Great experience. Loved learning a new practical skill and leaving with a bag. Highly recommend.
CUSTOM BAG MAKING // 5 Session Bag Design & Making
♻️ If you sort your recycling, you can make your own bag... This simple 5 step process guides you from zero sewing skills to brand new bag maker in just five sessions.
👜 We guide you step-by-step through the process so you can walk away with a pocket full of skills, your own custom bag and the confidence to tackle projects at home.
🌎 Workshop ticket includes access to the digital curriculum (valued at $150) so you can keep bag making from home.
Date:
Date
Dates don't work? Sign up for new dates at bottom of page...
Choose options
♻️ If you sort your recycling, you can make your own bag... This simple 5 step process guides you from zero sewing skills to brand new bag maker in just five sessions.
👜 We guide you step-by-step through the process so you can walk away with a pocket full of skills, your own custom bag and the confidence to tackle projects at home.
🌎 Workshop ticket includes access to the digital curriculum (valued at $150) so you can keep bag making from home.
Date:
Date
Dates don't work? Sign up for new dates at bottom of page...
♻️ If you sort your recycling, you can make your own bag... This simple 5 step process guides you from zero sewing skills to brand new bag maker in just five sessions.
👜 We guide you step-by-step through the process so you can walk away with a pocket full of skills, your own custom bag and the confidence to tackle projects at home.
🌎 Workshop ticket includes access to the digital curriculum (valued at $150) so you can keep bag making from home.
Date:
Date
Dates don't work? Sign up for new dates at bottom of page...
About the course...
✂️ Workshop Overview
You don't need a seamstress in your family or a fashion degree under your belt to make quality bags from everyday materials. Make your own custom bag from start to finish in five sessions of expert-guided bag making. Finish with a pocket full of skills, a brand new bag and a cheeky little grin knowing you made it from trash.
Into Carry's collaborative learning style puts you in the drivers seat with one-on-one navigating guidance from our bag experts. Walk away with your custom designed bag plus a suite of adaptable upcycling skills to deploy in future projects.
💚 6 Reasons to Join
Whether you're just entering your sewing era, looking to touch up your sewing skills or wanting to explore new materials and ideas for your sewing projects, this course is tailored to your upcycling desires so you can learn practical new skills without marathon YouTube sessions...
- Learn to sew (so you can do your own projects & alterations)
- Explore working with alternative materials
- Design & make your own custom bag
- Meet other like-minded sewing upcycling people
- Learn a new analogue hobby
- Accountability to finish projects & have some time for you :)
Got more questions? Check out the FAQ's below...
💼 Learning Outcomes
From concept to edge finishes, each week we tick off a new component of the bag making process. Key learnings include:
- Fundamental sewing skills. Get familiar with sewing fundamentals while we complete a series of samples to get us read for bag making.
- Pattern making. Decide the shape of your bag with this simple and versatile bag pattern method. If pattern making isn't your cup of tea, we have some pre-made patterns ready for you to use.
- Bag design. Material choices are key to a good bag design. We teach methods to pair materials to find the right structure and aesthetic for your future bag adventures.
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Bag making. The shape and materials we chose inform the bag making process. You will be guided through this step-by-step process to transform your materials into a real life 3D bag.
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Bag finishings. Edge and hardware finishings are what separate a 'good' bag from a high quality piece. Learn material edge finishes and options for functional hardware and finishings.
♻️ Upskill Learning Format
The beauty of this process is its adaptable and collaborative format. When upcycling, we rarely use the same material twice, so every process has marginal changes. Our step-by-step bag making process follows a core method with lots of options for customisation along the way. This way we can all use weird and wonderful materials in bringing unique bag designs to life.
***if you can't make one of the sessions we can make up your time and learnings in the prior or following weeks. Contact Saskia at community@intocarry.co to arrange the specifics :) ***
💚 Who this Course is for...
If you have a hate for landfill and a curiosity for bag making, this course is for you. The process is designed to meet you at your skill level, with beginners and experts sitting side by side. No matter your skill level, we'll guide you through the process to ensure you max out your learnings and make a hella good bag.
🗓️ Class Dates
Note: If you can't make a session we can always find another session or time to make up for it. In the event of public holidays, we may run an additional session to make up for it. Feel free to email community@intocarry.co to ask specific questions about any date clashes you might have.
