POKEMON BACKPACK

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 20cm x H640 Fusible volume fleece
• 2 x 25mm Quick Release Buckles
• Rotary cutter, mat & quilters rulers
• Quilting pins, tape measure
• Scissors, seam ripper
• Hand needle
• Sewing machine with 1/4 in foot

INSTRUCTIONS

POKEMON BACKPACK

CUTTING

Fromblue outer fabric andinterfacing cut the following

• two 10" wide x 13" rectangles for main backpack pieces
• two 4" wide x 13" rectangles for side panels
• ne 10" wide x 4" rectangle for base
• one 9" wide x 11" rectangle for flap (round lower
  corners)
  Fuse interfacing to wrong side of all fabric pieces.

Fromred fabric cut the following for lining and straps -

• two 10" wide x 13" high rectangles
• two 4" wide x 13" rectangles for side panels
• one 10" wide x 4" rectangle for base
• one 9" wide x 11" rectangle for flap (round lower corners)
• one 9" wide x 8" rectangle for front pocket (round lower corners)
• one 3" wide x 11" rectangle for faux strap on flap
• one 3" wide x 13" rectangle for faux strap on backpack front
• one 10" wide x 3 1/2" rectangle for handle
• two 2 1/2" wide x 16" strips for upper straps
• two 2 1/2" wide x 6" strips for lower straps

From fusible fleece cut the following

• one 10" wide x 3 1/2" rectangle for handle
• two 2 1/2" wide x 16" strips for upper straps
  Fuse fleece to wrong side of handle and upper straps.

Frominterfacing cut the following -

• two 2 1/2" wide x 6" strips for lower straps
  Fuse interfacing to wrong side of lower straps.

STRAPS

Step 1. Fold 3" x 11" faux strap in half lengthways and stitch. Turn right side out and press flat with seam in centre back. Repeat using 3" x 13" faux strap rectangle.
Step 2. Fold handle in half lengthways and stitch. Turn right side out and press flat with seam in centre back. Topstitch down each long side.
Step 3. Fold lower straps in half lengthways and stitch. Turn right side out and press flat. Topstitch down each long
side. Thread clip socket onto strap. Fold strap in half to centre clip socket. Sew strip together 3/4" from fold to hold clip socket in place. Repeat to attach other clip socket to remaining lower strap.
Step 4. Fold upper straps in half lengthways and stitch down the length and across one short end. Turn right side out and press flat. Topstitch across closed end and down each long side.
Step 5. Centre the 11" faux strap on the flap and stitch in place down each side. Centre the 13" faux strap on the outer front piece and stitch in place down each side.

POCKET

Step 6. To sew a double hem along the top of the pocket, fold and press under 1/4" then another 1/4" and topstitch hem in place.
Step 7. Place outer flap right side up with pocket on top wrong side down aligning side and bottom edges (right side of flap and pocket will face up). Pin flap lining on top right side down aligning side and bottom edges. Sew together through all layers leaving top edge open. Clip curves, turn right side out and press.

BACKPACK

Step 8. Pin outer side panels to each end of the base. Sew together starting and stopping seam 1/4" in from each end. Position lower straps on one side of base 1 1/2" in from each seam with raw edges aligned and baste in place.
Step 9. Pin bottom edge of outer back piece to edge of base with straps then pin each side to edge of side panels.
Sew together starting at the top of one side, stopping 1/4" from end then starting and stopping 1/4" in from each end along base and starting 1/4" from bottom of last side. Repeat to sew the outer front to the side panels and base.
Step 10. Turn right side out and press. Pin and baste upper straps 2" in from side seams, raw ends aligned with top
edge. Pin and baste handle 2 1/2" in from side seams, raw ends aligned with top edge. Note - Handle will sit partly over straps.
Step 11. Pin and baste flap to back of backpack with right sides facing and raw edges aligned.

LINING

Step 12. Repeat steps 8 and 9 with the lining pieces but leave a 3" opening along the bottom edge of the back for turning through.
Step 13. Insert backpack into lining matching side seams and pin together around the top edge. Sew together around the top edge.
Step 14. Pull backpack out through opening in bottom of lining and hand sew opening closed. Press well. Topstitch around top edge.

TO FINISH

Step 15. Thread clips onto upper straps. Push clips into clip sockets and adjust to desired length.
Step 16. To create a pleat on each side at the top, open back pack and fold the centre of one side panel inwards. Pinch together at the top and pin with top edge alignedStarting at the fold sew together over the topstitching for 1 1/4". Repeat to create a pleat on the other side.