Click on link for instructions with pics or see below:
Drawstring Backpack
Courtesy of Anne Michelle Bailey
Courtesy of Anne Michelle Bailey
Materials:
2 pieces heavy cotton 15" x 18". I used outdoor canvas that I got off the discount rack at JoAnns and washed it so it wasnt so stiff. But you could use denim, or twill or anything that seems durable.
2 pieces 3"x15" of the outside fabric for the casings. 2 pieces cotton 15"x18" for the lining
2 - 7 ft long pieces of cording. I used cotton 6mm macrame cord for most of them. It was the easiest to thread thru.
2 - 3 inch pieces of 3⁄4" twill tape or cotton webbing
2 pieces heavy cotton 15" x 18". I used outdoor canvas that I got off the discount rack at JoAnns and washed it so it wasnt so stiff. But you could use denim, or twill or anything that seems durable.
2 pieces 3"x15" of the outside fabric for the casings. 2 pieces cotton 15"x18" for the lining
2 - 7 ft long pieces of cording. I used cotton 6mm macrame cord for most of them. It was the easiest to thread thru.
2 - 3 inch pieces of 3⁄4" twill tape or cotton webbing
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Step 1:
Do a 1⁄4" roll hem on the short ends of the 3x15 pieces.
Fold them in half, wrong sides together and pin along the fold to hold them. Or iron them if you're into that, or have a lovely assistant. Which I didnt, lol.
Step 2
Take the twill tape and fold it in half, and zigzag the ends together abt 1/4 inch from the edge. Set aside for a minute.
Step 3
Get one piece of the outside, and one piece of the lining, put them right sides together and pin the casings raw edges between them along the edge, centering them...there should be about a half an inch on each side of the casings.
Fold them in half, wrong sides together and pin along the fold to hold them. Or iron them if you're into that, or have a lovely assistant. Which I didnt, lol.
Step 2
Take the twill tape and fold it in half, and zigzag the ends together abt 1/4 inch from the edge. Set aside for a minute.
Step 3
Get one piece of the outside, and one piece of the lining, put them right sides together and pin the casings raw edges between them along the edge, centering them...there should be about a half an inch on each side of the casings.
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Sew with a 1⁄2" seam along that edge. Open up and it should look like this:
Now sew 1⁄8 in or so away from the seam on the lining side, pulling the casing the other direction so that you are sewing thru all the layers. Is that clear as mud?
Now repeat all that with the remaining fabric pieces.
Step 4:
Open both pieces up.. Pin them right sides together, (outer to outer, lining to lining) lining up the casing seams, and pinning the casings in the same direction. (Actually, now that I think about it, the same direction prob doesnt matter, but thats how I did it, lol)
Now repeat all that with the remaining fabric pieces.
Step 4:
Open both pieces up.. Pin them right sides together, (outer to outer, lining to lining) lining up the casing seams, and pinning the casings in the same direction. (Actually, now that I think about it, the same direction prob doesnt matter, but thats how I did it, lol)
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Step 5:
On the outer fabric, mark up 3 inches from the bottom. Take the twill tape loops and insert them in the seam and pin. Make sure when pining that after you sew it, there will be an appropriate amount for the cord to go thru without it being so big the knot will go thru. I found that if I pulled the twill tape edge out from the edge of the fabric about 3⁄8 of an inch, the tube ends up about right.
Step 6:
Starting on the lining side, and leaving about 5 inches open to turn it, sewing 1⁄2 seam all the way around, being careful not to catch the casings in the seam. Then zigzag the edges...I usually go back and forth over where the twill tape is so its really secure.
On the outer fabric, mark up 3 inches from the bottom. Take the twill tape loops and insert them in the seam and pin. Make sure when pining that after you sew it, there will be an appropriate amount for the cord to go thru without it being so big the knot will go thru. I found that if I pulled the twill tape edge out from the edge of the fabric about 3⁄8 of an inch, the tube ends up about right.
Step 6:
Starting on the lining side, and leaving about 5 inches open to turn it, sewing 1⁄2 seam all the way around, being careful not to catch the casings in the seam. Then zigzag the edges...I usually go back and forth over where the twill tape is so its really secure.
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Step 7
This next part is the hardest to explain, so if it doesnt make sense, go to you tube and search for sewing box corners. ( I learned a lot of stuff from you tube. This pattern is a conglomeration of about a dozen vids I watched and a little common sense).
First clip the corners to the seam like this:
Take the corner and pull it so the side seam is lined up with the bottom seam and it makes a point. Pin it, making sure your seams are lined up, and you dont have any tucks (my specialty).
Then,, with a ruler, measure down from the point 2 1⁄2 inches and mark it with a pin or pencil. If you can eyeball a perpendicular line to the seam, great, if in doubt draw with a pencil
First clip the corners to the seam like this:
Take the corner and pull it so the side seam is lined up with the bottom seam and it makes a point. Pin it, making sure your seams are lined up, and you dont have any tucks (my specialty).
Then,, with a ruler, measure down from the point 2 1⁄2 inches and mark it with a pin or pencil. If you can eyeball a perpendicular line to the seam, great, if in doubt draw with a pencil
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Sew that seam, trim it to 1⁄2 inch and zigzag.
Repeat with the other corners, making sure your seams are laying the same direction.
I usually sew all four corners, then clip and zigzag. But whatever floats your boat.
Step 8
Turn right side out. Make sure your cord loops are the correct size, adjust if necessary, then close up the opening where you turned it. Since its the lining, I usually just zigzag it shut.
Stuff the lining into the bag and you are ready to thread the cords.
I usually sew all four corners, then clip and zigzag. But whatever floats your boat.
Step 8
Turn right side out. Make sure your cord loops are the correct size, adjust if necessary, then close up the opening where you turned it. Since its the lining, I usually just zigzag it shut.
Stuff the lining into the bag and you are ready to thread the cords.
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Step 9
Now it looks like this. We hope, lol.
Pin a biggish safety pin about 2 or 3 inches from the end of one of the cords. Or, alternatively, make a slip.knot and put the safety pin thru it. I find most of the cord threading is easier with the slip.knot, but to get it thru the twill tape loops, you may have to just pin thru the cord.
Lay the backpack flat, thread the cord thru the front casing, starting on the right. When you get to the other side, thread it back thru the back casing. Pull the cord so the ends are the same length.
(K, that pic is backwards, sorry.)
Lay the backpack flat, thread the cord thru the front casing, starting on the right. When you get to the other side, thread it back thru the back casing. Pull the cord so the ends are the same length.
(K, that pic is backwards, sorry.)
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Put the pin thru the cord...if you do it 2 or 3 inches from the end, it usually holds together long enough to get it thru the twill loop. I haven’t successfully done both cords at the same time, I had to do them individually. After you get them through, knot the ends like the picture. If it looks like it won’t hold, knot it again.
Now do the other cord, starting from the left through the front, back through the back, then down to the twill loop. Once that is tied off, you are done!
Now do the other cord, starting from the left through the front, back through the back, then down to the twill loop. Once that is tied off, you are done!
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