Sewing

Making Magazine no. 5/ Color :: Making Backpack

Hello Spring! Yes, it’s finally Spring here and I’m excited to share with you the newest issue of Making magazine – Color!

Talk about long-awaited things, here’s another one! The Making Backpack is my contribution to the newest issue of Making Magazine. At the end of last summer I wrapped up this backpack design just before I released the Range Backpack pattern. I think they compliment each other nicely, and totally attest to my backpack obsession.

It feels like so long ago, in face, that I can barely remember that I did it! But it’s fun to see the backpack flashed around finally and seeing the excitement of others is more than I could ask for. It’s a blank canvas that I’m sure I’ll see lots of people making it their own. The zippered top compartment keeps everything safe and there’s even a cute inside zippered pocket. I kept it simple with cotton webbing, but you could swap in fabric straps you make yourself as well. I love the short handles (the back one doubles as a hang loop) and the leather patch, I mean, come on. I think it makes it all look so pulled together and special.

Yes! I will be selling some kits in my shop (they’re here!), I’m waiting for a couple more things to arrive and I’ll hopefully get them listed by the middle of next week. I bought more webbing than I’ve ever seen in my life so I hope you’ll find them useful.

I know, you’re wondering, is this magazine right for me? Glad you asked! I’m going to go over a few things and you can hopefully feel a little more informed and are able to decide what’s best for you!

So Making magazine is the brain child of Carrie Bostick Hoge, a knitwear designer/photographer/creative guru who lives in Maine. She started the magazine in the Spring of 2016 and has been blowing me away with her amazingness ever since (and now Ashley has joined her as well!). I was lucky enough to be part of that first issue and most of the other issues since then. It’s a great way for me to have some external deadlines to work with and also stretch creatively with each themed issue. This issue is all about color and it contains sewing patterns, knitting patterns, recipes and how-tos! I know it’s called a magazine, but it really is book-length, this issue weighing in at 150+ pages. Here’s a short list of some the sewing related projects included: Summer’s Fields Quilt, Wildflower Project Bag, Making Backpack, Dropcloth Needlecase, and Collaged Pillow. I feel like if you are into branching out creatively, this mag will definitely pique your interest. I do have a few copies available right here in my shop.

I know I’ve heard from a lot of folks that the subscription option is really quite nice. If you subscribe on the Making Magazine website the subscription for the two magazines is $49 and that includes shipping for both issues. That’s a whole lot of happy in your mailbox if you ask me.

If you’re still not quite convinced you need the mag, this pattern, like the others I’ve contributed to past Making magazine issues will be available as a stand alone PDF (and maybe even a paper pattern) on October 15th, 2018. That’s the first day that I can officially sell the pattern myself. I know that’s a ways out, but it’s a great project to add to your queue, maybe acquire some supplies and you’ll be all set when it’s ready! If anything should change for that release date I’ll post an update right here as soon as I know.

11 thoughts on “Making Magazine no. 5/ Color :: Making Backpack

  1. ginny says:

    This is the backpack pattern that I have been searching for, it is so lovely.

  2. Kim B. says:

    oh my gosh, this is SUCH an attractive backpack. So classy and understated. And the details you mention are fabulous!!

  3. Barbara O'Grady says:

    Love the backpack-beautiful presentation!

  4. Kriste Dytyniak says:

    I just bought some fabric today to make this backpack! I’m so excited to see you’ll have a kit. I hope you have one for the hardware and straps as those are the pieces I’m having a hard time finding. I purchased the magazine for Susan’s bee pattern but I think the backpack might be first up!

  5. Anna says:

    Is this pattern going to be available in your shop as well?

  6. www.latenightstitchery.com says:

    So nice Anna! I’ve got plans to make one each for my children…along with your matching Cargo Duffle pattern (and a set for me too!).

  7. Such a fantastic pattern… I received my copy of making last week, and will be making this. Just need to source all the necessary bits in the UK. I love it!

  8. Sarah says:

    Love this design! I purchased the new issue of Making and am so excited to make the backpack. I was just wondering, are the yellow and blue backpacks in your photos made with waxed canvas, or plain canvas? I couldn’t quite tell from the photos and am trying to decide which fabric to use for mine. Thanks!

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Thank you Sarah! The yellow is a waxed canvas from AL Frances Textiles on etsy and the blue is a 9.3 oz. duck canvas: https://www.fabric.com/buy/0367791/93-oz-canvas-duck-light-blue

  9. Theresa Black says:

    Hello! I just made my first backpack following your pattern, and it was such a joy! I improvised a little using quilting cotton and adding cotton batting instead of foam stabilizer for a kid’s backpack. I did have a little trouble getting the binding to attach nicely, do you have any tips to make that process easier or neater?

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