***This 1 of 2 posts today. For the Lawn Fawn May Inspiration Week Milk Carton blog post and video, click HERE. ***
Happy Saturday friends!
I was so excited to see the fabulous Military Max Fabric Collection by Bella Blvd for Riley Blake Designs. Sometimes it can be tricky to find great fabrics for those older boys in our lives and this collection works for every age guy! My 9 year old was so taken with the army men and skull and crossbones patterns in this collection that I sewed him up a quilt and drawstring backpack.
I used the Cluck Cluck Sew Tango Pattern for my quilt (throw size: 56" x 70") and it was super simple to put together. I cut all my fabric one afternoon, sewed up all the blocks another day and then put the whole thing together in another! I love the random block placement as well as the assortment of different block styles.
I used 16 - 1/4" yard prints and solids from the Military Max Collection, mixing in some black/white prints from older Riley Blake Bella Blvd Collections Puppy Park and Too Cute To Spook for a bit more variety (these are both out of print but you could mix in any other black/white prints you have on hand). The back of the quilt is the Military Plaid Gray and I bound the quilt with the Military Camo Black.
A couple of years ago I shared THESE drawstring backpacks I made for my two youngest. My youngest son felt like his “babyish” drawstring bag needed an update so I sewed up this quick bag with the awesome black/gray Military Max cottons and he couldn’t be happier. Win!
What You Need To Make This Drawstring Backpack:
- 14.5” x 12.5” cotton (bottom front and back, outer bag)
- 14.5” x 4.5” cotton (top front and back, outer bag)
- 14.5” x 16.5” cotton (lining of bag, x2)
- 14” x 2” cotton (tunnels for drawstrings, x2)
- approx. 6” twill tape
- 14.5” x 16.5” fusible interfacing x 2 (optional, but it helps make the bag sturdier)
- cording, ribbon, etc. to use for drawstrings
1/4” seam allowance.
Place the 14.5” x 4.5” piece of fabric (Military Camo Black) on top of the 14.5” x 12.5” piece of fabric (Military Skulls Black), right sides together and sew together to make the front of the bag. Repeat for the back of the bag. Iron the seam down.
*Iron fusible interfacing to the back of each of the front panels of the bag to create a sturdier bag.
Top stitch 1/4” from where the two fabrics meet on the front and back panels for a nice finished look.
On the 14” x 2” tunnel strips, iron in approximately 1/4” on each short side and stitch in place. Fold each strip in half lengthwise and iron. Do this for each tunnel.
Line the raw edges of the tunnel up with the raw edge of the front of the bag. Pin and machine baste in place. Repeat for the back of the bag. We will secure the tunnels to the bag a bit later.
On the bottom corners of the bag, trim a 1.5” square from each corner. Fold twill tape in half and pin about 3/4” to 1” above trimmed corners. Pin the loops to the bag.
Pin the front panel to the back panel of the bag, right sides together and sew each side and the bottom of the bag. Leave the corners unstitched.
Pinch the corners of the bottom of the bag together, lining up the seams and pin together. Stitch to secure. Do this for both bottom corners of the bag.
For the lining, put the two pieces of lining fabric right sides together and trim trim a 1.5” square from each bottom corner. Sew each side and the bottom of the bag, leaving a bit of an opening in the bottom for turning the back right side out. Pinch the corners of the bottom of the bag together, lining up the seams and pin together. Stitch to secure. Do this for both bottom corners of the bag.
Place the lining inside the outer bag, right sides together, and pin all the way around, making sure the seams line up, and stitch.
Put your hand inside the bag and pull bag right side out through the opening in the lining.
Stitch the opening in the lining shut and stuff lining down inside the bag.
Take cording or ribbon and place a safety pin through one end. Thread one piece of cording through the right tunnel of the bag, ending on the right side through the other side of the bag. Thread the other piece through the left tunnel of the bag, ending on the left side of the bag.
Put one piece of the string through the loop on the side of the bag and knot. Repeat on the other side.
*Riley Blake Designs Bella Blvd Too Cute Too Spook (white with black polka dots)
*Riley Blake Designs Bella Blvd Puppy Park (black/white crosshatch)
