Which sewing bag is right for back-to-school?
Back-to-school is just around the corner, and we can already start listing the sewing projects we want to do. New clothes, new decorative items… And new bags!
Schoolbags and other nursery bags are as easy as they are quick to sew, and allow you to get back in front of your sewing machine after the summer vacations.
Here are a few ideas for making beautiful bags for the whole family.
A bag for the nursery
If your child is about to start kindergarten or spend his first year in a day nursery, then it’s time to sew him a bag that’s just right for his little things. It’s usually best to make it from cotton, so it’s both light and soft. When sewing your baby’s very first bag, you can opt for cotton, quilted cotton or double cotton gauze…
The Pompon pattern, designed by Les Patronnes, is accessible to beginners. It makes a very light and cute backpack. You can add ears and embroider whiskers to personalize it. All you need are straps for the shoulder straps and the fastening system of your choice, which is best suited to your child’s age.
For a simpler look, you can also sew a drawstring backpack by following our instructional video. You can easily personalize it by adding iron-on patches, embroidery, appliqué motifs…
A schoolbag for older children
If your child is entering first grade this year, he’ll probably want a “grown-up” bag. So it’s time to sew him a beautiful, unique and personalized schoolbag, choosing the fabric and supplies with him.
For this project, we can use a printed cotton fabric to which we apply an iron-on adhesive to make it stiffer. Or use a thicker fabric such as denim, canvas or upholstery fabric. You’ll also need to buy adjustable buckles and snaps.
To sew a satchel, you can follow the Droguerie pattern.
A bag for high school or university
If you’re looking for a more casual bag for high school, university or to take to work, then the Miss Cactus besace bag, inspired by the famous US bag, is for you. Worn over the shoulder, it’s ideal for carrying books, notebooks, binders… Its simple, minimalist shape lets you make it your own by choosing contrasting fabrics, prints or adding appliqué motifs…
Feel free to experiment to make this course bag truly unique!
An isothermal lunch bag for the workplace
How about making it your New Year’s resolution to bring your own lunches to work? A good way to motivate yourself is to sew a cooler bag with a pretty print and beautiful finish.
For this project, you’ll need to store for suitable fabrics: coated cotton or oilcloth for the outside, and isothermal fabric for the inside of the bag. The latter will keep your food at the right temperature.
To sew these two fabrics, we recommend you equip your sewing machine witha denim needle, which is more resistant than conventional needles. You’ll also need bias tape and webbing so you can carry your bag on your shoulder.
The Miss Cactus pattern will show you step by step how to sew this back-to-school project.
A fanny pack for the whole family
What if, this autumn, you succumbed to the fanny pack trend? Worn over the shoulder, it keeps all your belongings close at hand, and is just as useful for children as it is for adults. It’s also a project that lets you give free rein to your creativity. You choose the fabric, the zipper, the color of the buckle and the adjustable buckle…
If you’re just starting out and feel like taking on this project, you can follow our Simplo pattern. As the name suggests, the aim is to make this bag as simple as possible, while maintaining a beautiful fall.
What about you? Are you planning to sew a back-to-school bag for yourself or your loved ones? Which model would you like to try?
