What's Inside a Klum House Bag Maker Kit? A Component Guide
By Klum House: Bag making kits, bag sewing patterns, waxed | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: Buying Guides
A Klum House Maker Kit bundles fabric, leather, hardware, pattern, and instructions. Learn what each component does and how to choose the right kit for your skill level.
Quick answer
A Klum House Maker Kit includes all the fabric, leather, and hardware needed to make one specific bag, plus a large-format paper pattern template, the full PDF pattern, and a PDF instructions booklet. The practical difference between kits is the bag style and the options you select, not missing supplies. Choose based on the bag you will actually carry and the hardware you want to work with.
The five components in every Klum House Maker Kit
Every kit is built around a single bag design, so the contents are matched to that pattern rather than sold as a generic supplies list. The fabric arrives pre-cut for the main body and lining. Leather is cut for straps or handles. Hardware covers closures, rivets, and rings. The pattern comes in two formats: a large-format paper template for tracing and a full PDF pattern you can print again. The PDF instructions booklet walks through the construction order.
That structure matters because bag making fails most often at the hardware and strap stage, not the sewing stage. Having the correct rivet length, snap, and leather weight in the box removes the guesswork that stops a project halfway through.
How to read the option types before you buy
Klum House kits list available option types such as Pocket, Leather, and Hardware. These are not upgrades that change the bag's core design. They let you adjust details like pocket configuration, leather color or finish, and hardware finish. If you want the bag exactly as photographed, choose the default combination. If you want to coordinate with a bag you already carry, use the options to shift the leather and hardware.
One practical caution: option availability can vary by kit, and the Oberlin Seconds kit uses a single Combo option rather than separate Pocket, Leather, and Hardware choices. That is a limitation of the Seconds format, not a missing component.
What the pattern and instructions actually give you
The large-format paper template is the piece most beginners undervalue. It lets you trace and cut fabric for a second bag without reprinting anything, and it is easier to lay out on a cutting table than taped-together PDF pages. The PDF pattern is the same design in a format you can store, reprint, and resize if the pattern includes sizes.
The PDF instructions booklet is written for the specific bag, so the order of operations, seam allowances, and hardware placement are already worked out. You are not translating a general bag-making tutorial to a different shape.
Why waxed canvas appears in these kits
Several Klum House kits use waxed canvas, which gives the finished bag structure and weather resistance without a lining stiffener. It also behaves differently under the needle: it is firmer, marks easily, and does not like being unpicked repeatedly. If you have never sewn waxed canvas, practice on a scrap from the kit before you sew the main panels.
The trade-off is that waxed canvas shows creases and scuffs as part of its character. If you want a bag that looks factory-new after a year, a non-waxed fabric kit will suit you better.
Decision rules for choosing your first kit
- Match the closure to your patience: A magnetic snap closure is the simplest to install. A zipper top closure takes longer and needs more care at the corners. If this is your first bag with hardware, start with the simpler closure and move to zippers on your second build. Choose the Oberlin for a magnetic snap; choose the Fremont when you specifically want a zipper top.
- Count the pockets you will actually use: Interior zipper pockets and exterior compartments change how the bag organizes daily items. A bucket bag with 360 degrees of pockets holds more small items but has more seams to sew. A market tote with a reinforced base carries heavier loads with less structure around the sides. Prioritize pocket count only if you carry small loose items; otherwise prioritize the base and strap style.
- Decide whether seconds are acceptable: The Oberlin Seconds kit is a B-Grade version with minor imperfections such as scuffs and dents on the leather and waxed canvas, and cut fabric pieces that might be slightly shy of the pattern dimensions. The bag still sews up, but the finished result will show character from the start. Buy Seconds if you want to practice the construction or you like a worn-in look; buy the standard kit if you want clean materials for a gift.
What three kits include and who they suit
- Oberlin - Plum Custom Bag Maker Kit: The Oberlin is a stylish take on the classic market tote. This kit includes all of the fabric, leather + hardware needed to make this bag, plus a large-format paper pattern template, the full PDF pattern, and the PDF instructions booklet. The Oberlin features sturdy leather straps, a magnetic snap closure, an interior zipper pocket, and exterior pocket compartments, and an extra-strong reinforced base. If you want a structured everyday tote with a reinforced base and both interior and exterior pockets, this is the most conventional starting point. The magnetic snap closure is faster to install than a zipper top, which makes it a reasonable first leather-and-hardware project.
- Fremont - Cobalt Custom Bag Maker Kit: The Fremont is the ultimate cross-body tote for hands-free adventures! This kit includes all of the fabric, leather + hardware needed to make this bag, plus a large-format paper pattern template, the full PDF pattern, and the PDF instructions booklet. With a zipper top closure, interior and exterior pockets, a fully-lined interior, and sturdy leather handles, this bag is ready for anything. Choose this if you need a secure zipper top and a hands-free carry. The fully-lined interior and zipper closure add steps compared with a magnetic snap, so budget more time for the first build.
- Naito - Mustard Custom Bag Maker Kit: The Naito is a pocket-filled bucket bag that converts from tote to crossbody sling! This kit includes all of the ingredients you need to make this bag. It features a cylindrical body with a sturdy, sit-flat base, 360 degrees of interior and exterior pockets, a magnetic snap rivet, extra-strength tubular rivets, and a clever closure that cinches into elegant pleats with the pull of a strap. This kit includes waxed canvas. This is the most complex construction of the three because of the cylindrical body, pleated closure, and tubular rivets. Pick it if you want maximum pocket capacity and a convertible carry, and you are comfortable setting rivets.
Who these kits are for
Best for
- Sewists who have completed a simple tote or pouch and want to work with leather, rivets, and a structured base
- Makers who prefer a single box with matched materials over sourcing fabric, leather, and hardware separately
- Anyone who wants a paper pattern template they can reuse for a second bag
Not for
- Complete beginners who have never installed a snap, rivet, or zipper and have no one to ask for help
- Sewists who want to design their own bag shape rather than follow a specific pattern
- Makers who already own a large stash of bag hardware and only need fabric
