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DIY satchel. How to sew a leather backpack or bag with your own hands - description and patterns

Sewing a backpack with your own hands is a fairly easy task that even novice seamstresses can do. After reading this master class, you too will be able to cope with this task. So, how to sew a backpack yourself?

This master class will tell you about sewing a medium-sized backpack. This size is perhaps the most optimal. The sketch of the backpack is shown in the picture above, and then you can find the pattern for this product. You've probably already noticed that this is a great DIY backpack option for hiking!

Necessary material for sewing a backpack

Before you begin the sewing process, you need to prepare the following materials:

upholstery fabric, size 0.45x1.6 m;
a piece of leather;
a cord with a diameter of about 7 mm and a length of 1.1 m;
keeper tape, the size of which reaches 1.5 x 0.04 m - it will be necessary for backpack straps;
2 length adjusters for belts;
1 large carabiner clasp;
8 blocks, with an internal diameter of 7 mm;
2 buckles with a peg, the size of the buckles should be 3cm;
2 half rings with a diameter of 4 cm.

If we talk about upholstery fabric, then there is no need to use new one to sew a backpack with your own hands. For this purpose, it is quite possible to cut out some old things whose material you like. Most often, old jeans are used to make valves and pockets. If you are going to sew a backpack for your child, then his favorite old clothes, which have become small, but have not yet worn out at all, are perfect for this purpose. But when sewing, you should remember that a children's backpack should be slightly smaller in size so that your child can wear it comfortably.

But how can you sew a backpack with your own hands if you don’t have patterns? To do this, go to the next step and familiarize yourself with the backpack pattern.

Pattern

This is what our backpack pattern looks like:

This pattern shows the following details:

valve;
pocket;
main part.

The same pattern shows all the dimensions of these parts. However, in addition to the dimensions of the parts of this product, which you plan to sew with your own hands, you need to know the allowances. The most optimal size of allowances for cuts and seams is 1 cm, with the exception of the pocket cut, which should be 2 cm, and the upper sections of the main part of the backpack, the allowance of which should be 6 cm.

Cutting

Before you start cutting out the parts of the backpack, you need to know how many of them are needed. So, the main part of the product that you intend to sew with your own hands is needed, one pocket is also needed. But the backpack flap parts, like the pocket flap, need two identical pieces with a bend - this is necessary in order to ensure a pleasant appearance of the backpack even when you open it.

If you decide to make valves from old denim, then you should take into account the fact that denim is a rather thick material, which is why working with it will be somewhat more difficult than with others. However, the advantage of denim is that it almost never goes out of style, which will provide your backpack with versatility. In addition, you can experiment with the color scheme of the jeans, for example, sew the valves from a material of one shade, and other decorative elements from a different shade.

You can also sew all the parts of a backpack from old jeans, but in this case the main part should be made from several thin pieces.

Now let's talk about skin. Why is it even necessary? The answer is quite simple - we will use it to edge both flaps of the backpack, and leather will also be used to edge even smaller elements. The entire description of the necessary leather blanks can be found below.

So, you will need the following leather blanks:

a strip measuring 0.6x0.015 m, which will edge the backpack flap;
a strip whose dimensions reach 0.4x0.015 m for edging the pocket flap;
2 belt loops with parameters 6x8x3 cm (these parameters are indicated in finished form);
2 patches, with finished dimensions 6x12x3 cm;
2 belt loops that will be needed for the half rings, with the finished dimensions being 8x10x4 cm;

It is worth knowing that when you cut out leather parts you should not make allowances. It's also worth noting that if you're not thrilled with the idea of using leather, you can use some other material for this. For example, you can also use the same old denim for edging.

We sew a backpack

So, when all the parts of the backpack are cut out, you can start sewing them. However, here's what you need to know to do it right:

first you need to turn the allowance that was made for the top cut onto the front part;
then carefully fold it over and stitch it using a sewing machine;
immediately after this, it is necessary to warm up the iron thoroughly and iron all the allowances of the bottom and side cuts;
It is worth ironing the allowances only from the inside out, while leaving the allowances untouched along the short cuts, which are located in the corners of the pocket of this product;
then fold the backpack pocket;
in this case, the fold line should be laid on well-ironed edges, after which you need to iron the lower and side folds;
immediately after this it is necessary to make small seams in the corners;
After such seams are made, you will need to iron the corner folds again.

