Preschool Backpack Tutorial UPDATED 9/16/09
robyn00
Preschool Backpack
***UPDATED 9/16/2009***
Note: The materials list and measurements are all on...See more
Preschool Backpack
***UPDATED 9/16/2009***
Note: The materials list and measurements are all on this first page. Be sure to scroll down to see all the info.
****************************************
This is my first tutorial and so please be forgiving of any errors. I did my best.
1/4” seam allowance unless otherwise noted
YOU WILL NEED:
- at least 2 yards of the main fabric
- a 1/2 yard of the second fabric
- light to medium weight interfacing
- 1 sturdy zipper (like a coat zipper) that’s at least 23” long in a coordinating color
- (1) sturdy zipper at least 12” long in coordinating color
1 ½ yards Cotton Webbing in coordinating color
2 buckles for the straps
A zipper pull to make it easier for the child to open (I used the zipper pull from the fleece jacket I cut up for the straps)
Listed below are the measurements of the backpack pieces:
- (2) pieces of main fabric for the back 14 ¼” at it’s highest point x 11 ¾” wide
- (2) layers of batting same size as back pieces (can make it thicker if you’d like – fusible fleece would work well, too)
- (2) pieces of main fabric for the top piece 24” x 6”
- (1) piece of light to medium weight fusible interfacing for top piece
- (4) pieces of main fabric for the two sides of backpack 7 ½” x 7 1/2” wide
- (2) pieces of light to medium weight fusible interfacing 7 ½” x 7 1/2”
- (3) pieces of main fabric for the front piece 14 ¼” x 11 ¾”
- (1) piece of second fabric for the front of back pack 14 ¼ x 11 ¾”
- (2) pieces of light to medium weight fusible interfacing same size as front of backpack 14 ¼” x 11 ¾”
- (2) pieces of flannel for bottom (or use batting or fusible fleece – I just used what I had on hand) 12 ½” x 6” If you want to make it more sturdy, consider using a layer of Peltex or Timtex
- (4) pieces of main fabric for the straps 12” x 2 ½”at widest – 1 ¾” at its narrowest (make sure the bottom part of the strap is at least as wide as your cotton webbing)
- (4) pieces of fleece cut same as straps, but go back and cut off ½” on each side of fleece so it will be easy to sew up inside the strap (For the fleece, I just used an old fleece jacket we had that was no longer worn. Fusible fleece or batting would work fine.)
I made this backpack for my son last year, but I decided to revisit it because it was a bit bigger than I wanted and the straps always slipped off of my son’s shoulders. So I ripped out the original backpack, but I did not take apart the front part of the backpack nor the back. So, there are no pictures for those steps.
Of note: Even though I list all the parts separately, the backpack is essentially 5 pieces of the main fabric cut in a horseshoe shape and 1 piece of the second fabric cut also in a horseshoe shape, and then fabric for the top, bottom and sides. I doubled the fabric so that the backpack would have a finished look on the inside creating a lining without too much fuss and just used bias tape to give the seams a finished look.
***UPDATED 9/16/2009***
Note: The materials list and measurements are all on this first page. Be sure to scroll down to see all the info.
****************************************
This is my first tutorial and so please be forgiving of any errors. I did my best.
1/4” seam allowance unless otherwise noted
YOU WILL NEED:
- at least 2 yards of the main fabric
- a 1/2 yard of the second fabric
- light to medium weight interfacing
- 1 sturdy zipper (like a coat zipper) that’s at least 23” long in a coordinating color
- (1) sturdy zipper at least 12” long in coordinating color
1 ½ yards Cotton Webbing in coordinating color
2 buckles for the straps
A zipper pull to make it easier for the child to open (I used the zipper pull from the fleece jacket I cut up for the straps)
Listed below are the measurements of the backpack pieces:
- (2) pieces of main fabric for the back 14 ¼” at it’s highest point x 11 ¾” wide
- (2) layers of batting same size as back pieces (can make it thicker if you’d like – fusible fleece would work well, too)
- (2) pieces of main fabric for the top piece 24” x 6”
- (1) piece of light to medium weight fusible interfacing for top piece
- (4) pieces of main fabric for the two sides of backpack 7 ½” x 7 1/2” wide
- (2) pieces of light to medium weight fusible interfacing 7 ½” x 7 1/2”
- (3) pieces of main fabric for the front piece 14 ¼” x 11 ¾”
- (1) piece of second fabric for the front of back pack 14 ¼ x 11 ¾”
- (2) pieces of light to medium weight fusible interfacing same size as front of backpack 14 ¼” x 11 ¾”
- (2) pieces of flannel for bottom (or use batting or fusible fleece – I just used what I had on hand) 12 ½” x 6” If you want to make it more sturdy, consider using a layer of Peltex or Timtex
- (4) pieces of main fabric for the straps 12” x 2 ½”at widest – 1 ¾” at its narrowest (make sure the bottom part of the strap is at least as wide as your cotton webbing)
- (4) pieces of fleece cut same as straps, but go back and cut off ½” on each side of fleece so it will be easy to sew up inside the strap (For the fleece, I just used an old fleece jacket we had that was no longer worn. Fusible fleece or batting would work fine.)
I made this backpack for my son last year, but I decided to revisit it because it was a bit bigger than I wanted and the straps always slipped off of my son’s shoulders. So I ripped out the original backpack, but I did not take apart the front part of the backpack nor the back. So, there are no pictures for those steps.
Of note: Even though I list all the parts separately, the backpack is essentially 5 pieces of the main fabric cut in a horseshoe shape and 1 piece of the second fabric cut also in a horseshoe shape, and then fabric for the top, bottom and sides. I doubled the fabric so that the backpack would have a finished look on the inside creating a lining without too much fuss and just used bias tape to give the seams a finished look.
