Cut out your pattern piece in the appropriate above measurement for the desired size backpack.

Cutting fabric for backpack

Fold your fabric in half right sides together.

Place pattern on top of fabric. (Do not place pattern on fold of fabric; you will need to cut out two separate pieces for the backpack's front and back).

Pin or use something heavy to hold the pattern in place on the fabric so it does not shift while cutting.  

Cut out 2 fabric pieces (one front and back).

If you do not wish to construct a pocket for your backpack, 

 click here to skip to next step.

Pocket pattern

Fold your backpack pattern in half lengthwise. This will be your pocket pattern.

Cutting pocket fabric

Place pocket pattern on top of ONE layer of fabric.

Pin, or place something heavy to keep pattern from shifting. 

Cut one of pocket. 

Finish one of the long edges of the pocket by either serging or sewing a zig zag stitch.

Fold over the finished edge towards the wrong side of fabric 1”.  Press

Pin and sew on top of finished edge.

Constructing pocket on the inside of backpack

If placing pocket on the inside of the backpack, position pocket on top of one of the backpack pattern pieces, wrong sides together, matching up bottom and sides. 

Pin

If placing pocket on the outside of the backpack, position wrong side of pocket against the right side of one backpack pattern piece, matching up bottom and sides.

Pin.

Sew 3/8" - 1/2" around pocket.  Reinforce top corners by backstitching several times. 

Divide pocket if desired with vertical seam[s]

Reinforce buttonhole

Cut four 2" X 2" pieces of medium/heavy weight iron-on interfacing. 

Iron on interfacing on wrong side of each bottom corner front and back. 

Attach front to back

Place the front and back pattern pieces right sides together lining up bottoms, sides and tops. 

Measure down 2 1/2" from the top on each side and place horizontal pins as reminders not to sew there .   This will be the openings needed for each of the two drawstring cases.

Pin all around the rest of the backpack.

Sew 5/8” seam where pinned, backstitching several times where the horizontal pins lay. 

Double stitch or serge.  If you double stitch, you may want to use pinking shears to help prevent unraveling.   

Trim bottom corners close to stitching, being careful not to cut stitches.

Trim seam to 1/4", except where the casings are going to be. 

Note:  If fabric has a looser weave, you'll want to finish the top edge and casing opening edge by using either serged or zig-zag stitch, double-stitch and pinking shears, or by folding fabric over twice and sewing a straight stitch to prevent unraveling.

The casing

Fold over on each side casing openings 5/8" onto the wrong side of fabric or just enough to hide stitches.

Pin  

Sew   

Fold down top towards the wrong side of fabric 1" to make a casing.  Press.  Pin if necessary. 

Flip over and do the same for the other side.

Make sure the two top casings line up with each other. 

Sew casing stitching on top of the serger or zig-zag thread. 

Turn right side out and poke bottom corners out as far as they will go. 

Iron backpack flat

Admire your work! 

You're almost done!

Buttonholes

On outer front of backpack, measure up and out from corners 5/8".  Place marking.

From where the marking is measure up 5/8" and draw a vertical line.  

Make two short horizontal lines at the beginning and end of vertical line to let you know where to start the buttonhole and where to end. 

Do same for other side. 

Note:  You do not want to catch any of the seams here, but will want to sew a buttonhole on just the interfacing and two layers of fabrics. Trim seams inside backpack if necessary, being careful not to cut into stitching. 

Before sewing buttonhole, place two pins about 3/8" away from buttonhole.  

Sew here to add security to the buttonhole and to keep fabrics in place while sewing buttonhole.     

Sew buttonhole.

Open up buttonhole just big enough to fit draw cord though twice. 

You'll want this hole as small as possible. 

Do same for other side. 

Drawcord

Cut your drawcord at the desired length according to the measurement chart.  Note-  You'll want to wrap the cord tight with a scotch tape or similar type tape and cut in the middle of it.  This will prevent the cord from unraveling. 

After cutting your desired length, fold that length in half, place scotch tape, and cut.  You will need two drawcords the same length for each backpack.

Inserting drawcord

Insert drawcord through backside of buttonhole and tie knot on front.  

There are several ways to insert a drawcord, and definitely use whatever method you prefer.  I will show the steps on how to insert using a safety pin. 

On opposite end of knot, latch onto drawcord using a safety pin.

Insert drawcord into the front drawcord casing and on the same side of backpack as the knot.  Insert using the backside of pin; this will help prevent it from becoming unlatched. 

Feed drawcord through casing until you get to the end.  Come out end of casing front and insert into the adjacent casing opening for the back. 

Insert drawcord through the back casing until you come out the other end. 

Insert this end of  drawcord through back side of buttonhole just like when starting. 

Take out safety pin and untie knot.

Retie drawcords together into one very tight, secure knot.

Do same for other side, photo steps are followed:

Pull so drawcords are completely even on both side. 

Remove tape from both drawcords and either wrap both ends together with one piece of tape very tightly, or leave hanging for a fringed affect (see below).

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