It’s not talent. It’s understanding.

Most people think beautiful bags come from:

  • talent,
  • expensive machines,
  • or years of experience.


But usually, the difference comes from understanding:

  • materials,
  • structure,
  • proportions,
  • and construction logic.


That’s what I teach inside the Academy.

Not just steps to follow —
but how bags actually work.

Bag Patterns with video sew-along tutorials

Beginner-friendly patterns specially adjusted to make even on a home sewing machine — with support and troubleshooting included.

“Great patterns and thorough tutorial. Our seller is a sweet person who made this little project very enjoyable!”

Kevin about Borla pattern for Leather

If your domestic sewing machine can work with denim and heavy duty fabric it also can work with lamb and garment cowhide

Check out Patterns

Craftsmanship Library

A library of technique classes to create bags that look and feel professionally made — for beginners and advanced makers

Most Popular Classes

Bag Design Course

If following patterns is no longer enough and you’d like to create your own designs, this course will guide you step by step. (Craftsmanship Library included)

Course Schedule

Click on a week to see the details.

  • Week 1: Materials & Core Skills — Opens March 20

    → Materials:

    • Leather Chapter

    💌 I’ll contact you shortly after the enrollment to get your shipping address and send you the leather samples kit to check what leathers your sewing machine likes to work with

    • Tools - a minimum tool set is enough for the course

    → Core skills:

    • tracing

    • cutting

    • gluing

    • stitching on a home and professional sewing machines (theory + practice)

    Week 1 projects:

    → Choose one beginner-friendly project (about 2 hours):

    • Cutting fringe and making a tassel (perfect practice for clean, confident cutting)

    • unlined pouch with closed-end zipper

    You can choose one to make during week 1 and everything stays in your library for future reference.

  • Week 2 Design, pattern making and assembly order and Your first bag — Opens March 27

    • Pattern making theory and practice,

    • Assembly order (scroll to the full program below to check the details),

    • Introduction to zip closures for lined bags,

    • Straps and bottoms,

    • 7 most popular pockets library

    → Week 2 projects:

    • 1. unlined 2-piece tote bag with belt leather handles, inside stitching

    • 2. suede-lined 2-piece purse with outside side stitching

    • 3. angled lined bag with wool & canvas top and a separate leather bottom

    To make one project is enough for the course

    Available variations to make it perfect for you:

    You can choose from several sizes, and you’ll learn pattern-making and resizing techniques along the way.

    The top can be made from waxed canvas, wool, or leather.

    zip closure: with closed ends, with zip closure open at one end or put a magnet if you like it more,

    You can choose a shoulder or crossbody strap and add any pocket from the pockets library to create a truly perfect everyday bag.

    My assistance in the course chat is included if you have any questions about adjusting the pattern or anything else.

  • Catching up Week — April 3-10

    Rest & catch-up week

    Finish projects

    Decide on sizes

    Prepare materials

    Ask questions and get guidance

    This week exists so you don’t rush.

  • Week 3: Lined and Overlapped Tote/Hobo/Crossbody — April/10

    Again, we don't just follow one project all together but adjust it for your needs.

    ❂ You’ll have three models to choose from to make the one that fits you best, and others two will be there for your future reference.

    • 1. lined tote with closed zip ends and separate bottom (that cute west-east vibe if you like it!)

    • 2. lined purse with clean single-stitch overlapping seams

    • 3-piece tote with waxed canvas top and leather bottom.

    We can adjust:

    •the size,

    • to add lining or not (you already will know the techniques by then :)

    • add magnet instead of zipper,

    • stitched in or riveted strap

  • Week 4: Tote/Hobo/Crossbody with double-stitch overlapping with wide stitched-in strap and different tops — April/17

    The contemporary design with the overlapped body stitching,

    rolled edge,

    separate bottom,

    stitched in wide strap.

    Again, I'll be making the bag and showing you all the techniques, and you are more than welcome to adjust the size for you.

    I'll be there to help you with the pattern adjustments and assembly if you'd like to change something.

