Walkabout Corduroy Backpack FREE Sewing Pattern and Tutorial

There are a lot of great features on this backpack – from the wraparound zipper to the adjustable shoulder straps to the six handy pockets (front, back, both sides panels plus two inside). But don’t let any of that scare you away! Our signature step-by-step instructions and photos take you through each section in detail. Slip it on your back, sling it over one shoulder, or grab the handles and go.

Sewing tools you need:

Sewing machine and standard presser foot
Zipper foot; optional for zipper insertion
Quarter Inch Seam foot; optional for zipper topstitching
Walking or Even Feed foot; optional but helpful for thicker layers – or use your machine’s built-in fabric feeding system, such as the Janome AcuFeed Flex™ system
Hump jumper; optional but helpful for stitching across the particular thick layers at the pocket tops

Fabric and Other Supplies:

¾ yard of 54″+ wide wide-wale corduroy or similar for the exterior body and pockets
1⅓ yards of 44″+ wide quilting weight cotton for the lining
⅜ yard of 44″+ wide quilting weight cotton for the interior binding of the seam allowance: optional
1½ yards of 45″+ wide fusible fleece
1½ yards of 45″+ wide mid-weight fusible interfacing
ONE 22” zipper
3¾ yards (two 2-yard packages) of 1½” Belting/Strapping
TWO 1½” Adjustable Slide Buckles
TWO 1½” Rectangle Rings
TWO Heavy Duty Snap Fasteners
Heavy Duty Snap Fastener Setting Tools
All purpose thread to match fabrics and belting
See-through ruler
Fabric pen or pencil
Seam gauge
Seam ripper
Scissors
Rotary cutter and mat
Iron and ironing board
Straight pins
Small hammer to set snaps
Heavy metal, stone or wooden block to use as a hammering surface for setting the snaps