Noodlehead Making Backpack

Making Backpack Pattern (now with Mini size!)
Noodlehead

By Anna Graham

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!

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


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)
Materials needed:

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

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)