Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH THE COURSE?

THIS COURSE INCLUDES

⫸Welcome Package - Before the course begins, you’ll receive a course folder with worksheets, a design notebook, a pencil, and a few extra fun surprises.

⫸Practice Materials - You’ll receive 2 yards of natural canvas for sample-making, a practice zipper pouch kit, craft clips, straight pins, and a fabric pencil.

⫸ 7 Live Zoom Sessions- Live Zooms will include design lectures and hands-on demos, plus plenty of time for Q&A and workshopping your ideas.

⫸15% Site-wide Discount - From the day you sign up until the course ends, you'll get a 15% off discount code, good on everything in our online shop.

⫸ Online Community- Our online community is a place to meet other designers, workshop ideas, ask questions, and share your challenges and triumphs!

⫸Regular Feedback - Ellie and the KH team will regularly respond to your questions in the community. All throughout, you’ll be supported at every step.

NOTE:While this course includes some practice materials, students will be responsible for sourcing all of the materials and tools needed to make their own unique, self-designed project. You'll receive a reusable 15% discount to shop everything on our site for the duration of the course.

WHAT IS THE COURSE SCHEDULE?

We will meet live on Zoom every Friday from 4-5:30pm PST from Jan 12th - Feb 16th 2024. While the Zooms will be recorded, we highly recommend attending them live whenever possible to get the most from this course. Here is an overview of the schedule.

LIVE ZOOMS:

Fri, Jan 12, 4-5:30pm PST - Fundamentals of Bag Design and Define Your Style + Clarify Your Idea

Fri, Jan 19, 4-5:30pm PST- Choose + Source Materials

Fri, Jan 26, 4-5:30pm PST - Pattern Drafting + Sample Project

Fri, Feb 2, 4-5:30pm PST - Sequence of Construction: Samples, Studies, and Iteration

Fri, Feb 9, 4-5:30pm PST - Workshopping Your Design

Fri, Feb 16, 4-5:30pm PST - Show + Tell, Next Steps

Each week, you should plan to spend somewhere between 4-8 hours on "homework" assignments and working on your own project(s).

WILL ZOOM SESSIONS BE RECORDED?

Yes, all of the Zoom recordings will be recorded and available to watch within 2 days after the live sessions. You'll receive a link to the recording via email, as well as within the course platform itself. Because this course is meant to be highly interactive, we recommend attending the Zooms live whenever possible to get the most out of your experience. You will have access to the Zoom recordings until the end of 2024, after which time you will have access to edited recordings of Ellie's lectures indefinitely.

HOW MUCH PRIOR BAG MAKING EXPERIENCE DO I NEED?

We've designed this course to be choose-your-own-adventure style and therefore open to a wide range of skill levels. That said, we will not be covering the basics of sewing, so you should have a solid foundation of sewing skills before signing up. (You can always take our Sewing Machine 101 online class prior to starting if you are a complete beginner!) Ellie will spend the first couple of weeks helping you set your own personalized goals for the course and design a project that is compatible with your skillset and resources to set you up for success. There are three different ways you might approach this course:

1. Design + Make a Fully Custom Bag- This tract is for makers who want to go rogue, designing and making a bag based on their own creative vision, or in combination with inspirational reference(s). You will learn to size and draft your own pattern blocks, create canvas samples, workshop elements through studies, and ultimately bring your brilliant vision to life.

2. Modify an Existing Bag Pattern- This tract is for makers who prefer to design a bag that is rooted in an existing bag pattern (Klum House or other), with their own customizations and modifications. Want to make a Maywood Totepack with a luggage handle slip? A Portsmith Tote with tons of interior pockets? A miniature Fremont? This tract is for you.

3. Make it Straight Up, Then Add a Twist - If you're newer to bag making, we recommend choosing a Klum House bag you like and making it straight-up (by the pattern) the first time to learn the sequence of construction. Then, you'll make the bag again, with your own flourishes and modifications! As with cooking, it's always good to follow a recipe as is before you freestyle.

WILL WE BE LEARNING ANY COMPUTER PROGRAMS?

No, we will not be learning any computer programs or how to make tech packs in this course. Ellie will be teaching her own analog design method.

WHERE WILL I GET SUPPLIES TO MAKE MY BAG(S)?

While this course includes some practice materials, students will be responsible for sourcing all of the materials and tools needed to make their own unique, self-designed project(s). You'll receive a reusable 15% discount  to shop everything on our site for the duration of the course

CAN I BASE MY PROJECT ON A NON-KLUM HOUSE PATTERN?

Yes, you are more than welcome to base your project on a bag pattern from a different pattern company. Just keep in mind that we'll be able to offer the maximum amount of support and specific guidance if you are riffing on one of our own patterns!

WILL I GET INDIVIDUALIZED FEEDBACK FROM ELLIE?

Yes! Workshopping your ideas, troubleshooting, and sharing your process will be a big part of this course experience. There will be time set aside in most Zooms for breakout sessions, where Ellie will pop in to hear about your designs and offer guidance. In the final weeks, we'll dedicate as much as one hour per Zoom session for "hot seats" where students can talk through their design, ask questions, and seek support. You can also leave questions in our online community at any time and Ellie, with help from the Klum House team, will respond in a timely manner!

HOW LONG WILL MY 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE BE GOOD FOR?

Your 15% off discount code is good on anything and everything in our online shop and can be used as many times as you'd like. You'll receive the discount code via email immediately after signing up and it will be active until the last day of the course.

DO YOU HAVE A REFUND POLICY?

Registration in this class is non-refundable. If you sign up for this course and are unable to attend the live events or complete the course within the given timeframe, we unfortunately will not be issuing refunds. You will have evergreen access to all of the printed and digital resources, as well as Zoom recordings, that will be ready and waiting for you whenever you are able to dive in.