HARRY POTTER BACKPACK

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1 - Open all flat fats and iron.

Step 2 - Choose 1 x HP flat fat for the handle and straps.

Step 3 - For the padded handle, cut 1 piece 10cm x 28cm, fold in half lengthwise, then press under 1 cm hem on one long side.

Step 4 - Cut a piece of foam stabiliser measuring 2.5cm x 28cm and place it along the raw edge on the wrong side of the fabric handle. Fold the fabric and the foam over together, pin folded edge in place and topstitch both sides of the handle.

Step 5 - From the same fabric cut 4 strap pieces 7cm x 55cm.

Step 6 - Place 2 strap pieces, right sides together and stitch across short ends. Repeat for the other strap piece. Press seam open then fold strap in half lengthwise, right sides together.

Step 7 - Sew raw edges together, securing the ends.

Step 8 - Turn right side out, place the seam down the centre of the strap, and press.

Step 9 - Cut 2 pieces of heading tape 53cm long.

Step 10 - Attach a safety pin to one end of the tape and thread through the strap. Remove pin.

Step 11 - Tuck fabric ends in and topstitch around all edges of the strap. Repeat for the second strap.

Step 12 - Cut an 11cm piece from the end of each strap to make strap tabs.

Step 13 - Take 1 x 11cm piece and insert the finished end through the bottom of the strap adjuster. Fold the end over to meet tab and secure in place, stitching across the strap tab. Repeat for other strap tab.

Step 14 - Take a 2nd HP flat fat to make the bias binding. Trim the flat fat to make a 46cm square.

Step 15 - Fold in half diagonally, cut though the fold without moving the fabric. Using a rotary cutter, continue to cut strips 5.5cm wide on the bias until all fabric is used. Join the strips together in pairs, starting with the longest and the shortest.

Step 16 - Front flap: Cut 2 pieces of fabric measuring 18cm x 8cm from a 3rd HP flat fat, and 1 piece of the same size of foam stabiliser. Cut curves on the 2 bottom corners of each piece.

Step 17 - Place 1 piece of fabric face up on top of the foam and attach the top side of the magnetic clasp to the centre bottom. Do this 4cm down from the top edge, through the fabric and the foam, securing the clasp at the back of the foam.

Step 18 - Place the foam on the wrong side of the remaining piece of fabric and zig zag stitch around all edges through all layers.

Step 19 - Apply bias binding to the curved edge. Do not bind the top straight edge.

Step 20 - The front pocket is cut from a 4th HP flat fat and from the homespun. Cut 25cm x 26.5cm of each, and a corresponding piece of foam stabiliser.

Step 21 - Place the HP piece of fabric face up on the foam stabiliser and attach the second half of the magnetic clasp in the centre. Do this through the fabric and the foam, 2cm down from the top edge.

Step 22 - Place homespun on the foam side and zig zag stitch around all edges. Attach bias binding to the top edge of pocket.

Step 23 - The back zippered pocket is cut from the 3rd HP flat fat and from the homespun. Cut 26.5cm x 26.5cm of each, and a piece of foam stabiliser in the same size.

Step 24 - Place the HP piece of fabric face up on the foam stabiliser and the homespun underneath. Zig zag stitch around all edges. Cut the top section off, 4cm wide, and zig zag stitch the raw edges on both pieces.

Step 25 - Re-join the 2 sections by attaching the 30cm zip in between. Attach bias binding to the top edge of pocket.

Step 26 - The back and front sections are cut from the 5th HP flat fat and from the homespun. Cut 2 pieces HP fabric, 2 pieces homespun and 2 pieces of foam stabiliser to 32cm x 26.5cm.

Step 27 - Place one HP piece of fabric face up on the foam stabiliser and one piece of homespun underneath. Zig zag stitch around all edges. Repeat for the front section.

Step 28 - Centre front flap on top of front section, with magnetic clasp showing and bias edge along top raw edge. Sew across the raw edges to secure flap to front section.

Step 29 - Attach front pocket to the front section, along sides and bottom edges.

Step 30 - Attach back zipper pocket to the back section, sewing along the sides only, and leaving the top open.

Step 31 - Place the strap tabs, raw edges together, at the bottom of the back section, 2.5cm in from the sides, with the adjusters facing up towards the top edge. Pin in place. Stitch along raw edges at bottom.

Step 32 - Centre the handle on the back section, tucking the raw ends under the biased edge of the zippered pocket. Pin in place. Place one end of each strap under the biased edge and on either side of the handle. Pin in place.

Step 33 - Top stitch across the biased edge on both top and bottom edges.

Step 34 - The side strip is cut from the 6th HP flat fat. Cut 1 piece HP fabric, 1 piece homespun and 1 piece foam stabiliser to 12.5cm x 53cm.

Step 35 - Place HP piece of fabric face up on the foam stabiliser with homespun underneath. Zig zag stitch around all edges.

Step 36 - To shape the side strip, measure 14cm down from each end on both sides and draw a mark. Measure 1.5cm in from each corner and draw a line from this mark to the one 14cm down. Trim off these sections and zig zag stitch the raw edge.

Step 37 - The zipper strip is cut from the 4th HP flat fat. Cut 2 pieces HP fabric, 2 pieces homespun and 2 pieces foam stabiliser to 5cm x 53cm.

Step 38 - Place HP piece of fabric face up on the foam stabiliser with homespun underneath. Zig zag stitch around all edges. Repeat to make 2.

Step 39 - Join the 2 long strips together by sewing the 60cm zip down the centre.

Step 40 - To shape the zipper strip, measure 1.3cm in from each side in the middle of the strip. Draw a 5cm line and, at each end of this line, draw a line to the corner. Trim away and zig zag raw edges.

Step 41 - Cut 2 pieces of bias binding 10cm in length.

Step 42 - Fold one in half and place along short end of side strip (which is face up), raw edges together. Stitch in place. Repeat for the second piece of binding on the other end of the side strip.

Step 43 - Place the zipper strip face down on top of the side strip, short edges together, and stitch along both edges. Turn right side out and top stitch the bias binding in place.

Step 44 - To shape the top of both the front and back sections of the backpack, measure 2.5cm in from each side at the top and mark. Draw a line from this mark down the side to the outer bottom corner and trim. Gently round both top and bottom corners of the front and back sections. Zig zag raw edges.

Step 45 - To attach the zipper/side strip to the back section, mark the centre of the top and bottom edges of both pieces with a pin. With right sides together, match the centre of the zipper strip with the centre of the top of the back, match the bottom sections, pin all around edge and stitch in place.

Step 46 - Using the joined bias binding and starting at the centre bottom of the backpack, enclose the raw edges. (The second time round is tricky, so take your time or hand sew if you prefer.)

Step 47 - Make sure that the zipper is open and attach the front to the zipper/side strip in the same way.

Step 48 - Carefully turn the backpack right side out, gently pushing out the corners. Insert the loose ends of the strap into each strap adjuster as described on the packet.