We work with belt loops

After the above work has been completed, you will need to fold the short belt loops in half (wrong side in), and you need to tuck the allowance that you made for the top of the belt loop along the longitudinal section. After this, you need to stitch the edges of the belt loops in the right places and trim off the excess allowances.

Now we make a hole in one of the belt loops into which the buckle pin will be inserted. The hole must be made at a distance of about 2 cm from the end of the belt loop. Immediately after this, the belt loop can be inserted into the prepared buckle. Then we fold the remaining tip of the belt loop so that the belt loop ends up being 4 cm long.

After you have done everything, you need to tuck the belt loop to the pocket of our backpack. Note that the belt loop should face up.

Now we proceed to the second belt loop, in which you need to make a hole exactly in the middle, and insert the belt loop into the buckle. Now we make a seam across, which should be 1.5 cm from the bend. Then the belt loop needs to be sewn to the front side of the backpack. The belt loop should be in the middle of the stitching with which the valve is sewn, and look straight up.

Then we sew the pocket into the desired place, so that the bends of the folds are not caught. Now let's start working with the valve.

Working with the valve

First you need to sew two valve blanks together and then edge them with a leather strip. After this, the valve must be connected to the main part of the backpack and ironed to the bottom. The pocket valve must be made in the same way.

Working with the main part of the backpack

After the flap and pocket are sewn in the required places, you need to fold the main part in half and sew on the sides. In the upper part, you should carefully tuck the seam allowances inward and also carefully stitch them.

We work with stalemates

Now we begin to fasten our backpack. As you already understood, making a backpack with your own hands is quite simple, but some difficulties can be caused by a large number of different elements, which is why this master class turns out to be a little long.

Carefully fold the patch on the flat side and sew it on top of the backpack flap. In this case, the pata should be about 3 cm on the backpack valve. The pata is sewn onto the pocket in the same way.

However, what kind of seam needs to be made? The same as on a children's briefcase with Velcro - initially a seam is made around the perimeter, in the form of a square, and then along two diagonals. This can be seen in the image below. Then we insert 3 blocks into each patch, which are intended for the buckle pin.

We fold the loops for the half ring in half and carefully tuck the seam allowances. Then we sew the belt loops and cut off the excess allowances.

After this, we wrap the finished belt loop around the half ring and fold it in half. The next step is to lay the backpack out on a flat surface and place all the bottom corners between the belt loop halves. Then we sew the belt loop securely.

Working with straps

The keeper tape must be folded in the shape of the letter V. The sharp end of this letter must be sewn to the upper edge of the back of our backpack. In this case, the seam must be made strictly in the middle. We insert the ends of the keeper tape into the length adjusters for the straps. We pull one end of the belt through the half ring on one of the corners of our product, and attach a carabiner clasp to the other end.

Next we tighten the upper part of the backpack. To do this, you will need to insert blocks along the upper perimeter at a distance of about 10 cm from each other, and 4 cm from the edge of the backpack. Then we insert the cord there, and tie knots at both ends so that it does not come out.

And now we have finished sewing our backpack, and the master class on sewing it has come to an end.

DIY exclusive: original backpacks made from old jeans.

Each of us has several pairs of old jeans that have become unusable - frayed, torn, small or out of fashion. You won’t go to work or visit in these anymore, and it’s inconvenient to work in the garden or around the house, and for some reason it’s a shame to throw them away... There’s a great idea - you can sew a lot of useful things from old jeans, for example, a stylish and comfortable backpack!

Options for an adult

We will try to select the easiest options to implement that even a beginner in sewing will be able to do. Take old jeans and tailor's scissors, and we will explain all the other subtleties in detail in the instructions.

Old jeans and sharp tailoring scissors are what you need to get started.

Backpack “Old scraps”

A housewife who is passionate about needlework, in addition to old jeans, has plenty of scraps of other fabrics that keep piling up and never get around to throwing them away. This is the kind of backpack you can use them on.

