Fremont vs Oberlin vs Alberta Online Class: Which to Pick
By Klum House: Bag making kits, bag sewing patterns, waxed | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Comparisons
Compare Klum House's Fremont, Oberlin, and Alberta online classes by project, included pattern, and price. Find the right bag making class for your next sew.
Quick answer
Choose Oberlin if you want a structured waxed canvas and leather tote with a magnetic closure and pockets; choose Alberta if you want a crossbody bag and the PDF pattern included; choose Fremont if you prefer a class led by Ellie Lum without a specific project named in the catalog facts.
Project scope and what you actually make
The Oberlin class is built around a specific bag: a waxed canvas and leather tote with a magnetic closure and lots of pockets. That makes it a good fit if you already know you want that tote and want guidance on its particular construction details.
The Alberta class is also tied to a named project, the Alberta Crossbody, and the pattern is included. If you want a smaller crossbody bag and the convenience of having the pattern bundled, Alberta is the clearer match.
The Fremont class does not name a specific project in the supplied catalog facts. That is a real decision limitation: you cannot tell from the listing alone which bag you will make, so check the class description or preview before buying if the project matters to you.
Price and value trade-offs
All three classes offer lifetime or evergreen access to video tutorials, so you can work at your own pace. The difference is in the price and what is bundled.
Oberlin and Fremont are both listed at USD 34.30 (comparison price USD 49.00). Alberta is listed at USD 25.35 (comparison price USD 39.00), making it the lowest-priced of the three, and it also includes the Alberta PDF pattern.
Each class offers a 50% saving when added to a matching kit, so if you plan to buy a kit, the class becomes even better value. The trade-off is that the kit discount ties you to that specific project.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Project clarity vs. flexibility: Oberlin and Alberta name their projects, so you know exactly what you are making. Fremont does not specify a project in the catalog facts, so you trade clarity for the possibility of a class that fits whatever you choose to sew. If you need to know the finished bag before buying, stick with Oberlin or Alberta.
- Pattern included vs. pattern separate: Alberta includes the PDF pattern; Oberlin and Fremont do not list a pattern in the supplied facts. If you do not already own the pattern, Alberta saves you a separate purchase. Check whether you already own the pattern before paying for a class that includes it.
- Price vs. kit discount: Alberta is the lowest-priced class at USD 25.35, but all three offer 50% off when added to a matching kit. The kit discount can make any class a better deal, but only if you want that specific kit. Decide on the kit first; the class discount follows the kit choice.
Class facts at a glance
- Oberlin - Online Class: Oberlin is a waxed canvas and leather tote class with a magnetic closure and lots of pockets, taught by founder Ellie Lum. If you want a roomy, pocket-rich tote and step-by-step guidance on its specific features, this class matches that goal.
Oberlin - Online Class - Alberta - Online Class: Alberta includes the PDF pattern and is taught by the pattern's designer, Ellie. You get the pattern and instruction from its designer, which can help if you want to understand the intended construction.
Alberta - Online Class - Fremont - Online Class: Fremont offers lifetime access to on-demand step-by-step video instructions led by Ellie Lum. If you value Ellie's teaching style and want to sew on your own schedule, Fremont delivers that, though the project itself is not specified in the catalog facts.
Which class fits you?
Best for
- Sewists who want a structured waxed canvas and leather tote with pockets (Oberlin)
- Bag makers who want a crossbody project and the PDF pattern included (Alberta)
- Learners who want Ellie Lum's video instruction and lifetime access without a named project (Fremont)
Not for
- Sewists who need to know the exact project before buying (avoid Fremont unless you confirm the project)
- Makers who already own the Alberta pattern and want a different project (choose Oberlin or Fremont)
- Anyone who prefers written instructions over video (all three are video-based)
