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Bag-a-holics

daybag_pair shopper_pair envelope_pair wristlet_brown

Indulge your handbag addiction! Choose one of several fun designs for handbags, totebags or clutches that can be made in this  series of classes.  As you can see from the details below, you can select a project based on skills you would like to learn, and learn about the fundamental principals of bag making.   All patterns are provided and are designed for beginners, but can be modified and customized for more advanced sewers as well.   This class is taught by handbag designer Valerie Williams, who has her own line of purses, totes and clutches that she sells at craft fairs and online.

This class is only offered periodically, so if you’re eager to take it sooner, contact us about arranging a private lesson.

Instructor: Valerie Williams

Prerequisites: Intro to Sewing or knowledge of basic sewing machine operation

Class time: 1 session, 3 hours

Class fee:  $55 (all patterns are included in the class fee)

Schedule:

This class is only offered periodically, so if you’re eager to take it sooner, contact us about arranging a private lesson.

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Materials:

envelope_viewb The Evening Envelope Clutch

  • A flat envelope clutch for evening with a flap and magnetic snap closure, and a single interior pocket. View A with optional piping on the flap, and view B without. Finished bag dimensions: 11″ wide, 6″ tall, 7.5″ wide interior pocket.skills learned
  • inserting magnetic snap
  • making custom piping
  • attaching a flap
  • making a patch pocket

materials  needed

  • 1/2 yard self fabric
  • 1/2 yard lining fabric
  • 1 yard lightweight fusible interfacing
  • optional – 20″ cord for piping (1/4″ or 5mm in diameter)
  • optional – 1/2 yard piping fabric
  • magnetic snap (can be purchased at the studio for $1.50)
  • hand needle (available at the studio)
  • matching silk finish thread
  • scrap of felt
  • zipper foot for your sewing machine (available at the studio)

suggested fabrics
====================
Medium weight evening fabrics with some body, like silk or poly blend brocade, damask, shantung, taffeta or dupioni. Silky and thin but slightly stiff fabrics meant for window treatments are perfect for this clutch. You can use the same fabric for the lining, or something slightly lighter weight. Avoid fabrics that are sheer, stretchy, knit, drapey, slippery, heavyweight or with pile like velvet or faux fur.
wristlet_blue The Wristlet

  • A small wristlet with a wallet built into the lining, a 6″ wrist strap, 7″ zipper closure, and optional piping and accent fabric on the front. Finished bag dimensions: 8″ wide, 5″ tall, 2.75″ wide gusset. Six pockets for credit cards inside and one for cash.skills learned
  • inserting a zipper
  • gusset bottom
  • experimenting with surface embellishment
  • making custom piping

materials needed

  • 1/4 yard self fabric
  • 1/2 yard lining fabric
  • scrap of accent fabric at least 9″ wide by 4″ tall
  • 1 yard lightweight fusible interfacing
  • optional – 8″ cord for piping (1/4″ or 5mm around)
  • optional – strip of fabric for piping 9″ long by 1.5″ wide
  • 7″ zipper
  • hand needle (available at the studio)
  • matching thread
  • zipper foot for your sewing machine

suggested fabrics

========================

Medium to heavyweight denim, corduroy, canvas, duck cloth or upholstery fabric for body.  Lightweight calico or quilting cotton for the lining, accent, and optional piping. Avoid fabrics that are sheer, stretchy, knit, drapey, slippery, and fabrics with pile like velvet or faux fur.
shopper_viewa VIEW A shopper_viewb VIEW B The Shopper

  • A medium sized tote bag perfect to take with you to the farmer’s market, library or errand-running. View A has a single self strap and a flap, and View B has double straps of cotton webbing. Finished bag dimensions: 11″ wide, 12.5″ tall, 4″ wide gusseted bottom, 31″ long double or single strap.skills learned
  • gusset bottom
  • experimenting with straps
  • adjusting pattern size
  • making a flap
  • using cotton webbing

materials needed

====================

  • 1 yard self fabric
  • 1/2 yard lining fabric
  • 1/2 yard lightweight interfacing (for view A)
  • 1/4 yard accent fabric for flap (for view A)
  • 3.5 yards of cotton webbing at least 1″ wide (for view B)
  • matching thread

suggested fabrics

========================

Medium to heavyweight denim, corduroy, canvas, duck cloth or upholstery fabric for body, and for the self strap and flap on view A.

Medium to heavyweight cotton or nylon webbing 1″ to 2″ wide for the straps on view B.

Self lining or quilting cotton for the lining. Calico or quilting cotton for accent fabric on flap for view A.

Avoid fabrics that are sheer, stretchy, knit, drapey, or slippery.
daybag_viewa VIEW A daybag_viewb VIEW B The Everyday Bag

  • A medium sized handbag perfect for every day use with a zipper closure, deep gusseted bottom, a single interior pocket, and long single strap (view A with D-rings, view B without D-rings). Finished bag dimensions: 9″ wide, 7″ tall, 4″ wide gusseted bottom, 25″ long single strap.skills learned
  • inserting a zipper on a curve
  • using D-rings
  • deep side gussets
  • surface embellishment

materials needed

  • 1 yard self fabric
  • 1/2 yard lining fabric
  • 1 yard lightweight fusible interfacing
  • 12″ zipper
  • optional – accent fabric at least 7″ x 11″
  • optional – two 2″ D-rings
  • matching thread
  • hand needle (available at the studio)
  • zipper foot for sewing machine (available at the studio)

suggested fabrics

========================

Medium to heavyweight denim, corduroy, canvas, duck cloth or upholstery fabric for body and strap. Lightweight calico or quilting cotton for the lining and optional accent fabric. Avoid fabrics that are sheer, stretchy, knit, drapey, slippery, and fabrics with thick pile like velvet or faux fur.