Noodlehead: Making Backpack

A paper sewing pattern by Noodlehead.

A 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. You can choose between the mini or the standard version.

Special features:

• front slip pocket
• interior zip pocket
• adjustable shoulder straps
• useful top handles
  
• Two sizes to choose from

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Approx. Finished Dimensions: 11 ½” wide x 15” tall x 5” deep (29 cm x 38 cm x 12 cm)
Materials needed: (Requirements based on 44”-wide fabric.)

• 1 yard (1 m) Exterior Fabric
• 1 yard (1 m) Lining Fabric
• 2 yards (1.8 m) Fusible Woven Interfacing (Pellon SF101- 20”-wide) (we use 1m of Vilene G700, which is wider)
• 1 yard (1 m) Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing (Pellon 809 - 42”-wide)^ (a good alternative that we carry is Vilene H250)
  
• ½ yard (0.4 m) Foam Stabilizer (ByAnnie’s or 1 yard (1m) 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 yards (1 m) of 1” (2.5 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for top handles
• 2 ½ (2.2 m) yards of 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for straps
• 3 ½ (3.2 m) yards straight-grain ½” (12 mm) wide double fold binding

Recommended Fabrics: canvas (7-9 oz. weight) or waxed canvas (10-12 oz. weight) for exterior fabric, quilting cotton for lining fabric

^ =omit if using waxed canvas

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 1/4” 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 (and corresponding setting tool)