Back to School ~ Free Let’s Go! Backpack Pattern & Tutorial
Rachel Measham-Pywell from Four Wise Monkeys designed these fun Let’s Go! Backpacks for our Back to School series. There’s a basic backpack tutorial, and a PDF pattern with instructions for the cute robot backpack variation too. You might remember Rachel from her recent introduction and pattern review (Maya in her cute versions of the Maya pattern!). Enjoy Rachel’s Let’s Go! Backpack Tutorial today, and be sure to check out Four Wise Monkeys for more tutorials, patterns and fun from Rachel.
What You Need:
- 2 x 38mm Looploc or D rings
- 2 x 38mm Slide Adjusters
- 1 Fat Quarter White Fabric
- 45 cm Fabric A (Green)
- 15 cm Fabric B (Pink)
- 45 cm Fabric C for Lining
- 60 cm of woven medium weight iron on interfacing
- 25 cm x 25 cm piece of heavy pellon such as Peltex 71f for bag base
- 90 cm of cord or binding to make a drawstring
* A quarter inch seam allowances has been used unless otherwise stated. Iron all your fabric before starting.
Getting Started:
- From the White Fabric cut:
- 1 x 19½”x 12” rectangle – bag front
- From Fabric A (Green) cut:
- 2 x 7” squares – bag flap
- 10” x 12” rectangle – bag back
- 8½” x 12” rectangle – pocket
- 2” x 29” rectangle – casing
- 2 x 6½” x 3½” rectangles- short straps
- 2 x 25” x 3½” rectangles – long straps
- From Fabric B (Pink) cut:
- 1 x 10” x 4½” rectangle – bag back base
- 1 x 19½” x 4½” rectangle – bag base front
- 1 x 1½” x 7½” rectangle – bag loop
- From the Lining Fabric cut:
- 1 x 19½”x 12” rectangle – bag front
- 1 x 10”” x 12” rectangle – bag back
- From the Pellon cut:
- 1 x 10” x 16” rectangle
- 1 x 19½” x 16½” rectangle
- From the Medium Interfacing cut:
- 1 x 19”x 11½” rectangle – bag front
- 1 x 6½”square – bag flap
- 9½”” x 11½” rectangle – bag back
- 8” x 11½” rectangle – pocket
- 2 x 24½” x 3” rectangles – long straps
- 1 x 9½” x 4” rectangle – bag back base
- 1 x 19” x 4” rectangle – bag base
- From the Peltex cut:
- 2 x 4½” x 9” strips
Step 1 – Fusing the Interfacing
Match the interfacing with the corresponding piece of fabric. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric leaving a quarter inch seam allowance around each piece.
Step 2 – Make your Bag Flap and Pocket
Fold the pocket piece in half with the right sides together to make a rectangle that measures 6” x 8½” and pin into place. Sew along both short edges, leaving the bottom open.
Place the two bag flap pieces right sides together and pin into place. Sew around three sides, leaving to top open.
Clip corners and turn. Use a pointy ended chop stick or paintbrush to gently ease the corners out.
Top stitch along the top of the pocket, and around the sides and bottom of the bag flap.
Step 3 – Strap Construction
Fold the long, short and loop straps in half lengthwise with the right sides together and stitch along the long edges with a ¼ inch seam allowance. Turn the straps right sides out and press with the seam along one side.
Topstitch the long and short straps along both long sides.
Sew three rows of topstitching evenly spaced along the centre of the straps to create a decorative finish.
Using the short straps and the picture as a guide, thread the fabric through the end of the looploc or D ring so that the ends meet. Pin into place. Sew two rows of stitching as close to the looploc or D ring as possible to secure the double thickness of fabric. (I forgot to topstitch the straps on this photo.)
Construct your large straps by threading the fabric through the slide adjuster as shown.
Using the pictures as reference, fold the edge of the strap under, covering the raw edge and pin into place.
Top stitch across the raw edge, then up the side for ½ inch, back across the top, and then down ½ inch to form a stitched rectangle that will secure the fabric into place.
Step 4 – Bag Construction
Find the centre of your bag front panel and the pocket. Match this point and pin the pocket to the front of the bag panel.
Sew the two sides of the pocket to the front bag panel leaving the top open.
Sew the bag front base to the bag front panel with right sides together and open out as shown. Press the seam toward the bottom of the bag.
Place the short straps 1” from each long edge and pin into place.
Sew the back bag base to the back panel right sides together, sandwiching the straps between the layers as you sew. Open out as shown. Press the seam toward the bottom of the bag. Pin the short straps out of the way of the seam allowance.
Matching the seams, sew the bag front panel to the back panel along one side. Press. Open the bag up and top stitch along the edge of the bag base (pink spot fabric). This will help anchor the straps into place. Sew the remaining side edge of the bag together to form a tube shape.
Find the centre of the bag, by folding it in half and matching the seams. Using the picture as a guide, refold the bag, and pin the centres together. Sew along the base of the bag.
