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MEET AMANDA
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If you've ever looked at a handmade bag and thought, I'd love to make one of those someday, you're not alone.
One of the most common questions I get from new bagmakers is:
"What bag should I make first?"
With thousands of bag patterns available, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Some patterns require specialty hardware, advanced techniques, or experience managing thick seams. Others assume you already know your way around interfacing, zippers, and bag construction.
That's why choosing the right first project matters.
The pattern you start with can either build confidence or leave you wondering if bag making is really for you.
After teaching beginner bagmakers for years, there's one pattern I find myself recommending again and again:
Whether you're looking for a standalone pattern, a beginner bundle, or additional help improving your bagmaking skills, you can explore all of the Kathy Tote options here.
When you're new to bag making, your first project should do more than give you a finished bag.
It should teach you skills you'll use again and again.
A great beginner bag pattern should:
The goal isn't perfection.
The goal is finishing your first bag and thinking:
"I can totally do this again."
One thing I've noticed over the years is that many new bagmakers don't start with a beginner pattern. They find a beautiful bag, fall in love with it, and decide that's the one they're going to make.
The excitement is understandable, but those types of projects often require several new skills at once. Suddenly you're trying to figure out interfacing, hardware, thick seams, bag construction, and unfamiliar techniques all in the same project. That's a lot to learn at one time, especially when you're still getting comfortable with the basics.
When the project becomes frustrating, it's easy to assume you're doing something wrong or that bag making is harder than you expected. In reality, most beginners aren't struggling because they lack ability. They're struggling because they started with a project that required too many new skills all at once.
That's one of the reasons I recommend starting with the Kathy Tote. It teaches foundational bagmaking skills in a way that feels approachable and manageable. You'll learn techniques that carry over into future projects while building the confidence that comes from successfully finishing a bag.
Once you've completed a project like Kathy, you'll have a much better understanding of how bags go together, making future patterns feel far less intimidating.
The Kathy Tote was designed to help beginner bagmakers build confidence while learning practical skills.
It's structured enough to feel like a real bag, but simple enough that new makers don't feel buried in complicated techniques.
As you sew the Kathy Tote, you'll learn how to:
These are foundational skills that transfer directly into future bag projects, giving you a solid understanding of how bags are constructed and why certain techniques matter.
And when you're finished, you'll have more than just new skills. You'll have a tote you'll be proud to carry and use every day.
One of my favorite features of the Kathy Tote is the interior organization.
The pattern includes six interior slip pockets, giving you plenty of space to keep everyday essentials organized and easy to find. It's a practical feature that adds a lot of function to the finished bag without making the construction feel overwhelming.
Pockets are one of those details that can make a handmade bag feel more polished and professional. They're also a great skill for beginner bagmakers to learn because you'll find them in all kinds of future projects.
Once you've made them a time or two, you'll wonder why they ever seemed intimidating in the first place.
Another thing beginners often ask is:
"What supplies do I need to make my first bag?"
The good news is that you don't need an industrial machine or a room full of specialty tools.
For most beginner bag projects, you'll want:
If you're unsure about tools, supplies, or some of the bagmaking terminology you'll encounter along the way, my free Beginner Bagmaker Starter Kit is a great place to start.
One area that causes a lot of confusion for beginners is interfacing.
The right interfacing can completely change how a finished bag looks and feels.
If that's something you've struggled with, Sew Better Bags walks through interfacing, needles, thread choices, machine settings, and the techniques that help bags look more professional.
There is something special about finishing your first bag.
Before that moment, you're constantly second-guessing yourself. You're wondering if you bought the right supplies, if you're using the right interfacing, or if your sewing machine is even capable of making a bag. Every step feels a little uncertain because everything is new.
But once you finish that first bag, something shifts.
You start to understand how the layers work together. You see firsthand how interfacing affects structure and shape. You begin to recognize why patterns are assembled in a specific order and how small adjustments can improve your results. Most importantly, you realize that mistakes aren't the end of the world. They're simply part of the learning process.
That's why I believe your first bag should be one that helps you build momentum. A good beginner project doesn't just teach techniques. It gives you proof that you can do this. And once you've finished one bag, the second one feels a little less intimidating, the third comes together a little faster, and before long you're sewing projects you never would have attempted when you first started.
This is exactly why I recommend starting with a pattern like the Kathy Tote. It teaches foundational skills while helping you build the confidence that keeps you coming back to your sewing machine.
If you're brand new to bag making and want a few projects that build skills progressively, take a look at the Beginner Bagmaker Bundle.
It includes:
Each project introduces new techniques while helping you gain confidence behind your sewing machine.
Take a look at the BEGINNER BAGMAKER BUNDLE
Most people finish their first tote and immediately start planning the next thing they want to make.
If that's you, the Build Your Own Tote & Pouch Bundle lets you pair the Kathy Tote with a coordinating pouch pattern and save compared to purchasing them separately.
Making a tote and pouch set is a great way to continue practicing your skills while creating something useful.
If you've been looking for an easy bag pattern for beginners, the Kathy Tote is where I'd start.
It teaches foundational bagmaking skills, helps build confidence, and leaves you with a finished project you'll be proud to carry.
Whether you're brand new to bag making or returning to sewing after a long break, Kathy is one of the best first projects to help you get started.
→ Want a beginner-friendly project bundle?
→ Want to improve your bagmaking skills?
Happy Sewing,
Amanda
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Celebrate summer, patriotic holidays, and America's 250th anniversary with the Sparkler Pillow Pattern. Featuring a dimensional pinwheel star, classic Americana styling, and endless fabric possibilities, this beginner-friendly pillow cover can be made with coordinated red, white, and blue fabrics or your favorite patriotic scraps.
The Shining Heart pattern is built around a single heart quilt block designed to be used in simple, low-commitment ways. Learn how the block can become a cozy pillow or table runner, and explore how it repeats beautifully in a full-size quilt if you decide to take it further.
