Two-Day Beginners Bag Making
Duration: 14 hours
Class times: 10am till 6pm
Course tutor: Lesley Taylor
Booking procedure: Click the course date at the bottom of the page to put the course into your shopping basket, then follow the steps indicated to complete payment to guarantee a space.
Ideal for newcomers to bag making, this class introduces students to basic construction methods with the aim to complete a professionally finished bag and gain skills that can be used to develop own products following the class. Working with a selection of provided patterns, the students will make a lined bag in either fabric or leather with a simple closure and choice of strap options.
Course outline:
Day 1: Design and materials selection, material cutting out, bag parts preparation, and development of details and decoration if required.
Day 2: Bag sewing and assembling. It is possible to make the bags using domestic sewing machines although this will depend on the students choice of material, industrial machines are available should a student choose to use heavier weights of materials or leather during the class. However, the purpose of the course is to show techniques in how to achieve a professional standard of finish using a domestic sewing machine on slightly lighter fabrics and leathers.
Difference between our Beginners, Advanced and Intensive Bag Making courses:
- Beginners: Emphasis on using domestic sewing machine. Patterns are prepared by the tutor. Cover basic construction methods. Personalised parts: bag size and handle construction.
- Advanced: Emphasis on using industrial sewing machine. Patterns are prepared by the tutor, but can be personalised if the student take the Shape-Making for Bags Course prior to this one. Cover more complicated construction methods. Personalised parts: bag construction methods, bag size, handle construction, finishing techniques.
- Intensive: Cover both pattern cutting techniques and complicated construction methods. Students can create their own patterns and select their own leather during a guided tour to wholesale leather merchants.
Things you need to bring with you:
- Otherwise stated in the course page, please bring your own leather or fabric for the body of your bag to ensure you go home with the perfect bag to your expectation. The size of the material depends on the size of the pattern/bag you plan to make. The leather shouldn't be too thick or stiff. Please check the following points and content in Advanced Bag Making Course webpage about what materials to bring. Please click the Useful Links to view the supplier list about where to source leather or fabric
- Sharp fabric scissors
- Notebook and pen
- A very limited selection of fabric and pig skin is available in the school, which can be used as the lining of the bag, but students are welcome to bring along their own lining material or leather.
Bag making materials:
A wide variety of material could be suited to bag making although it’s worth bearing in mind that the selection material will greatly affect the end result and degree of success of your bag. Consider the following questions before purchasing your materials:
- Is it strong enough to withstand wear and tear on the outside of the bag? An everyday bag will need a much more robust fabric or leather than the material required for a special occasion party bag.
- Will it be strong enough to support the weight of what goes into the bag - thin, lightweight, stretch and knitted fabrics generally won’t work for the bags we make in this class, and some clothing leathers such as sheep nappa are often not suitable because they are too stretchy.
- How much material and lining will I need? This will depend on the size and design of the bag you make but as an approximate guide you can work with between ½ to 1 metre of outside material (150 cm wide) or approx. 6-12 sq ft of leather and ½ to ¾ metre of lining material.
Experience of using a domestic sewing machine is recommended before taking this class.
Class maximum: 6 students
To see photos of this course click here
Do you want to sign up to our Newsletter? If so, click here
Want to get a prompt reply to your questions? If so, browse our Frequently Asked Questions
Can't find the answer to your question concerning this course? If so, send us your enquiry
See if there's any offer we are doing for this course, click here
