Backpack Organizer to Sew for Students & More

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Backpack Organizer

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

This backpack Organizer is a fun and functional holder for a standard spiral notebook, papers, pens and pencils and more. The vinyl pocket fits an ID, business cards and lens wipes, too. Stitch a Backpack Organizer for anyone entering school this summer/fall or make one for a tote bag. All your papers, receipts and mail is kept neat and tidy in one place.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

FINISHED SIZE: Approximately 9 3/4″ W x 11 3/4″ H

BACKPACK ORGANIZER SUPPLIES

  • Sulky 50 wt. Cotton Thread (construction & quilting)
  • Organ® size 70/10 Universal Needle
  • Light- to mediumweight fusible interfacing
  • Quilting cotton fabrics
    • (2) 12 1/2″ x 20″ rectangles (main exterior & lining)
    • 11 1/2″ x 22″ rectangle (gathered interior pocket)
    • 16″ x 12 1/2″ rectangle (outer interior slip pocket)
    • 14″ x 12 1/2″ rectangle (inner interior slip pocket
    • 6″ x 12 1/2″ rectangle (divided interior pocket)
  • 6″ x 4 1/2″ vinyl rectangle
  • 11 3/4″ length of FOE (fold-over elastic)
  • 11″ length of 1/2″-wide elastic
  • 12 1/2″ x 20″ rectangle of low-loft batting
  • Sulky KK 2000â„¢ Temporary Spray Adhesive
  • Removable fabric marker or chalk
  • Clover® Wonder Clips

BACKPACK ORGANIZER POCKETS

To begin, install a size 70/10 Universal Needle onto the machine. Thread the needle and wind a bobbin with 50 wt. Cotton Thread that matches or contrasts the fabrics.

GATHERED INTERIOR POCKET

First, prepare the gathered interior pocket. Fold the fabric rectangle in half widthwise with wrong sides together. Press to set the foldline. Then, turn the pocket so the wrong side is facing out.

Insert the 1/2″-wide elastic between the fabric layers, abutting the elastic long edge with the fabric foldline.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Pin or clip the elastic end in place, and then baste to secure along the pocket right edge.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Stitch the right raw edge, using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Then, turn the pocket right side out, using a Sulky Turning Tool to push out the corner and flatten the seam.

Stitch 5/8″ from the foldline to create a casing for the elastic. Make sure the elastic is snug between the fabric fold and stitching line.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Pull the elastic free end until the pocket upper edge measures 10″. Pin or clip the end in place, and then stitch to secure. Trim the excess elastic beyond the stitching.

Baste the side and lower edge. Then, set aside the gathered interior pocket.

OUTER INTERIOR SLIP POCKET

Fold the fabric rectangle in half lengthwise with wrong sides together; press. Stitch 1/8″ from the foldline.

Then, baste the raw edges together. Set aside.

Repeat to prepare the inner interior slip pocket.

DIVIDED INTERIOR POCKET

Fold the fabric rectangle in half widthwise with right sides together; press. Then, stitch the right edge using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Clip the corner, and then turn the pocket right side out; press again.

Using a removable fabric marker or chalk, mark the pocket divider lines. Determine the pocket widths based on personal preference and on the items that will be stored inside them. Or, simply divide the pocket into fourths.

Stitch 1/2″ from the pocket foldline.

Then, set aside the divided interior pocket.

EXTERIOR QUILTING

Place the batting rectangle wrong side up on a flat work surface. Center the exterior fabric rectangle over the batting, using KK 2000 to secure.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Plot the desired quilting lines onto the fabric right side, using a removable fabric marker or chalk.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Stitch along the plotted lines.

Measure 1 1/2″ from the right edge along the upper and lower exterior edges; mark. Place the FOE ends at each mark, making sure it’s not twisted. Place the FOE right side up on the exterior fabric right side. Baste the FOE ends in place (it will stretch slightly to fit).

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

BACKPACK ORGANIZER INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

Apply fusible interfacing to the interior fabric rectangle, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Place the interior fabric rectangle right side up on a flat work surface.

Position the gathered interior pocket right side up on the fabric, aligning the right edges. Stitch along the right edge.

 

Place the pocket left edge along the interior fabric rectangle lengthwise center; topstitch the left edge 1/8″ inside the previous pocket seam.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Pin or clip the pocket lower edge to the interior fabric lower edge. Fold the pocket lower-edge fabric to create a box pleat with the excess fabric. Place the pleat folds where desired, equidistant from the pocket lower-edge center.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Then, baste the lower edge, securing the pleat.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

POCKET LAYERING

Place the inner interior slip pocket right side up with the stitched long edge as the right edge.

Position the divided interior pocket right side up on the inner interior pocket, aligning the left raw edges and lower edges; pin or clip in place.

Stitch 1/8″ from the long raw edge to secure the layers. Then, stitch along each marked divider line on the pocket, backstitching at the beginning and end.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Place the vinyl pocket right side up over the interior slip pocket, aligning one long vinyl edge with the pocket upper edge and one shirt vinyl edge with the pocket left edge. Use Wonder Clips to secure the edges, as pins will leave permanent holes.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

BACKPACK ORGANIZER ASSEMBLY

Place the outer interior slip pocket right side up over the interior fabric rectangle, aligning the left, upper and lower edges.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Then, place the layered inner interior slip pocket right side up over the outer interior slip pocket; clip the edges to secure.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Stitch the layered pockets to the interior fabric rectangle using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Place the outer rectangle over the inner rectangle with right sides together and all edges and corners aligned; clip generously. Make sure the FOE is tucked between the layers.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Stitch the perimeter, leaving a 5″ opening along one long edge.

Clip the corners and trim the seam allowances to 1/8″.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Turn the Backpack Organizer right side out through the opening. Topstitch 3/8″ from the edges, moving the FOE out of the way of the stitching as you reach it.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Lastly, hand sew the opening shut using a slipstitch or whipstitch.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

Fill the Backpack Organizer with papers, notebooks, pens and pencils.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

To close the organizer, fold it in half to conceal the contents, and then wrap the FOE around the front of the project.

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a black top and pearl necklace.

 

 

 

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