The Nina Class – Leather Bag Making by Machine

Class Details

Make a high-end leather bag while learning new leathercrafting techniques

📅 NEXT CLASS: Friday, April 17 – Monday, April 27

Take your leathercraft skills to the next level with The Nina, a designer-inspired shoulder bag that blends luxury styling with bold craftsmanship. This intermediate-level online class was created for students with prior leather experience who are ready to elevate their techniques and create a truly standout piece.

This class is mostly self-paced and designed to work with your schedule. It includes six pre-recorded video lessons released over 10 days, allowing you to pace yourself while learning proper techniques. The course also includes three optional Zoom check-ins with Simply Classic owner, Chris Murphy. Please see the calendar here for specific dates and details.

About the Nina

Crafted from luscious Italian lambskin and finished with chunky, statement hardware, The Nina measures 12" W × 9.5" H × 4" D — the perfect size for an everyday luxury bag. Students will learn how to create two belt-style strap options and a stunning woven chain strap, a new Simply Classic technique where leather strips cut directly from the hide are intricately threaded through the chain on both the front and back of the bag.

This class introduces a brand-new construction method never before featured in any Simply Classic pattern, along with a handle style that’s new to our lineup — a technique we have never incorporated into a pattern before. In this class, you’ll gain skills that let your craftsmanship shine in every detail.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a stylish, professional-quality shoulder bag — handmade by you.

Included in your purchase:

Lifetime access to your student portal with course video lessons, live Zoom recordings, classroom discussions, downloads, and more
Class kit including Italian lambskin leather, stiffeners and cushions, lining, woven interfacing, hardware kit, and more
An exclusive Simply Classic pattern that will never be released outside of this course

Please review the Terms & Conditions before purchasing this class. All registrants are subject to these terms.

Materials & Sourcing Guide

Class Kit
Students will receive a class kit that includes most of the materials needed to make the bag, including leather, stiffeners, hardware, and more. Please see the documents below for details.

Other Materials & Supplies
Students will need to provide required materials that are not included in the class kit. Download the complete list of materials and supplies here: The Nina Materials List

Sourcing Information Guide
Download our guide to sourcing materials for the course here: The Nina Sourcing Guide

Sewing Machine Requirements
Although an industrial sewing machine is not required, it is highly recommended. We have found that semi-industrial machines do quite well with our thinner leathers (Janome HD9 or Juki TL18), and some of the high-end Berninas sew through it with no problems at all (Bernina 500 series and above). The Bernette b08 is my personal favorite! With semi-industrial machines, small pattern modifications may need to be made. Each student is required to know the capabilities of their sewing machine and only use materials it can handle. No matter what machine you use, a walking foot is essential to the success of your Nina.

Meet the Teacher

Instructor: Chris Murphy

Chris Murphy is a pattern designer, bag making educator, and owner of Simply Classic. She believes that everyone is capable of creating high-quality handbags — they just need the right resources. She teaches bag makers of all experience levels through tutorials on the Simply Classic YouTube channel, online classes and in-person workshops around the U.S. Chris enjoys working with a variety of materials but is especially passionate about leather bag making. Learn more.