Looking for your new patterns? Check the My Downloadable Products tab in your account.
About The Bag of the Month Club
How much is the Club?
Membership to the Bag of the Month Club costs $20 USD. This is a one-off fee for each season of the Club and will not auto-renew. Although you only need to create one account on our website, each season's subscription is opt-in and must be purchased separately. This means that you can pick and choose which seasons you would like to take part in, and easily skip a season should you wish.
We usually offer an early bird discount before the Club begins - for the August - October 2021 season, you can join the Club for $17 USD if you sign up before the end of July 31st 2021.
How can I join the Bag of the Month Club?
I don't have a PayPal account - can I pay another way?
You don't need a PayPal account - click the Pay by Debit Card / Credit Card option when prompted on the payment screen.
What is included in the joining fee?
You'll receive 3 mystery PDF bag sewing patterns, one a month for each of the 3 months for one single membership fee. Each PDF pattern is a surprise before you receive it, and the patterns are exclusive to Club members for 3 months from their release date - so you won't find them anywhere else!
Can I purchase a club membership as a Christmas or birthday gift?
Yes you can! Many friends or family members have purchased memberships for loved ones in the past and they make great gifts! Just choose the Gift Subscription listing!
How does the Club work?
You can join the current season of the Club at any time during the Club's season for a one-off membership fee. If you join before the Club begins, you can take advantage of our early bird discount. Then, on the 1st of each month (usually at around 9-10 a.m. UK time) your mystery PDF bag sewing pattern for that month will go live in the Downloads area of your account. You will need to log in to your account in order to download your sewing pattern. If you subscribe after the Club has begun, all patterns released to that point will become available in the Downloads area of your account, and you will receive any remaining patterns on their release date. So, for example, if you subscribe before the start of the club then your patterns will be available on the 1st of each month. If you sign up midway through the first month, you will have immediate access to the first PDF pattern then each remaining pattern will become available on the 1st of each month. If you sign up on the final day of the Club season, then you will receive immediate access to all three PDF bag sewing patterns right away.
How long is the club open for?
The autumn season of 2021 will run from August to October. You can buy early bird subscriptions two weeks before the next Club begins, and each Club's sales will end on the last day of the Club season.
Will you email the pattern to me?
No. Your PDF bag sewing patterns are stored securely in the Downloads area of your Bag of the Month Club account so that you can download them to any device as needed.
Who are the designers? Do they change?
Our core designers are Sewing Patterns by Mrs H and Emmaline Bags, and we have a special guest designer each season. For Autumn 2021, our guest designer is UhOh Creations. We may, on occasion, run a special season featuring only guest designers - such as our Rising Stars Edition of the Club in 2020. Find out more about the designers here: Meet the Designers page
Do the patterns come with videos?
No. The Bag of the Month Club is a PDF bag sewing pattern subscription club. However, our designers may choose to film a video or set of videos to accompany their pattern. These are offered by our designers as a bonus for our members, and may be offered on a limited time basis. Please take note of any time deadlines or restrictions when these videos are offered as we would hate for you to miss out on the chance to take advantage of these opportunities!
Can I get a printed copy of the pattern?
Not from the Bag of the Month Club. The Bag of the Month Club is a PDF bag sewing pattern subscription club. After the end of the Club, if the designers choose to release their patterns separately, then they may produce a physical paper format. We would advise you to contact the designer of the pattern that interests you to ask them about this. Please bear in mind that each PDF bag sewing pattern is exclusive to the Bag of the Month Club for 3 months from its release date, so the designer may not be able to assist you right away.
What hardware will I need?
Please see the Hardware page for the requirements for the upcoming patterns. Remember the patterns are a secret, but the hardware is not!
Where can I buy hardware from?
We have a list of recommended hardware suppliers on our Hardware page.
Do I need a special sewing machine?
No. You should be able to sew any of our bag designs on a standard domestic machine, and many of our testers only use domestic machines. However, please do take note of the designer's recommendations for fabric types as some domestic machines can struggle with thicker fabrics where there are multiple layers.
Why can't I download all the club patterns when the club starts?
The patterns are a secret until the 1st of each month, so you will not be able to download them until the month begins and they are released. In the Downloads section of your account you will see placeholders for the upcoming months. These will become your patterns as each new month begins. Patterns that have been released will state their title and the month they were released, e.g. The Duffel Backpack - August 2020.
I missed signing up for the club, where can I find the patterns?
Bag of the Month Club sewing patterns are exclusive to the Club for 3 months from their release date. After this time, each designer may choose to release their pattern individually on their own website. Please see our Previous Seasons page for details.
Website support / troubleshooting:
Log in issues
If you have forgotten your password and have not received a link to reset it, please check the Junk / Spam folder of your email account first. If there is no reset email there, or if you have a different issue with logging in, please use the Contact Form here on the website or email us at info@bagomc.com. Please provide details of the problem, including any error message you might have received, and please include the email address used to set up your account if you are messaging from a different account.
