78: Start Here: The Easiest Bag for First-Time Makers
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own bag but felt overwhelmed by zippers, hardware, or pattern instructions that feel like a foreign language—this episode is your sign to start simple.
I sat down with Monika Potaszynska of All Sew Petite, a designer who teaches makers how to go from following patterns to confidently creating their own.
And it all starts with one beginner-friendly project.
Monika shares how she got into bag-making (spoiler: it began with a favor for a friend), why your sewing background might actually trip you up when making bags, and what it really takes to design your own custom, functional pieces from scratch.
Whether you’re just getting started or dreaming up your own designs, this conversation is packed with encouragement and practical insight.
What You’ll Learn:
Why a zipper pouch is the best first project for new bag makers
How sewing bags differs from garment sewing (and why it’s often easier)
The biggest mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them)
What to consider before drafting your own bag patterns
How Monika finds inspiration and plans her designs from idea to prototype
A behind-the-scenes look at the Bag Maker Community
Why “just start” is the advice every maker needs to hear
Whether you're staring at that fabric stash or itching to make something completely your own, this episode will help you take that first step—with confidence and joy. 🎧 Listen in and get inspired.
Mentioned in this episode:
Where to find Monika: Website and Instagram
Monika's free gift: A Beginner's Guide to Pattern Drafting
The Most Common Bag-Making Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own bag but felt overwhelmed by all the options, hardware, or techniques—this is your official permission to start simple. I get it—when you’re new to sewing bags, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overcomplicating things. Maybe you’ve downloaded a dozen Pinterest patterns or tried following a YouTube tutorial only to give up halfway through because it got confusing fast.
In this episode, I sat down with Monika Potaszynska of All Sew Petite, a bag designer and educator who helps makers go beyond just following patterns—so they can design and draft their own from scratch. Whether you're brand new or just bag-curious, Monika offers the kind of practical, beginner-friendly advice that takes the fear out of starting. And her top recommendation? Begin with a zipper pouch.
Here’s why that one small project could be your gateway to bag-making confidence.
Why Bag Making Is Easier Than You Think
Monika reminded me that bag-making is its own craft—separate from garment sewing. And for many beginners, that’s actually a good thing. You’re not dealing with stretchy fabrics or complicated fit adjustments. Instead, you’re working with stable materials like canvas, cork, or vinyl, and building something functional and beautiful, step by step.
Even installing a zipper—something that scares so many sewists—is much easier in a bag than in a dress or blouse. Bag-making zippers usually go in straight lines and on stiff fabric, so there’s less slipping, stretching, or swearing involved.
The Perfect Beginner Project: A Zipper Pouch
So where should you begin if you’re completely new to bag-making? Monika’s answer: start with a zipper pouch.
It’s a small, satisfying project that teaches you all the foundational skills—without the overwhelm. You’ll learn how to:
Work with interfacing for structure
Cut and assemble multiple layers
Insert a zipper with confidence
Understand basic bag construction
Follow (and trust) step-by-step instructions
The zipper pouch is your bag-making “gateway drug,” as I like to call it. It’s the perfect mix of simplicity and skill-building—and it gives you a finished piece you’ll actually use.
The #1 Mistake Beginners Make (and How to Avoid It)
Monika shared something that hit home: many experienced sewists make bag-making harder than it needs to be because they assume they know what’s coming next in the pattern.
Spoiler: they usually don’t.
Bag construction follows a different logic than garment sewing. Jumping ahead or skipping steps often leads to mistakes—like cutting in the wrong place, misaligning layers, or making a bag that doesn’t turn right-side-out correctly.
Monika’s advice? Slow down. Trust the process. Read or watch each step before you act. Don’t rush the magic.
How to Start Designing Your Own Bags
If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own bag designs instead of using someone else’s pattern, Monika has a clear and confidence-boosting path for that too. Her biggest advice? Start simple and geometric.
Most bags are made from basic shapes—rectangles, circles, squares. You don’t need to be a math whiz to start drafting. You just need a clear sense of what the bag needs to hold (your phone, wallet, etc.), and then build the design around that.
From there, it’s about playing with closures, adding pockets, experimenting with fabric—and little by little, you develop your style and confidence as a designer.
Inside the Bag Maker Community
Monika runs a membership called the Bag Maker Community, where she teaches makers of all skill levels how to design, draft, and sew their own bags from scratch. Every month, members get a new project focused on one core design skill—like boxed corners or zipper installation—with lessons that build on each other over time.
