Belmont - Pattern

Yes, you can totally make this bag on a regular home sewing machine! No heavy-duty or industrial machine required. For best results, we highly recommend working on a machine that has been well-maintained and using a new, sharp needle. Denim needles or nonstick needles (if working with waxed canvas) are our favorite!

The Belmont Pack + Pouch is a Confident Beginner-level bag making project. The finished bag may look hella professional, but don't let that intimidate you! If you have a solid foundation of sewing knowledge, you'll do great. Be sure you have all of the correct tools on hand, and we also highly recommend signing up for the Belmont online class, as Ellie's video instructions are super helpful for visual learners and anyone who could use an extra post of confidence. If you're brand new to sewing, we recommend checking out our Sewing Machine 101 online class and perhaps a beginner bag making project, like the Portsmith Tote or Woodland Dopp Kit, and then come back to try the Belmont! 

The full maker kit includes all of the ingredients needed to make your bag, except tools and the online class, which can be added on at a discount.

These are the tools and sewing supplies we recommend having on hand for the optimal Belmont-making experience:

• All-purpose thread (the maker kit comes with two matching spools!)
• Size 100 denim needle or nonstick needle (our favorites for sewing heavy-duty fabric & waxed canvas)
• Craft clips (for securing multiple layers of waxed canvas)
• Straight pins (for accurately aligning and securing layers of fabric)
• 20" x 5" Quilting ruler (to measure and mark long, straight lines)
• 5" x 5" Quilting ruler (comes in handy for marking boxed corners)
• Bone folder (for scoring and pressing waxed canvas, can replace a fabric pencil!)
• Steel fabric roller (a quick, heat-free press for waxed canvas and other fabrics)
• Edgestitch presser foot (for perfectly-parallel stitches in relation to an edge or fold)
• Hammer + hard surface (for setting the rivet on the zipper pull)

Download the full Tools + Supplies List

Yes! We highly recommend adding the class for 50% off to your kit! Our pattern instructions are very clearly written and filled with helpful illustrations and caution moments. You can totally make your bag from the written instructions alone. However, if you're a visual learner, new to bag making, or feeling a little intimidated, the online class is the way to go. You'll get to learn directly from Ellie, the pattern designer herself, whose expert guidance goes above and beyond what we could possibly include in the instructions. It's like having a friend there with you at your sewing machine, walking you through every step.

The making time for confident beginner projects is estimated at 3-5 hours. Having said that, each maker has their own pace and process. We recommend adding the online class for extra support and to ensure a seamless (no pun intended 😉) making experience.