Peachy Patchwork Kids Backpack Pattern

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to be stressful! Cross one thing off your school shopping list by sewing your kids their own quilted backpacks. Designed by Sophie Tarrant, this quilted backpack pattern uses a striking diagonal patchwork design and features a roomy interior and zipper closure. Finish your quilted backpack with beautiful rose gold hardware and soft velvet straps.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Finished Size: Around 11” tall x 10” wide x 4” deep

Designer Notes:

• Accuracy is key when working with patchwork grids. Take the time to cut your 2in squares carefully, using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter to keep the edges straight.
• Before fusing your squares to the Quilter’s Grid interfacing, lay them out and experiment with different arrangements. Mixing different prints evenly across the grid will help create a balanced design and make the diagonal patchwork pattern stand out beautifully once the bag is assembled.

Materials:

• Patchwork fabrics, plus one yard lining fabric and 1/2 yard pink velvet
• Vlieseline Quilter’s Grid interfacing: Two yards
• D-ring: Rose gold
• D-ring clip fasteners: Rose gold, two
• Strap adjusters: Rose gold, two
• Zipper: Rose gold
• Quilt batting
• Thread: To match your fabric
• PDF Template – This is located at the bottom of this page. Please see printing instructions below.

Tools:

• Water-erasable fabric pen
• Tape measure
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sewing clips or pins
• Sewing machine

PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Note: To download the template, click on the pattern download button at the bottom of the page. We recommend opening your pattern download using Adobe Acrobat.

Piecing Instructions:

1. The outer fabric of this bag is made using a clever, time-saving quilting technique that almost guarantees a neat finish. To start, cut out your patchwork fabrics – each square needs to measure exactly 2in x 2in. Try to choose colors and prints that complement each other to create a balanced overall look.
   
   
2. First we’ll make the front and back panels of the patchwork bag. Lay out your Quilter’s Grid interfacing with the fusible side facing up. Begin placing your 2in fabric squares onto the grid with the right sides facing up until you have a 10 x 10 layout. Once you’re happy with the arrangement, fuse the squares into place using an iron.
   
   
3. Once the squares are firmly fused to the interfacing, fold the panel along the first vertical grid line, placing the first two columns right sides together. Press along the fold to mark the seam. Take the work to your sewing machine and stitch along this crease using a 1/4in seam allowance. Open the fabric out and press the seam allowance to one side. Repeat this process along each vertical grid line, sewing the joins between every column of squares and pressing all seam allowances in the same direction.
   
   
4. Next, repeat the same process to sew the joins between each row of squares. Continue until you have a neat patchwork panel made up of 10 x 10 squares with clean, even edges. Repeat Steps 2–4 to create a second 10 x 10 patchwork panel in the same way.
   
   
5. Layer each patchwork panel with a piece of quilt batting and pin or baste the layers together. Quilt the panels by stitching in the ditch along the patchwork seams. Download and print the backpack template and join it together along the dashed line. Use the template to cut one piece from each patchwork panel, positioning the template so the squares sit diagonally across the shape. Try to center the template so the grid appears symmetrical on each bag piece.
   
   
6. Next, make the side panels. Repeat the Quilter’s Grid process to create two more patchwork panels: an upper panel measuring four squares wide by 12 squares long, and a lower panel measuring four squares wide by 15 squares long. Construct and quilt both panels in the same way as the front and back panels. Take the upper patchwork panel and lay it flat with the right side facing up. Using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, cut the panel in half lengthwise to create two pieces measuring 2-1/2in × 16-1/4in. Cut two lining pieces to match these measurements. Next, measure (and trim, if needed) the lower patchwork panel to ensure it measures 4-3/4in × 21in, then cut one lining piece to match. Back each of the patchwork panels with quilt batting, just as you did for the main front and back pieces. Set the lower lining piece aside for later.
   
   
7. Lay one upper lining piece flat with the right side facing up and place your zipper along one long edge, also with the right side facing up. Lay one of the patchwork upper pieces on top with the right side facing down, aligning the recently cut edge with the zipper tape. Clip the layers together, then stitch along the zipper tape, sewing through all three layers.
   
   
8. Repeat to attach the remaining patchwork and lining pieces to the opposite side of the zipper. Once all four pieces are attached, open the fabrics out so the right sides are facing outward. Press along both sides of the zipper to neaten the seams, then topstitch along each one. Check the size of the completed zippered upper panel – it should measure 4-3/4in x 16-1/4in. If necessary, trim it down to size now.
   
   
9. Place the upper and lower patchwork panels together with the right sides facing and clip the patchwork layers together along one short edge, making sure not to catch the lining of the upper panel in the seam. Stitch along the edge using a 1/4in seam allowance. Repeat to join the opposite short edges in the same way, to create a gusset loop. Next, sew the lower lining piece to each short edge of the upper lining panel in the same way.
   
   
10. Make the straps. Cut two 27in x 4in pieces of pink velvet. Back each one with interfacing, then fold in half lengthwise and press. Open the fabric back out, then fold each long edge over to the center and press again. Finally, fold the fabric back in half again – the raw edges should now be concealed within the fold. Fold one short edge of each strap over by 1/4in, then again by another 1/4in. Clip, then topstitch all around the edge of each strap. Next, make the upper tab. Cut a 4in square of velvet and back it with Quilter’s Grid. Fold the piece in half lengthwise with the right sides facing and sew along the open long edge using a 1/4in seam allowance. Turn right sides out and roll the fabric so the seam runs down the center of the strip. Fold the strip in half and thread a 1in D-ring onto it, then sew across the short ends using a 1/8in seam allowance to temporarily hold the layers together.
    
    
11. With the right sides facing, clip the outer gusset loop around the edge of the patchwork front panel, making sure the zipper sits centrally. Sew all the way around using a 1/4in seam allowance. Next, lay the patchwork back panel flat with the right side facing up. Position the straps and upper tab as indicated on the template and tack them temporarily into place. Clip the open edge of the gusset loop around the back panel and sew all the way around, stitching through all layers and securing the straps and tab. Your outer bag is now complete – turn it inside out. Use the template to cut front and back panels from your lining fabric. Clip the front lining panel around the front edge of the lining gusset and sew with a 1/4in seam allowance. Repeat to sew the back lining panel in place, leaving a 3in gap along the bottom seam. Turn the bag right sides out through the gap in the seam, then hand stitch the opening closed. Finally, fit a strap adjuster and a D-ring fastening to each strap, then clip them onto the upper tab’s D ring to finish.
    
    

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