About
About Patch ‘N Bags
Patch ‘N Bags was founded by Natasja Bijlsma to allow her to combine her love for patchwork and making leather bags and share her knowledge and enthusiasm through workshops. In 2019, Natasja started making patchwork, the first project was partly made by hand and partly with the sewing machine. In recent years, Natasja has made and quilted a lot of patchwork. She has learned various patchwork and quilting techniques in courses with Laura Strating Janssens and Anke de Haan.
Especially quilting with the Westalee rulers has inspired her to continue with this. In addition to patchwork and quilting, there had been a desire to work with leather for a number of years.
In December 2023, Natasja participated in a 3-day workshop to make a leather bag (shopper). She got so excited that she subsequently registered to become a Professional Bag Maker at the Leerlokaal in Arnhem. In June 2025, Natasja successfully completed this course. In addition to the course at Leerlokaal, she also followed additional courses at Cursustassenmaken.nl and Lederstudio.be.
In December 2024 the opportunity arose to take over the SewSteady distributor role for Europe from Rinske Stevens Design. This opportunity fits really well within the vision of Patch ‘N Bags. Both SewSteady and Rinske Stevens Design have supported the handover to ensure Patch ‘N Bags can support the European patchwork and quilting community with beautiful quilt designs and tools, and help coordinate the availability of education on how to use the products.
As a company, Patch ‘N Bags will focus on:
- Selling patchwork and quilting tools and fabric packages (via the webshop and fairs);
- Supplying SewSteady products to resellers within Europe;
- Designing bags, both from cotton patchwork and leather;
- Host workshops to share her knowledge and enthusiasm in creating your own leather bag;
- Designing (and if applicable) making bags per order;
- Developing designs in Adobe Illustrator on request;
- Selling simple leather bags and accessories (via a webshop and craft markets).
Leather bags
The designs of Patch ‘N Bags are classic and practical. Mainly leather with a natural look is used, with cotton and/or pigskin for the lining. The color of the haberdashery is coordinated with this style and is usually in old silver, old gold or gunmetal. The designs of Patch ‘N Bags are aimed at customers who want a beautiful, sturdy, functional bag to complement their outfit. Patch ‘N Bags wants to distinguish itself by using beautiful quality leather, unique color combinations and beautiful stitching that emphasizes the design of the bag.
Anke de Haan - Westalee Design Gold Accredited Teacher
A little over 30 years ago I started making patchwork, and soon after that I started teaching.
First in patchwork by hand, but increasingly with the sewing machine.
From 2015 to 2024 I designed patchwork patterns for Rinske Stevens Design. During that period I discovered the beautiful Westalee quilt rulers. I was immediately enthusiastic about the ease with which I could use the rulers and I learned the technique via YouTube videos by Leonie West about the sampler set. After that, the Quilt Class in a Bag inspired me to use the rulers in all kinds of different ways and I started making more and more designs myself. Since then I have been giving demos and courses to shop owners and their employees to promote the rulers in the Netherlands and Europe.
In 2018 I was appointed as an accredited teacher by Westalee. This was a very special and rewarding moment for me.
Since February 2025, Patch ‘N Bags has taken over the distributorship of SewSteady and Westalee products from Rinske Stevens Design. I now work together with Patch ‘N Bags to continue to use my knowledge and experience to promote these beautiful versatile products in Europe.