Backpack ‘Old shreds’

You will need:

old ripped jeans;
edge trimmings of fabric of any colors and textures;
button;
cord;
interlining;
6 pieces of eyelets;
metal rings for harnesses – 2 pcs;
sewing threads matching the color;
sewing needles;
sewing machine.

So, we will take the following as the initial dimensions for the pattern:

rectangle 73 X 37 cm for a backpack;
oval bottom 27 X 16 cm;
straps 100 cm long and 10 cm wide (5 cm in finished form) – 2 pcs.;
valve.

Backpack pattern diagram

This is such a funny backpack that both adults and teenagers will be delighted with!

Simple, beautiful and roomy backpack

This backpack is so simple that you won't need a pattern. It is made in the form of a simple “bag”, and only a few steps need to be described in more detail.

You will need:

old jeans;
interlining;
fabric for lining;
lace;
belt tape.

A simple backpack option

If the jeans used for such a backpack have many pockets, then they can be used as decoration and at the same time - places for various small things.

Children's version

For children of any age, it is important that their things are bright and speak about the hobbies of their little owners. A backpack is simply a necessary accessory for a child: it is comfortable, roomy, and mobile. And old jeans are perfect for using all your imagination and sewing such an attribute for your tomboy or little princess.

Fun funny backpack for a child

For such a cute backpack you will need:

old jeans, preferably 2 colors;
adhesive-based non-woven fabric;
plastic;
lining fabric;
sewing supplies.

Please note: the pattern of such a backpack is made from jeans of one color, a different color will be needed for finishing.

The following parts will be required:

oval bottom 13x22 cm;
two rectangles, 25x32 cm each;
a section for a pocket 15x15 cm from jeans of a different color;
two parts for straps 60×10 cm;
pattern for a handle;
valve section.

All parts must be overlaid so that the edges do not fray later. If you want the product to have a fashionable terry edging, you can do without processing the edges.

It is better to start stitching the parts with the handle and straps. They are sewn lengthwise from the inside out, after which they are turned inside out and ironed.
A pocket is sewn to one of the two parts of the main part of the backpack. To keep it secure, reinforce it with double stitching.
The plastic bottom is glued to the non-woven fabric and attached to an oval pattern. The bottom and walls are sewn together, all details are stitched.
The final touch is to sew on the straps and handle. The inside is lined.

That's it, work on the backpack is finished.

Roomy model

This backpack is perfect for an active child who often attends sports clubs. It is voluminous enough to fold sportswear and other small items, but at the same time it is light and does not look bulky.

Sports backpack made from old jeans

For such a backpack you will need:

legs of old jeans in two colors (for example, the sides are light, the front and back are dark);
leather for the bottom:
finishing fabric, such as satin;
clothesline to seal the edging;
belt fabric for straps;
plastic fasteners for bags and adjusters for straps;
appliqué or patch with your favorite cartoon character.

Prepared parts and materials

Decorating ideas

Denim is a great versatile material. A backpack made of such fabric is original in itself, and if it is made from old jeans, which have pockets, labels, and other trimmings, then we can safely say: it is exclusive.

But sometimes you really want to give free rein to your imagination and decorate such a new thing to suit your mood! And this desire is inherent in any age: children, teenagers, and adults.

The backpack can be decorated with flowers, terry, bright cords and small mirrors or rhinestones. A great option for a teenage girl or young woman.

Every family is sure to have a pair of old jeans that are torn, out of fashion, or simply too small. Of course, you can always throw away your jeans, but you shouldn’t rush, because you can make a lot of useful things out of them. An excellent solution for using up old jeans is a stylish backpack that you can make yourself to your liking.

Simple backpack

Anyone can make the simplest backpack, because you don’t even need to make a pattern for it. It looks like a bag, compact and roomy, and most importantly durable.

First you need to prepare materials and tools:

jeans;
interlining;
lace;
belt tape;
fabric for sewing lining;

The process of sewing a backpack must be done step by step:

You need to take jeans and cut off the excess from the side of the legs. This decision will affect the height of the backpack.

Now rip the legs apart from the inside, fold them together to create straight parts, cut off all the excess. Carefully stitch all the parts together to create a pipe.

