Petite Pack

As we enter August plans for going back to school come to mind. You may want to stay in denial about summer ending but regardless, the wee ones will load up their book bags and march off to get smarter. On a brighter note you may have more time to sew while they're getting educated. Certainly you'll have plenty of time to sew up one of these cute, super simple, mini backpacks.

I designed it with an early elementary aged child in mind. Perhaps a darling little first grader. One who doesn't need to carry much but still cares about looking cute :)
However, I can totally see a young teen coming home only to toss down her heavy book bag, pickup this little pack and run back out the door to some after school engagement.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 yard fabric for exterior*
  
• 1/2 yard fabric for contrasting lining
  
• 1/4 yard fabric for straps
• 1/4 yard decorative ribbon optional (for top of pocket)
  

*(unless print is directional, then you'll need 1 yard)

• 1/2 yard "Pellon" decor bond
• 1/4 yard lightweight interfacing
• one full sheet of newspaper
• fabric shears
  
• and paper scissors
• 2" bias tape maker
• masking tape
  
• measuring tape or yard stick
• and large acrylic grid ruler
• fabric marker or chalk
  
• large snap, Velcro, button or other closure
  

*You can click on any photo or illustration to see enlarge.*

Here's how it's made:

Step 1

Making the pattern

Taking your full sheet of newsprint and cut straight down center fold. Then laying one sheet flat, lay second sheet on top, overlapping at the horizontal fold line, measure to ensure you have one long strip of newspaper, 33" long by 11" wide. Tape together. Now fold this new piece in half longways and draw (freehand or trace, using a large dinner plate) a quarter circle starting from top corner of folded edge and rounding down to about 5" bellow top corner of opposite edge. Cut along line. Unfold. You should have a 33" x 11" piece of newspaper with a rounded top. This is your pattern.

Step 2
Cut

Using the pattern you've just made cut 1 from exterior, one from lining and one from decor bond. IMPORTANT : If your fabric has a directional pattern you will need to take special care to ensure print is right side up on exterior front of bag. To do this lay your exterior fabric face up and pin pattern to fabric as illustrated (right).
Iron "decor bond" to wrong side of lining fabric.

Next you will need to cut your straps, to be made with a 2" bias tape maker, however you will NOT cut these on the bias. I cut my strips 3 3/4" wide x 45" long (entire length of fabric). Do this with both strap fabric and lightweight interfacing. Iron interfacing strips onto wrong side of fabric strips.

Step 3
Make Straps

Using your two long strips with interfacing ironed on, follow instructions to make 2" tape (it helps to cut end of strip to a point in order to feed through tape maker easily). Be sure interfaced side is facing up as it passes through tape maker. Cut off pointed tip of both strips and compare both lengths of tape to make certain they are the same length (about 42"). Unfold one short end, fold under 1/2", press, refold and press, repeat with all short ends. Now fold tape in half longways and press (the finished strap will be 1" wide). Edgestitch down one long side, across short end, down opposite side and across to meet where you started. Backstitching at start & end.

Step 4
Attach Straps to Exterior

Lay exterior piece face down on your ironing board. Fold bottom (straight end) up 13", and press. Fold top (rounded end) down over bottom, about 7", press. Now flip this (to what will be the back of bag). NOTE: If your print is directional it will be upside down on the backside of the bag. With a fabric chalk or disappearing fabric marker, draw an 8" line, starting 1/2" down from top fold and 2" in from left side. Repeat 2" from right side. These lines will be the guides for your strap placement.

Unfold bag exterior completely and lay flat, right side up (rounded end at top). Now take bag straps and fold in half, press or mark with chalk. Line this mark up with top of line on exterior, pin straps in place with outer edge of straps against guide lines (2" from bags edge). Chalk a line across strap where guide line begins and ends. Sew straps in place following existing edgestitching and crossing at marked lines (as shown below [click photo to enlarge]). Backstitch at beginning and end.

Step 5

Attach interior Pocket

Oh yeah! I forgot to have you cut a pocket in the cutting step. Well I guess you'll have to cut it now. First determine the size of pocket you'd like. I cut out a 6" x 8" rectangle and the result is a pocket about 7inches wide by 5 1/4" deep. Pocket option A: if using a decorative ribbon as I did, fold top edge down 1/2" to right side, press. Pin ribbon across front covering raw edge. Topstitch across top and bottom of ribbon. Pocket option B: if NOT using ribbon, simply fold top of pocket down 1/4" to wrong side, press, fold down again another 1/4" and press, edgestitch across.
Now lay pocket face down on ironing board and fold bottom edge up 1/4", press. Then fold sides in 1/4" and press. Place pocket onto lining piece, about 8" down from tip of rounded edge, center and pin in place. Topstitch around the 3 sides, backstitching at beginning and end.

Step 6
Assemble Bag

Start with exterior piece laying face up with straps folded down over themselves. Lay lining face down on top of exterior and pin together, starting at tip of rounded top and pining down both long sides. Leave straight, short bottom unpinned. Sew around sides where pinned with a 1/4" seamallowance.
Turn bag right side out. Placing your hand inside, run your finger or a turning tool along seam, especially at rounded top, then press nice and flat.
Take open end and turn raw edges in 1/2", press flat and edgestitch across. back stitch at beginning and end.
Lay bag flat with lining face up. Fold bottom edge up 12 1/2", press flat and pin along sides. Sew along sides from top to folded bottom, backstitching well at both beginning and end.

After these sides have been sew, do your best to press these seams open to show off the lining fabric. My trick for this is to first fingerpress and then wearing a potholder on my left hand (or which ever is your non-dominant), I slide it inside of the bag and press seams open this way while holding it. You could also use an ironing sleeve board if you have one.
Next turn bag inside out (use a chopstick or end of a clean craft brush to press corners out neatly). Flatten corner as pictured bellow. Place your hand inside and check to make sure seam is open and flat. Press corner flat. Measure in one inch from tip and mark, draw a line across corner perpendicular to seam line. Top and bottom of line sure measure about 1 1/2" from tip. Pin to keep flat. Stitch where marked. Be sure to backstitch well. Repeat with opposite corner.

Do not cut off corners, they will help bag bottom to keep it's shape. Turn right side out. Now with a potholder covered hand inside bag, press bottom flat.

Step 7
Finishing

To finish straps: Take one strap coming from top of bag and string two D rings onto the end. Fold end 2" up over rings, pin. Draw a line across the strap 1" down from top edgestitch, then draw a line from corner to corner to create an X. Stitch as marked. Repeat with both straps. Next feed bottom straps up through both D rings and then back down through bottom ring. Adjust straps to fit wearer.
Finally attach a closure of your choice. For example: a large snap, Velcro, button or other. When choosing a closure keep in mind your intended user. For a young child Velcro may be easiest for them to open and close on their own. If your little one is anything like mine they'll surely want to do it by them selves.
After your closure is secure you're ready to hand off the bag. Now watch as your little friend loads it up with treasures... or perhaps you'll load it yourself and watch as they unpack the surprises.. or maybe you'll be carrying it yourself :) . . . .
Whatever it is you do now, ENJOY.
April*


*I'd really love to hear any feedback you might have on this project/tutorial.
Also, if you make this "Petite Pack" we'd love to have you share it with us on flickr. Thanks.