I know after reading this and seeing the pictures you’ll never believe this, but I used to only have one purse at a time. Seriously! I wore all black what need for more than one. All I asked was that it not have some tacky logo splashed all over on it and that it be big enough to shove a paperback into. Why should I pay extra to carry advertising for the company? Well Ok there was one more thing I really prefer long straps so I can have it on one shoulder and have it hit my hip but you almost never see those anymore so I’ve unhappily adjusted. My everyday bag is just a wee bit too small I can a sock in it if its using a yarn that takes 2 to make a sock (Claudias, koigu, etc). However the big pr0n- alicious yarn cakes? Forget it. At any rate so after I started knitting, my bag broke. I had spent a fair bit of money on this bag so I was a wee bit well distraught my funds at the time being vastly less than I was used to. I also started wanting to bring my knitting with me when I left the house so I was really looking for the perfect bag. I tried a bunch of cheap bags from big box stores and they were all uniformly disappointing. I kept buying them though thinking this one will be the one to work. Then I saw some of the knitting purse combo things and thought I’m saved! I bought one and it was nice except it didn’t have a separate area for pursey items so I kept trying them and trying them. Recently I got yet another in a long line of items and one thing struck me that I hadn’t really grasped before when I read reviews on other blogs so I figured I’d throw this up for anyones future reference. So we’re going to go in order of acquisition since well why not. The ball winder is included for sizing perspective, the need for which will become quite clear soon enough.
1. Art Bin
This was obviously the first one I bought. I got it half off from joann and it came with a needle holder thing too. I needed something to shove my wips in and move from office to living room. It’s basically a big canvas covered bucket There are exterior pockets but I found them too small to be anything other decoration. So it is fairly roomy but its a total pain in the ass to bring with you to a store to shop with. It’s also despite being a perfectly lovely shade of purple, ugly. It has a canvas drawstring top that kept my projects safe from my destroyers kitties for quite some time. However it was the suck for bringing anyplace else so I quickly looked elsewhere. For now my so small it can’t even be called a stash fiber and spindle lives here. So I did find a use for it.
2. Lantern Moon Palm Leaf Tote
I love this bag. I got it in green at an lys near me. Then this one came up for sale somewhere so I snatched up the black. I also still half want the burgundy. It has become my basket in the house bag that I can also take to SNB. It makes a fairly stylish purse. My two complaints is that there isn’t a separate pocket for pursey items so I do usually have to carry a purse as well. Also the magnetic closure isn’t that strong depending on what you have inside it.You can really stuff these if you need to but then you can’t close them. However like I said I do love this bag.
3. A very nice Leather bag from Tj Maxx
When I got this bag I thought AHA my search is over. It was beautiful and very nice real leather. I thought for sure this will be large enough. That was sort of the problem the bag weighs a lot even empty because of that oh so very buttery Italian leather. Also its incredibly narrow so even though its tall and wide its about as thick as a ball of yarn. It has tons of pockets and nooks and crannies so I found that I was constantly misplacing my cell and keys. Also and maybe this only bugs me but I felt it made me look like a lawyer which is just not me. However it is a very nice bag and for small-med projects it works well.
4. Namaste Executive Bag
This bag is so nice. It has a separate compartment for pursey junk. It stays on your shoulder and it makes an excellent bag for carry on while traveling. Its also fairly affordable. The best part is that its tall enough not to have to bend/fold up patterns or magazines. However I do not carry this one too often because its large. I could easily carry a sweater wip and my pursey stuff and that feels like overkill for everyday. I’ve had it about a year and its held up decently I guess. The pleather on the edging on the sides has flaked off a little but you’d have to look hard to notice.
5. Jordana Paige Knitters Satchel
I can’t remember where I first saw these. All I knew was I had to have one. Last year I had a purple dress I wanted a bag for so I convinced my mom to get me the grape one as a present. Then I got this one as a birthday present. I love love these bags. I understand some people have had quality control issues with them but I haven’t. Now I also understand that some people would find these rather old fashioned but that’s why I love them! Seperate area on the outside for pursey junk. I’ve found that area to be a little small for a wallet, cell, ipod and make up case but that’s mostly not such a huge thing. Because of the construction they do not carry as much as the Namaste bag but they are much more attractive imo. The biggest flaw I’ve found is that it is not tall enough for a pattern and so my patterns end up curled up a bit when I use it. I do think they are a tad overpriced though. However I love this bag so much I even want a red one. I do wish they had come out with a true black instead of this graphite though.
6. Lexie Barnes Lady B
I just got this so my review is perhaps a tad early. I swear this is possibly the last one of these in this fabric in the country. Only reason I got it. A couple of weeks ago I got the mini bag set from lexie’s site since they were on sale. I was really impressed with the quality of the construction so I thought about it and went ummmm and my mom agreed so thus this was soon on its way from webs. I however did not realize just how freakishly large it was. The description read something like ‘this darling bag with retro styling’ now I did see the dimensions but I don’t think it really sunk in. I was picturing something about the size of a bowling bag. Instead its this sized. 
For the record that is a 2 liter bottle. It makes it look almost as small as a 24 oz bottle. It is suitable for the very largest of projects. It is not however something you could camouflage as a purse. The construction on it is excellent. I love the bag I just wasn’t expecting something almost the size of a suitcase. I have 60 days to return it so right now I’m letting it mariante for a bit before deciding either way.