 2 days looking at most of the patterns and downloaded a lot of them! I look forward to lots of bags and purses. It may get m past my mental block. I haven't been able to start my next quilt for lack of inspiration.