Leather Bag Making Class

Learning to sew with leather and faux leather bag making class:

Ever wanted to make a leather or faux leather bag? Learn the tricks with a beginner friendly pattern sewing a designer like versatile large purse or bag. You can also experience the difference your machine can make in your bag results. The goal of the one day class is to go home at the end of the day with a finished bag and new skills and tricks in you toolbox. It is very important to be able to do this all in the one day class, please ensure you have all items precut and are ready to start sewing when you come to this one day action packed and fun day.

Some of the skills you will learn in the class include: how to secure items with not using pins to score the leather/ faux leather, how to sew and not leave scratch marks from the machine on your leather, how to do a leather zipper surround on the inside of your bag, how to use leather appropriate interfacings and the differences, what threads to use, difference the machine can make in making your project easier, using rivets verses Chicago screws, see optional supplies that can be helpful.

Class is October 17, 2026 and will begin promptly at 9:30am, so have your supplies and machine ready please.

Supply list:
Sewing machine in good working order and basic sewing supplies
Leather faux leather and cutting measurements below - tip always cut your handles out first as they are the longest pieces
Inner lining fabric - cotton fabric works well for this
*bring extra scrap pieces of your leather to class for learning and testing your stitches
Decovil Light interfacing
Decovil Heavy interfacing
SF 101
Zipper #5 and zipper pull - need total of 11 inches (note you will want your zipper and pull to have the same metal finish as your hardware)
Tex 45 thread to match you leather bag - Tex 45 thread recommended for bag making- if your machine can not run Tex 45 then the thickest/ heaviest your machine can run through
Double sided hyperstick tape 1/4 inch required. Optional extra sizes you may want to use are 1/8 inch and 1/2 inch.
Clips - quilting clips or Wonder clips
Rotary blade cutter
Scissor
Iron/mat if you have one you can bring to class
Ruler - will need one at least 12 inches in length
Required hardware and you will want them all in the one same finish, (gold, silver, bronze..) 6 metal finish bag feet with prongs closure, 1/2 inch D ring and 1/2 inch swivel hook clasp closure

Optional Hardware: Handmade metal finish tag or other purse decorative tags
**Instructor will provide the rivets/ or Chicago screws for your bag for each student.

6 bag feet
metal finish handmade tag
1/2 inch D ring
1/2 inch swivel hook closure

**Please note leather and faux leather comes in different thicknesses and grades. Instructor recommends Simply Classic leather and supplies for the class as these are excellent quality products and you will get a great bag resulting. Also, the shop Sew Much Fun has a sample card of the faux leathers, so you can see how thick the different leathers are. Please ensure you have a leather your machine can sew and thread your machine can run through the machine.

Precutting homework to be done before class:
Leather / faux leather cut out: (cut your handles first)
2 handles 36 inches x 2 inches wide
2 outer panels 19 1/2 inches x 15 3/4 inches
2 Binding tabs 19 1/2 inches x 2 1/4 inch
1 zipper panel 10 inches x 2 inches
2 strips 5 inches x 2 inches
** if doing an additional slip pocket then a strip of leather 1 inches wide x the length of your slip pocket

Precut lining fabric cut out:
2 inside lining fabric panels 19/12 inches x 15/3/4 inches
2 zipper pocket pieces 10 inches x 10 inches
** if adding a slip pocket — optional - have the slip pocked sewn in advance and to measure finished slip pocket 8-10 inches wide and 5 inches tall

Interfacings to precut:
2 Decovil light 19 1/2 inches x 15 3/4 inches
2 Decovil light 1/2 inch x  36 inch
2 Decolvil heavy 12 inches x 3 inches
1 Decovil heavy 12 inches x 6 inches
2 - SF 101 - 19 1/2 inches x 15 3/4 inch
2 - SF 101 - 10 inches x 10 inches