Lined Drawstring Backpack Pattern is here!

Do you need a drawstring backpack?
My new pattern might help you to sew one or more.

This Lined Drawstring Backpack is a charming one, perfect for everyday use.
It has a stylish look and a practical structure. Its three large pockets (one exterior zippered pocket and two interior pockets) make it the perfect bag for school, sport and outings.
I've told you about it here and here.

The pattern consists of 28 pages of easy to follow instructions and 83 color photos and diagrams, plus printable templates if you want to applique a retro truck.
I'm sure you noticed in the photo above another applique - a name. 
In order to personalize your drawstring backpack with monograms, names, words etc. you will receive together with the Lined Drawstring Backpack Pattern the set of 26 printable letters I used for the name that you see in the photo. About this set of letters you may learn more visiting my shop, from where it can be purchased as a stand alone pdf file.

Purchasing the Lined Drawstring Backpack Pattern you will get

RAW Alphabet Letters Template for free.  

What you will find in Lined Drawstring Backpack Pattern?

- suggestions about what fabrics to choose
- diagrams to help you cutting the needed pieces from the exterior fabric, interfacing and lining
- guidance for cutting and sewing two variants:
      - one panel variant (if you use solids or non-directional print)
      - two panel variant (if you use directional print)
- instructions for preparing and fusing the applique pieces
- suggestions for securing the applique edges
- detailed instructions to sew a zippered pocket on the front side of the backpack
- directions for attaching Velcro tape for closing the interior pockets
- illustrated instructions for preparing and attaching the cord loops
- tips about handling the directional fabric, the fusible web, how to give to the zippered opening of the exterior pocket an original look, and  other useful information.
- truck design template

To make such a useful and modern drawstring backpack you will need:

Fabric
 - Exterior fabric
                    Variant 1 - if you use solids or non-directional print – about 20” (51 cm ) of 42"( 107 cm) wide fabric
                    Variant 2 - if you use directional print -  two pieces 15" x 20" ( 38 cm x 51cm)
  - Lining fabric - 42" (107 cm)  of 42" (107 cm)  wide fabric for lining and pockets
Lightweight interfacing
  - one piece 25" x 33" for pockets
  - if you use quilt cotton for the exterior drawstring backpack body:
                  - for variant 1- one piece 14 ½" x  41 ½" (37 cm x 105.5 cm)
                  - for variant 2 - two pieces 14 ½" x 20" (37 cm x 51 cm)     
For applique - Optional
- Assorted fabrics - a few pieces - for the truck and letters
- Fusible web - 10"(25 cm) of 18" (approx. 46 cm) wide
Zipper - 7" (18 cm)
Cording - (2) 71"(approx.180 cm) about 1/4" (0.5 - 0.6 cm) thick
Twill tape - 6" (15.0 cm) of 1 " ( approx. 2.5 cm) wide - for 2 drawstring loops
Velcro tape - 2" (5 cm) of approx. 1" (2.5 cm) wide
Sewing thread to match the fabrics
Zipper foot - I recommend it but if you don't have it, you can use your regular sewing machine foot instead.
1 Safety pin
Water soluble pen

One PanelVariant - solid fabric - with zipper sewed on top of the exterior pocket opening, with truck and letters applique

Two Panel Variant - directional print - with zipper placed behind the exterior pocket opening, no applique.

Either One Panel Variant or Two Panel Variant - stripe fabric - with zipper placed on top of the exterior pocket opening, with letters applique and hand sewn little embellishments.

Lined Drawstring Backpack Pattern is available in my shop at an introductory price until 20 February 2019 only.
Take advantage of this promotion!

BUY NOW!

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

Lined Drawstring Backpack Pattern Sneak Peek

I am so happy when I have to make bags or pouches but it takes me a long time to choose the fabrics and almost every time I think I don't have the right ones. 

