Bag making kits, curated by a bag maker
Every Zipper Valley kit starts at my own sewing table. I choose a pattern I love, pair it with fabric, zipper tape, pulls and notions that look beautiful together, and sew the sample bag myself before the kit ever goes on sale. That means you get a bag sewing kit where the colour matching and the shopping around are already done, so you can go straight to the fun part: sewing something you'll actually carry.
What's inside a bag making kit
Each kit is built for one specific pattern, and the exact contents are listed on every product page. Depending on the bag, a kit usually includes:
- Exterior fabric, such as our DayFlex bonded fabric, water resistant canvas or faux leather
- Lining fabric that coordinates with the exterior
- Matching zipper tape and zipper pulls
- Webbing for straps and handles
- Hardware like D-rings, swivel hooks and sliders, for bags that need it
- Fleece, interfacing and other notions the pattern calls for
Each product page tells you whether the pattern is included. If you need one, you can add the printed paper pattern from our bag patterns collection, or buy the PDF straight from the designer.
Kits for patterns from designers you already love
Our kits are built around tried and true bag patterns from Noodlehead, Hammerstitch and Center Street Quilts. You'll find kits for tote bags like the Redwood Tote, Oxbow Tote and Wool + Wax Tote, the Sandhill Sling crossbody, and pouches like the Plover Pouch and the Hemingway Pouch. Our October kit even pairs Hammerstitch's Steeltown Tote with the Hamilton Pouch, so you finish with a matching set.
Choosing the right kit for your skill level
Every kit lists its skill level on the product page. If this is your first bag, start with a beginner friendly pattern like the Steeltown Tote, which has step by step photo instructions. Once you have a few zippered projects behind you, the Redwood Tote and Plover Pouch are lovely next steps, with pockets, zippers and details that make them feel like a real accomplishment.
A thoughtful gift for the maker in your life
A bag making kit is one of my favourite gifts to give a sewing friend. It's a complete, coordinated project they can enjoy on a cozy afternoon, and they'll end up with a handmade bag they love. Add a few extra zipper pulls, and it's ready to wrap for a birthday or the holidays.
What else you'll need
Kits include the materials for your bag. To sew it, you'll also want polyester thread, a cutting mat, a ruler, a rotary cutter, tailor's chalk and a size 14 or 16 Microtex needle. Each product page lists anything specific to that pattern.
Bag making kits shipped across Canada and the US
All of our kits ship from our studio in Kitchener, Ontario, to makers across Canada and the US. New kits drop every month, so check back often to see what's new on my sewing table.
Prefer to put together your own project? Browse our fabric, zipper tape by the yard, cute zipper pulls and webbing to build a bag that's all yours.
