Now that my toddler is getting older, she wants to carry her own toys. She is still too little to wear the diaper bag so I decided to make a mini backpack so she can carry her own things! This mini backpack is perfect for young kids, and if you’re looking to use it for an older kid or adult, you can increase the strap length very easily to make it work for you. (you will also need to increase the amount of fabric you buy if you choose to lengthen the straps) This is a long project, so I have split it into a two part blog post. This is part 1. Part 2 will be linked soon.
Materials
- 2/3 yard Main Color fabric
- 1/3 yard Lining
- 2/3 yard Stiff Iron on Interfacing
- 24″ 1/8 inch ribbon
- two small beads
- one button
- matching thread
- 2 ladder lock buckles
Cutting out your pieces
This backpack doesn’t have a pattern and involves cutting squares or rectangles for most parts.
First, cut your main bag piece. Cut a 24″x12″ rectangle in your main, lining and interface
Next, cut the pieces for your straps. Use the main color and interfacing. Cut two 3″x15″ and two 3″x10″ straps.
Lastly, cut your flap. This is the hardest to cut as it isn’t a rectangle. You will cut a 8″x6″ half oval. You want the bottom to be round, but the rest to be straight, pictured below. Cut two main pieces and one interfacing piece.
Sewing the straps
Before you sew anything, iron everything! This bag will look so much better if you iron before and after every step to make everything really crisp and even.
Iron the interfacing onto all four strap pieces. You will do the same process for all 4 strap pieces: fold your fabric in half the long way.
Then fold the raw edges into the middle so there is one open seam and 4 layers of fabric. Pin closed and sew along the outside, about 1/8″ away from the edge. Sew all the way around the rectangle.
sewing the main bag
Start by ironing interfacing onto the wrong side of the main fabric. All directions on the straps should be done on each side to make the top of the backpack straps.
Now it’s time to attach the top straps to the bag. To do this you first need to mark the spot that the straps will go. Measure 2 inches down and 4 inches in on both sides and mark.
Start by laying your straps down on your marked squares. Lay them down with the length facing the bottom of the bag. (the opposite of this picture. I had them placed wrong and forgot to take a picture after I corrected the straps) Sew a one inch square box on the top of the strap.
Then fold them over so the excess is facing up, and the square isn’t visible. Sew the straps on by doing a square with an X through it and go over three times to enforce the straps so they stay.
Next, start the flap. With right sides together, sew the flap together. Don’t sew a long the long straight side. Clip the round part of the fabric in small triangles to reduce the bulk around the flap. Turn right sides out. Press really flat and top stitch.
Lastly, make a buttonhole. Center it about half an inch above the top stitching. (Don’t know how to do a buttonhole? You can learn how to here)
The next thing is to add the flap to the bag. You will want to center the flap over your backpack straps. Lay it down with the flap facing the bottom of the bag. It should be about 1/2″ above the straps. Sew a straight line right above the straps so the top of the straps just touches the stitches attaching the flap. Fold the flap up and sew 5/8″ away from the top of the straps, This should keep the raw edge hidden.
This is part one of the mini backpack tutorial. Part two will be posted soon!
