Someone gave me this Backpack Pattern and I thought it seemed like the perfect thing for my son (which more masculine fabrics of course!).  I had some really cute fabric in my stash called “Creatures and Critters” that was designed by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman fabrics (alas, this was from a line she did a few years ago, so you can’t find it at retail shops now).

After making this pattern, I learned that sometimes you want to use batting instead of fusible fleece.  The pattern calls for you to use batting and do some quilting on the exterior, but I used fusible fleece since I didn’t feel like quilting it.  However, the fusible fleece is much stiffer and has less give, so it was difficult for me to get the outside pocket to lay correctly, and the main bag was  “sturdier” than I wanted it to be.   As a result, I just made a traditional pocket with a flap and it is too large, and you can’t see much of the cute fabric unless you look at the back.

I must confess I was really excited when to make this pattern because I wanted to learn how to make the outside pocket, so I was not pleased with the final results.  In general, the pattern is easy to follow, but there are a few steps that need more information (such as how to construct the exterior pocket) and there are some steps that I would do differently for a more finished look (such as how to make the interior pockets).  I am going to try this again, with a few modifications (and try batting instead of fusible fleece).

I do think this is a very cute pattern and it is different than the traditional backpack you see.  It is easy to open and can easily carry a few books, art supplies, and a small toy or two.  The straps are too long for my son, so they will also be shortened for the second attempt.

Keep it thimble!

This weekend I designed a travel sewing kit for carrying all the necessities you might want to tuck in your purse so you could do some handwork on the go, or be have a nice organizer for any supplies you might need to take to a class.  This is version 1.0 and I plan to make a few tweaks/improvements as I use it and see how well it works.

When closed, it is approximately 9″ x 6″ and depending on how much you have in there, could be about 2 – 3″ thick.  I used fusible fleece AND decor bond on the exterior to give make it nice and sturdy – and then the lining piece has decor bond.  I opted not to interface the zipper pocket or interior pockets because I didn’t want it to be too bulky.  I will probably use some light interfacing in version 2.0 as I can see already that the pockets will have a lot of wear and tear.

When it is open, it is about 9″ x 18″ and can hold quite a bit of stuff!  There is a slip in pocket behind the zippered pocket that can hold a pattern and a small cutting mat.  In the zippered pocket you can carry pins, measuring tape, seam ripper, etc.  The pockets hold a pen, notepad, scissors, small rotary cutter, and seam gage.  I will play around with the pocket sizes to get the optimal combination.  I included some elastic to hold spools of thread, but will probably remove this in the next version.   I figure it is easier to carry thread in the zipper pocket, and to use the space for a needle/pin holder instead.  Once I get the design perfect, I will make a few and try to sell them on Etsy or at one of the local shops.

Any comments/suggestions on what to change?  I would love to hear what you think!