How to sew a simple DIY backpack

 

Everyone loves backpacks for their practicality. They are great for travel, walking, going to the gym and many other occasions when you need to take a few things with you. What do you think about making a simple backpack with your own hands? This is a pretty easy sewing project that even a beginner can handle. We will make a drawstring backpack that is comfortable, spacious and functional enough for you to use it for its intended purpose. In addition, you can choose the colors of fabrics and print designs to your liking, so this backpack will also be a stylish accessory that will successfully complement your look.

 

To sew a backpack yourself you will need:

• ⅓ meter of cotton fabric
• 4 meters of cord
• sewing machine
• tailor's scissors or rotary knife
• tailor's pins or clips
• iron and ironing board

(you can buy a sewing machine and supplies at Sewstar sewing store)

 

Before starting work, do not forget to soak and dry the fabric, and then iron the textile well with a steam iron. Decating the fabric like this will prevent the backpack from deforming or shrinking after the first wash.

Step #1.
Start by downloading a free backpack pattern from HelloSewing. Print the downloaded pattern on three A4 sheets, at 100% scale. Then glue the sheets and cut out all the components. As a result, you will get two parts of the pattern. One for the base of the backpack and one for the pull tabs.

 

 

Step #2.
Fold the base fabric in half right sides together, place the pattern on the fold and cut the material along the pattern using tailor's scissors. Repeat this procedure again. Also cut out the blank for the tongue. In the end, you will have three pieces of fabric - two large and one small.

 

Step #3.
Now we need to prepare loops for the cord. To begin, take the previously cut out small piece of fabric and fold it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. After that, iron the workpiece. Then fold the workpiece lengthwise again and iron well. As a result, you will get a narrow strip of fabric in four layers. Fasten it with clips and sew along the edges on a sewing machine. Sew as close to the edge as possible, preferably with a 1.5mm seam allowance. For this purpose, you can attach the appropriate size sewing foot to the sewing machine. Then cut the blank in half to get two pieces.

 

 

 

Step #4.
Treat the cuts on the main pieces of fabric so that they do not crumble. Overcast them if you have an overlock, or use a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine.

 

Step #5.
Now you need to mark up where the hole for the laces will be. Measure 8 centimeters from the top on both sides of the workpiece. Mark these points with clips.

 

 

 

Step #6.
Fold the drawstring tabs in half and insert them between the two layers of fabric, about an inch from the bottom of the pack, aligning the raw edges of the pull tabs with the raw edges of the backpack base. Then secure in place with clips.

 

 

 

Step #7.
Sew the parts of the backpack on the sewing machine, starting from one of the clothespins, along the side edge, along the bottom, and on the other side up to the other clothespin. Use a 10 millimeter (⅜ inch) seam allowance when sewing. Bartack at the beginning and end of the seam.

 

Step #8
Trim the bottom corners so they stay sharp when you turn the bag inside out.

 

Step #9.
From the front and back, fold the top of the backpack 1 centimeter to the wrong side. Iron the collar with an iron. Smooth out the seam allowances on both sides and secure them with clips as well. Then sew the side holes with a zigzag stitch.

After that, fold the top of the backpack back in front and back so that the hem lines up with the bottom of the side opening. Iron the collar with an iron and secure with clips. Then sew a straight stitch on the sewing machine, running the seam along the bottom edge of the collar.

 

 

 

Step #10.
Cut the cord in half, into two pieces. Each piece should be about 1.8 meters long. Attach a safety pin to the end of one of the cords and thread it through the cord pull tab, then through the hole in the folded edge on the front of the backpack, and back through the same flap on the back of the backpack. Repeat the same with the other cord, only in the opposite direction. Tie the ends of the cords into a knot.

 

 

 

Well, that's it, the project is finished! Now you also know how to sew a backpack with your own hands and you can make yourself a similar one from the fabric you like.

How to sew a sleep mask by yourself

An importance of a good night's sleep cannot be overstated. Seven to eight hours of rest will help you effectively relax, get rid of psychological anxiety and allow you to wake up rested and alert, getting rid of fatigue. However, if you have trouble falling asleep and often wake up from even the slightest noise or light, or if you travel a lot or, due to your work schedule, sometimes have to sleep during the day, then a sleep mask will come to the rescue. Such an eye protection accessory will allow you to quickly and permanently go to the land of dreams. In addition, a handmade sleep mask is also an easy and fun sewing project for a beginner in sew, as well as a great gift for someone special or yourself.

 

To sew a sleep mask you will need:

• sewing machine and tailor's accessories
• light cotton fabric as main material
• silk or satin as lining material
• wadding as a soft filler
• elastic band measuring about 40 by 1.5 centimeters

(all these sewing goods can be bought at sewstar.com.ua sewing store)

 

Step #1.
Download the sleep bandage pattern from the TillyAndTheButtons website and print it out on a piece of A4 paper. Next, using the pattern as a template, cut out blanks from the main fabric, lining material and batting. Next, you need to reduce the blanks from the lining fabric and batting. To do this, cut off the extra 3 and 15 millimeters of material along the contour. After that, cut a strip of 90 by 4 centimeters from the main fabric. It will serve as a blank for an elastic strap.

 

 

 

Step #2.
Fold the strap blank in half along the long side. Then attach the ¼ inch edge stitch foot to the sewing machine, and sew a straight stitch along the long side of the piece. After that, take a safety pin and pin it to one end of the elastic. Next, thread the elastic into the strap blank. When this job is done, stitch each end of the strap with a ⅜ inch seam allowance to secure the elastic in place.

 

 

 

Step #3.
At a distance of about 10 millimeters from the edge, baste each end of the strap to the sides of the sleep mask blank from the main fabric.

 

 

 

Step #4.
Place the main fabric sleep mask blank right side up. Lay the piece of lining material on top of it, face down. Align them and pin along the outer edge with tailor's pins. The strap should be in the middle, between the two layers. At the top of the blanks folded together, you need to leave a little free space through which you then turn the strap and sleep mask out. You can mark this place with pins of a different color. They will remind you that this section does not need to be stitched yet.

 

 

 

Step #5.
Using a sewing machine, sew both pieces together using a 15mm seam allowance. After that, cut off the excess allowances with scissors and make notches every 2.5 centimeters. Then smooth out the seam allowances with an iron.

 

 

 

Step #6.
Turn the sleep band inside out through the opening you left. Place a soft batting filler inside the hole and smooth it out. Then iron the seam allowances to the inside of the mask. Next, sew up the hole by hand or on a sewing machine.

 

 

 

So, it's all over! Now you also know how to sew a sleep mask yourself. Enjoy your selfmade eye mask and have a good night's sleep in style!