TUESDAY EVENING - 8 Duckett St Brunswick
Tue 29th September / 6.30-8.30pm
Tue 06th October / 6.30-8.30pm
Tue 13th October / 6.30-8.30pm
Tue 20th October / 6.30-8.30pm
Tue 27th October / 6.30-8.30pm
SUNDAY AFTERNOON - 8 Duckett St Brunswick
Sun 04th October / 2.30pm-4.30pm
Sun 11th October / 2.30pm-4.30pm
Sun 18th October / 2.30pm-4.30pm
Sun 25th October / 2.30pm-4.30pm
Sun 01st November / 2.30pm-4.30pm
If you can't make one of two of the sessions, we can switch you into a different class or find a time to make up for sewing time :)
🌎 Bonus Online Tutorial
The full Curved Bag Making framework has been translated into a detailed online tutorial. This tutorial includes written, visual and video formatted content of each step of the process. After your first lesson, you will be given lifetime access to the online tutorial so you can reference each learning and continue upcycling long after the course is finished.
All leftover textiles and offcuts are externally recycled with UPPAREL.
Build a bag from scratch over five two hour sessions. No prior sewing or bag making skills required! Choose from Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday sessions (see next page). There is an expert facilitator for every 6 people, so we can each get lots of one-on-one time with our ideas and projects :)
- Five 2 hour classes
- Suitable for all skill levels
- No prior sewing skills required (but plz tell us if you've not sewn before)
- We have an abundance of waste here but BYO waste material is welcomed
- Each student will have their own sewing machine to practice on (you're welcome to BYO machine)
- Classes held at 8 Duckett St Brunswick (we've moved from Collingwood)
♻️ Waste Materials
We have a LOT of overlooked materials here at the studio. If you have a particular material you would like to upcycle, please bring it in! We love exploring new materials. Otherwise, we have an abundance of banners, denim, sleeping bags, upholstery fabric, tarps, workwear and other random goodies here.
Note: if you would like to use soft plastic in your design, you can create your own at home with our online tutorial and bring it into class (you won't need this material until week 2).
Note: If you can't make a session we can always find another session or time to make up for it. In the event of public holidays, we may run an additional session to make up for it. Feel free to email community@intocarry.co to ask specific questions about any date clashes you might have.
SUNDAY SESSION - Brunswick
Sun 1st March 10.30am-12.30pm
Sun 8th March 10.30am-12.30pm (Labour Day Weekend)
Sun 15th March 10.30am-12.30pm
Sun 22nd March 10.30am-12.30pm
Sun 29th March 10.30am-12.30pm
MONDAY SESSION - Brunswick
Mon 2nd March 6.30-8.30pm
Mon 9th March 6.30-8.30pm (Labour Day)
Mon 16th March 6.30-8.30pm
Mon 23rd March 6.30-8.30pm
Mon 30th March 6.30-8.30pm
TUESDAY SESSION - Brunswick
Tues 3rd March 6.30-8.30pm
Tues 10th March 6.30-8.30pm
Tues 17th March 6.30-8.30pm
Tues 24th March 6.30-8.30pm
Tues 31st March 6.30-8.30pm
WEDNESDAY SESSION - Brunswick
Wed 4th March 6.30-8.30pm
Wed 11th March 6.30-8.30pm
Wed 18th March 6.30-8.30pm
Wed 25th March 6.30-8.30pm
Wed 1st April 6.30-8.30pm
Included in the $390 ticket is five weeks of classes, valued at $140 per class, hardware for strap connections bag closures, plus lifetime access to the online tutorial version of the same bag making framework valued at $150.
A total value of $850 for $390.
Bonus point if you've read this far, use code 'HEARTUPCYCLING' for 10% off
Due to the group sizes of our workshops and the need to organise staffing levels and materials accordingly, the following cancellation terms apply:
Cancellations
- More than 21 days before the workshop: Full refund
- Within 21 days of the workshop: No refunds.
Booking Transfers
- You can transfer your booking to another person (at no charge) by notifying us before the workshop begins.
- Other requests to change workshop dates are subject to availability and our discretion.
Illness
- Please do not attend if you are unwell or have any symptoms of something that could be contagious.
- If you notify us before the workshop starts that you cannot attend due to illness, we can transfer you to another workshop date, within 12 months.
- Refunds are not available within 21 days due to illness.
Non-Attendance
We cannot accommodate refunds, credits, or transfers for non-attendance without prior notice.
Exceptional Circumstances
Any requests outside the above will be considered at our discretion.
To see if the classes are right for you, try our one-off 2 or 5 hour Intro to Sewing or Intro to Bagmaking Classes! :)
Feedback from community...
Custom Bag FAQ
The Curved Bag Making Course is designed for all skill levels. We begin with a series of practical sewing exercises to get everyone comfortable with the techniques required to make the bag. Most classes have a mix of new and experienced sewers. Your Into Carry facilitators will help you tailor your bag design to meet you at your skill level.
