Beginner Back to School & Work BAGS! Three WEEK Series

Beginner Back to School & Work BAGS! Three WEEK SeriesBack to School Work Bags Series Three Week Beginner Series Get ready for school, work, or everyday adventures with three handmade bags! In this fun, beginner friendly series, teens and adults will learn essential sewing and bag making skills while sewing a zipper pencil case, an insulated lunch bag, and a convertible tote pack. Well start with a simple zippered pencil case before moving on to the Chubby Lunch Tote and the Seamwork Lee Convertible Baga

Back-to-School / Work Bags Series – Three-Week Beginner Series

Get ready for school, work, or everyday adventures with three handmade bags! In this fun, beginner-friendly series, teens and adults will learn essential sewing and bag-making skills while sewing a zipper pencil case, an insulated lunch bag, and a convertible tote pack.

We’ll start with a simple zippered pencil case before moving on to the Chubby Lunch Tote and the Seamwork Lee Convertible Bag—a roomy bag that can be carried as either a tote or a backpack. Each project introduces new techniques, helping students build their skills and confidence throughout the series.

By the end of the class, students will leave with three useful bags they’ll be proud to carry into the new school year and beyond.

This class is for Teens or Adults. (If under 18, just tick the box they are 18 and tell us in the notes the age of the teen)

Skills You’ll Learn

Identify sewing machine parts and use a sewing machine with confidence
Wind a bobbin and thread a sewing machine
Understand seam allowance and follow pattern instructions
Cut, pin, and sew woven fabrics
Install standard zippers
Sew linings and create neatly finished bags
Work with insulated batting and interfacing
Make and attach bag handles
Install grommets and a magnetic snap
Create a convertible cord strap

Who It’s For

Perfect for tweens, teens, and adults who are new to sewing or want to build their beginner bag-making skills. No previous sewing experience is required.

Materials

You may purchase materials from us at checkout or bring your own materials. The materials will include the zippers, interfacing, batting, hardware, cord, and other project-specific supplies needed to complete all three bags and you'll select the fabric from a variety of choices when you arrive at the first class. 

Materials 

Provided: Sewing machine, thread, patterns and instructions, fabric shears, pins and clips, marking tools, measuring tools, iron and ironing board, specialty sewing machine feet and tools needed during class
Needed: fabric and supplies - you can purchase from us or supply your own. 

Bringing Your Own Materials

If you choose not to purchase the materials from Topstitch, please bring all of the following:

Zipper Pencil Case

2 fat quarters of quilting cotton
1 standard 9-inch zipper

Chubby Lunch Tote

1 fat quarter or ⅓ yard quilting cotton for the exterior
1 fat quarter or ⅓ yard quilting cotton for the lining
One 8" x 12" piece of fabric for the handles
1 zipper measuring at least 12 inches
½ yard Insul-Bright insulated batting or 1 yard fusible fleece
2 yards of narrow or ½-inch double-fold bias tape for finishing the interior seams

Lee Convertible Tote Pack

⅞ yard heavyweight woven fabric for the exterior, such as canvas, twill, denim, duck cloth, waxed canvas, or heavyweight linen
1 yard medium-weight woven fabric for the lining, such as quilting cotton, broadcloth, chambray, or shirting
1⅜ yards lightweight fusible interfacing
Six ½-inch grommets
1 magnetic snap
2⅝ yards of cording
Fabric glue

Class Details

Level: Beginner
Ages: Teens, and adults
Max Class Size: 6
Duration: 3 weeks; each session is 3 hours

Schedule Overview

Week 1: Learn sewing machine basics and make a lined zipper pencil case

Week 2: Work with insulated batting, install a zipper, and make the Chubby Lunch Tote

Week 3: Install hardware and create the Lee Convertible Tote Pack, which can be carried as either a tote or a backpack
*There might be some homework between classes to cut out fabrics at home. 

Images by Sew Can She and Seamwork

Have questions about your class? Click below for details.