Hi, I’m Deb — a bag-making fanatic, self-confessed geek, and your new bag-making bestie.

I first picked up a sewing machine at 17 when I was pregnant with my first child. Maternity clothes were expensive and impossible to find, so my mother-in-law showed me how to sew. My very first make? A pair of elasticated trousers — I than made them in all the colours — and honestly, I thought I was the bee’s knees. From there, I made clothes for my kids until life got busy and sewing slipped away… until years later, in the middle of a divorce, I found my way back to it. That’s when I stumbled across the Necessary Clutch Wallet (the NCW) — and the rest, as they say, is history. Bag making completely stole my heart.

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In 2021, I started The Bag Makers Sew-Ciety on a bit of a whim. So many of the online groups were US-based, and I wanted a space for UK bag makers to share, connect, and discover suppliers without all the “no links allowed” rules. What started as a small group has grown into a worldwide community — but with a proud UK focus and a real passion for championing small businesses here at home.

If you join me here, what you’ll get is… well, me. I’m exactly the same online as I am in person (a little bit nuts, always enthusiastic, and never afraid of a laugh). I’m your cheerleader, your encourager, and your “yes you absolutely can do this” voice when you doubt yourself.

Community is my favourite part of this whole journey. I’ve always been obsessed with learning — whether it’s sewing techniques, tech and data (yep, I’m that nerd who loves a website stat), or even psychology and true crime documentaries. But for me, knowledge only matters if I can pass it on. That’s what lights me up: learning something new and then sharing it so you can learn it too.

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Outside of sewing, I’m proudly from the North East of England, I live with my wonderfully supportive family (including my hubby, affectionately known as “Grumpy”), and my cheeky Scottie dog who supervise most of my sewing sessions.

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My promise to you? Integrity and passion, always. I’ll put 100% into everything I do, and if I feel I’ve fallen short, I’ll go back and make it better. When you step into The Bag Makers Sew-Ciety, you’ll never be alone. You’ll have skills to learn, friends to make, and me in your corner — your bag-making bestie cheering you on every stitch of the way.

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Happy Sewing and may your bobbin aways be full

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Deb x