We're all busy! If you can't make the first or second session of the five week course, we recommend you wait for the next course as these lessons cover a lot of practical learnings that make it hard to catch up on. The last three sessions are sewing and assembly, so if you are unable to attend one of these, we can find you a space in another class or we can find an alternative time when Luke or another facilitator are in the studio for you to come and use the sewing machines :)
This course is our favourite bag making style because the bag styles options are so diverse! You can make anything from practical messenger bags to cute lil' clutches.
- Shoulder bag // Big oversized over-the-shoulder style bag
- Clutch or Purse // Fashion-focused, clean-edged, 'special occasion' purse or clutch
- Messenger bag // Laptop, clothing, water bottle work bag style
- Handbag // Practical yet stylish handbag (over-the-shoulder or hand-held
Working with wasted materials is creative in itself. We don't need elaborate ideas to make high quality bags. We just need a sewing machine and a few hours of time :)
Just as the old saying goes.... cut two materials with one pair of scissors.
Meaning, join the course with your friend you can't see and save $60 when you book together using the code "BESTBUDS" at checkout.
First, congratulations on starting all those projects. Second, Luke and the Into Carry team are your upcycling coaches, together, we'll make sure we finish your bag! No matter what it takes! Strength in numbers etc.
I recently learnt what a UFO is so it's only fair to share... it stands for UnFinished Object and is a 100% normal symptom of getting really excited about the potential of overlooked materials. But fear not, we will each finish the course with FO's.
Great question. The answer is: Only if you want it to.
We can intentionally make trashy bags but we can just as easily make crisp, sharp, super sexy-looking masterpieces. Without any prior skills of fancy knick nacks.
Key learnings and benefits are:
- Learn bag pattern making so you can create your own custom bag designs
- Work with alternative materials so you can buy less fabric and use more waste materials in your sewing projects
- Build your own bag from scratch to understand the importance of designing the bags process of assembly
- Explore different material edge finishes so you can make wasted materials look clean and crisp
- Design and sew your own bag so you can tell all your friends how amazing your sewing skills are :)
- Be guided by two expert upcycling facilitators so you can ask questions specific to your skill level and bag making creative interests
- Learn beside 9 other upcycling champions so you can connect with like minded change-makers
It can be nice to upcycle something with sentimental value, so if you have an old garment that you want to rebirth into carry then absolutely, bring it along!
Alternatively, we have soooo much material here for you to get creative with. There is a whole range of weird, wacky, wonderful waste, ready for you to start exploring and upcycling.
Each course is run from our space in Brunswick, Melbourne/Naarm.
Free parking after 6.00pm on most surrounding streets, otherwise Anstey Station and Sydney Road Tram are 200m away.
Address is: 8 Duckett St Brunswick 3056 VIC
Too easy, shoot Luke an email at luke@intocarry.co and we will get back to you asap.
Five Session Breakdown
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 80 reviews.
Super interesting and engaging. I already had some sewing experience, but learning to patch pieces together with top stitching was a new skill to me. Watching everything come together over the term was so cool, I was so excited for class every week. And of course a big thanks to Saskia for all the guidance and encouragement, she was a wonderful teacher.
My experience was so special - lovely people, great space, joy and individuality in abundance, new skills, and mind-opening sewing possibilities unlocked. If you are looking to smile for two hours straight, five weeks in a row, and then forever more when you look at your bag - this is the course for you. Thank you, Into Carry crew!
The Custom Bag Making Workshop was honestly one of the highlights of my year so far! Saskia and Brittany were the best facilitators you could ask for🙌🏼 Their passion and expertise in upcycling made the whole process super inspiring yet approachable. I had a blast with the Sunday arvo crew and walked away with an unique snazzy bag… I will be missing this and cannot wait to continue my upcycling journey.
Highly recommend! Very rewarding the Saskia was such an amazing teacher!
I loved this class! So happy to have made such an awesome bag that is 100% customised to my needs. I’m now equipped with skills to keep turning old fabrics into cool pieces.
I absolutely loved this bag-making course! Saskia and Luke are fantastic instructors—friendly, patient, and incredibly skilled. They created such a welcoming and supportive environment that made learning both fun and rewarding. I had no previous sewing experience, but thanks to their guidance, I was able to make a beautiful bag that I’m genuinely so happy with. It was amazing to see the project come together from start to finish, and I learned so much along the way. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning how to make their own handbag ✨👜
I loved these 5 week sessions so much! Everyone I interacted with was so lovely & guided me through the basics of sewing. Would 10/10 recommend, so worth it!
it was such a vibe and had an amazing time ! Saskia was such a generous instructor! the course framework was perfect for any skill level and it feels so good to be able to create , learn and be offline… and you get to meet cool like minded individuals!
So happy with my bag. Crazy to see it all come together. I enjoyed sharing the experience with my classmates, and to see their finished work. Shoutout to Kate ❤️ was so lovely to meet you all.
