Tutorial: Ladybug Drawstring Backpack
This tutorial will walk you through how to make a simple ladybug drawstring backpack. All you need are some remnants or large scraps of black and red fabric, a bit of interfacing, and something to use for the drawstring. You can download the free pattern for this using the link below.
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. That being said, I encourage you to use your local sewing shop whenever possible, or to look for supplies second hand.
Supplies Needed:
(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)
Step 1
Apply interfacing to the wings
Step 2
hem the inner edge of the wings
Make a narrow hem on the flat edge of the wings.
Step 3
Finish the edges of the dots
Finish the dots with an overcast stitch to prevent fraying. You can also choose to use felt or a non-fraying stable knit fabric for the dots instead, if you want to skip this step.
Step 4
sew the dots to the wings
sew around the perimeter of the dots to attach them to the ladybug wings.
Step 5
baste the wings to the front of the bag.
Line up the wings with the bag front and baste them together around the perimeter.
Step 6
Sew the tabs
Fold the sides of the tab pieces to the center and then fold them in half. Sew along the length of the two tab pieces.
Step 7
Baste the tabs to the back of the bag
Fold the tab pieces in half and baste them to the bottom of the back bag piece.
Step 8
Sew the front and back of the bag together
With right sides together sew the front and back of the bag along the sides and bottom.
Step 9
Turn the bag to the right side
Step 10
hem the sides of the casings
make a narrow hem on both of the shorter sides of both casings
Step 11
Fold the casing in half
Step 12
sew the casings to the top of the bag
On both sides of the bag, sew the casing through all layers. Then press the casing up, away from the bag. This will create a loop for the drawstring to go through.
Step 13
add the drawstring to the casing
You need two pieces of string (about 60″ long) and they both need to go all the way around, through both casings. One string you’ll insert through the left side, thread it all the way around so it comes back out the left. The other will start on the right side and go all the way around so it comes back out the right.
Then you want to tie each string around the tabs that were sewn in earlier.
Finished!
