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How to Make a Backpack from Cocojude

September 6, 2014 by AllFreeSewing 66 Comments

congratulationsCongrats to yesterday’s winner, Rhonda Best, on winning Day 5’s daily giveaway! We will be in contact so that you can claim your prize.
It’s Day Six of National Sewing Month! Don’t forget to visit Seams and Scissors every day to find daily giveaway opportunities and sewing ideas! To enter today’s daily giveaway, find the contest rules and leave a comment below. Also look out below for details on how to enter our National Sewing Month grand prize that includes a BERNINA 215 Sewing Machine! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.

Today’s National Sewing Month post is brought to you by Judith from Cocojude!

National Sewing Month

 

My name is Jude and I have been blogging at cocojude.wordpress.com since the end of 2012. I tend to flit around different crafts as the mood takes me, but I mostly enjoy sewing, crochet and jewellery making. I came up with this great little sewing project especially for the Seams and Scissors blog – I hope you like it.

The idea for my pack away bag came from a really useful bag I was given as a present a few years ago, and I finally got around to trying to replicate it. It is surprisingly easy, and and doesn’t require masses of equipment. These fold away bags are small enough to bung in your handbag, and very useful when I go to visit my family in Wales (where you have to pay for plastic bags).

cocojude-pack-a-bag-tutorial-1

Ingredients

  • Cotton fabric (a nice, thick good quality one is recommended. My bag is made from some very retro old curtains)
  • Cotton thread
  • Sewing machine
  • Pins
  • Sharp scissors for cutting fabric

Recipe

To make the main body of the bag

  1. Measure and cut a piece of fabric to 44cm by 70cm.
  2. Hem the top edge, fold in half width ways and sew around the bottom and open side. Zig zag the edges for a tidy finish.
    bag-finished-edge
  3. To make the straps, cut out two strips of fabric, each measuring 60cm by 9cm.
  4. Fold in half length ways, right sides together, and sew down the length. Turn the right way out and iron flat.
  5. Turn the bag inside out, and sew the straps securely into place, by sewing backwards and forwards a few times. Make sure they are evenly spaced!

    sew-strap-into-place

To make the mini pack bag

  1. Cut out two rectangles of fabric – one measuring 13cm by 16cm, and the other one 13cm by 22cm. Hem the top edge of both rectangles.

    pinned-mini-bag

  2. Lay the bigger rectangle right side up on your workspace. Fold the hemmed edge to make a 5cm flap.

    mini-bag-ready-to-sew

  3. Right sides together, lay the smaller rectangle on top.

    finished-mini-bag

  4. Pin everything into place and then sew around both edges and the bottom. Zig zag the edges for neatness. 

Assembling the pack a bag

  1. Turn both the big bag and the mini bag inside out. Stitch the bottom of mini bag to the bottom of the big bag.

    sew-mini-bag-into-place

  2. Ta da! Your bag is now finished! To pack it away, all you need to do is stuff the big bag into the mini pack bag.

    completed-bag
    Why not check out another of my tutorials, suitable for beginner sewists? – How to make self drafted pyjama trousers.

Be sure to see all of the projects and ideas available on Cocojude right here!

Also remember to check out the Project of the Day right here!

To enter the daily giveaway, leave a comment below telling us:

Do you remember the color your first backpack?

Official Rules for Daily Contest

  • There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
  • Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
  • You have until tonight, September 6th, 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
  • Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.

Enter here for the National Sewing Month 2014 Grand Prize.

National Sewing Month 2014 Grand Prize Giveaway

 

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AllFreeSewing
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AllFreeSewing is the ultimate resource for quick and easy sewing patterns, tutorials, and charts. You'll find dress and bag patterns, alteration guides, even instructions to help you with that pesky sewing machine. The best part? It's all absolutely free. Come and join our community!
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Filed Under: All Posts, Full Tutorials Tagged With: Back to School, Cocojude, For Kids, Full Tutorial, National Sewing Month 2014

Comments

  1. Patricia C Harris says

    September 6, 2014 at 2:41 am

    Just getting started, loving this blog…..

    Reply
  2. Patrice says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:17 am

    My first back pack was red and white. For the university I was attending.

    Reply
  3. Chris says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:20 am

    No I can’t remember but I remember my daughter had a red one and my son had a yellow one.

    Reply
  4. lisa says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:26 am

    Gosh,no. Way too long ago. Neat tutorial. We always keep reusable bags handy for shopping, so this will be great. Thanks

    Reply
  5. Lee says

    September 6, 2014 at 8:54 am

    The first one I remember was navy blue – a hand me down from my brothers!! thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply
  6. Delaine says

    September 6, 2014 at 9:41 am

    I believe it was black. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Linda Winks says

      September 6, 2014 at 9:54 am

      never had aback pack

      Reply
  7. Carol Norton says

    September 6, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    I do not remember my first back pack but I remember the first one that I made. It was the cutest pastel plaid colors. I used that backpack until it could not be patched up anymore. I loved it.

