DIY Drawstring Backpack

I had a custom order for a bag that a little girl could use for ballet. The type of bag and materials were all left up to me so I had a lot of fun on this project. and it should only take about an hour to make if you don't get obsorbed watching old Project Runway episodes like I do.

What you'll need:
1/2 yard of fashion fabric
1/2 yard of lining fabric
fusable interfacing
fabric scissors
3.2 yards of ribbon or cord Or 116 inches
Sewing machine
thread
appliques of choice.
iron
straight pins
tailors chalk

To begin with cut 2 pieces of your lining fabric and 2 pieces of your fashion fabric 13'' by 15''. If you want applique whatever you want to the front piece of your fashion fabric.

Fuse your interfacing to the wrong sides of both of your lining fabrics.

Pin and hem a 1/4'' hem along the long sides of all of your fabric pieces.

Place the wrong sides of your fashion and lining fabric together. Mark with chalk .5'' and 2.5'' down from the top.

Fold once along the first line. You can press this down if you want.

Fold that fold over again so it meets up with your 2.5'' mark. Pin/press and sew. (It's important to get these messurments correct or else your drawstring back will look wonky) Also because you'll be going through more fabric and fabric with interfacing, you may need to lengthen your stitch length on your machine from here on out.

Pin along your sides and sew at a 5/8 seam allowance. Important! Do NOT sew the top part as that is the casing for your draw strings.

Cut your ribbon or cord so you have two 58'' pieces. Run one through both sides of casing.

Repeat with the second ribbon or cord so that it comes out of the other side.

(Note: If you are using ribbon like me it may take some adjustments to get them to lay correctly so that the ouside of the ribbon will be on the outside once you sew it in and turn your pack rightside out.)

Tuck your ribbon or cord through the opening of your pack and run it to the bottom of your back. Pin it along the bottom of pack and sew.

To make sure your pack is super secure you will want to sew a double line across the bottom.

Cut off excess fabric and overlock your end by using a zig-zag stitch. I went over mine twice. I also clipped the corners of my pack and went over that with a zig-zag stitch.

Turn your pack right side out and you're done!