I had such an amazing experience at the Into Carry workshop. It was my first time sewing, and Saskia and Luke were incredibly patient and supportive throughout the process. They took the time to help everyone feel comfortable and confident, which made the whole experience so enjoyable. I’m really grateful for how welcoming and encouraging they were. I learned so much and had a great time — highly recommend! especially if you’re planning to start learning sewing but feel like it might be hard, or even if you’re just looking for a fun, fulfilling activity to do with friends or family.
Loved the experience, enjoyed the company of new people and learnt how to make a bag from scratch. Thank you .
Absolutely loved it. Both instructors were fantastic, really feel as though my sewing abilities have come a long way (plus I’m obsessed with my new bag)
The best experience ever!! Thank you Luke and Saskia for being the most patient teachers :) I loveee my new bag and I have been getting heaps of compliments. The course gave me the skills I needed to upcycle and make more bags at home
This was a fantastic course, sewing from session one with space to be a little bit innovative and add your own flair. And when it all came together on week 5 felt so accomplished.
Would definitely recommend the course, especially is someone is new to sewing/ a beginner already. I really enjoyed the atmosphere created, the access to the fabrics was fantastic/ very inspiring to recycle/ reuse outside of the course.
I saw the Facebook add and signed up. I found the course went at a good pace, there was plenty of support, I learnt some great sewing skills and love learning how to make a bag. Lovely teachers and nice other students.
This is dangerously late but I had such an amazing time at this course and picked up some super hand skills! The people were lovely, the classes were useful and while I got a bit stuck behind at the end I’m super happy with the outcome! Would highly recommend this course to any beginner or intermediate arts/crafts person who is keen on learning about upcycling, making a sexual bag or meeting like minded people
Absolutely loved the course, learned so much that I can also repeat again at home in the future. Was such a lovely group of people and the teachers were so helpful and patient with us all. There were attendees of all levels, those who have never touched a machine before and sewing veterans. Lovely supportive environment, great fun and a sick bag at the end of it. Couldn’t recommend more.
Crazy Good. Really nurturing
100% would recommend
Amazing! Saskia and Luke and the best and we had an amazing group!
AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Would highly recommend.
Absolutely loved the course. It was a great experience, I had no sewing experience and still came out the other side with a really cool bag. All the facilitators are so helpful and patient. Would do again for sure!
Amazing experience, you learnt to sew, learn how to use a sewing machine, learn how to make a bag and also become part of an awesome community. Luke and Saskia were amazing. Super supportive, very informative and really enhance the learning and creating experience. Couldn't have done any of it without them. They went above and beyond teaching us the ropes and starting early, ending late to help us through with our bag projects. Super happy with my big colourful bag which I now use as my gym bag!
I had the best time at this course! Great skills and great people 🥰
Loved the bag making course! Learnt lots of new sewing and assembly / design skills and had a blast doing it. Stoked with how the bag turned out. 10/10 would recommend to anyone considering it.
Incredible vibes every week in such a cool, creative setting. Made so many mistakes along the way but learnt so much with our supportive teachers and classmates. Stoked (and a little shocked) to see the final product come together. Thanks Luke and Saskia!
This was a fantastic experience, the team was so nice and very helpful with all the instruction. Vert beginner friendly!!!
Luke and the team were great teachers and mentors. The studio is a perfect location for these upcycling classes.
Such lovely tutors and such a cool, lovely environment. Really enjoyed having a routine space to go to for creating and yapping <3
Luke and Saskia are amazing! Generously shared their knowledge and skills and supported everyone in their bag concepts to bring to life. I would highly recommend to do one of the classes offered @intocarry
Such an epic experience!! Learnt some new techniques which I’ve been using to mend a bunch of clothes and got a sweet new bag in the process! It was sooo good to end a day by sewing alongside a room full of like-minded, cool people and Luke and Saskia were super supportive and encouraging of the creative process. Love the ethos and vibe of the whole experience. Thank you so much!!!!
Absolutely loved the course. Learnt some fantastic skills, loved seeing the whole bag come together. The crew were extremely nice, knowledgeable and super helpful. Would recommend this to anyone :)
This was seriously unmatched. My sewing skills absolutely improved and now I feel like I have all these new skills to make my friends cool things! Thank you!!
Loved the course - the instructors were super helpful and patient given I had zero sewing skills. They had great ideas and were committed to making our bags look as good as can be. 10/10 would recommend.
I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to friends.
I've finally learnt how to use a sewing machine. The facilitators were very personable and encouraged everyone's creativity. They made the whole experience very enjoyable and were very patient when fixing my multiple errors.
So amazing, learnt so much! Luke and Saskia were incredible
I had an absolute ball, so excited for my new skills, can't wait to make my next bag!
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