Where is my subscription pattern?
Check the My Downloadable Products tab in your account. Your PDF bag sewing patterns are stored securely in the Downloads area of your Bag of the Month Club account so that you can download them to any device as needed.
My pattern is not printing correctly/missing pieces or pages/etc.? What am I doing wrong?
If you are using browser or preview mode to view your PDF patterns, you may have difficulties - such as missing pages, or pieces printing at the incorrect size. We would advise you use the full, free Adobe Reader. Please check whether this is the issue by following these steps:
- Open Adobe Reader on your device
- Check Adobe Reader is up to date. To do this, click the 'help' tab in Adobe Reader, then 'Check for updates'. (Note: If you are working on an older device that won't let you update Adobe Reader, try printing in black and white.)
- Download your PDF pattern to your device. Your device may do this automatically when you click on the link, or you may need to click the downward-facing arrow on your PDF preview to start the download.
- Go to the downloads folder on your device and find your PDF sewing pattern. (If you are unsure where your device's downloads folder is, then you can sometimes navigate to this through your browser menu.)
- Right-click and choose 'Open with...', then select Adobe Reader.
You should now be able to view your PDF bag sewing pattern, and print it. N.B. Some lesser-used browsers may produce an error when downloading the PDF. Please consider trying an alternative browser for downloading your PDF pattern.
If you have issues printing your pattern, please see the next FAQ point. If you have any other issue regarding downloading your PDF bag sewing pattern, please contact us at info@bagomc.com. Please provide details of the problem, including any error message you might have received, and please include the email address used to set up your account if you are messaging from a different account.
My pattern pieces are not printing at the correct size. What can I do?
Most PDF patterns have a small square that you can measure after printing to make sure that the pattern pieces printed at the correct size. If your pieces are not printing at the size that they need to be, this is a big deal! Most bags go together with very specifically-sized pattern pieces. Make sure that you opened the pattern using Adobe Reader and that your printer is set to print at 'actual size' or 'scaling none' (this will depend on your particular printer). Here is a tutorial from Emmaline Bags to help you print your pattern pages the right size: http://emmalinebags.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-print-your-pdf-sewing-patterns.html
Where can I get technical help / support?
For any other technical issue, please use the Contact Form here on the website or email us at info@bagomc.com. Please provide full details of the problem, including any error message you might have received, and screenshots if you can, and please include the email address used to set up your account if you are messaging from a different account.
Pattern support:
Where can I find help with sewing my pattern?
The quickest way to find help with your sewing pattern is through our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/bagomc/. You can also use the Contact Form here on the website, or email us at info@bagomc.com.
I lost my pattern, what can I do?
Simply log into your account using the 'Download your Patterns' link at the top of this page. You'll find your patterns in the 'My Downloadable Products' section of your account. If you continue to have issues, please follow the Troubleshooting steps above.
Where can I find tips & tricks for bag making, i.e. different types of interfacing, how to install hardware, etc?
Both Sewing Patterns by Mrs H and Emmaline Bags have tutorials sections on their websites. If you are on Facebook, then you might also consider joining our Facebook group which has lots of fantastic advice and support from members all around the world. Join our Facebook group at: facebook.com/groups/bagomc
There are some great tutorials on the Emmaline Bags website for how to install hardware, including magnetic snaps, tongue locks, labels, and anchors. Find the full list under the Learning Centre of the Emmaline Bags website here: emmalinebags.com/pages/hardware-installation
Looking for advice on different types of interfacing or stabiliser? Take a look at Mrs H's YouTube video: Mrs H Masterclasses - Interfacing and Stabilisers for Bagmaking
Can I make something from one of the Bag of the Month club patterns to sell at a craft fair or in my Etsy shop?
Absolutely! You have permission (and are legally allowed) to make and sell on a home level, any of the bags from the patterns in the club. If you use social media to market your sews, please consider tagging @bagofthemonthclub or the pattern designer in your makes, and we will share them with our followers if we can.
The Bag of the Month Club Competition:
How do I enter my bag photo into the competition?
Visit our Competition page and follow the instructions to add your photo to the gallery. Please check that you've selected the correct month's gallery before you enter your photo. The Autumn 2021 competition is not yet available. We will update and open the giveaway when the new season begins.
How can I get my photo not to be sideways?
Good question! We don't have an answer right now, but please don't worry if your photo has uploaded sideways. We'll turn our heads to one side to admire it!
How do I make a collage?
Many devices have a collage option in the photo/gallery app. You can also use sites/apps such as BeFunky.com to create collages. Or, why not take a photo of your bags together?
Is there a limit on how many bags I can enter into the competition?
No. Please do enter all the bags you've made into the competition, but only one photo per finished bag. Your chances of winning the random prize draws will depend on the number of entries received. The judged prizes are selected by the designers' teams or by the Bag of the Month Club team.