The Range Backpack by Noodlehead
The changing bag was slowly dying from overuse, I was on the prowl for a new backpack (the only way to do changing bags once you have a toddler you have to run after) when I stumbled upon the Range Backpack by Noodlehead. So stylish, and yet it looked so functional too (not a common pair to find together in one design).
I spent a long while looking at various fabric choices, I wanted to find a pair that worked well together but functionality of fabric choice for a project like this is really key.
The instructions call for canvas or waxed canvas for the exterior of the bag. The advantage to the waxed canvas is its waterproof qualities, but it’s hard to find and particularly hard to find in interesting prints and colours so I decided to focus on finding something waterproof for the contrast bottom only (putting a bag down when its wet to rummage and then finding the contents is now wet is the absolute pits) and then using a canvas for the rest of the bag. The instructions discuss how to use a quilting weight cotton instead of canvas, but honestly, I just wouldn’t bother as you really do want something durable and hardy for a good backpack.
After finding the polka canvas (I mean who doesn’t love a polka dot, I can’t resist them and they are just so timeless) I decided to use red as an accent colour, so matched the lining with the contrast bottom, adding in a stripe to create a cool print combination (as the lining is used for the straps etc so is also visible in places on the outside). There is a fair amount of hard wear needed for this pattern, but it’s well worth working through the list on the pattern and making sure you have it all… the final product is so cool, and all the bits are needed.
The instruction pack included with this pattern made my heart absolutely sing, because it includes a sheet of labels to pin on each part as their cut… and I know it sounds weird to get excited about that but bear with me.
So, I call it an instruction pack because rather than there being pattern pieces to pin on fabric it has an extensive list of piece dimensions and what fabric they should be cut in. It is essentially a series of specifically sized rectangles, which you could so easily get confused with during construction as to what is what if it weren’t for these very cleverly thought through labels that give you the name of the piece, how many you should have and in what. It made it such a satisfying make. I have to say I enjoyed using my rotary cutter and board to cut each of the bits and happily pinned my labels on so that once it was all cut out, I was ready to sew and knew I wouldn’t accidentally mistake one piece for another and sew something in the wrong place.
The fabrics were all such a dream to sew with too. Waterproof fabrics always worry me, are they going to feel thin and likely to rip or is the machine not going to feed… well I can report that neither can be said of this one. It was as thick and robust as the canvas and the machine handled it like a dream. It’s a fabric I can see myself sewing to the bottom of other bag patterns in the future (even if they don’t call for it) to create a waterproof but also hardy base. The polka canvas was exactly what I expected it to be and is such a great weight. The lining fabric is thin, but you actually wouldn’t want a thick lining with canvas on the outer so that was right, but I was slightly concerned as to how it would cope as the straps. I was wrong though, it is bang on as with the two layers, interfacing and stitching along the length it never feels under any tension even when the bag is full.
You can see from the finished pictures that there is a significant amount of topstitching, but don’t let this put you off because had I used a matching rather than contrast thread it wouldn’t be so dominant… but also (the teacher in me speaking) doing a project that has such a large amount of straight-line topstitching will give you so much practice and really boost your confidence on it.
The finished bag has an exterior zipped pocket and an interior (unzipped) pocket. The straps are adjustable… and I totally underestimated how useful the hanging loop would be until I started using it.
Since using the bag I will report that my only complaint is with the main D ring closure, it is a total faff and when you’re trying frantically to get snacks for a child that is screaming at you it’s also fiddly. I plan to change mine to a side release buckle (an easy adaptation to make later) as I think it will still look really smart but be even more functional. That is, however, my only complaint. There is space for nappies, wipes, changes of clothes, snacks, coats, hats… the random toys that inevitably end up in there. It’s the real advantage to the fold over top, when I’m not carrying too much it looks cool and yet I can utterly fill it to the brim too and still make it close.
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