MAKE IT WITH
Slabtown - Online Class
- Unit price
- / per
The Slabtown features a spacious main compartment with a quick-access side zipper, a front zip pocket, and snap closures. Whether it’s a day on the trails, your daily cycling commute, or a weekend getaway, this bag will keep up with your active lifestyle and hold up to years of wear and tear. Ellie will walk you through every step of the making process, including lots of extra tips and tricks. Make from home, at your own pace. (Get ready to seriously impress your friends!) 😉
THIS CLASS INCLUDES:
- Evergreen access to step-by-step video tutorials
- Slabtown Instructions PDF Booklet
- Large-format PDF pattern, for professional printing
- Tiled, print-at-home PDF pattern
- Detailed Tools + Supplies list, to help you source everything you need
- Ability to ask questions on the class’s discussion board
COURSE CURRICULUM:
- Gather and Prepare Everything (17:18)
- Construct the Side Pockets (6:35)
- Attach the Side Snaps (6:31)
- Sew the (Hidden) Left Zipper (8:42)
- Sew the (Front Pocket) Right Zipper (3:37)
- Topstitch the Front Body (7:15)
- Create the Zipper Cover + Install Leather Zipper Pulls (5:19)
- Sew the Rolltop (6:14)
- Attach the Reinforcement Fabric (2:14)
- Construct + Attach the Buckle Straps (5:36)
- Attach Front + Back of Bag (5:58)
- Sew the Bag Together + Bind the Seams (4:29)
- Construct the Boxed Corners (2:11)
- Attach the Rolltop (10:35)
- Attach the Rolltop Strap (9:00)
- Attach + Size Backpack Straps (14:07)
- Bag Dimensions: 17 1/2" H (rolled down) / 24 1/2" H (extended) x 11" W x 5.5" D
- 24.3 liters max capacity
- Heavy-duty, water-resistant waxed canvas exterior
- Fully-lined with natural army duck canvas
- Spacious main compartment with quick-access zipper
- Front zipper pocket
- Side pocket for water bottles
- Snap closures
- Adjustable leather backpack straps
- Additional 6" of capacity with rolltop extended
This project won't just help you make a badass, professional quality bag. It's also designed to teach you new heavy-duty sewing techniques that you can apply to all kinds of future bag making projects. In particular, the Slabtown will push the limits of what you thought was possible on a home sewing machine and turn you into a leather and hardware boss. You'll discover that you and your home machine are capable of more than you ever thought possible!
By the end, you'll be a pro at techniques like:
- Trace pattern pieces and cut fabric
- Sew layers of heavy-duty waxed canvas on a home machine
- Sew a zipper with lining fabric
- How to set line 24 snaps
- How to set extra strong tubular rivets
- Construct boxed corners
- How to finish seams with binding
- How to create adjustable leather backpack straps
- How to sew a hidden zipper compartment
- How to install buckles for adjustable straps
While you can sew the Slabtown Backpack on a home sewing machine (heavy-duty recommended), constructing the bag does require some specific tools for working with rivets and hardware:
- A tubular rivet peening tool and mallet to set the tubular rivets into the leather straps. Set rivets on a hard surface like concrete or stone for best results. Do not substitute for double-cap rivets or your bag will fall apart!
- To set the Line 24 snaps, you’ll need a Line 24 snap setter and a dot anvil.
- A 1/8" drive punch and mallet to punch clean holes in the fabrics. Use on a punching board.
You can add these tools to your kit individually or combined in the Slabtown Essential Tools Bundle for a discounted price! And don't forget to download the complete supplies list so you have everything you need to make your Slabtown Backpack!
A fully-supported, customizable making experience.
Slabtown Bag Maker Kit - This is the most foolproof (and luxurious) way to make. Fabric, ready-to-attach leather straps, and all of the hardware you need—all in the colors of your choice— plus paper pattern template + PDF booklet. All you have to do is make!
Slabtown 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 Slabtown 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!
Slabtown - Online Class
- Unit price
- / per
Skill Levels
BEGINNER |
CONFIDENT BEGINNER |
Beginner projects will introduce you to the basics of bag making. You'll learn to sew heavy-duty fabric, punch holes in fabric and leather, set metal rivets, and sew your first zipper! |
Confident Beginner projects involve managing more pieces of fabric and leather. They'll teach you to add interior and exterior pockets and install new types of hardware, like snaps. |
INTERMEDIATE |
ADVANCED |
Intermediate projects involve a more in-depth making process. They'll teach you to work with a wider variety of tools and hardware techniques, like setting extra-strength tubular rivets. |
Advanced projects are for experienced stitchers ready to invest a significant amount of time and energy into becoming a bag maker. Complex construction and seriously professional results. |
Learn to make the Slabtown with Klum House founder Ellie Lum, who will guide you through the entire making process from start to finish. This class includes on-demand access to video tutorials, so you can make from anywhere, at your own pace. Includes the Slabtown PDF pattern for free.
Save 50% when you add this online class to any Slabtown kit!
