DRAWSTRING BACKPACK | DIY

Let's start

You will need: 

- fabric

-drawstring

- scissors or rotary cutter

- cutting mat

- chalk 

- pins

- measuring tape

- ruler

1| Spread the fabric on your table or floor so you can draw the template directly onto fabric. I drew left and center pieces onto faux leather and right ones onto linen with measurements listed below. 

2| When you cut out all the pieces you should put together faces of  the fabric.

I sewed them together with overlock, but you can sew them with zigzag stitch as well.

3| Spread the fabric so you can see both faces sewn together and sew over the linen side with normal straight stitch for cleaner look.

Repeat this on the other side of the backpack as well

 4| Overlock  or zigzag only vertical edge of linen, but don't sew both pieces together yet. When you finish,  you can put both pieces with faces together and overlock them, but only on the bottom edge.

5| From the top edge of the backpack measure 6 cm down and make a mark on a vertical edge, than sew both pieces together face to face with normal straight stitch down the vertical edge, from the mark till the bottom edge. But make sure, that you insert, on the inside, small rectangle pieces folded in half, at the bottom of the vertical edge, between both pieces, for drawstrings. 

6| When you finish, fold the vertical edge, that 6 cm that is not sewn together, and sew it with normal straight stitch, like shown on the picture below.

And repeat the same process on other 3 vertical edges.

7| For the inside lining you need to cut out a rectangle, with measurements, that are in the picture below. Fold it in half and sew both vertical edges of the fabric together, leaving the top edge open. 

8| Insert the lining into the outer piece and pin it, so the seam of the lining is aligned with top edge, like you see on the picture. This will later allow you to have openings at the end.

Sew it together with overlock or zigzag stich.

And you should get something like this. 

9| Now fold the overlocked edge 3cm on the inside the backpack, to get open ends on each side of the backpack. Pin it to secure it from moving.

Sew around the backpack right below the opening to make a casing for a drawstring.

And the sewing part of the backpack  is done. 

Now all you need to do is to insert the drawstrings into the opening ends.

10| You will need two 190 cm long strings. I secured the drawstring with tape at the ends so it does not unravel.

11|  Starting at one end of the opening and thread the drawstring all the way around until it comes out on the same side as you began.

Repeat this process on the other opening.

And this is what it should look like when you are finished with threading.

12| Pull both strings through mesh and tie a knot to secure it from slipping.

And voilà ^^ the drawstring backpack is finished

Kisses, Sa.