Particular attention should be paid to the bottom of the product. To make it strong, it is better to use three layers. To maintain the oval shape and increase the density, it is worth inserting two layers of teak between the layers, and then gluing everything with high-quality non-woven material.

Depending on the size of the backpack, the lining is cut out. Then it should be stitched from the wrong side and all the details should be sewn.

You need to insert a cord into the straps that are intended for the belt to securely close the neck of the backpack.

Belt tape is suitable for sewing shoulder straps. Additionally, you can make soft linings from denim for comfortable wearing on the back.

Make a denim flap and sew on a button closure. Don't forget that pockets on old jeans will not only help decorate your backpack, but can also be used to store various small items.

If you do not need a three-dimensional model, then you do not need to cut out the bottom. The seam should be tucked nicely.

With decorative textile inserts

A backpack made from old jeans, decorated with textile inserts, looks beautiful and original. Surely every housewife has a lot of scraps of different fabrics at home. They will be an excellent decoration for a denim backpack.

First you need to prepare materials and tools:

old jeans that need to be ripped first;
details made from fabrics of different colors and textures;
interlining;
lace;
large button;
eyelets (6 pieces);
metal rings for fixing harnesses (2 pieces);
threads and needles;
sewing machine.

For the pattern you will need several blanks:

the oval will be the bottom of the product (27x16 cm);
the rectangle is intended for the base of the backpack (73x37 cm);
two strips for straps (100x10 cm);
valve.

Now you can move on to sewing a fashionable backpack:

To begin with, you should make three patterns (a body, a flap and two straps) and sew scraps of various materials onto thin non-woven fabric.

From old jeans you need to cut two identical parts that will go on the body of the backpack. On one side they should be stitched, and on the other, a ready-made part, decorated with scraps of fabric, should be inserted and also stitched.

To create a valve, you need to sew two parts, but always from the wrong side. You need to sew a loop on it.

Now you can move to the bottom of the product, you should carefully sew it in, and then sew on the facing with eyelets, and insert the lace.

On the other side of the product you need to sew two straps.

Out-of-fashion denim pants have no place in your closet - turn them into a fashionable and stylish backpack!

In this master class we will tell you and show you how to sew a backpack from jeans with your own hands, using old trousers as a basis. Thick jeans without stretch are ideal for tailoring; it would be good to look for the material in your husband’s wardrobe - men’s models have more fabric, they are thicker, and therefore more practical.

Craft materials and pattern

To sew a fashionable backpack you will need:

unnecessary jeans;
cotton fabric for lining;
belt tape;
fastex fastener;
4 half rings;
Velcro tape;
cord;
threads, scissors, pins.

The dimensions of the details on the pattern of a backpack made of jeans are indicated with seam allowances of 1.5 cm. You can sew a bag from just trousers, or you can take trousers of different shades for contrast. Don’t rush to throw away the scraps, they will still be useful for making for the summer. And if you have children, we recommend doing it.

Step-by-step master class

Cut off the legs and carefully open the seams.

Cut out two backpack sides, one front piece, a top and bottom back piece, a bottom, a flap and four straps from old jeans.

Open the back pockets, the small pocket (also called the “fifth”) and the belt - all this will soon be needed for sewing.

From the lining fabric, cut out the main part, the bottom, flap and inner pocket 22x16 cm. The flap from the lining should be slightly larger than from the facing material and along all cuts extend 2-3 mm beyond the edges of the denim fabric blank - this is necessary to form the edging .

Sew two side pieces to the front piece.

Open the belt completely, cut a strip 44 cm long and stitch along the bottom of the main element.

Sew on pockets that will be useful for storing all kinds of small items.

Cut the belt tape 10 cm long, insert it into the upper part of the fastex fastener, bend it and stitch it. Make the same element from the bottom of the fastener, repeating the steps described.

Adjust the belt tape with the bottom fastex so that the fastener is at a distance of 21 cm from the top edge.

Fold the parts of the valve with the right sides inward, placing a tape with the top fastex between them. Sew, slightly seating the lining fabric piece, and turn the resulting product inside out.

Baste along the edge, forming a piping from the lining, and add a double finishing stitch. Sew on a jeans label to make the item branded.

