Above: My friend Holly made this version using Leah Duncan’s canvas collection for Cloud9 Fabrics called Lines and Shapes, black canvas is Robert Kaufman Outback canvas. Both available from her shop: bijoulovely.com

Thanks so much for your support of my new pattern, the Range Backpack. It’s always so much fun to finally share something that I’ve been working on for so long. Today, I’m excited to share some of the Range Backpacks that my testers made!

I’m super lucky and grateful that I’ve been able to get together with my friends each summer to sew and chat and eat all the snacks. This year it sort of timed out perfectly to ask if anyone was interested in test sewing the backpack. To my surprise everyone agreed to sew one up! I seriously was floored. I’ve found through trial and error that sewing through a pattern with people in person is really such an amazing experience. I always learn something new or notice something I could improve upon. It’s little things that I pick up on in person that really can’t be matched anywhere else.

So I got to hang out and cut fabric and interfacing and witness my friends sewing up their very own backpacks. It was really a treat! And they were gracious enough to let me snap a few pics when we were all done. I can’t thank them enough!

A few weeks after my sewing retreat with my friends, I got together with a group of lovely women at my local quilt shop, Olive Juice Quilts, to do an in-person testing of the backpack. I’m very grateful for their time and was so excited to see all the finished backpacks. Some of the ladies were kind enough to send me a few pics to share here.

Above: Carol made this lovely backpack with this beautiful floral canvas, she added a pop of lime green with the lining. So pretty!

Above: Elaine made this gorgeous tropical backpack using outdoor fabrics! It looks so great!

Above: Colleen made this lovely version using this lovely canvas print and coordinating black canvas. The lining she used Anna Maria Horner’s Loominous.

I hope these bring you some additional inspiration! I think after seeing these that there really isn’t a wrong way to go with fabric choices, it really looks great in all fabrics!

Above: Sharon whipped up this gorgeous batik backpack. She interfaced the contrast bottom with foam because she chose to use the lighter weight batik fabric. So pretty!

Also, a reminder that I have hardware kits available as well, they’ve been going fast!

I’m beyond thrilled to have my newest pattern, the Range Backpack, available today! This backpack has been so fun to make and plan and add details to. This is my first backpack design and I’m so excited. I’ve worked really hard on the design elements of this backpack so it can function the best it possibly can while still able to look great and be fun to sew.

It’s felt especially busy (oh summer, what can I say?) behind the scenes doing pattern writing, test sewing, and group test sewing. It’s been so much fun though, and has been super hard to keep secret!

I think you’re going to love this backpack! It’s so nice to be hands free while running errands, it’s perfect for biking (I’ve test ridden with mine many times), and my girls are already asking for one of their own. I really am excited to take mine on our family vacation, too! Here’s a few key features of the Range Backpack:

• foldover top with closure
• front exterior zippered pocket
• adjustable straps
• interior slip pocket
• hang loop

I’ve incorporated options for using several different fabric types. I prefer waxed canvas or cotton canvas (prints or solids), but cork looks amazing and I’ve added a lot of notes about using quilting cotton for the exterior fabric requirement. I know it’s fun to be able to pull right from your stash and get sewing, so I think you’ll love having these options.

Also, something new I’m trying is having a dedicated page on my website to just the Range Backpack pattern. It’s going to be a great resource for inspiration, fabrics, hardware, and more. I always love being able to share creative changes to my patterns, so it’ll be a great place to share in a different way that I can traditionally in a pattern. It’s a living breathing page that I can add more information to and have it be a great resource for makers.

Lastly, I have hardware kits available in Antique Brass and Nickel that include a piece of leather for the hang loop which I think is a really nice design element. Pick one up if you don’t have the hardware on hand already.

So please stop by my shop to pick up your copy of the Range Backpack pattern if it’s something that speaks to you. I’ve really enjoyed designing it and using mine. Have a great week!

A huge thank you to my cousin’s beautiful daughters for modeling! 

Quickly popping in today to let you know I’ve got a new pattern that’s just about ready! I’m taking final pictures this weekend and it should be in my shop by the middle of next week. Here’s a tiny sneak peek without giving too much away. 😉

If you’d like, you can sign up for my newsletter (sign up is on the right column of this page), I’m planning on sharing the new release first with email list subscribers.

I also want to say thank you for your support and encouragement over the years. I’m so grateful to have this space and be able to do creative work that I love. Thank you.