Photography by Carrie Bostick Hoge

It’s here! The Making Backpack pattern is now available! This backpack was part of Making Magazine’s Color No.5 issue and is now available for individual purchase. I’m so so happy with all the versions I’ve been seeing on Instagram. It’s such a delight to see so many being made!

I know many of you have been waiting for this individual pattern release, so I’ll try to keep this short and sweet.

Click here to purchase the Making Backpack PDF Pattern

If you haven’t seen the Making Backpack here’s a little rundown of the backpack!

The Making Backpack is a happy backpack that’s perfect in its simplicity, but also great for customizing. Choose your favorite canvas (prints or solids) or waxed canvas and get to work creating your very own custom backpack.

Special features:

• front slip pocket
• interior zip pocket
• adjustable shoulder straps
• useful top handles

It’s a blank canvas — so feel free to make it your 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.

Click here to purchase the Making Backpack PDF Pattern

I will be listing more kits for this backpack later today. They’ll now include head-to-head metal zippers for the top closure. A single pull zipper works just as well though! Please stop by if you think you’ll need a kit.

All photography credit goes to Carrie Bostick Hoge.

Another free pattern for you! I’m excited to finally share about the Forage Bag pattern I designed to go with my new fabric collection, Forage. I should have shared it a few weeks back, but better late than never, right?! I hope. After finalizing Forage, it was time to dedicate my efforts to designing this new pattern. I had so many ideas for different designs that it was hard to nail down just one. I guess that’s a good problem! Although, sometimes I wish I could make up my mind a little easier!

This is a sweet little set of bags with a zippered opening. It’s kind of like having an extra pocket instead of carrying a whole purse full of things you rarely use. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m heavily on the side of not carrying a lot of things with me. I like to travel light and not feel encumbered by a large bag or purse. Of course there can be exceptions to my own rule, especially for road trips and weekend getaways — so the Forage Bag is an ode to traveling light! It’s a fairly straightforward pattern that uses small amounts of fabric – which is always fun. It’s also perfect for mixing and matching your favorites. I love that! I think it’ll look amazing in so many fabric combos. I love that quality because sometimes you just want to sew! Agonizing over fabric selection isn’t what it’s all about anyway.

So be sure to stop over to the Robert Kaufman site to pick up your free copy of the pattern. It comes in two sizes, regular and mini. The regular size has a slip pocket inside, and the mini is perfect for a small wallet/phone and keys! Make sure to whip one up! Or two! I think they’d make a great present or treat yourself and make one for you!

As always, thank you for supporting my work. I could not do what I do without the support of all of you. Thank you!

Pattern: Forage Bag Pattern (thanks for your patience while the file was being updated, the file is now available for download)
Fabric: Forage fabric collection by me for Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Grommets: I highly recommend the Dritz brand grommets, pick them up at your local quilt shop or local craft supply store.
Zippers: zipit on etsy or I have some listed in my shop as well

Happy Wednesday! I’m so excited to share with you my newest pattern, the Fika Tote! I’m so glad to finally be able to show it off. I’ve been working on it since earlier this Spring, so it feels really great to be able to put it out into the world. It is packed with some really fun features and I hope you’ll love it.

Click here to buy the pattern

Fika is a Swedish word for coffee with friends. And what’s better than coffee with friends?! It’s always the highlight of my day. I felt like Fika was appropriate because this tote is the kind of bag I’d take along to a coffee shop with my work binder, sketchbook, planner and everything else I’d need for the day. Plus, with my Scandinavian heritage and its clean lines I felt like it was the perfect match. It’s roomy and comfortable to wear and includes some great features:

• two front pockets for easy access
• one large back lapped zipper pocket
• two interior padded pockets (perfect for an ipad or laptop), or easily divided to make several smaller interior pockets
• top recessed zipper to keep everything secure!

This design was one that was lingering in my sketchbook for a very long time. I kept circling back around to it, coming up with different things I thought would be useful. I want to make so many more because I think it looks so great in all types of fabrics! As part of my pattern development process I did a group test sew at Stitch Supply Co. (if you’re ever in the Eau Claire, WI area be sure to stop in!) and the amazing women who sewed the Fika Tote that day had the most beautiful fabric combos.  I hope to be able to show some of those off soon!

Click here to buy the pattern