I was inspired to make another Range Backpack by the beautiful fall colors here in Wisconsin. I had ordered some of this beautiful barkcloth-like fabric from Miss Matatabi on Etsy a few months ago and decided then that it was the perfect choice for a fall project, it just had to be! I’m always glad when a fabric speaks so clearly for a project as I think it’s so easy sometimes to get caught up in finding the perfect fabric selection. Sometimes it easier to let the fabric do the talking and this one was calling for a backpack for sure!

So even though this is a heavier weight fabric, it still had quite a big of wiggle to it. What I mean by that is that it’s a looser weave than a typical canvas. For a bag, loose and wiggly isn’t ideal unless you’re looking for a packable/collapsible bag, so this one needed a bit of extra help to make it fulfill its destiny. Sometimes it just works that way you know?

I treated this fabric as I would for quilting cotton for this backpack. So it’s layered with Pellon 809 and then a layer of canvas is basted to the wrong side. I chose not to quilt the back panel of the backpack, but simply applied the same process as the front pieces, 809 plus cotton canvas. It worked beautifully I must say!

It looks so great with this Dark Olive waxed canvas from AL Frances Textiles (their shop is open again!) and one of my favorite lining fabric (in Granite) choices from Fancy Tiger Crafts.

If you haven’t had a chance to look over the Side Release Buckle video, it’s linked here and is also linked on the Range Backpack Resources & Inspiration page, too. Oh, and I almost forgot to let you know that I added zippers (an 8″ zipper is needed for the Range Backpack) to my shop.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

When I first started sketching ideas for the Range Backpack pattern, I had lots of ideas of what would make a great closure. Up until some of the final samples were made I had intended to include an option of using a Side Release Buckle instead of the d-ring closure. Before I get too far, I should note that I love the simple function and aesthetics of the d-rings and that’s why I stuck with them, but a Side Release Buckle is a great alternative. And who loves alternatives? Me!

I decided that it would be much easier to cover the information in a video format and I think you’ll find that it’s an easy swap. In the video I cover buckle sizes and how to adjust your closure on the Range Backpack to accommodate the Side Release Buckle.

Click here to watch the video

As I mention in the video this is a great option for anyone who wants to use the Range Backpack as a diaper bag, a great option for kids, and anyone who has limited dexterity in their fingers. And of course there are even more options than the d-ring closure (that’s included in the pattern) or the side release buckle that I covered today, so feel free to customize to your hearts content. That’s what’s great about sewing, you can change anything to what suits you best! I love that!

• There are quite a few places to search for Side Release Buckles. Just make sure you’re getting the size for a 1″ strap (which is what works with the Range Backpack closure) and is approx. 2.6″ tall (in the video I share about what you can do if yours is taller/shorter). Also mine is a single adjuster and flat. They come in double adjusters and curved (for dog collars and such), but for my example I use a side release buckle with a single adjuster that is flat.
• I bought the one I used in the video from SewingSupplies on etsy  (the one I used is style A) but you can also check out your local shop, or big box craft store or even amazon.
• If anyone is interested I might try to add these to my shop, just let me know in the comments.
• Or let me know if you have any questions, too!

I’ll add this link in the Range Backpack resources page so it can be easy for you to find when you need it. 🙂

p.s. I’ll be doing a separate blog post on this particular Range Backpack with all the info on the fabrics, etc.

Okay, I’m just going to link to the Dana knits right here, go ahead and mark down your favorite colors and then stop back here. Yep, go on, I’ll be here when you get back.

So if you’re not sure, I think these are some of my favorite knits ever. The colors, the softness, the fabric blend. It’s pretty close to heaven in my opinion. I bought these in the spring and then sadly let them sit in a pile until I washed them sometime at the beginning of the summer. Yet again, they sat (it’s a good thing fabric is patient). A couple of weeks ago we had a major kind of heat wave going on and I pretty much trapped myself inside and forced myself to sew at least a couple of projects with them for me and my kids!

I chose to sew up the Plantain Tee for myself. It was a pretty lazy choice for me. I have already sewn it into a striped top and a dress, so I have all the pattern pieces all set. By the way, that dress, is pretty much my favorite all-time most-worn clothing item. If you’ve seen me at a wedding or place that you have to dress up a bit, I’m most likely wearing it. It’s the highest in comfort and I love the way it looks with a belt! So the Plantain is a great staple in my opinion. It’s free, which seems kind of crazy, but for me I really like the fit.

I almost always raise the neckline of any top, no matter what. It’s just one of those comfort things for me. If a top is too low, I just won’t wear it. Other than that, it’s a straight forward and easy sew. I think I’ll be tracing out a larger size next time I make one, to see if how it works as a looser fitting tee. I think this particular fit on me is perfect for layering under a cardigan or lightweight coat (or great as a pretty dress on its own). So there you have it.

Pattern: Plantain Tee by Deer & Doe
Fabric: Dana Knit by Robert Kaufman (purchased from Hawthorne Threads) in Charcoal