Fat Quarter Drawstring Backpack

 This tutorial has moved to my NEW website!  

Find it and many other tutorials HERE.

 http://reannalilydesigns.com/2009/10/fat-quarter-drawstring-backpack/

Its tutorial time again around the ReannaLily Designs blog- DRAWSTRING BACKPACK. This backpack has finished seams (without using a serger) and is perfect for that fat quarter of fabric that you just HAD to have, but don't want to cut into little pieces.

For this project you will need:

• one quilter's fat quarter (rectangle of fabric measuring 18" x 22")
• 52" of ribbon, 1 inch wide. {sized for a kiddo}
  

And you'll also need regular sewing items like

• rotary cutting tools
• scissors, thread, sewing machine, Seamingly Accurate seam guide
  
• iron, ironing board
• jumbo safety pin
• AND- for this project I used the rolled hem presser foot attachment

Fat quarters are usually sold folded in some fancy merchandising fashion. You'll need to open the fabric up and press it.

Next up, and this one might surprise you- You will want to trim the edges of the fabric, with your rotary cutter, to remove the selvage and to ensure that the fabric has 90 degree angles on all corners. I bet you thought fat quarters come to your home all squared up and fabulous... they don't.


Next you will need to switch the sewing machine presser foot from the regular open zig zag foot, to the rolled hem foot. Your sewing machine manual will let you know exactly which one it is.

Now, using one of the 18" sides of the fabric, with the right side facing down, feed about 1/4" of the fabric edge into the "curly" part of the rolled hem presser foot. {This will make sense as you are doing it. You might want to practice a time or two on scrap fabrics.} OH- here, I just found this rolled hem video for you. The fabric will catch on the sewing machine feed dogs and guide the fabric through the presser foot giving you a fabulous finished edge. NOTE: If you do not want to do the rolled hem or do not have the presser foot, you can either fold the edge 1/4" twice and stitch a narrow hem or simply zigzag over the raw edge. I do recommend you try the rolled hem, if you have the foot.

Here's what it looks like from the right side of the fabric:

Pretty sweet right? I bet you're going to want to "roll hem" all sorts of stuff now. Repeat this rolled hem treatment on the other 18" side of the fabric.

Now, press the top edge. First, fold down one of the 22" sides one half inch. Press.


Fold the edge again, down 1 1/4th" and press again. This will form a casing or "tube" for the ribbon to be drawn into.


Take the fat quarter over to the sewing machine and stitch the casing in place. Work from the wrong side of the fabric and stitch close to the lower folded edge. I used the Seamingly Accurate seam guide to make sure my casing was the same width, across the entire top.

Lay the fat quarter on your work surface. Fold it in half, matching right sides AND matching those rolled hem edges. Pin along the rolled hem edges.

This will become the center back seam of the back pack. Start stitching right below the casing. Back-stitch a few times to secure your stitching line at the casing. This point will get alot of stress during the life of the bag, so back-stitching or lock-stitching or securing is very important. Sew along this center back seam using a 1/2" seam allowance, made easy with the Seamingly Accurate guide. {You can see the back-stitching in the picture below.}

With the bag still folded in half, you will need to find the center front of the bag. On the lower edge, make a small clip or notch with your scissors, so that you can find this point again later.

Press the center back seam open. Match the center back seam and center front notch while at the ironing board. Give a little press on the right and left sides at the lower edge, so you'll know where to place your ribbon ends, later in construction. {Trust me.}



Now, add the jumbo safety pin to one end of the ribbon. This will be the guide as you push the ribbon through the casing at the top edge of the back pack.

Turn the bag right side out, if it is not already. Once the ribbon is all the way through the casing, remove the safety pin. Lay each of the ribbon ends, flat, onto the lower edge of the back of the bag. Place the ribbons right next to that side seam fold you pressed in earlier.

Sew across the lower edge of the bag using a 1/4" seam allowance. Match the center back seam and center front notch, again. You are making a fancy french seam to finish the lower edge of the bag- so yes, you will be sewing with wrong sides together and ribbon pinned in place. Sew with the bag back facing up, so you can ensure your ribbons are straight as you sew.

Unlike a traditional French seam, we will NOT be trimming any extra fabric away from this 1/4" seam allowance. Instead, just turn the bag wrong side out and press the lower edge.

Ah, there ya go. Make sure the ribbons haven't twisted around on you in there or anything. Head back over to the sewing machine. And use a 1/2" seam allowance to sew the bottom edge, this time right sides together (just like in the picture.) I sew with the center back seam facing up, so I can make sure the seam allowances don't fold while I'm stitching.

Last thing- Turn the bag right side out and press the lower edge. That's it. That's all.

OH WAIT- one other little thing- if you have a bells-and-whistles embroidery machine, you'll want to do whatever embroidery BEFORE you sew that lower seam shut. I hear its easier. I don't embroider, but my friend does. {You cannot really see the name on the far left bag in the photo, its stitched in red.}

Thanks for taking this tutorial for a test drive! I hope you love it. I hope you have it with enough time to make up some Happy Trick-or-Treat bags to hold *just* the right amount of candy!

Updated to add: OMG- this backpack was mentioned on a webisode for Shine with MARTHA STEWART!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

~jen~

If you make it, feel free to share it in the ReannaLily Designs Flickr pool.

For more accessories sewing patterns, check out ReannaLily Designs pattern shop.

Fat Quarter Drawstring Backpack