Making Backpack Pattern (with Mini size!)

A backpack that’s perfect in its simplicity, but also great for customizing. Choose your favorite canvas (prints or solids), waxed canvas or dry oilskin and get to work creating your very own custom backpack. Regular and Mini sizes, plus bonus zippered front pocket included!

***Video tutorial by Jess of Oklaroots! Click here!
***Mini Size video tutorial by Jess of Oklaroot! Click here!

Special Features:

• two sizes to sew! Regular and Mini
• front slip pocket (plus BONUS! zippered front pocket)
• interior zip pocket
• adjustable shoulder straps
• useful top handles
• features a bound seam construction 
• made entirely of rectangles, no need to cut out templates (see below for details)
  

Shop supplies:

• webbing kits (new colors, limited quantities!)
• strap hardware kits (antique brass & nickel)
• zipper for interior pocket (8" for Regular size, or 6" for Mini size)
• zippers available for Mini Making backpack: zipper kit (includes 18" zipper for main closure & 10" zipper for alternate pocket) OR an individual 18" zipper (if making the Mini with front slip pocket)
• full hardware/webbing kit for Regular size Making Backpack

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner (front slip pocket view), Intermediate (alternate front zip pocket view)

+ Approx. Finished Dimensions:

• Regular: 11 ½” wide x 15” tall x 5” deep (29 cm x 38 cm x 12 cm)
• Mini: 8” wide x 10½” tall x 4½” deep (20 cm x 27 cm x 11.5 cm)

Supplies & Notes:

Requirements based on 44”-wide fabric.

Regular size:

• 1 yd (1 m) Exterior* Fabric
• 1 yd (1 m) Lining* Fabric
• 2 yds (1.8 m) Fusible Woven Interfacing (Pellon SF101- 20”-wide)
• 1 yd (1 m) Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing (Pellon 809 - 42”-wide)^
• ½ yd (0.4 m) Foam Stabilizer (ByAnnie’s or 1 yard (1 m) Pellon Flex-Foam) ^
• (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide rectangle rings & (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide strap sliders
• (1) 22” (55 cm) zipper* for top closure
• (1) 8” (20 cm) zipper* for interior zip pocket
• 1 1/8 yds (1 m) of 1” (2.5 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for top handles
• 2 ½ (2.2 m) yds of 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for straps
• 3 ½ (3.2 m) yds straight-grain ½” (12 mm) wide double fold binding

Mini size:

• ½ yd (0.4 m) Exterior* Fabric
• 5/8 yd (58 cm) Lining* Fabric
• 1 ½ yds (1.4 m) Fusible Woven Interfacing (Pellon SF101- 20”-wide)

• ½ yd (0.4 m) Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing (Pellon 809 - 42”-wide)^
• (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide rectangle rings & (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide strap sliders
• (1) 18" (45.7 cm) zipper* for top closure
• (1) 6" (15.2 cm) zipper* for interior zip pocket

• 1 ½ yds of 1” (2.5 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for top handles
• 2 ½ (2.2 m) yds of 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for straps
• 2 ½ (2.2 m) yds straight-grain ½” (12 mm) wide double fold binding
  

*PLEASE NOTE: this pattern is written for fixed-length zippers (not zipper by the yard, if using zipper by the yard please add 1.5" to the length of each designated zipper)

Recommended Fabrics: canvas (7-9 oz. weight), waxed canvas (8-10 oz. weight), or dry oilskin for exterior fabric, quilting cotton for lining fabric

^ =omit if using waxed canvas

*= additional ¼ yd {¼ yd for mini} of exterior and lining fabric is needed if making the Alternate Front Pocket, and add 14” {10”} zipper (or longer)

Additional supplies + tools: Polyester thread, water-soluble pen or tailor’s chalk, cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, size 90/14 or 100/16 Denim or Microtex needle, (Optional) 2 ¼” wide x 1 ½” tall (5.7 cm x 3.8 cm) piece of leather for patch, (Optional) 2 rivets - 8-9 mm head with 6-8 mm posts (& corresponding setting tool), (Optional) front pocket closure (see pg. 6 note) 14mm magnetic snap or size 24 metal snap, glue/ ¼”-wide fusible web tape)

Pattern/Download Information:

This is a measure and cut pattern. This means that you don’t have any templates (pattern pieces) to print off and assemble! You will need a rotary cutter, gridded ruler, and self-healing cutting mat. Cut the pattern pieces straight from the fabric - saving time and paper. All pieces are rectangles. If you prefer, you can transfer the cutting measurements to paper (or a template material) to create your own paper template/pattern piece.

For Digital (PDF) pattern:

• Please download (and save) the pattern file to your computer!
• You will have 9 download attempts, keep in mind each time you open to view the file counts as an attempt.
• This PDF pattern consists of rotary cutting instruction/measurements (no printing necessary!) for all pieces, label sheet for keeping organized, and includes detailed step-by-step instructions and professional illustrations.
• The file is an instant download. Please be sure to check the email address you entered at checkout, the instant download link will be sent to that email address. After purchase is complete you will also be redirected to a page with the download link.

For Paper (printed) pattern: 

• The PAPER pattern version includes: instruction booklet with step-by-step instructions and professional illustrations. Includes cutting layouts, rotary cutting instructions/measurements (just cut and sew, no need to cut out pattern templates!!!), and a label sheet (metric and imperial label sheets both included) for keeping organized, all tucked into a resealable poly bag.
• Paper pattern is shipped via USPS.

Sell finished items! You (the purchaser of this pattern) can sell finished sewn items made using this pattern (on a home-based scale), credit to Anna Graham www.noodle-head.com is appreciated!

NOTICE: It may not be possible to download a PDF file directly to your iPad or Android tablet/mobile device without a download app. I use Acrobat Reader in combination with Dropbox to download files using my mobile device.