Free Mini Backpack Pattern: Small Backpack With Pockets

This free mini backpack pattern makes a small, structured backpack with three zipped pockets: one inside, one on the front, and one hidden against your back where a pickpocket cannot reach it. The pattern downloads as a print at home PDF in both A4 and US Letter, and the same bag converts to a cross body style if you would rather wear it on one shoulder. It is a good size for school, college and day trips, and it sews up beautifully in canvas, oilcloth or a firm upholstery cotton.

The build is split into a three part sew along with a full video tutorial. Part one, below, covers printing the pattern, the outer zipper, the side pockets and the inner zip pocket. One honest note before you start: every individual step here is beginner friendly, but there are a lot of them and several zips, so treat this as an advanced beginner project rather than a first ever make.

If you have been watching the size and style of bags lately, you’ve probably noticed all those impossibly cute little backpacks everyone is carrying.  Along those lines, I’ve made this small backpack pattern to be small (and cute) but still big enough to be practical.

You can also use this small backpack as a cross-over or cross body bag as well.  I made that way because I like to have options and truth-be-told, I am a bit paranoid with a backpack.  I guess having grown up in Panama where, as the saying goes, “pickpockets can remove your socks without even taking off your shoes” I have had my share of missing money and wallets.  This is why I’ve added a pocket in the back with a zipper.  There’s an internal pocket, also with a zipper, and even the outside pocket has a zipper.  So if you can remember where you put your wallet, the chances of keeping it are high..

There’s also a possibility of adding one more pocket to stash your mobile phone, but I will leave that up to you. I will show you how to add it you want it.  Please note, however, it will not be included in the pattern, so this is probably for the intermediate to advanced sewists.  The rest of the project is suitable for beginners.

This backpack takes a while, because there are a lot of steps, so I have set the pattern and project out as a kind of sew along.  The first part will give you a general idea on how to make the backpack and the inside components.  You’ll find this below.

If you want to find all the parts and instructions to make this free small backpack project, the easiest way is to navigate to this page where you’ll find links to all three parts and the video tutorial.

Part two will show you how to make the straps and attach them to the small backpack, and part three will show you how to assemble and finish the bag. Combine this with the our complete video tutorial, and you should have all you need to make this mini backpack pattern.

This is a challenging project rather than a difficult one. If you have just started making bags and you like being stretched a little, you will find it very rewarding, and every fiddly step is shown in the video.   It will make a great accessory for your wardrobe or a fantastic gift for a friend or a loved one.  I made two for this tutorial and I’m keeping one and giving the other to my teenage daughter.  She loves it.

Video Tutorial

Materials For The Mini Backpack

• 1/2 yard of canvas, oilcloth, thick nylon fabric.
• 1/2 yard fusible interfacing
• 1/2 yard of lining
• 2″ cotton tape  (66″ in total)
• 1″ ribbon (66″ in total)
• Thread to match
• One (1) 18″ Nylon zipper
• One (1) 10″ nylon zipper
• One (1) 10″ nylon zipper (inner pocket optional)
• Jeans needle or leather needle
• Four (4) D Rings
• Two (2) Lobsters Claw
• Two (2) 1″ Rectangular buckles for tensioning the straps

Tools You Will Need

• Zipper foot
• Scissors or a rotary cutter
• Walking foot (optional)

Free Mini Backpack Pattern Download

Mini Backpack Pattern Layout

This is just meant to show you what the pattern will look like once it is printed and assembled.

Part One [of the Three Part Series]

In this part of the sew along, we’re going to be printing the pattern, assembling the materials, and sewing the inside pocket as well as the gusset and the main zipper.

Cut all pattern pieces following the pattern.

A note on fusible interfacing:  The type of interfacing you use will depend on the fabric you choose to work with. Canvas and think upholstery fabric do not need it. Cotton quilting will need both in the outside fabric and it the lining.

I am using 100% cotton fabric from the upholstery section at IKEA and have opted to fuse a medium weight interfacing to both outside and lining fabrics. In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t since it made it impossible to sew a cotton tape handle (to hand carry the bag) on the top of the backpack.  I could have done it,  had I used my industrial machine to finish the bag. However, not everyone has an industrial machine at home. Before placing the handle or using thick upholstery fabric make sure your machine can handle many layers of fabric.

Step One:  Attaching the outer zipper

Place the right side of the fashion fabric up.

Place the zipper right side down.

Place the lining wrong side up on top of the zipper.  

This will make a sandwich with the fashion fabric.

Use the zipper foot and sew at 3/8″.  Once you have sewn the zipper down, open to turn to the work to the right side and iron. (We show this in the video tutorial, as this might be a bit confusing for the beginners in the group.)

We will repeat the same procedure, but this time on the other side of the zipper.  Lay the fabric right up and place the other side of the gusset wrong side up aligning the sides. Pin together and turn to the lining side. 

Pin the lining and sew at 3/8″.  Iron once again and topstitch. 

Sew 1/8″ from the edge using the zipper foot.

Pin the lining and fashion fabric and sew at 3/8″.

Top stitch 1/8″ from the seam and trim the seam allowance.  You can trim the zipper to the edge of the gusset at this point as well.

Step Two:  Adding the lateral small pockets

Following the pattern, fold the top edge 1/2″ and iron.  Use the crease to fold the edge 1/4″ in so it does not show.

Pin the pocket to the bottom of the gusset.

Step Three:  Making the small inner pocket

I have chosen to use the lining to make this little pocket.  This pocket is small enough for a small wallet but you can adapt it to a bigger size if you wish.

On the wrong side of the fabric, pin the zipper right side down and sew using your zipper foot. 

Turn the fabric to the right side and topstitch the zipper at 1/8″.

Place your zipper horizontally with the piece you just sewed up.

Place the other part of the pocket right side down on the lower side of the zipper.

Sew the zipper using the zipper foot turn and topstitch at 1/8″.

Open the zipper half way.

Sew, zigzag and trim both sides but not the top.

Iron your work. 

Pin the pocket to the back lining of the small backpack.

As I have mentioned above, there is no pattern for the internal pocket that is big enough for your phone.  However, this is very easy to add.  Depending on your phone size.  

Trace the bottom part of the front pattern side, add 1/2″ for seam allowance on the top fold and stitch as you did on the lateral small pockets.

End Of Part One Of This Mini Backpack Project

And you’re done with this part of the project.  I really hope you enjoyed this project so far.  As a further refinement of this design, I am going to make one in leather which should be fantastic.  When I am done will share it with you on Pinterest.

Proceed to Part 2

Access All Parts Of The Mini Backpack Sew Along

All three parts with a video tutorial are out! Click the link here or the panel below to find all three tutorials.

Sewing this one for back to school, or as a gift? There is plenty more to make in our free sewing patterns library.

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