Fold the two parts of the strap right sides inward, placing a 30 cm long belt strip between them. Sew and turn inside out.

Place several parallel lines to add strength to the strap. Make the second strap in the same way.

For the handle, cut a belt strip 21 cm long.

Assemble a backpack from old jeans in this order:

bottom of butt facing up;
straps, handle, flap with lining facing up;
the top of the butt is facing down.

Sew all the elements together with one seam. Place an even finishing stitch.

Cut the ribbon 10 cm long. Thread it through two half rings, bend it in half and stitch the edge. Make another one like this.

Sew the back of the denim backpack to the sides, inserting blanks of ribbon with half rings.

Sew in the bottom.

At a distance of 4 cm from the top cut, sew two loops.

Iron the top edge to the wrong side by 1.5 cm, baste, and then fold another 3 cm and iron again.

Sew a small denim pocket and a pocket of lining fabric onto the lining, after sewing on parts of the Velcro strip.

Sew the seam of the lining material. Sew the bottom of the jeans backpack.

Insert the lining so that its edge is butted against the pressed fold. Fold the edge along the fold to the wrong side and sew a stitch along the jeans at a distance of 2.5 cm from the edge.

Insert the cord through the loops.

This stylish and useful accessory came from something that just yesterday you were ready to throw away or take to the country. Now you have freed up space in your closet and have something to wear for a walk!

See what else is possible - this versatile material inspires creative feats!

A master class on sewing a backpack from old jeans with your own hands and photos was prepared by Elena Shevchenko. Especially for readers of the site “Women’s Hobbies”. Join us on social networks so you don't miss new publications.

A backpack is an indispensable item for both students and schoolchildren, as well as for all adherents of an active lifestyle. Our model is made of black and silver-gray leatherette. The main compartment and large patch pocket at the front are fastened with a zipper. Adjustable handles will allow you to adjust the backpack so that the load on your back is distributed as comfortably as possible. We will offer you a pattern that you can change as you wish, and we will tell you in detail how to sew a backpack with your own hands.

Backpack: choosing materials

How to sew a backpack with your own hands? For a backpack, you need to use durable fabrics, but you should also pay attention to their weight (especially for a children's backpack). You can use artificial or natural leather; backpacks made of thick raincoat fabrics or neoprene will be lighter. An additional advantage of these materials is that they allow open cut edges, and their reverse side may well be open, without lining.

For summer city backpacks, you can use thick denim or linen, but models made from such fabrics should be completely lined. In our model we used a backing for only two parts. The lining covers the added padding on the back of the backpack, covers the cross seams on the sides and bottom, and also covers the front piece.

To ensure that the backpack keeps its shape well, we added a seal. You can use any suitable material, such as thin laminate underlay, which can be purchased at hardware stores. We added the same seal to the wide part of the handles so that they put less pressure on the shoulders.

To calculate the required amount of fabric, draw a pattern and cut out all the necessary parts. Lay out the pattern and measure how much space it takes up, taking into account whether you will be sewing from one or two types of fabric. You will also need two zippers, 50 and 60 cm long, and two handle frames. You can use either high-quality plastic fittings or more durable metal.

For the handles, additionally buy 1 m of belt tape (sling) of the same width as the retaining frames.

We will offer you a pattern drawing for a backpack measuring 25x35x12 cm. This backpack will fit standard size textbooks and notebooks (maximum A4). Based on our drawing, you can change the pattern and sew a backpack of a larger or smaller size with your own hands.

So, let's find out how to sew a backpack with your own hands!

Constructing a pattern

To build the main part of the front and back, draw a rectangle, where AB and CD are 29 cm, and AC and BD are 36 cm. Round the lower corners, stepping back 3 cm up and down. Set aside 5 cm from points A and B, draw a horizontal line and divide it in half. Set aside 12 cm from the center to the right and left and draw side lines through the resulting points until they intersect with line AB and to the rounded lower corners. Cut out the part.

Draw the front pocket detail by copying the side line from the front piece. Also copy the top rounded corner. The length of the part is 30 m, the width at the top is 20 cm, at the bottom – 25 cm. Raise the bottom line in the center by 1 cm and round it.

