Someone's starting preschool very very soon. His school supply list called for one backpack with large zippered opening, no wheels. I let him pick out some fabric from his fancy fabric stash (all the great japanese prints I've acquired for Oscar use over the years) and this is what I came up with.
I used some fusible interfacing to stick the already canvas-like fabric to some even heavier weight canvas and then cut my pieces out from there. I didn't use a pattern but just cut out a backpack shaped front and back and then a 5" wide or so strip to go around. I got some canvas webbing and D-rings for the straps, which I, of course, sewed on the wrong way so I had to cut them off and sew back on the right way because I can never get a thing completely right.
My favorite part: I used this bit with driving cars from the selvedge to make a handle. Oh! and that in addition to sayings like "happy town" and "enjoy city" it says "poo country". hee! I put that bit on the back though. You know, just in case some advanced classmate can read already. Want to avoid any unfortunate nicknaming.
Now he's all set to cart his artwork and peanut-free snacks back and forth. Here he is impatiently waiting for me to get a photo so he can get his chocolate pudding bribe.
up next: the omg-he's-going-back-to-school very long, very ambitious Fall to-do list
