Girl’s Backpack Pattern with Cricut + Simplicity

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine. Read on to learn how I used my Cricut Maker and a Simplicity Pattern to sew a Girl’s Backpack Pattern without doing any of the cutting myself!
 You know that to say I’m a fan of little backpacks would be an understatement ;). I’ve offered a number of free backpack patterns on this blog, from a heart shape to a unicorn, a bunny, and even a cat backpack! It was fun to sew a backpack that I didn’t create the pattern for myself this time around though! I sewed up this backpack pattern thanks to Cricut + Simplicity – with a Simplicity pattern found on Cricut Design Space it was easy and such a fun new experience for me.

I love the little details this backpack pattern offers. I wasn’t sold at first on the tied straps, but once I had it made, I totally changed my mind! The ties are so sweet and unique.

The side zipper is another fun detail. My girls giggled when they realized it wasn’t on the top, and they love sneaking things in the side of the backpack. And what little girl’s backpack would be complete without a unicorn element? Not this one ;).

Pattern mixing is one of my favorite things, and one of the design elements that drew me to this pattern is the use of three different fabrics. I dug through my stash to find the stripe, floral, and solid, and think that they’re so pretty together!

There are a ton of Simplicity patterns available on Cricut Design Space, and all you simply have to do is find the one you want, and then follow the instructions to cut your project out. Each project also comes with pdf instructions for the construction, and today I’m sharing a photo tutorial as well to help guide you through making your own backpack!

Cricut + Simplicity really are a match made in Heaven, and the two combining forces has opened up a whole new set of possibilities for sewers. Whether you use it to help streamline your sewing business, have a hard time physically cutting out your own patterns, or am just looking for a more efficient way of completing a project like me, I think you’ll love using your Cricut Maker to cut out Simplicity projects just as much as I do.

It was so fun to make an entire backpack project without doing any of the cutting myself! The Cricut Maker even marks the fabric using a washable fabric marker, so everything came together perfectly once I started sewing.

Girl’s Backpack Pattern

Supplies:
– Girl’s Backpack Pattern from Cricut Design Space
– 1 1/8 yd. of 20″-25″ heavyweight fusible interfacing (I used fusible fleece for extra body)
– 1/4 yd. of 45″ fabric (for band and loop)
– 3/8 yd. of 45″ fabric (for side panel and back)
– 5/8 yd. of 45″ fabric (for front, strap, tie end, and lining)
– 9″ zipper
– Cricut Maker
– Cricut Fabric Mat
– Cricut Washable Fabric Pen
– Ribbon (for embellishment on backpack front – I omitted this and topstitched instead)

*Seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise noted.*

Note: To create a professional looking backpack, you’ll need to do a lot of pressing as you sew. When you press with steam on the areas that have been marked by the washable fabric pen, the pen will look more saturated and sometimes bleed to the right side of the fabric (and it may be visible from the beginning on the right side of the fabric). This will wash out when your project is finished – I used a wet cloth and all of the marks came right out by dabbing with warm water.

Open Girl’s Backpack Pattern project in Cricut Design Space and follow instructions to pre-cut fabric and interfacing. Load the washable fabric pen into the machine and the rotary blade. Click “Make It” and load/cut each fabric/mat as instructed. The rotary blade cut all my materials beautifully!

Follow manufacturer’s directions to fuse interfacing to front and side front pieces. RST, stitch pieces together, matching notches. Press seams open.

Fold front piece as pictured along seams and marked lines and press in place.

Baste top folded edges in place.

Fuse interfacing to band and stitch RST to top edge of backpack front. Trim seam allowances to reduce bulk and press seam allowance upward (pressing open will likely be difficult due to the bulk). Stitch ribbon and bow over seam OR topstitch 1/4″ above seam line as I did (this also helps to hold the pressed seam allowances in place).

Fuse interfacing to back piece. RST, stitch band to back, matching notches. Press seam open and topstitch above seam if desired.

Press loop piece in half, wrong sides together, matching long edges. Open fold and press each long raw edge to center. Fold again along center crease and topstitch close to each long edge.

Press unmarked (circles) end of each strap toward wrong side along marked line. Repeat steps for loop construction above to complete straps.

Repeat steps for loop construction to make tie ends.

Pin and baste loop, straps, and tie ends as pictured, aligning with marks on backpack back.

If zipper is longer than 9″, shorten using zigzag stitch. Use 1/4″ seam allowance to stitch zipper RST to left side of bag front, aligning top of zipper teeth 1/2″ from top of bag front. Zipper stop will be just above notch on bag front. Press seam flat from right side. Repeat with opposite side of zipper and backpack back side edge.

Pin backpack front and back together, leaving zipper partially open. Stitch together along all edges, pulling top and bottom zipper tabs out of way and stopping where zipper is stitched to backpack. Trim corners, turn backpack right side out, and press flat.

Fuse interfacing to lining front and back pieces. Because I used fusible fleece and didn’t want to add more bulk, I omited the interfacing on the lining.

RST, stitch lining front and back together, leaving one side open above notch (that will be adjacent to zipper in finished bag) – it helps to place lining pieces in bag to visualize which side to leave open. Trim seam allowance and press open edges 1/2″ toward wrong side.

Wrong sides together, place lining inside backpack (or vice versa if it’s easier due to bulk) and pin lining pressed edges to zipper tape. Use invisible stitch such as ladder stitch to stitch lining to zipper.

Turn backpack right side out and press flat.

Tie ribbon around zipper pull or add key chain, etc if preferred.

Tie strap and tie ends in a knot to secure (if you plan to adjust these, tie securely but not too tight).

If the washable fabric pen is still visible on some pieces as you can see mine is, use a soft cloth to wet and wipe the marks away – they go away relatively quickly when dabbed with water.

Your new girl’s backpack is complete, great job!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.