    Reply
  8. Debi says

    September 6, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    We did not have back packs when I was in school. I did get one years ago that was dark blue. I used it to carry stuff for my kids.

    Reply
  9. Deby at So Sew Easy says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:02 pm

    Sadly I do remember all those years back and t was just plain black. These days, the more colors the better for me!

    Reply
  10. Darla says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    No, don’t remember. Thanks for the tutorial or is it a “tote-torial” 🙂

    Reply
  11. DebrabMcQuillen says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:20 pm

    Mine was red!

    Reply
  12. Lynn Hedlund says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Black boring black, no color added, no decorations just B L A C K. (not even shiny black)

    Reply
  13. Bobby Justice says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    I don’t remember ever having a backpack but my children did. My daughter’s first backpack was homemade by her grand-mother and it was made from one of her old dresses. Thanks for the directions so I can make some for my grand-kids.

    Reply
  14. KDLESKI says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    I always went for the basic backpacks, but I remember getting a patchwork backpack around 5th grade that I loved.

    Reply
  15. Linda irby says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    My first backpack is brown leather. An old boss of mine won it at a silent auction. He gave it to me on administrative assistants day. That was 10 years ago when I was 41.

    Reply
  16. Lynn Bohlmann says

    September 6, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    My first backpack was a Boy Scout pack in college. Tannish brown.

    Reply
  17. Ebony says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    That’s waaaaaay to far back for me to remember. But I like this tutorial. I spend a small fortune on reusable bags. I buy them and use them for everything from shopping to taking things to family and friends and I don’t usually get my bags back. Plus the store bought ones aren’t all that durable unless you’re spending “serious cash”

    Reply
  18. Lisa Marie says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    I have no idea what color backpack(s) I may have had, or even when I first used one. I’m sure I’ve never had one as jazzy as the one Jude made though!

    Reply
  19. Patty says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    I am an older sexist, so I did not have a back pack until a few years ago. It is blue and red paisley print.

    Reply
    • Patty says

      September 6, 2014 at 4:40 pm

      Sewist! Darn you autocorrect! Patty

      Reply
  20. Georgia Tague says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    During the time I was in school, back packs hadn’t been “invented”!

    Reply
  21. Mary Hoffman says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    I actually do because I still have it! “Blue Hawaiian Print” I bought when I first moved here in Hawaii 26 rs. ago!

    Reply
  22. Elizabeth says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    They didn’t have backpacks when I was a child, but when I was an older adult and went to college my first one was black.

    Reply
  23. Amy Simpson says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    Yes, denim with red straps.

    Reply
  24. KittenWithAWhiplash says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    I didn’t get a backpack ’til I was long out of school. It was black leather, and Oh So Cool!. I wish I still had it now.

    Reply
  25. t harris says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    I ‘ve never had a back pack. Have bought several for my kids.

    Reply
  26. Cheri Sedgwick says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    I never had a backpack. We just carried our books. Kids today are pretty lucky. Will have to try making this one. thanks.

    Reply
  27. Karen says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    I’m not too sure, I think it was black or dark green, love the project, I’m thinking of making some for my little nieces,

    Reply
  28. Jaydeen says

    September 6, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    My first backpack was in Grade 1. It was a yellow and red lambchop backpack. I loved that character as a child!

    Reply
  29. Diane says

    September 6, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    I never had a backpack, just guess that’s showing my age. Or maybe it was the fact that I came from a large family and my parents could not afford 8 backpacks, lol!

    Reply
  30. Pam says

    September 6, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    This is so cute! I am just getting back into sewing, and when I get up to speed, I would like to try this. It would be a cute diaper bag, too.

    Reply
  31. tyanna c says

    September 6, 2014 at 6:17 pm

    I think m y first backpack was purple.

    Reply
  32. Rita Heggelund says

    September 6, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    My first was blue

    Reply
  33. mindi says

    September 6, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    I’ve never had a backpack with that much pizzazz!! Thanks for the tutorial….it’s great. I think my first may have been a sort of tan color. But I had a denim one back then too…

    Reply
  34. Linda Arner says

    September 6, 2014 at 7:11 pm

    We didn”t have backpacks when I was in school. Many years later I had a dark blue or black one when I went to college.

    Reply
  35. Ruth Rocker says

    September 6, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    My first backpack was navy blue. Used it until the zipper gave out 😀

    Reply
  36. Anna Trood says

    September 6, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    My first backpack was black and blue,

    Reply
  37. Linda Johnson says

    September 6, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    I’ve never owned a backpack.

