10.00am – 4.00pm
£170 inc.  tasty lunch, fresh coffee & home baking
Material Charges: £25

'Sew your own Satchel' - a two day workshop with Emma Redfern of Hole House Bags    

The satchel is a traditional shape, perfect for wearing either cross body or on the shoulder. It's a practical, but smart looking bag that can be made in tweed or canvas weight fabric, with lots of options so it's perfect for personalising.

As this is a two day workshop, you will have the chance to really work on the details of your bag, including which  flap shape you choose (or draft your own), the closure, how many pockets to include and whether you make the large or medium size. The outer can also be stitched in two different fabrics for some lovely colour blocking if that's your thing!

We will be stitching a fabric strap too which will be fully adjustable. You will work through these design details at the beginning of the workshop with the tutor, so that you can create your own unique bag with confidence.

This is suitable for adventurous beginners / intermediate sewists: you should be able to thread and use your own sewing machine confidently, a zipper foot is useful if you have one. There isn't any technically difficult sewing but there are some bulky seams to handle. 

All specialist materials will be provided, along with full written instructions and a paper pattern to take away with you.

Dates for this course - see the table below to book:

Friday 14 &  Sat 15 November 2025  

 Emma takes a variety of Hole House Bag making courses here- please see top menu for her other styles.

 Typically this course runs with around 6-7 students.

Please bring:  

• 0.75m of an outer fabric, or two co-ordinating outer fabrics (regular width approx140cm)
• 1m of lining fabric to allow for extra pockets
• If you would like to use webbing in your strap, rather than making one, bring 1.5m of 38mm or 400 webbing
• Matching thread
• Fully operational sewing machine that you are familiar with (with regular and zipper foot)
• Scissors, pins and clips, thread, pen or pencil, ruler. .
• Emma will provide everything else - please bring your £25 materials money to cover this. It includes interfacing, interlining, twist lock closure, strap hardware, zips, pattern and instructions.

About the tutor :  Anyone who loves textiles and handbags will already know Emma Redfern's very popular 'Hole House' facebook page, bag making page, and website from where she sells her wonderfully original, unique and quirky bags. With a background in art history and an interest in the Victorian Arts and Crafts movement, Emma believes that anyone can produce something beautiful and useful, given a little instruction and some inspiring fabric.

Living just a few miles away from Greystoke, in Cumbria's lovely northern fells, we're delighted to be welcoming Emma back to Quirky Workshops once more.