To form the bottom of the bag, fold the side seam across the bottom so it forms a triangle.
Mark, then sew across the triangle where the edge measures 4½” across. Repeat on the other side. Trim the corners. This will create a box shaped base to the bag.
Step 5 – Lining
Construct the bag lining using the same method as the bag, leaving a 4” gap in one side for turning.
Step 6 – Add a Base
Sew the two strips of your bag base together by stitching around the outside.
Turn the bag inside out, and attach the base by hand stitching the bag base to the seam allowance so the base will sit in the box shaped base of the bag.
Step 7 – Attach the Straps
Using the pictures as a guide, thread your straps. With the wrong side of the slide adjuster facing upwards, thread the long end of the strap under the looploc or D ring.
Take it over the looploc then up and under the slide adjuster, finishing with the raw ends of the straps at the top of the bag.
Find the centre of the bag back and pin the straps to either side of this point. Ensure that there are no twists in the straps before you pin.
Pin the ends of the bag loop to either side of the bag straps. Baste the straps to the bag by stitching them into place with a ⅛ seam allowance
Step 8 – Finish the Bag
Find the centre of the bag flap and match this point with the centre of the bag back. Pin, then baste to the bag by stitching it into place with a ⅛ seam allowance.
Make your casing by turning the ends over ¼ inch and pressing. Turn over another ¼ inch and press. Sew across the ends. Fold the casing in half lengthwise with the wrong side facing the inside of the casing.
Find the centre of the bag flap and the middle of the casing. Pin together.
Keep pinning the casing around the bag until the casing reaches the centre front. Baste into place.
Place the bag inside the bag lining with the right sides facing and the top edges and seams aligned. As the bag has several layers, I change to a walking foot. Stitch around the top of the bag.
Turn the bag right way out though the gap in the lining. Push the lining into the bag and press. Top stitch around the outside of the bag, keeping the straps and flap pushed forward and out of the way.
Make or buy a drawstring. I made a strip of binding measuring 90 cm, folded in half. Sew along the long edge. Knot the ends. Thread the drawstring through the casing, and secure it with a few stitches by sewing across the casing at the back of the bag. This is will stop the drawstring from pulling out and getting lost.
Give your bag a good press and slip stitch the opening closed. Ready for school ~ Let’s Go!
Let’s Go! Robot Variation
Extras you will need:
- Small amount of Visofix or Wonder Under and scraps of fabric and thread for the appliqué
- Buttons for eyes and decoration
- Appliqué pattern
- From Fabric A (Green):
- 4 x 2” squares – ears
- From the Medium Interfacing:
- 2 x 1½” squares – ears
Getting Started:
Print your pattern and print out your appliqué template.
Onto Visofix or Wonder Under, trace the appliqué pieces leaving a gap between each shape for cutting out. Following the manufacturer’s directions fuse the Visofix or Wonder Under to the wrong side of the fabric scraps. Cut around the shapes.
Step 1 – Adding the Appliqué Shapes
Fold pocket piece in half as shown. Using the photo as a guide, iron the appliqués into place using a warm dry iron. Don’t forget to leave a seam allowance.
Appliqué the shapes using your favourite method. I used 2 strands of matching thread and the button hole stitch technique. Sew some buttons on to decorate your face and pocket.
Step 2 – Making the Bag Flap and Pocket
Make your robot some ears by sewing together two pairs of green 2” squares, each with a piece with interfacing.
Leave the bottom open for turning and clip the corners before turning.
Press your ears and top stitch around the outside. I have added another row of stitching a quarter of an inch inside the first row.
Pin each ear 2” down from the top of the robot head and pin into place. Align the edges of the second bag flap piece and pin into place. Sew around three sides, leaving the top open.
Clip corners and turn. Use a pointy ended chop stick or paintbrush to gently ease the corners out.
Top stitch along the top of the pocket, and around the sides and bottom of the robot head bag flap.
Follow the instructions in “Let’s Go!” above to complete your robot backpack.
Visit and comment every day in August to win a new, Back to School sewing pattern!
74 Responses to “Back to School ~ Free Let’s Go! Backpack Pattern & Tutorial”
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Thanks for the clear instructions! This is just what I was looking for!!
So cute! Love these bags.
just adorable – my son has been asking for all robot this could the trick!
This is great,… my kids need new backpacks..
thank you
So cute! I think I may have to do this for my girls – these look so much nicer than the ones at the store and I could still use fabric or applique to get the characters they love.
Such a cute pattern. Love it!!!
I love the cute backpacks. My daughter (age3) is looking at the photos with me and is already demanding a princess backpack. I guess that is on the to-do. Thanks for the idea, and patterns.
What a fabulous tutorial. Thank you everyone for sharing!
Adorable!!!
The robot backpack is very cute.
These are too cute!
These are darling–nothing you could ever find in a chain store that’s for sure!
