Adjustable Backpack Strap Tutorial

For the backpack, I used the Let's Go! Backpack Tutorial at SewMamaSew.

Supplies:
Fabric: 2- 14"x3.5" rectangles (original long straps)
Medium weight interfacing: 2: 13.5"x3"
2 - 1" slide adjusters
A lighter (for melting the ends of the belting)
2 yds of polyester belting
       Cut 2 - 20" lengths of belting (for original short straps)
       Cut 2 - 4.5" lengths of belting for slide adjuster loops

For the Fabric Straps (originally the "long" straps in this tutorial)

Fuse medium weight interfacing to both of the 14"x3.5" strips
Fold the 14"x3.5" strips of fabric in half, lengthwise, with right sides facing
Sew along the long edge w/ 1/4" seam allowance
Flip the straps right side out & press
Top stitch along each long side

I followed all of the directions from the original tutorial, except I didn't add the slide adjusters until I was ready to work on the straps (when I was done with everything else).  I replaced the original "short" straps with my 20" belting straps:

Fold under the end of each fabric strap a 1/4", then baste (I basted the straps by hand)

Fold the end under again 1/4", insert 4.5" belting strip & baste

Pull the 4.5" belting strap down

Thread through the slide adjuster up & back through

Place the end of the belting underneath the fabric strap, forming a loop.  Baste, then sew:



Slide the 20" belting strap up through and then down through the bottom of the slide adjuster.

Add tabs to the ends so the straps don't slide out of the slide adjusters:

Please feel free to leave comments if you have questions, etc.  I'm still new at writing tutorials, so I hope this one makes sense! : )

Envelope Pocket Tutorial

I made the backpack using the Let's Go! Backpack Tutorial.

Supplies:

Fabric for pocket: 1 - 8.5"x12"
Fabric for flap: 2 pcs cut like this:

Fusible Fleece/Heavyweight Fusible Interfacing:
For Pocket: 1 pc - 8"x5.5"
For Flap: 1 pc cut like this:

1 magnetic snap & My Magnetic Snap Tutorial

For the pocket:

Fold the pocket piece in half with right sides facing
Press, then fuse fleece to half of wrong side.
Sew along both short sides, leave the bottom open.
Clip corners and turn
Topstitch across the top of the pocket

For the envelope flap:

Fuse fleece to wrong side of the piece of fabric that will be on the inside of the flap.  (Mine is orange)

Place fabric together, right sides facing
Sew along all sides - leave a gap at the top for turning
Clip corners, turn
Measure to the center (the point) of the envelope flap, mark
           *make sure it lines up with the center of the pocket*
Then measure 1" up from the point, mark
Insert male half of magnetic snap
Hand sew opening at top: I used this tutorial @ splityarn.com

The side of the pocket w/ the fleece fused to it will be the front
Measure to center of the pocket, mark
Measure down 1" mark
Match up the snap on the envelope flap to this mark
    *make sure the envelope flap overlaps the pocket, so you can sew it to the bag*
Insert female half of snap into pocket

How to sew envelope flap to bag:

Sew the pocket onto the front of the bag

Snap envelope flap to pocket                                                     

Pin the flap to the front of the bag, and sew

Now you should have this:

Please feel free to leave comments if you have any questions, etc.  I'm really new at writing tutorials and I hope that this one makes sense! : )

Lily's Diaper Bag

I made another backpack using the Let's Go! Backpack tutorial from SewMamaSew.  This time, it's going to be a diaper bag for Lily (I'm due in December).  I bought a pack of 7 fat quarters at Tuesday Morning about a week ago for $3.99 *SUPER good deal, by the way* and I decided they would be perfect for this project.

Just like Noah's bag, I made my own version of straps.  For this bag, I added an envelope pocket, magnetic snaps & thicker interfacing to support the weight of the snaps.  I'm going to post a series of tutorials in the next few days: 

Tutorials are up and ready!

• *Envelope Pocket Tutorial
• *Adding Magnetic Snaps
•  *1" Adjustable Backpack Straps





the back

the interior of the bag

Noah's Pirate Backpack

Some friends of ours have a little boy whose birthday is tomorrow.  I didn't really want to buy him a toy because he has so many.  So, I decided to make him this backpack:

I was going to make him a drawstring backpack, but the tutorial that I have used in the past is no longer a working link.  I tried to find a different drawstring backpack tutorial online but none of them had a lining and I think that is an important element for bags.  SO...I made his backpack using this tutorial. 

I LOVED making this backpack.  The tutorial was so easy to follow and it only took me a weekend to make.  Her pattern calls for 38mm slide adjusters and looplocs (or 1.5").  This would not have been a problem, except my local Joann's only carries 1" slide adjusters.  I had already made the straps and I was limited on fabric, so I improvised.

I'll be making another backpack soon and I'm going to post a tutorial on how I made the adjustable straps.

                                                     

More pictures:



Open, with polka dot lining





the back