Making Backpack Pattern // Noodlehead

A backpack that’s perfect in its simplicity, but also great for customizing. Choose your favorite canvas (prints or solids), waxed canvas or dry oilskin and get to work creating your very own custom backpack. Regular and Mini sizes, plus bonus zippered front pocket included!

***Video tutorial by Jess of Oklaroots! Click here!
***Mini Size video tutorial by Jess of Oklaroot! Click here!

Special Features:

• two sizes to sew! Regular and Mini
• front slip pocket (plus BONUS! zippered front pocket)
• interior zip pocket
• adjustable shoulder straps
• useful top handles
• features a bound seam construction 

Shop supplies:

• webbing kits (new colors, limited quantities!)
• strap hardware kits (antique brass & nickel)
• zipper for interior pocket (8" for Regular size, or 6" for Mini size)
• zippers available for Mini Making backpack: zipper kit (includes 18" zipper for main closure & 10" zipper for alternate pocket) OR an individual 18" zipper (if making the Mini with front slip pocket)
• full hardware/webbing kit for Regular size Making Backpack

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner (front slip pocket view), Intermediate (alternate front zip pocket view)

+ Approx. Finished Dimensions:

• Regular: 11 ½” wide x 15” tall x 5” deep (29 cm x 38 cm x 12 cm)
• Mini: 8” wide x 10½” tall x 4½” deep (20 cm x 27 cm x 11.5 cm)

Requirements based on 44”-wide fabric.

Regular size:

• 1 yd (1 m) Exterior* Fabric
• 1 yd (1 m) Lining* Fabric
• 2 yds (1.8 m) Fusible Woven Interfacing (Pellon SF101- 20”-wide)
• 1 yd (1 m) Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing (Pellon 809 - 42”-wide)^
• ½ yd (0.4 m) Foam Stabilizer (ByAnnie’s or 1 yard (1 m) Pellon Flex-Foam) ^
• (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide rectangle rings & (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide strap sliders
• (1) 22” (55 cm) zipper* for top closure
• (1) 8” (20 cm) zipper* for interior zip pocket
• 1 1/8 yds (1 m) of 1” (2.5 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for top handles
• 2 ½ (2.2 m) yds of 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for straps
• 3 ½ (3.2 m) yds straight-grain ½” (12 mm) wide double fold binding

Mini size:

• ½ yd (0.4 m) Exterior* Fabric
• 5/8 yd (58 cm) Lining* Fabric
• 1 ½ yds (1.4 m) Fusible Woven Interfacing (Pellon SF101- 20”-wide)

• ½ yd (0.4 m) Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing (Pellon 809 - 42”-wide)^
• (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide rectangle rings & (2) 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide strap sliders
• (1) 18" (45.7 cm) zipper* for top closure
• (1) 6" (15.2 cm) zipper* for interior zip pocket
• 1 ½ yds of 1” (2.5 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for top handles

• • 2 ½ (2.2 m) yds of 1 ½” (3.8 cm) wide cotton or poly webbing for straps
  • 2 ½ (2.2 m) yds straight-grain ½” (12 mm) wide double fold binding
    

*PLEASE NOTE: this pattern is written for fixed-length zippers (not zipper by the yard, if using zipper by the yard please add 1.5" to the length of each designated zipper)

Recommended Fabrics: canvas (7-9 oz. weight), waxed canvas (8-10 oz. weight), or dry oilskin for exterior fabric, quilting cotton for lining fabric

^ =omit if using waxed canvas

*= additional ¼ yd {¼ yd for mini} of exterior and lining fabric is needed if making the Alternate Front Pocket, and add 14” {10”} zipper (or longer)

Additional supplies + tools: Polyester thread, water-soluble pen or tailor’s chalk, cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, size 90/14 or 100/16 Denim or Microtex needle, (Optional) 2 ¼” wide x 1 ½” tall (5.7 cm x 3.8 cm) piece of leather for patch, (Optional) 2 rivets - 8-9 mm head with 6-8 mm posts (& corresponding setting tool), (Optional) front pocket closure (see pg. 6 note) 14mm magnetic snap or size 24 metal snap, glue/ ¼”-wide fusible web tape)