Fiona - Part 3 - The Backpack

Now we are on to our third and final installment of the Fionna costume. If you missed the previous posts, you can see the skirt tutorial (Part 1) and hat tutorial (Part 2). With 2 of the 3 major parts of the costume complete, I set off to make the Backpack. Having learned something from making the hat, I looked on line for a tutorial first. I saw several, but none that I liked. So, I decided to make the pattern from scratch.

Materials:

dark green felt

light green felt

*I bought a yard of each but had WAY too much left over. A half a yard would probably be enough

Foam coated floral wire

thread in coordinating color

sewing machine

lots of pins

pattern paper (I used some construction paper I had on hand)

I used a large bowl (but not the largest one I had) to make the pattern. I cut the approriate pieces from the light green and dark green felt.

Here you can see what I cut out:

2 halves of a circle in dark green (bottom of bag)

2 halves of a circle in light green (top of bag)

4 narrow rectangles for the bag's straps in dark green

4 narrow rectangles for the bag's straps in light green

1 wide rectangle for the bag's mid section in dark green

1 wide rectangle for the bag's mid section in light green

I ended up modifiying one half light green circle because I decided to make a flap. So I cut an extra light green half circle for the flap.

After I cut these pieces, I pinned them together. I pinned one light green and 1 dark green half circle together along the center (to make back of the bag). I pinned the rectangles for the straps together at the center too (1 dark green to 1 light green, 2 times). The other dark green half circle to the 1/4 light green circle along the center to form the front of the bag (minus the flap). I also pinned the two large rectangles together along the short end (center of bag).

Next I sewed these in place. After stitching the short edge of the straps together (only 1 short edge, the other should remain unsewn), with wrong sides facing out, I pinned two sets of each strap to one another (made 2 sets) making sure to line the greens up. Then I stitched both long ends together for each set.
 

Long edge of bag straps being stitched together



Long edge of straps being stitched together



Straps all sewn together turned with right sides out.

Turn straps right side out once long edges are sewn. The ends on both side should be open. These will be tucked into your bag.


Next I stitched both short edges of the larger rectangles (bag center together). Be sure that both sides of the rectangle are sewn closed. You will end up with a big circle once complete.


Next sew the long edge of the light and dark green half circles together. For the other half circle of dark green and quarter circle, I stitched their long edges together (not sure why I didn't photo that step).

Next was the hard part. I had to pin all of the pieces together. I started with the back and the middle pieces. About 3/4 of the way around that circle I began to wonder if I had cut the middle rectangles long enough or if I had cut them too long. Fortunatley they were the right length. But I did manage to pin the pieces together wrong (one was right side out and one was right side in - ugh). It took me 3 attemps and a good night's rest to finally get the back and middle pinned together. Next I pinned the front to it (making sure it was right side in). And then I pinned the flap in place (after pinning I realized I didn't like the way it looked so I shaped it up some). I tried to find a good spot to put the straps, removed a few pins, inserted the strap and pinned them in place too.



Rear of bag with straps pinned in place.

 Once you pin the straps, the straps will be right side out and they will be inside the bag. The raw edges will extrude through the pinned sides of the bag.



Side of the bag with everything pinned in place.



Close up of the straps pinned in place

After I pinned it all together, I turned the bag (CAREFULLY) inside out to see if it looked like I wanted it too or not.

I also made my daughter try it on to make sure the straps were in the right spot and not too long. Once I was sure everything was where I wanted it to be, I carefully turned it with the right side in. Then I sewed it together starting with the back to the middle (this secured both straps too which I stitched over a few times to make sure they were securely held in place. Then I stitched the bottom of the front to the middle. Last I stitched the flap in place leaving just the very ends free.

When I turned it right side out, I noticed it flopped a bit. So I decided to add some support using the floral wiring I used on the ears. I added a piece along the opening (not on the flap). This added much needed support. And Viola! One Fionna bag.