The Portsmith Tote is a beginner-friendly bag with an amazing payoff. It’s a great project for sewing newbies or those learning to work with leather and hardware for the first time. In just a few hours, you’ll have yourself a stylish, professional-quality tote bag, complete with “I made this!” bragging rights. Klum House founder Ellie Lum will guide you through the making process every step of the way. You can make this bag entirely on a home sewing machine, with just a couple extra tools for punching holes and setting rivets.

This class includes:

• Evergreen access to step-by-step video tutorials
• Portsmith PDF Instructions Booklet
• Large-format PDF pattern, for professional printing
• Tiled PDF pattern, for printing at home
• Detailed Tools + Supplies list, to help you source everything you need
• Ability to ask questions on the class’s discussion board

Course curriculum:

• Introduction (1:20)
• Gather Your Materials (2:05)
• Gather Your Tools (3:04)
• Cut Your Fabric (5:42)
• Prepare Your Leather Straps (4:16)
• Prepare + Attach Base (8:34)
• Prepare + Secure Tote Hem (4:13)
• Prepare Envelope Fold (4:52)
• Sew Side Seams (7:11)
• Attach Leather Straps (8:25)
• Conclusion (0:34)

In addition to teaching you how to make an amazing bag, this class will also help you develop a solid foundation of bag making skills that you’ll continue to use on all kinds of bag making projects for years to come. Online classes are great for visual learners or anyone who could use an extra boost of confidence!

You will learn how to :

• Trace pattern pieces and cut fabric
• Cut and hole-punch leather straps
• Sew heavy-duty waxed canvas on a home machine
• Construct a reinforced envelope base
• Finish seams with a zigzag stitch
• Attach and reinforce leather straps
• Set metal double-cap rivets

Portsmith Full Maker Kit - This is the most foolproof (and luxurious) way to make. Pre-cut fabric, ready-to-attach leather straps, and all of the hardware you need—all in the colors of your choice. All you have to do is make!

Portsmith Leather + Hardware Kit - Prefer to source your own fabric? This option is for you! It comes with all the leather and hardware bits, minus the fabric.

NOTE: This class is 50% off when added to any Portsmith kit.

Make From Scratch - Alternatively, source and prep all of your supplies yourself! For a detailed list of everything you’ll need, download this TOOLS + SUPPLIES LIST.

Klum House founder and pattern designer Ellie Lum has over twenty years of professional bag making experience. With roots in industrial sewing and small-batch manufacturing, Ellie's superpower is teaching makers to achieve professional-quality results on a home sewing machine—and have a hell of a lot of fun while doing it. She’s passionate about empowering makers through sharing her craft.

With a clear, laid back teaching style, Ellie explains each step of the pattern in easy-to-understand language. Her teaching is peppered with helpful tips and tricks, and she has a real knack for melting away intimidation.