  • Week 5: Arc style Bag: design and pattern making — April/24

  • Week 6: Your own design project (Tier 1) and Additional Design and Pattern Making (Tier 2) — May/1

    Tier 1: Create a bag based on your idea, with my guidance on pattern and assembly order. If this will feel like too much, you can choose any project from the course library. Bag designer tier 2 Advanced also get access to the additional Design & Pattern Making module:

    Pattern making for moon / crescent shapes

    Camera bags (rectangular & round)

    Backpacks

    Adding a flap to any shape

    Cambridge messenger bag

    Travel duffle with pockets

    Boston-style duffle

    Oval-bottom bags

    Fanny packs

  • Weeks 7-8: Special for Bag Designer Advanced tier

    We'll pick the bag you - the students of the tier 2 Bag Designer Advance - want the most will pick and we'll make it.

    Also, it's the time for your personal projects: whenever you wanted to create a bag design, you'll get my consulting and advice on 2 more bags you wanted to make.

  • Bonus: Create & Sell mini-course

    As my Sparkle, you'll get access to the mini course "Sell & Create" to make sure that your Instagram is ready for your first clients and growth.

FAQ

  • I’ve never made a bag. Can I really do this?

    Yes. You won't be alone there, I'll be with you. And once you learn how to cut and stitch straight (I’ll show you all the tricks), you can make a bag.

    I’ll guide you through every step.

  • I have a basic home sewing machine. Do I need to invest in an industrial heavy duty machine?

    If your sewing machine can handle denim and other thicker fabrics, there’s absolutely no need to invest in a heavy-duty machine. You’ll be able to work with lamb and garment-weight cowhide leather during the course.

    I’ll even say more: the first five leather projects in the course are intentionally made on my home Brother sewing machine , so you can see all the tricks and troubleshooting in action.

    The first chapter of the course has a free preview, so you’re very welcome to watch it first.

    And after enrollment, I’ll send you a Leather Samples Kit with about 12–14 samples of different thicknesses and textures. This way, you can test what your sewing machine can handle and avoid unnecessary or wrong purchases.

  • What if I make mistakes?

    Everyone does — and that’s part of the process. You’ll learn how to fix them cleanly so your bag still looks professional. What if I don’t have much time?

  • What if I don’t have much time?

    All lessons are self-paced pre-recorded videos with lifetime access. You can learn whenever it fits your schedule.

  • How long will I have access?

    Forever. Once you enroll, the materials are yours for life — no subscriptions, no expiration dates.

  • Can I sell the bags I make?

    Absolutely. Many of my students have started small businesses after this program. You’ll learn professional construction techniques that make your designs stand out.

What my students say 🥰

online bag course review

I still remember the excitement of creating my very first bag. It wasn’t perfect — in fact, it looked pretty amateurish — but it sparked something I couldn’t ignore. Over time, that hobby grew into my career as a bag designer and maker. Today, it’s my honor to share the techniques I’ve learned with you.

When I first started, my biggest fear was wasting money on tools I’d never use or choosing the wrong materials (and the wrong leather can be a pretty expensive mistake). I went through many missteps and turnarounds while honing my skills, but each mistake taught me something important. Now it’s my joy to help you avoid those costly detours and instead focus on the fun of creating.

The best part? You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment to begin. Every project is designed to work with a simple home sewing machine and tools you most likely already have at home. Everything here is built to help you start without fear of making the wrong investments — just the joy of creating something beautiful and lasting with your own hands.

A bit about me

Ksenia Khelman

I run the show :D

Hi there, my name is Ksenia Khelman, and I'm a handbag designer and maker. I'm self-taught and crafted my first bag in 2008 by accident: my favorite bag fell apart, and since it wasn't available on the market anymore, I decided to remake it myself. For a few years, it was a hobby and a side hustle, as I balanced it with my regular job. However, in 2017, I made the decision to pursue crafting full-time. I quit my job and embarked on my journey as a full-time artist. Since then, I've been making a living by creating custom handmade leather bags from scratch. My small business is thriving, with clients from all over the world. The Khelman bag studio is located in San Francisco, CA, and currently, over 1500 happy customers own and enjoy their Khelman bags.

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