Thimbleanna

Drawstring Backpacks

Happy Monday!  Did you have a nice weekend?  We had a nice quiet one here in ThimbleannaLand — a little sewing and cleaning and not much else.  These cute fabrics recently arrived in my little shop, so I had to get busy and make a few fun things.  These are some of the prints of Trinket by Melody Miller for Cotton and Steel.

Thimbleanna: Trinket

I’m hoping to do a little hiking later this summer, and I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to travel as lightly as possible when hiking.  I used to take plenty of food and my big camera and just too much stuff.  Not anymore.  Now it will be lots of water, a little lunch and my iphone for pictures (ha, if I can stand not having the big camera with me).  Anyway, we only have bigger backpacks and that just adds unnecessary weight, so I decided to make a few little drawstring backpacks to replace the regular backpacks.  Trinket arrived just in time!

Thimbleanna: Drawstring Backpack

Thimbleanna: Drawstring Backpack

I didn’t really follow any one pattern.  If you google “drawstring backpack” you will find lots of information out there.  I got basic dimensions and then just did my own thing.  I have a ton of old jeans that I’ve saved for recycle sewing, and I was happy to finally be able to use them.  It was fun to even use a few of the belt loops for the drawstring loops at the bottom of the little bags.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the denim with these trinket prints.

Thimbleanna: Drawstring Backpack

But I think my favorite part was adding just a teeny bit of embroidery to the denim.  I took the “5 (where’s the cent mark on my keypad?)” from the whistle print, but I had to think a minute about what to put on the telephone print.  Then it was obvious.  Hello???  Very Fun.

Thimbleanna: Drawstring Backpack

Hopefully these little packs will do the trick. It’s a lot easier to climb a mountain if you don’t have a lot of weight on your back! ;-D

Ok — I’m off to work — have a great week!
XOXO,
Anna

23 thoughts on “Drawstring Backpacks”

  1. I’m completely with you regarding backpacks or even hand bags. Mine have become smaller and smaller over the years as I just don’t want to lug all that unnecessary stuff around with me anymore. Love your new back pack; they look perfect for a hike and even for a shopping spree ;)! Have a great week too.

  2. those look cute. I do a lot of hiking when we travel but because we go to the mountains where weather can change on a dime I have to bring a little more with me – layer your clothing -which means when you start to strip off you have to tuck them someplace. I found the smallest knapsack I could and still be able to roll up a jacket to tuck in, plus the extra water bottle, the snacks etc. and a small first aide kit. I carry the iphone in my pocket the camera on a loop hooked on the pack – it all weighs a little more than I would like but I have to have it comfortable on my shoulders and your thin cords would cut into my bony shoulders. Do you know where you are going hiking? have fun!!

  3. clever – very clever – to put the jeans on the bottom (bottom – ha ha ha) and the loops are even more so…

    those rotary dial phones are awesome – Life was so much more fun when it took forever for the dial to return before the next number could be wound round, and having those few extra seconds to change my mind without leaving a trace probably saved a lot of Hot Temoered Retorts…

  4. Darling. Love the fabric and the sweet touch of embroidery. C + S fabric always takes me back to childhood. I still remember going to Grandma’s house and calling friends to see if we can come over to visit. Phone number LU76067. LOL And we had to call the operator to make a long distance call and wait for it to be connected. That was big stuff doing that for the first time as a kid.

  5. These are so cute! I maybe inspired to make a few for Christmas gifts. And you are making me wish for an Embrodiery machine too.

  6. ADORABLE!!! I love these! You are so clever – and such a beautiful, creative sewer. You will be the envy of the other hikers you meet. I have to agree that the rotary dial phones had advantages – no worries about butt dialing someone. Happy hiking and adventures!

  7. I meant: don’t go up Ben Nevis just with one of those. Obviously, taking two of them (as I seem to be suggesting in my previous comment) wouldn’t really be all that much better. (Think before you hit “post”, Pamela.)

  8. I love them! You know, the first real machine-sewing project I ever did was a bag like this. In seventh grade “career-tech” class (what used to be called home ec), we were learning to use the machine. I already knew enough about it that my teacher suggested I try something more complex than the pillows my classmates were making. We were all working from pre-made kits, so she showed me the catalog she ordered them from and suggested the bag. I think the kit was $7 and came with the fabric, thread and drawstring. I chose pink. I loved that bag and I used it for years, to go swimming, for sleepovers, etc. I wish I still had it, actually. Your bags will be well-loved, I am sure!

  9. They both look fab, Anna. Love the wee bit embroidery on each one. I don’t know if your keyboard is the same as mine (mine’s a Mac) but my ¢ is alt and 4 pressed at the same time.

  10. Oh, I really like your back packs! Especially like the denim with the new fabric and the belt loop details for the cord. Smartie you!

  11. you are so clever. I hope you have a little time when you come out and you are not hiking. Maybe we could babysit together one night and knit. I picked up some Quiviut in Alaska that is amazing.

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