Class includes the Slabtown PDF Pattern
Save 50% when you add this online class to any Slabtown kit!
Check out the Slabtown Tools + Supplies List
ALSO GOES WITH
Adding product to your cart
Add Essential Tools
The Slabtown features a spacious main compartment with a quick-access side zipper, a front zip pocket, and snap closures. Whether it’s a day on the trails, your daily cycling commute, or a weekend getaway, this bag will keep up with your active lifestyle and hold up to years of wear and tear. Ellie will walk you through every step of the making process, including lots of extra tips and tricks. Make from home, at your own pace. (Get ready to seriously impress your friends!) 😉
THIS CLASS INCLUDES:
- Evergreen access to step-by-step video tutorials
- Slabtown Instructions PDF Booklet
- Large-format PDF pattern, for professional printing
- Tiled, print-at-home PDF pattern
- Detailed Tools + Supplies list, to help you source everything you need
- Ability to ask questions on the class’s discussion board
COURSE CURRICULUM:
- Gather and Prepare Everything (17:18)
- Construct the Side Pockets (6:35)
- Attach the Side Snaps (6:31)
- Sew the (Hidden) Left Zipper (8:42)
- Sew the (Front Pocket) Right Zipper (3:37)
- Topstitch the Front Body (7:15)
- Create the Zipper Cover + Install Leather Zipper Pulls (5:19)
- Sew the Rolltop (6:14)
- Attach the Reinforcement Fabric (2:14)
- Construct + Attach the Buckle Straps (5:36)
- Attach Front + Back of Bag (5:58)
- Sew the Bag Together + Bind the Seams (4:29)
- Construct the Boxed Corners (2:11)
- Attach the Rolltop (10:35)
- Attach the Rolltop Strap (9:00)
- Attach + Size Backpack Straps (14:07)
- Bag Dimensions: 17 1/2" H (rolled down) / 24 1/2" H (extended) x 11" W x 5.5" D
- 24.3 liters max capacity
- Heavy-duty, water-resistant waxed canvas exterior
- Fully-lined with natural army duck canvas
- Spacious main compartment with quick-access zipper
- Front zipper pocket
- Side pocket for water bottles
- Snap closures
- Adjustable leather backpack straps
- Additional 6" of capacity with rolltop extended
This project won't just help you make a badass, professional quality bag. It's also designed to teach you new heavy-duty sewing techniques that you can apply to all kinds of future bag making projects. In particular, the Slabtown will push the limits of what you thought was possible on a home sewing machine and turn you into a leather and hardware boss. You'll discover that you and your home machine are capable of more than you ever thought possible!
By the end, you'll be a pro at techniques like:
- Trace pattern pieces and cut fabric
- Sew layers of heavy-duty waxed canvas on a home machine
- Sew a zipper with lining fabric
- How to set line 24 snaps
- How to set extra strong tubular rivets
- Construct boxed corners
- How to finish seams with binding
- How to create adjustable leather backpack straps
- How to sew a hidden zipper compartment
- How to install buckles for adjustable straps
While you can sew the Slabtown Backpack on a home sewing machine (heavy-duty recommended), constructing the bag does require some specific tools for working with rivets and hardware:
- A tubular rivet peening tool and mallet to set the tubular rivets into the leather straps. Set rivets on a hard surface like concrete or stone for best results. Do not substitute for double-cap rivets or your bag will fall apart!
- To set the Line 24 snaps, you’ll need a Line 24 snap setter and a dot anvil.
- A 1/8" drive punch and mallet to punch clean holes in the fabrics. Use on a punching board.
You can add these tools to your kit individually or combined in the Slabtown Essential Tools Bundle for a discounted price! And don't forget to download the complete supplies list so you have everything you need to make your Slabtown Backpack!
A fully-supported, customizable making experience.
Slabtown Bag Maker Kit - This is the most foolproof (and luxurious) way to make. Fabric, ready-to-attach leather straps, and all of the hardware you need—all in the colors of your choice— plus paper pattern template + PDF booklet. All you have to do is make!
Slabtown 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 Slabtown 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!
MAKE IT WITH
Slabtown - Custom Bag Maker Kit
Save 50% when you add this online class to any Slabtown Bag Maker Kit or Leather + Hardware Kit!
Add Essential Tools
Add Essential Tools
@gyasti
"This was my first time making a bag and I was nervously excited to tackle this backpack, but it turned out great!"
@dklein
"This bag turned out so radical! It was cool to be able to make a whole badass backpack with zippers, rolltop, leather, hardware."
@maggies.crochet.chaos_
I made this backpack with the Slabtown kit. It’s the most complex and interesting project i’ve ever made and i can’t believe i did it!!!
-
-
-
Hi, I'm Ellie!
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.
Hi, I'm Ellie!
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.
😍 Maker Stories
"I absolutely loved taking the Slabtown online class. It's like sewing with a (way smarter) friend! Instead of spending extra time double checking pattern instructions and diagrams to make sure I was "doing it right", I had Ellie showing me right on the video! It made a challenging project accessible to intermediate sewists like myself. Highly recommend. The finished project is supremely bag/brag-worthy. :)"
"There’s nothing quite as cathartic as beating the crap…out of leather & metal with a heavy mallet. 10/10, do recommend."