When designing a bag, first of all I think to be useful: to be spacious enough, but not too large, to have as many pockets as possible, placed as handy as possible, to be worn as comfortable as possible. After all these I look for the aesthetic aspects of the shape.

Two years ago, a friend asked me to sew two drawstring backpacks for her nephew. The only expressed wishes were: to have on them his name( Toma), the dimension - 13" x 17" (33 cm x 43 cm), and one of the backpacks to be lined.

This time I don't know why, all came to my mind so clearly and quickly: the colors, the customization idea, the inside organisation, the cord casing...
Finally they came out like that :

My Pickup Truck - unlined drawstring backpack

and

My Truck - lined drawstring backpack 

Instead of just laying down the letters over the background I created the designs of two toys that are near the boys hearts from generations, carrying the name of the child. 
First of all I had in mind that their pieces to be easy to cut and assemble, but I confess that I also wanted to give a vintage touch to the backpack . The cars and letters are raw edge applique having the edges secured with zig zag stitch and blanket stitch - easy and fast to do.The big exterior pocket of the lined backpack adds loads of room for all kind of things that have to be on hand. The zipper stitched on top of the pocket opening integrates so well into the layout of the backpack and is so decorative. Not to mention that it was so easy to sew it.

The two inner pockets are so large that they are almost dividers. Velcro tape closures is added for extra security.

For the name of the boy I used the 2" reversed letters templates from my RAW Alphabet Capital Letters Template that can be found here.

For those of you who would like to sew a so useful and modern drawstring backpack for your loved ones, I wrote a pattern full of illustrated instructions and tips.
Just a sneak peek for now:

More about it in the next post.
Very soon.
Keep in touch!

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

Spell your name - Drawstring bags with appliqued letters for kids

It's full Summer but around me, people who have kids have started preparing them to go back to kindergarten. Slowly but surely.

One of my friends asked me to make her two drawstring bags for her nephew who will go for the first time to the kindergarten. The only expressed wishes were to write his name: Toma, and the bag's dimension: 13" x 17" (33 cm x 43 cm).

Because the name was short, it gave me the opportunity to create a little visual story with more chances to be loved by the little boy. Instead of just laying down the letters over the bag background I created the designs of two toys (that are near the boys hearts from generations): a van and a truck and made them carrying the name.
I have made a few layouts offering to my friend different color combinations to choose from.
These are her choices.

 My Pickup Truck - unlined drawstring bag

  

My Truck - lined drawstring bag 

with two big interior pockets

and one exterior zippered pocket

I like so much this striped zipper that I stitched it on top of the pocket opening. It integrates so well into the design of the bag!

The cars and letters are raw edge applique. For securing the edges I used zig zag stitch and blanket stitch.

I thought the shapes of the two cars so that their pieces to be easy to cut and assemble.

And the same way I thought the design of the letters.
I tried to give it a simple and playful layout because I needed an alphabet set I can use in as many projects as possible, not only in this particular one.

I think that the pillows, quilts, home decorations, pouches, bags, T-shirts, gift wraps, even wall art, including names, monograms, words and popular phrases, have a special, personal, modern look that stands out in the most pleasant way.

If you plan some projects needing some capital letters, maybe the template I used for this drawstring bags will help you too.

The Alphabet Capital Letters Template is here.
For these drawstring bags, I used the 2" reversed templates of the letters.

Enjoy your work!

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

I'm linking to Finish it up Friday!
                       Finished or Not Friday

Sail Away !

Maybe because of those hot days, I'm in love more and more with these colors!
I  long for the sea....and I can't go to see HER. Please don't ask why.

For V., who is preparing for a trip to Greece (in August), I am continuing making all kind of staff for the sunny days on the beach.
This time I made him a backpack.
It has enough space for the quilt I made already for him and all the other necessary things for a day on the beach.

I admit that I like those eyelets for the cord, but I didn't like at all the process of putting them in place.I had big problems aligning the hols. And of course, they don't.

But my son loves me and he don't care. 