    Reply
  38. Jeanetta Adkins says

    September 6, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    I didn’t get my first backpack until I went to college! It was a magenta Jansport and I loved it, I felt awfully “grown up” with it 🙂

    Reply
  39. valerie csmith says

    September 6, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    This is bad but back in my day we did not have backpacks-I would have liked a purple one if I could have had one

    Reply
  40. shirley bulmer says

    September 6, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    My first back pack was only about 5 yrs ago. It was light blue. X

    Reply
  41. Kandace White says

    September 6, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    I think it was blue floral!

    Reply
  42. laura perea says

    September 6, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    looks easy enough . wonder if it would work for 12 inch fashion dolls scalled down

    Reply
  43. Susan Case says

    September 6, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    I used a clear backpack when I broke a bone in my foot and had to walk with crutches. (I am a member of the generation that did not have backpacks.)

    Reply
  44. Cindy Weeks says

    September 6, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    I did not have a backpack….but my kids had a red and blue one.

    Reply
  45. Darlene says

    September 6, 2014 at 11:07 pm

    When we went to school we did not have back packs/

    Reply
  46. Jody Zinno says

    September 6, 2014 at 11:29 pm

    My first backpack was brown,

    Reply
  47. Gina Hosrt says

    September 6, 2014 at 11:34 pm

    We didn’t have backpacks as kids. When my own were little, one child’s was black,the other blue and the third child’s was purple.Love the fun design on that fabric used in the tote tutorial.

    Reply
  48. Cindy Sanford says

    September 6, 2014 at 11:44 pm

    The Blog is great, the ” tutorial”is fabulous and wonderfully illustrated. Thanks for all the directions and tutorials. The”” giveaway”” however, is just an added incentive to continue returning, the information is the best reason for return.
    Thank you

    Reply
  49. Auntie says

    September 7, 2014 at 12:05 am

    Too old to have had a backpack for school.Didn’t get my first one until 1987 when my second child was born and needed additional bags because his sister was only 11 months old! Diaper bag didn’t cut it alone so I added a green huge backpack from LLBean. Still have it and use it!

    Reply
  50. Amanda Best says

    September 7, 2014 at 12:31 am

    My first backpack was pink, I’ve always loved pink!

    Reply
  51. Tiffany Chapman says

    September 7, 2014 at 1:42 am

    My first back pack was denim.

    Reply
  52. Cheryl Godwin says

    September 7, 2014 at 2:12 am

    Pretty cool.

    Reply
  53. Quiltin' Kat says

    September 7, 2014 at 2:40 am

    My first backpack was recycled denim and I loved it until it fell apart then I used it for a pattern for my next backpack.

    Reply
  54. Diane says

    September 7, 2014 at 3:03 am

    I don’t remember my first backpack but I made my niece a kitty backpack for her to take to kindergarten.

    Reply
  55. Knittingdancer says

    September 7, 2014 at 3:54 am

    I have never owned a backpack.

    Reply
  56. Deborah Miller says

    September 7, 2014 at 6:20 am

    My first backpack was plain black nothing special but served it’s purpose. I need to try this pattern for my grandson who walks with a walker. He needs a back pack to keep his hands free for the walker.

    Reply
  57. Jeanine Skennion says

    September 7, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    I think it was pink with Miss America on it…

    Reply
  58. Dennis says

    September 7, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    One can never have too many bags!!!

    Reply
  59. Tamrey says

    September 7, 2014 at 2:21 pm

    In all my school years I never had a bookbag & I don’t recall anyone else in my classes having one. We carried everything we needed in our arms including our brown lunch bag & later our TV- inspired lunch box !!!

    Reply
  60. Jean Thompson says

    September 7, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    When I was in School we didn’t carry Backpacks.( I graduated in 1973). but I bought my son’s Backpack at the Army Navy Store -It was Army Green canvas bag and just the Right size for his books and it was alot stronger than the plastic ones they sell today.. ( He is now 34 yrs old.) and If I looked hard enough I might just find it somewhere in this House… 😀 ! ! !

    Reply
  61. Linnea says

    September 8, 2014 at 4:24 am

    The first one I remember clearly was blue. It was a birthday present at a time when a new backpack wasn’t in our budget, and I loved it.

    Reply
  62. debbie pete says

    September 8, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    too long ago

    Reply
  63. Gwen says

    September 8, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    Love the colors. I’ve only ever made a draw string sort of backpack before:) I’ve been sewing a couple years but really seems like I’ve just gotten started..

    Reply
  64. Genevieve Caswell says

    September 16, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    Sorry, they didn’t have backpacks then, but they did have wagons with stone wheels. lol To tell you the truth I only new about the ones they gave our husbands the first day of boot camp. But, I did just happen to buy one yesterday when I was shopping a Kohl’s. It is a beautiful Swedish design in black & white. I got it for $4.90 with my coupon. Yippie & Yahoo for coupons 🙂
    God Bless

    Reply

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