These backpacks are adorable! Thank you for graciously sharing your hard work with us! I’m anxious to make these for my little girls to take on Thanksgiving vacation to grandma’s house
These are really cute!
That backpack looks fun to make.
These are SO adorable! Can’t wait to give this one a try!
I need to make one of these for my daughter – she wants to go to school with her big brother, but that’s still a few years away. Maybe this will help ease the transition.
oh wow, I wish i saw this sooner, I just finished making my son a backpack for nursery school! I blogged it here: http://livingmysweetlife.blogspot.com/2010/08/backpack-for-nursery-school.html
Wow! now thats cute, love the robot.
It’s gorgeous and Rachel is VERY clever! Lucy x
Great tutorial – if my daughter ever lets me get away from Disney Princess, I’ll have to try it.
really want to make one. but my 5year old c annot work the drawstring ties just yet. any suggestions on an alternative way?
Very cute! Thanks for sharing!
Oh those are just so adorable!
What great back packs!!
I love this pattern – thanks.
Oh, these are sooo cute! I was thinking about making my own backpacks for when my DD goes back to school and my DS starts school this Autumn. This is a great tutorial, thanks!
Thank you for the tutorial! I need to get this made for my son!
Great tutorial!
OMG this is sooooo cute! I envision lots of birthday and christmas presents – better get busy.
This is such a great tutorial! I hate it when I buy a backpack and there are 3 other kids in the class with the same one! A little individuality goes a long way!
aww this is adorable. thanks for sharing.
OMG…I love this so much!! I want to make these as gifts. It seems like it may be kind of hard, but this is an awesome tutorial!! Thanks for sharing!!
Instead of the drawstrings, you could thread in elastic to make it simpler for younger kids. Thank you for all the lovely comments!
So, so sweet.
These are so cute! Thanks for the tutorials.
So many wonderful uses for these. Thank you!
This is really cute!! Thanks!
Angelina – depending on what was to be carried in the backpack what about creating a casing for elastic around the top end and chinching it in that way?
Loving this! So cute! My boys would love the robots!
Those are adorable!
Very cute! I love tutorials.
this is great =) thanks!
Thank you!
I love this project! I need a cute bag to put baby stuff in.
Very cute! My boy is just 1 year old…but It will make a cute preschool bag when the time comes!
How adorable!
These are too cute!
Oh my I have been looking for a project to make something for my daughters daycare class…and I think this is a GREAT idea!! I know it seems a little ambitious, but there are only 8 kids in her class!! And we live in a college town so I am going to make them with the school colors…War Eagle!! Thank you so much for the clear and easy to read instructions!!
I could see a mommy version of this for me to keep kid stuff in.
Thank you! such a cute pack. I just bought fabric to make something for my nephew as a gift. This backpack would perfect!
Those are beyond awesome! My girls aren’t school age yet, but they do love bags and backpacks.. I’m gonna have to make one for each of them!
Wow, what a great tutorial! Thanks!
Great tutorial! I have been wanting to make a “Dora” backpack for my 2 year old, and now I can!
)
Those backpacks are adorable. My son would love the robot. It’s so cool.
My nieces or nephews would love these backpacks.
I love them!
Thank you.
Great backpack ideas for kids. But why stop there? I’ve been looking for a new backpack purse without success. (It seems I’m out of style with what’s in the stores.) This would be great!
Awesome! Now off to make one for every kid I know…
What a fantastic tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing.
Ah! Thank you!!!
Very nice and professional. Makes me want a little kid to sew for!
Another adorable backpack pattern!! My kids aren’t going to get to BUY backpacks until I run out of cool tutorials for them. Bookmarking.
Brilliant! Clear instructions and beautiful bags! I must try it soon!
My 4 year old grandson, loves robots. This will be perfect for him.
Fabulous tute!! I will have to make some for my grandsons!
Love this design. Thanks for the tutorial. Looking forward to making this for my son. He will love it.
thank you. thank you! first time I attempted something with fusible backing, and its turned out really well. thank you for the detailed instructions.
I’ll have to make this for my niece since my daughter too young.
I’ll have to make this for my niece.
I LOVE this pattern! Making one for my daughter ~ enlarging it since she’s in 4th grade and will be lining it with duckcloth and a making a hidden pocket in the bottom for a thin piece of wood to use as a bottom. THANK YOU SO MUCH for my wonderful head start!!
I just made one of these last night. I had a little trouble with it but I’m thinking that was due more to me being too tired and less with the quality of instruction.
Thanks so much Rachel!
Blogged it here:
http://402centerstreet.blogspot.com/2010/08/lets-go-backpack.html
I just finished mine. I decided to quilt it instead of using interfacing. It turned out so nice. Thanking for the tutorial. It was lovely!
I blogged about it here:
http://appleoftheearth-sarah.blogspot.com/
Fantastic!! Thank you so much!
I did mine in denim it has turned out so lovely, made it for a little boy and put the robot onto it as well. Looks great. I will definately be doing this one again and again…….