Cotton Drawstring Backpack

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Sewing machine
• Sewing notions
• Rotary cutter & cutting board
• Quilters rule, 2'
• Marking pen
• Fabric, 45" W, Exterior print: 1/2 yd, Lining solid: 1/2 yd
• Fusible Interfacing, 1/2 yd
• Cording, 1/4", 10 1/2'
• Optional: Aleene's Stop Fraying, 4 oz., 1

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut print fabric: Front & Back, 2 @ 14" W x 17" H
2. Pocket top, 1 @ 14" W x 6" H
3. Casings, 2 @ 3 1/2" W x 14" L
4. Loops, 2 @ 3" W x 3 1/2" L
5. Cut solid fabric: Lining, 2 @ 14" W x 17" H
6. Pocket bottom, 1 @ 14" W x 6" H
7. Pocket lining, 1 @ 14" W x 11" H
8. Fuse interfacing to WS of print front & back.
9. Casings: Fold short ends under 1/2" then fold under another 1/2", press. Fold in half lengthwise, baste raw edges 1/4" from edges. Center one casing on top, 14" edge, of front, lining up raw edges. Baste 1/4" from edge. Repeat for back. Set aside.
10. Pocket: RST top and bottom pocket panels, line up 14" edge. Sew 1/2" from edges. Press seam open. Topstitch if desired. RST pocket lining with top/bottom pocket panel. Match up top edges. Sew 1/2" from edge, top only. Turn RSO. Press. Topstitch 1/4" from folded edge. Baste 1/4" from edges remaining three edges. Place lining side of pocket on RS of front, lining up bottom edges and corners. Baste outer raw edges. Mark a line on pocket from center of top to center of bottom. Sew along line to create two pockets.
11. Loops: Fold 3" side in half, press. Fold each side in half again, press. Sew close to the edges to create a 3/4" wide strap. Repeat. Fold in half lengthwise to create a loop. Line up the raw edges of the loop with the raw edges of the pocket.Place the top edge of the loop 2 1/2" up from the bottom corner of the front pocket. Baste 1/4" from edges.
12. Lay front RSU on flat surface. Lay one lining panel WSU on top. Line up top edges and stitch 1/2" from edge, top edge only. Repeat with back panel.
13. Open out front panel with lining. Lay RSU. Open out back panel with lining. Lay on top of front panel, lining up seams and corners (lining panel on top of lining panel, front on top of back). Sew 1/2" from edges leaving a 4" opening on one side of the lining panels for turning. Clip corners to reduce bulk. Turn RSO. Push out corners of print fabric bag. Fold in edges at opening in lining, sew close to edge to close. Push lining down into bag.
14. Cording to bag: Cut two pieces of cording to 63" L. Wrap a small strip of tape around one end of cording to prevent fray. Attach a safety pin through the same end of the cording. Thread cording through one casing then back through the opposite casing and down through the loop on the same side. Tie the two ends of cording together with a single knot just below the loop. Remove the tape from the cord. Repeat with the opposite side cord threading the cord the opposite directions through the casings.