I hope ;)....

....And you must never look a gift horse in the mouth, right?

RIGHT!

So, all those of you, who will be by the SEA this summer, please, take an extra little moment to listen the waves and to smell the salty air, for me!

Have only beeeeautiful summer days!

St. Nicholas/ De Sfântul Nicolae

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara (now on the southern coast of Turkey).

His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

In Romania, on the night of December 5th, boots are cleaned and carefully polished to be put by the door or on the windowsill to wait for St. Nicholas' (Sfantul Nicolae) visit. He is generous to adults as well as children, putting a little present in each boot. In some areas branches or thin twigs covered with silver or bronze are left as a warning that behavior needs to improve. On the sixth of December, gifts are given to friends, children, and those in need. It is one of the most important Romanian holidays.

More than 800,000 Romanians celebrate their name day on St. Nicholas day, December 6th. 815,453 persons are named Nicholas or devivations of the name, 530,089 men and 285,364 women. (stnicholascenter.org)

Sfantul Ierarh Nicolae s-a nascut in localitatea Patara din Asia Mica, in a doua jumatate a secolului al III lea. Participa in calitate de episcop la primul sinod ecumenic tinut la Niceea in anul 325. Sinodul a condamnat erezia lui Arie, conform careia Iisus Hristos nu este Fiul lui Dumnezeu, ci doar un om cu puteri supranaturale. La acest sinod este recunoscut drept un mare aparator al ortodoxiei. Atat de puternic a argumentat Nicolae si atat de incapatanat a fost Arie, incat, ingrijorat de ruptura care se putea face in Biserica, viitorul sfant i-a dat ereticului o palma in cadrul sinodului. De la palma Sfantului Nicolae a ramas obiceiul ca, in 5 decembrie, celor neascultatori sa li se dea o joarda in semn de avertisment. 

In colindele romanesti se canta, in plina iarna, despre florile dalbe, flori de mar. Daca ne intrebam de ce de mar, trebuie sa stim ca batranii nostri cunosteau ca acea joarda a Sfantului Nicolae trebuie sa fie una de mar, iar daca aceasta, pusa in apa, va inflori pana la Nasterea Domnului, insemna ca sfantul a mijlocit pentru iertarea celui caruia i-a dat crenguta cu flori albe.

Sfantul Nicolae a avut masura lucrurilor atat de buna, incat a stiut ca dupa mustrare se cere mangaiere si ca incercarile vietii pot fi pentru unii prea apasatoare. A daruit mult saracilor, a linistit pe intristati, a vindecat cu putere de la Dumnezeu pe bolnavi. (crestinortodox.ro)

So, I had a strong reason to continue making all kind of beautiful things. Maybe they will brighten some little spots of someone heart in the St. Nicholas Day or in the Christmas Day....

And I must tell you that I had in mind that the future owner of my little objects to make the best of it.

Asa ca, am avut motive serioase sa continui sa imaginez si sa "materializez" tot felul de lucruri frumoase, cu speranta ca vor lumina macar un coltisor din inima cuiva, fie de Mos Nicolae, fie in ziua de Craciun...

Oricum, cand le-am gandit, am avut in vedere ca ele sa poate fi folosite cat mai mult timp.

Daca va plac si vreti sa oferiti cuiva ceva asemanator, puteti sa-mi comunicati pe adresa de email. 

Here there are. My drawstring gift bags:

Iata. Saculeti pentru cadouri:

For the time being my photos are bad and they will be the same for a time...

Deocamdata calitatea pozelor mele stirbeste mult din estetica lucrusoarelor mele. 

La un moment-dat se va schimba ceva in bine si in privinta asta.....

I wish you St. Nicholas will put in your boots the dreamed presents!

Va doresc ca Mos Nicolae sa va lase in ghete un "ceva" cat de mic, din ceea ce va doriti! 

Have a beautiful day!

Sa aveti o zi frumoasa!