It’s more than just a pattern club. It’s a learning environment where you grow your bag-making skills from the inside out—and feel supported the entire way. And yes, she opens the doors only a few times a year, so it stays intimate and personal.
If you're serious about learning to design your own bags, this is the place to do it.
Your First Step Is to Start
Monika said something powerful near the end of our chat: “If you only think about it, it’ll never happen. You have to just start.”
You don’t need the perfect pattern. You don’t need the best fabric. You don’t need to feel 100% ready.
You just need to pick that zipper pouch project and take the first step.
Ready to make your first bag? Go for it. I’m cheering you on. 🎉
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Transcript:
[00:00:00] Welcome to the HobbyScool Podcast! Whether you're a seasoned hobbyist or just getting started, HobbyScool is the perfect place to learn something new. My name is Dr. Destini Copp, and I'm your host. Before we jump into today's episode, I just ask that if you enjoy it, please share with a friend and leave us an honest review on your favorite podcast platform. It really helps us reach more people. Also, get on the waitlist for our next free HobbyScool Online Learning Summit at hobbyscool.com. The link is in the show notes.
[00:01:00] My special guest today is Monika Potaszynska of All Sew Petite. Monika is a bag designer who helps makers move beyond following patterns to confidently creating their own. Through her membership, the Bag Maker Community, she teaches makers of all levels how to draft and design unique bags from scratch. Monika, welcome!
[00:01:30] Monika shares how she first got into bag making in 2018 after her best friend asked her to make a special bag for her daughter's first Holy Communion. Even though she'd never made a bag before, Monika had experience sewing her own clothes and gave it a try. That single project sparked her love for bag making and started her journey into designing custom bags.
[00:03:00] Monika emphasizes starting simple. Her top beginner recommendation? A zipper pouch. While zippers might sound intimidating, she explains that installing a zipper in a bag is far easier than in a garment. Plus, bag fabrics are more stable, making them beginner-friendly.
[00:04:30] She advises beginners to take things one step at a time and to use patterns that come with clear instructions, ideally with video tutorials. Jumping ahead or assuming what comes next is one of the most common mistakes she sees.
[00:06:00] Monika shares her early struggles with garment patterns that lacked visuals, and how grateful she is for today’s accessible tutorials and detailed PDFs. She encourages makers to take advantage of the resources available now, especially for learning bag-making basics.
[00:07:30] When asked about common beginner mistakes, Monika notes that skipping steps or assuming you know what comes next is a recipe for disaster. Much like assembling IKEA furniture, going out of order can lead to confusion and frustration.
[00:09:00] We also discuss designing your own bags. Monika suggests beginning with basic geometric shapes—rectangles, circles, squares. You don’t need advanced math, just a functional idea and a bit of measuring. Start with simple, flat bags before diving into more complex, 3D shapes.
[00:11:30] Monika explains how she finds inspiration, often from clothing or even furniture, rather than other bags. She starts by identifying what the bag needs to hold, which determines the size and structure. Then she sketches out ideas before moving into the pattern drafting phase.
[00:14:00] Her process is very much about function first. She reverse-engineers the design from what she wants the bag to hold. Once the plan is clear, drafting and sewing the pattern becomes a fun and manageable process.
[00:15:30] Inside her membership, the Bag Maker Community, Monika teaches a new project each month focused on a specific design skill. She breaks it down step-by-step and shows both the drafting and sewing side, so members learn to build their own bags with confidence.
[00:17:00] She compares the process to building with LEGO—each skill is like a block that can be used to create something unique. Her aim is to make bag-making accessible and achievable, no matter your skill level.
[00:18:30] Monika's final advice? Just start. Use that fabric you've been saving. Don’t wait to feel "ready." The only way to learn is by doing, even if the first try isn’t perfect. Each project teaches you something and builds your confidence.
[00:20:00] You can find Monika and her work at allsewpetite.com or on social media @allsewpetite. She also has a free ebook, "The Beginner’s Guide to Pattern Drafting," that includes a simple project and a step-by-step video tutorial. The link is in the show notes.
[00:21:00] Thank you so much for listening today! Don’t forget to join the waitlist for our next free HobbyScool Online Learning Summit at hobbyscool.com. I’ll talk to you soon!