"One of the things I love about Klum House is how you end up with a bag that looks so professional. So much so that you have to show people in progress photos for them to believe that you made it. I take that as a huge compliment. Can you tell that I enjoy defying people's expectations?"
“My sewing plans include lots of hammering. It’s a fun and pretty empowering experience…making a whole hardcore bag from scratch.”
THE SLABTOWN
Online Class
Learn to make your Slabtown with Ellie, the pattern's designer, from the comfort of your home sewing machine. The online class is great for visual learners and those who could use an extra boost of confidence.
FAQS
Questions about The Slabtown Online Class? We've got you covered.
Although a heavy-duty sewing machine is recommended, it is not necessary. Most home sewing machines that have been well taken care of will do just fine. A walking foot attachment and/or Jean-a-ma-jig can help you power through bulky seams. You do not need an industrial sewing machine to make the Slabtown.
All online classes are accessed through the Klum House website. Just make sure you're signed into your account, then go to "My Classes" in the top navigation on the site.
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email shortly after. In this email, there will be a button to access your class. If this is the first time you have purchased a class and/or you don't already have an account, you will be prompted to create one in the same email.
You can access and download the PDF pattern inside one of the modules in the class.
All the bag-specific online classes that are available to be purchased through our website are your for the lifetime that the class exists. The classes are on-demand videos, so you can watch & re-watch them as much as you want.
Note: The Fremont Online class is sold on Craftsy.com. Cohort-style classes, such as Beginner Bag Making, and Design + Sew, also have a live community component.
The Slabtown has tubular rivets, which must be set with a tubular rivet peening tool and a (non-rubber!) mallet on a hard surface, such as a slab of stone, metal anvil, or concrete floor. To set the Line 24 snaps, you’ll need a Line 24 snap setter and a dot anvil. Finally, you’ll need a 1/8” drive punch, which is used with a mallet on a cutting board.
You can add these tools to your kit individually or combined in the Slabtown Essential Tools Bundle for a discounted price!
Download the FULL TOOLS + SUPPLIES LIST
Tubular rivets are much stronger than double-cap rivets. Since The Slabtown is a backpack, the straps pull away from the bag at the attachment points, which makes double-cap rivets unreliable, since they can pop-apart when pulled with opposing force. On the other hand, tubular rivets are made to withstand this force, and will stay in place (especially when reinforced with leather on the backside of the fabric).
So, in a nutshell, The Slabtown is designed to stand the test of time! Please don't substitute double-cap rivets for the tubular ones when making The Slabtown. Also note: tubular rivets need to be set with a Tubular Rivet Peening Tool.
The Slabtown is an advanced level project. Advanced projects are for experienced stitchers ready to invest a significant amount of time and energy into becoming a bag maker. Complex construction and seriously professional results.
The making time for advanced projects is estimated at 8-12 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.
The pattern and video was a game changer for me. The pattern is flawless but the video is a must. The video make you feel you in class and it is so easy to follow. I am a beginner and the complete package made a novice jump straight into advance.
Thank you so much!!
As usual, Klum House is great! Love everything about their products, business model and vibe. If you want to have make a great product and feel like you're part of a community, do business with Klum House. Their Facebook community is also great.
Aw, thank you so much for the kind words, Kathleen! It means so much >3
I absolutely loved taking the Slabtown online class. Instead of spending extra time double checking pattern instructions and diagrams to make sure I was "doing it right", I had Ellie showing me right on the video! It made a challenging project accessible to intermediate sewists like myself. Highly recommend. The finished project is supremely bag/brag-worthy. :)
OUR PROMISE
You've got this.
Making things takes courage! For every little victory and moment of triumph, there are frustrating seam rips and cooked rivets, but there is magic to be found in showing up and trusting the process. Sometimes you have to take the leap to discover how much you're truly capable of!
OUR PROMISE
We've got you.
From sourcing the very best tools and materials to crafting crystal-clear instructions, we're committed to setting you up for success (and enjoyment!) at every step of your bag making journey. No matter your skill level, we'll meet you where you are and help you reach your bag making goals.
Handpicked for you
Join Us on Instagram @klumhouse for #YAYSLABTOWN Inspiration ✨
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @sv_azimuth
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @dustinklein
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @gyasti
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @elisejoy
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @rachelbeckman
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @sierraburrell
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @whitneygetsdressed
@klumhouse
#YAYSLABTOWN
@klumhouse
📸 @kryystaa
Inspire Your Next Project
Our waxed canvas is Better Cotton Initiative and organic certified.
Crystal-clear illustrated teaching patterns designed to upskill your bag making.
Durable, premium materials sourced with the highest quality in mind.
Made with care in small batches, by a woman-powered team in Portland.
SAVE 10%
STAY CONNECTED
Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive sales, a heads up on new offerings, and lots of bag making inspo.
By completing this form, you are signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time.