Leather and Canvas Tote Bag Workshop ✄

Leather and Canvas Tote Bag Workshop ✄

Learn to sew with heavier weight fabrics

Over 20 people have attended this class

Description

In this four-hour workshop, you'll learn how to use a domestic sewing machine (just like you have at home) to work with light leather. This bag design can be made tall or short and features leather, a contrasting fabric, full lining and strapping handles.  Students will learn to use a walking foot attachment and how to handle the tools to attach metal bag accessories.

Notes on your supplies: 

The easiest place to source leather is from op shops! Grab jackets and skirts, then give them a new lease on life. This is a great sustainable way to reuse material that has a long durable life (but often is in the daggiest of garments - HELLO the 80s!!!)

The Fabric Store on Brunswick Street has a great range of leather in brilliant colours.

Workshop skill levels explained – click here.

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What you will learn

  • How to sew light leather on a domestic sewing machine
  • What needles to select
  • Using a walking foot attachment and how to handle the tools to attach accessories

What you will get

  • A unique tote bag made by you
  • A copy of the pattern and instructions to make it time and time again
Parking Info
  • Level 1, 329 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Look for the red door.
  • Most Brunswick St parking is ticketed & max' 2hrs. However, longer time parking is available in the paid Coles Car Park.
  • Public Transport is the ideal way to get here - jump on the 11 tram & get off at Johnston St.

What to bring

  • Main bag: .5m of medium to heavy weight fabric, upholstery fabric, pleather or leather (enough to piece together 2 x 40x50cm rectangles)
  • Bag contrast panel: .3m of medium weight woven fabric (eg: drill, duck, canvas)
  • Lining: .5m woven light to medium weight cotton
  • Supplies: 1.5 metres of webbing/ handle strapping (or .2m additional fabric to make straps), .3m of medium to heavy weight fusible interfacing, matching sewing machine thread.
  • Hardware for securing handles is supplied.

What to wear

Casual

Appropriate for

✄ Budding Sewing Enthusiasts: You've been dipping your toes into the seductive world of sewing by making accessories and homewares from stable woven fabrics. Threading your sewing machine is getting familiar (maybe you are still double checking a couple of things in the manual). Sewing at seam allowance isn't a foreign concept. You have followed basic patterns and instructions. Terms like grainline and selvedge are not unfamiliar to you.


Thread Den

4.9
(1747 Reviews)

Learn to sew, craft and create with Thread Den

Located on Melbourne's vibrant Brunswick Street, in Fitzroy. At Thread Den you can start at the very beginning, take your skills to the next level, and find your own unique style.

At Thread Den it's just like a friend (a super nice clever one) teaching you and a few friends to sew, craft and create. When you come in; take advantage of having all the equipment on hand, lovely big cutting tables, smooth running Janomes with plenty of feet accessories, inspiring resources, and friendly people to chat to.  

Your teachers have years of experience, their own labels and businesses, and the desire to share their skills and craftsmanship with you.


Want to receive our lovely emails? You should join our mailing list. Click here to sign-up.

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5.0 (10 reviews)
Sharonrated it
10 Dec 2023
Great workshop with Arlie. I learnt new skills in construction and technique and this has helped my skills considerably. Looking forward to my next workshop here!
Lisarated it
09 Dec 2023
Another fabulous class with the very patience Arlie. After attending many beginner workshops already at The Thread Den I decided to progress to the leather tote bag session. I purchased a piece of leather from a fabric store in Brunswick + told the assistant I needed leather for a bag. Unfortunately my piece was quite thick + more suited to upholstery rather than a bag. It was very had to manipulate + sew through. Fortunately Arlie was very keen to assist me + her patience + skill was very much appreciated. After becoming very overwhelmed with my project I finally managed to walk out of the studio with my tote bag. Huge thanks to Arlie : she is amazing + definitely deserves a pay rise + a gold star!!! 🌟 A tip for those attending this class in future… ensure you purchase a thin more malleable piece of leather. Looking forward to my next workshop at The Thread Den 🌼
Lisetterated it
09 Dec 2023
Great class, great pattern to work with and to make more bags.
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Cancellations & Refunds

If the organiser cancels the class:

You are entitled to a full refund.

If you can't attend the class:

  • A refund can be requested 1 day before class starts. An admin fee of AU$35.00 applies.
  • A transfer can be requested 4 days before the class starts. An admin fee of AU$10.00 applies.
  • A credit note can be requested 4 days before the class starts. Free of charge.

No changes will be allowed after these times.

We recommend the refund upgrade option upon checkout in case you’re not able to attend the class. Learn more about refund upgrade option.

Terms & Conditions

Taking part in a workshop at Thread Den is fun and we love teaching people our craft, but here we have to get serious for a moment:

It is your responsibility to clear your diary for the booking you've made - especially if there are multiple sessions in your course. If you want to finish your project(s), you need to attend all workshops. You'll also need to arrive on time. We can't start again because it just isn't fair to your fellow participants. 

Allow us this indulgence for a second, our workshops and courses - are usually sold out weeks in advance. It isn't a quick switch to pop you into another workshop. If we have an appropriate session where you can attend to keep going, we will try to offer you a discounted space. If that isn't possible, you will need to book a private lesson to stay on track (the minimum cost is NM -$144 or M -$119.52). 

We also won't follow you up to check that you are coming along to class and/or that you have the right supplies for your class. Almost every workshop will require you to bring along your supplies, for some workshops we sell a supplies kit at an additional cost - but not for all. If you are unsure about what you need, just shoot us an email - info@threadden.com .  We also want you to learn and love what you make as much as possible, please carefully consider the fabrics we recommend that you use. If you choose a fabric that is suited to a more advanced level you aren't going to enjoy your experience.

We've tried to answer any questions you could have in the workshop description, but again, don't hesitate to email us for any further details or with any queries. We loooove to see that fabric you are thinking of using and sending you off to some of our favourite fabric and habby suppliers. 


Thanks for sticking with us and reading through those annoying details. 

The details of our refund policy appear during the booking process.


Medical Events

  • If you are required to isolate, with the supply of a medical certificate or COVID-19 testing referral covering the date of your workshop, you will be able to transfer your booking without incurring any penalties.
  • Your safety is our priority, we reserve the right to make decisions if necessary to preserve the safety of all. 
  • In the event of a medical emergency, we may have to seek ambulance services on your behalf and at your expense.

Course Cancellations 

  • Classes are subject to sufficient enrolment numbers (usually this is 3 participants).
  • We reserve the right to cancel any scheduled course.


This policy can be viewed on our website - https://threadden.com/about/bookings-and-cancellations-policy/

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