The bottom of the front pocket is a 25x6 cm rectangle, one of the long sides of which is curved to match the shape of the bottom of the front pocket.

The zipper strip for the front pocket is 75x4 cm, can be made of two parts. Another detail for the front pocket zipper is a rectangle 18x3 cm.

The part of the bottom and sides is a 50x13 cm rectangle. If necessary, it can be sewn from several parts.

Two parts of the zipper strip for the main compartment are 62 cm long and 6 cm wide. Round one of them, as shown in the diagram, stepping back 3 cm inward in the center.

Also included in the fastener of the main compartment are two small rectangles 13x4 cm, which are sewn onto the edges of the zipper.

The small handle at the top of the backpack is a 20x5 cm rectangle. The shoulder straps are a 35x6 cm rectangle, round one edge.

The inner pocket is a rectangle 19x20 cm. If you change the size of the backpack, namely the front pocket, pay attention to the inner pocket. They are interconnected: the seam used to sew the inner pocket is hidden by the front pocket.

The corner that will hold the handle strap is a 10x10 cm rectangle.

The zipper strip for the outer pocket is 75x4 cm, can be made of two parts.

Another detail for the zipper of the outer pocket is a rectangle 18x3 cm.

To process seam allowances, you will need a tape 2 cm wide and 110 cm long. This can be cut up the main material from one or several parts or bias tape: either from the lining material or ready-made in a matching color.

Uncover

The constructed pattern takes into account all seam allowances. Check to see if your material stretches in any direction. If there is stretching, cut the front, back and arms pieces perpendicular to the stretch line.

Made from main fabric

Front – 2 parts
Front pocket – 1 piece
Pocket bottom – 1 piece
Bottom and sides – 1 piece
Strap for the main zipper, flat – 1 piece
Plate for the main zipper with a bend – 1 piece
Cross bar for the main zipper (13x4 cm) – 2 parts
Front pocket zipper placket – 1 piece
Cross bar for front pocket zipper (18x3 cm) – 2 parts
Handle-strap – 4 parts
Center handle – 2 parts
Angle for sling – 2 parts
Inner pocket – 1 piece

Made from lining fabric

Front – 2 parts
Bottom and sides – 1 piece plus 6 cm in length (total 56 cm)

From the seal

Front – 1 piece, reduce by 5 mm along the entire contour.
Bottom with sides – 1 piece 48x11 cm
Handle-strap – 2 parts 4 cm wide
Center handle - 1 piece 2.5 cm wide

Prepare for work:

Fabric parts and padding
Lightning
Belt sling
Fasteners
Threads, scissors

Progress

Sew together the pieces of the small handle, placing them right sides together. Turn it right side out and insert the seal inside.

Fold the parts of the two strap handles in pairs and stitch. Cut the allowances along the rounded edge.

Unscrew the strap handles, insert the seal and stitch. Cut 2 pieces of 10 cm from the sling. Insert a fastener into each piece, as shown in the photo, tuck the edges and stitch on the strap handles around the perimeter and “square”.

Topstitch the strips from the front side. Sew additional details (13x4 cm) along the edges, stitch the main bottom to the second end, creating a ring, and stitch.

On the zipper of the front pocket, sew 18x3 cm strips on both sides. Fold the strips, covering the edges of the zipper, and stitch again.

Sew the zipper to the placket. Postpone. Sew the bottom of the pocket.

Sew the seal to the bottom and sides. Baste the lining to the bottom, folding the transverse edges.

Baste the lining to the front of the backpack. Sew the pocket with two lines.

Sew the front pocket, centering the front piece and aligning the bottom edges of the main piece and the bottom of the pocket. The seam from the inside pocket should end up inside the front pocket.

Fold the corners for the sling diagonally, and then in half again and insert one end of the sling inside (the entire width of the corner). Stitch several times, securing the sling. Fold the second edge of the sling twice, covering the cut, and stitch.

Baste the handles to the top edge of the back, and the corners with slings to the sides of the back.

Baste the ring of sides and bottom to the back, folding them right sides inward. Stitch.

Also sew the front piece with the pockets. Fold the seam allowance strips in half and fold them around the inside seam allowances. Sew, place the parts with an overlap at the joining points.