How to Make a Handmade Backpack
If you are in the market for a new backpack, you might want to consider sewing your own. Even without extensive sewing experience, you can create an impressive and practical drawstring backpack using any fabric you like. Whether you pick out ballet slipper-patterned fabric to carry your dance clothes or beach-patterned fabric for a new beach bag, you can sew this handmade accessory in an afternoon and have it ready for next-day use.
Things You'll Need
- 2 pieces of fabric (11 inches x 14 inches)
- 2 pieces of cord (72 inches long)
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- 4 scraps of fusible interfacing (each about 2 inches x 2 inches)
- 2 sets of 3/8 inch grommet hardware
- 3/8 inch grommet pliers
- Tailor's chalk
- Safety pin
Instructions
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1
Iron one piece of fusible interfacing to each bottom corner of the inside of one of your pieces of fabric. The backpack will be 11 inches wide and 14 inches long, so the bottom will be one of the 11 inch sides. Iron a second piece of interfacing to the bottom corners of the inside of the other piece of fabric in the same way.
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2
Mark the inside of each of the pieces of fabric with your chalk 2 inches from the top of the fabric. Place the pieces of fabric together so the insides are on the inside facing each other and the outsides are on the outside. Line up the pieces so they are flush with one-another. Sew the bottom edge of the backpack with your sewing machine.
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3
Begin at each bottom corner to sew the sides and end at the chalk mark you made at the 2-inch point.
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4
Turn the bag inside-out and sew the same three sides, forming a border inside the stitching you made before. The double stitching will give the seam a very clean finish.
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5
Keep the bag inside-out, fold down one of the top edges about 1/2 inch and iron the fold. Fold down the top again so the ironed part reaches the 2-inch chalk mark where the stitches end on the sides. Fold under the sides of the top so the edges of the fabric are not showing and so that the edges are flush with the sides of the bag. Pin the flap in place. Repeat this step for the top edge on the other side of the bag.
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6
Sew straight along the bottom edge of the flap, leaving the openings on the sides of the flap.
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7
Turn your backpack right-side-out and flatten it out. Following the instructions on your grommet and setting tool, add a grommet to each bottom corner of the bag about 3/4 inch in from the bottom and side edges.
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8
Stick a safety pin through the end of one of your pieces of cord. Thread the cord through the front casing beginning at the opening on the right side of the bag. Use the safety pin to push the cord through the casing and out the left side of the front opening. Keep threading the same cord through the back casing, and out of the right side. Do not pull the cord all the way through. Instead, you should have two tails of equal lengths, one coming out of the right side of the front casing and one coming out of the right side of the back casing. Remove the safety pin.
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9
Take the second piece of cord and stick a safety pin through the end of it. Pull the cord through the front casing, starting at the opening on the left side of the bag. Continue to thread the cord around the bag's entire casing until the two tails meet on the left side of the bag, mirroring the process you just completed. Remove the safety pin.
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10
Even out the two ends of the cord on the right side of the bag so they are of equal length, and stick them through the grommet hole in the bottom right corner. Thread them from the front of the bag to the back and tie them in a knot in the back to secure them. Repeat this step for the two cords on the left side of the bag, sticking and securing them through the grommet hole in the lower left corner.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase iron-on letters or shapes for a whimsical finishing touch.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
