Pretty Little Backpack

Welcome again crafting friends! I have spent last Thursday at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham here in the UK and I have bought so much new fabric! You will see some wonderful new prints here on the blog in the coming weeks. I also caught up with some of my lovely editors and some friends - all of whom I do not see nearly enough. 

Speaking of the 'day job', any fox fans amongst you might be interested in the current issue of Quilting for You magazine. I have a cushion in there this time featuring free motion embroidery and a raggy edge applique fox. Easy to make and really effective - good for reducing the ol' stash too! You can find it here.

Well, this week I have a real treat for you. We are going to make a drawstring back pack and I have a fabric giveaway!! It is a fat quarter bundle of Makower 'Sophia' fabrics and they are the same ones that I am using this week for our backpack so you can make one of your very own.

How to win....

Simply leave a comment and I will draw the winner randomly. The winner will be drawn on 31st of August 2015 and you can enter right up until then. Here is what you will win. It is a gorgeous bundle of fabulous Makower fabrics containing 5 fat quarters. Bliss!

The prize draw is now closed but feel free to leave a comment anyway - I love to hear your thoughts!

And what are we making this time? This cute as a button drawstring backpack!

So, what will we need?

Makower Sophia fat quarters:

-1541/Q sophia flower

-1544/T sophia bird (teal)

-1544/P sophia bird (pink)

-1525/b2 linea tonal (teal)

-1543/S sophia leaf (grey)

-2x fat quarters grey spot on (830/S5) for the lining

-light grey Kam snap (#20)

-4m paracord or similar 

your usual sewing needs

There is no actual template for this pattern so nothing to print off but you can make one from brown paper using the measurements if you like. Otherwise, just follow along with me.

Firstly, cut two pieces of outer fabric 36cm x 41cm. Use a couple of different ones. Cut two more for the lining the same size.

Now choose another fabric and cut 4 pieces for your casing. They measure 9cm x 35cm. Here is what we have so far...

Now...the exciting bit (well, one of them), before we make the backpack itself, we are going to add a few other bits and pieces. Take the piece of fabric that you have decided for the front and we are going to add a pocket with a flap. 

Sort through the bits and pieces and find three pieces of fabric. One will be the pocket and measures 21cm x 18cm. The other two will be the flap and the flap lining. 

Take the pocket and fold the top over and iron. Sew along the top edge.

Now fold the other three sides under and press so that there are no raw edges. Position the pocket onto the front piece of fabric 8cm up from the bottom and in the dead centre

To find the centre, make a vertical crease in the front fabric and one in the pocket and then line the two creases up. Sew the pocket on...

Make the flap by cutting two pieces 20cm x 10cm. To get the round bit simply trace around something like a plate or similar and then cut out

Now with the right sides together, sew right around the flap leaving a gap for turning out. Turn out through the gap and close the gap. Iron the pocket and topstitch it

Add your snap in the middle of the flap

And the other half of the snap on the corresponding part of the pocket. Sew the flap to the top of the pocket - adding the snap first helps to align the pocket itself. Here is the finished pocket...

Next this to make are some fancy-schmancy tabs! These are a bit of fun and they are functional too. We need three; two for the bottom drawstring and one to go on the top middle. This one can be used for an embellishment or your keys. You can make the top middle one different from the others if you like.

Choose another fabric and cut a strip 27cm x 8cm. Fold in half lengthwise and iron

Fold the raw edges to the centre crease and iron. Now topstitch along both outer edges

Cut the strap into three equal pieces.

Okay, showtime! Attach two of the tabs on the bottom edge 4cm in from either side and in the very middle top (on that handy crease that you made earlier)....

The casing is made from the long bits. Place the pieces right sides together and sew the ends only leaving the long sections open

This prevents bulk and you won't see them because they too will be buried in the seam. Turn the casing pieces out the right way and press. Fold a casing in half lengthwise and pin it to the top of the front panel. Sew it on

Repeat for the back.

Now with the right sides together, pin a piece of lining to an outer panel and sew along the top edge only. Repeat for the other piece.

Unfold the two and pin lining to lining and outer to outer (right sides together). Match those seams and edges perfectly and leaving a turning gap in the bottom of the lining, sew all the way around. 

Turn the bag out through the gap and gently pull it into shape. Close the bottom gap neatly by hand or machine. Stuff the lining down into the outer shell.

Topstitch around the top edge to keep the lining down and here is what we have now.....

Cut the cord in half and thread one piece through the casing one way and knot it in the bottom tab

Thread the other piece the other way through the casings and knot it in the other side. Be very careful for fraying as some cords will try to disappear under your fingers. You can slightly melt the end over a flame and if using cotton cord, a good knot will do the trick.

How's that then! All done and you have a perfect little backpack. I love this because it has no wadding so it can fold up rather small and go into your handbag in case you need an extra tote when shopping or travelling. It is great for ballet things and, well just handy and pretty - the best combination.

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the prize draw. It will be drawn on the 31st August 2015 and the winner will be announced here so keep watching - add your email address to follow me and you will get your notification by email.

One more thing before I go - if you love these fabrics and want to buy some (if you just cannot wait until the draw...) you can find retailers of the lovely Makower range here. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have fun with this. good luck in the draw!

By the way....did you know that I have a small Etsy Shop? It is quite new (September 2019) and it has a lot of bag samples from my books and magazine articles. These are the actual physical bags too, not just the patterns this time. Time to stock up for Christmas!

Love and hugs

Debbie xxx