easy backpack with bias tape straps

September 1, 2009 | 6 Comments

My daughter starts preschool next week and she needed a backpack. I asked her if she’d like me to make one for her and she said YES!

I let her choose fabric from my stash and helped her with coordinating the colors. I really like how it turned out and she loves it. My only problem is getting her to wear it. Right now, she just wants to carry it by the straps.

martha stewart easy beach bag

I used Martha’s Easy Beach Bag pattern with a few modifications:
• inside is canvas instead of nylon
• inside has two pockets
• used fabric instead of cord for the straps
• serged the raw edges inside

drawstring back pack with lining

Drawstring Strap How-to:
Feed strips of denim through a 1-inch bias tape maker, fold the tape in half and stitch it together. Once threaded through the loops, sew the ends together because they’ll be too thick to knot.

drawstring back pack with lining

stash: This is one of those occasions that I love having a stash of fabric. It’s so easy to dive right into a project when the motivation strikes! Plus, using a thrifty stash is so affordable. I’m guessing this cost less than $2 to make. Sweet!

Category: all posts, recycle, sewing, stash, tutorials
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Comments

6 Responses to “easy backpack with bias tape straps”

  1. Sarah M
    September 1st, 2009 @ 6:41 pm

    cute!!! Ah, I bet she loves it! Good one, mom! :)
    Sarah M

  2. Tutorial: Back-to-school drawstring backpack · Sewing @ CraftGossip
    September 6th, 2009 @ 8:22 am

    [...] Julie from julie-k shares a back-to-school tutorial for a simple drawstring backpack with bias tape straps.  This is a quick, easy sewing projects well suited for beginners.  Get the how-to. [...]

  3. Anne Weaver
    September 6th, 2009 @ 8:32 am

    Great version of the drawstring backpack! Thanks for posting a how-to for the fabric straps. They’re a nice look.

    I posted a link to your project on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-back-to-school-drawstring-backpack/2009/09/06/

    –Anne

  4. rowena
    September 10th, 2009 @ 1:18 am

    Thanks for the tutorial! It’s a really nice backpack and I want to make one for my daughter too!

  5. Cyndi DeLong
    November 13th, 2009 @ 1:29 pm

    Less than $2 to make??? Where do you buy your fabric??? $10-$12 a yard here.

  6. jkundhi
    November 13th, 2009 @ 1:40 pm

    Cyndi, I get almost all of my fabric from garage sales, thrift stores and freecycle.

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    Julie is a freelance designer and writer. She has a passion for finding new uses for old, loved things, and will sew anything: sweaters, shirts, jeans, pants. Nothing is safe if it fits under her presser foot!



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