Ellie Lum is one of the first makers I met when I moved to Portland. Her sewing studio has always been an inspiration and I'm very proud to have been able to be in Klum House's orbit during my time in the city.
I was even very lucky to trade skills with Ellie and had the opportunity to make beautiful and long-lasting essentials, including this Pendleton Maywood Totepack.
Ellie gave me the confidence to tackle projects I deemed more challenging, like sewing zippers and dealing with hardware.
As part of the Rachel Sees Snail Shoes x The Crafter's Box Instagram giveaway I won a couple of weeks ago, I had an extra $200 to spend on the Crafter's Box website.
I purchased a bunch of extra supplies and added the Balboa Leather Belt Bag kit and video to my cart. It was a no-brainer, I knew it taking a Klum House workshop right at home would be a fun experience!
Materials and supplies
Tools and materials included in the kit
- A detailed digital workshop led by Ellie Lum of Klum House
- PDF download with step-by-step instructions
- Tan leather main piece
- Tan leather strap, ¾ x 70"
- Center bar buckle in brass, ¾"
- Seven medium double-cap rivets in brass
- Magnetic snap rivet in brass, 14 mm
- 3/32" drive punch
- Dot anvil
- Pattern template
Tools and materials to have at home
- Hammer
- A hard surface for setting rivets
- Punching board to use under your drive punch
- Olive oil and rag to condition the leather
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Butter knife for pre-creasing the leather
The process
Making the belt bag was extremely easy. You can watch me make it here in my Instagram Stories Highlights.
The leather bag is already precut and all you need to do is punch holes, install the hardware, and cut your strap to size!
It's the perfect project for beginner leatherworkers. It's honestly so satisfying to be able to make a project in less than an hour!
It was no surprise to me that the instructions in the video were very easy to follow, Ellie gives detailed explanations that give you the confidence to punch holes and install hardware with confidence. You can really tell how experienced Ellie is as a teacher.
It was pretty much like attending a workshop in person at the Klum House studio! All the questions that were popping up in my head as I was starting the project were immediately answered by Ellie, just like magic!
Hack
The only issue I've had with my make was that the bag kept popping open, no matter how little I put in it. I tried putting a pile of books overnight on top of it so it would keep its shape but it did not really help.
I reached out to someone on Insta who had also made the belt bag and they confirmed they were facing the same issue...
So I finally decided to remove the magnet and replace it with a snap fastener. It was a very quick and inexpensive fix and now my phone and card holder are secure and I have peace of mind.
Final thoughts
I'm so happy with my belt bag, I love how lightweight it is and how it forces me to only bring the bare minimum when I go out. It fits my phone and my cardholder and that's honestly all I need most of the time.
The strap can also be removed and the bag then becomes a stylish clutch!
The leather is buttery smooth and I can tell how even more beautiful it will look as time goes by and the leather ages.
If you have the chance to do so, head over to the Klum House Studio for a workshop, and if you're not in the area, fret not, Ellie offers a number of online classes.
As for me, the black version of the Balboa Belt Bag is definitely on my wishlist for the colder weather, as well as the slabtown rolltop backpack...
Have you ever made your own bag? Which pattern did you use?
This article is not sponsored but I won an Instagram giveaway that Rachel Sees Snail Shoes organized in collaboration with The Crafter's Box. The prize consisted of Rachel's Leather Sandal Making Premium Workshop (supplies + video tutorial) and an extra $200 to spend on the Crafter's Box website. A big thank you to Rachel and The Crafter's Box for organizing this Instagram giveaway, I'm still pinching myself I got to win it! This post also contains affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase via one of my links, I may make a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!