Knocking out another one of my 2019 #MakeNine items! I bought this kit during Klum House\’s Black Friday/Small Business Saturday sale last year so I had everrrrything I needed just ready and waiting for me to put it together. Plus, it only took about an afternoon to sew, something which can not be said about several of my other #makenine items–I\’m looking at you, future quilt and LBD!
The Fremont is a zip-top tote with two exterior pockets, one interior pocket, handles, and a shoulder strap. The kit comes with the fabric and lining, leather strapping, and all the hardware you need to make it! The only things you\’ll need to provide on your own are a sewing machine and thread and a couple of tools: an awl and a fabric/leather punch. When I made my Woodland Dopp Kit, I was able to use my awl to do all the rivets, but for this bag, there are rivets AND a sturdier screw thing that hold the strap on to the corners of the bag, and try as I might I could not get my awl to create a large enough hole. Luckily, my city has this incredible resource called the Scrap Exchange–a wonderful and weird \”Creative Reuse Arts Center\” where you can purchase, for example, a bucket of CD jewel cases, or test tubes, or a barrel of egg cartons, or a telescope, or fabric, or bricks, or… (here\’s a list of items the accept via donations. It\’s basically everything.) Scrap Exchange also has a Wednesday night open-sewing night where you can come and use their sergers and sewing machines and they have loads of tools including leather tools! They had a rotating leather awl on hand that was exactly what I needed to finish my project.
The best part about Klum House bag maker kit projects is that they are so so quick. Since everything is already cut and marked and ready to go, it really is a weekend project, and you end up with a bag that looks very professional–I don\’t think anyone would guess that I made this bag. I\’m really happy with how it turned out, but I do wish it were bigger; it is a true tote bag size. It\’s still roomy enough to fit all my daily necessities (and with the zip top and multiple handles it would be great for travel) but it\’s definitely not large enough for, say, an overnight trip, which is one thing I was hoping to use it for. (What I should do is multiply all the dimensions by like, 1.5, and then remake it larger overall.) This is my fault as the dimensions are clearly listed on the website, but as it is, I\’m just not sure if I will use it all that much. It would make a perfect project bag though!
Therefore… I\’m actually auctioning this bag off. Between now and this Friday, July 12th, at 6:00 pm EST, I\’ll be accepting bids on this bag on the dedicated instagram post, which you can see here. You can bid on the bag there and the winner will receive the bag (and, perhaps, some bonus goodies!) in exchange for a RAICES donation in the amount of the winning bid. (You\’ll just make the donation and then forward me the thank you email as proof.) Head on over to my instagram to bid!
xoxo,
Ooh, thanks for the reminder about Freeman's Creative! I'd heard it had opened, but I didn't realize it was in the same plaza as the Scrap Exchange. I can feel my weekend plans taking shape already… 😀
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It's a really cute shop! Definitely worth a visit 🙂
I missed the auction, but <3 <3 <3, that's a lovely idea, and whoever won the bag was very lucky!