Mini Tim Burton Character backpack - Penelope backpack pattern from All Sew Petite

 Mini Tim Burton Character backpack - Penelope backpack pattern from All Sew Petite

Whatabout ye folks, it's Lee here.  Long time no see!  I am sharing a cute little make with you today from a pattern made by Monika at All Sew Petite called the Penelope backpack.  This is such a cute wee bag and was very easy to make, especially since Monika kindly shows you step by step in her video tutorial for it.  And as a visual learner, the videos are definitely my preferred method of making patterns.  

Now, my poor wee Janome QXL605 sewing machine did struggle a wee bit with the top stitching at the very end (why is it always at the end when the struggles begin??)......but she still managed it ok with a bit of hand cranking from me.  But that wasn't the patterns fault, it was more to do with the fabrics and interfacing I used.  I'm eagerly awaiting the day that I have saved up the funds to get myself the Janome HD9........someday HD9....you will be mine.  Unless....Janome....if you are out there and listening to little old Crafty Loops and want someone to advertise the HD9 for you, I will gladly take one off your hands to demonstrate it for you, lol.  Who am I kidding....gotta keep saving those pennies....**sigh**

You might recognise this fabric as I used it to make the boronia bag, here.  I LOVE this fabric and the bag I made with it.  I use that bag all the time and when my almost 9 year old wee niece saw it, she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  She is a massive Tim Burton fan like most of us in my family.  She was fascinated with the fabric.  So, I decided that I had to make her a bag with the same fabric.  I will leave the shopping list at the end of this post so you can buy the same items if you wish.  As this fabric was a polycotton, I wasn't confident that it would be strong enough to withhold the wear and tear of a 9 year old's backpack, so I wanted to protect the fabric.  I used 2 layers of Odicoat to protect the fabric.  This makes it water resistant and gives the fabric a more structured feel to it too.  Although, I did forget that my sewing machine isn't the biggest fan of sewing through fabric with Odicoat on it, so I did have to use my Teflon foot on the machine to help it along.  But Odicoat is great for giving your fabric a bit more structure and a water resistant coating so I do recommend it.  It's just a bit of a process to apply it and the initial smell is not the nicest so make sure you are in a well ventilated room when you are applying it.  As soon as the product dries or you run a dry, hot iron over it (use a pressing cloth so the coating has no chance of getting onto your iron), the smell disappears immediately.  So don't worry about the smell hanging around on your fabric because it does go away.  However, if you are really concerned about it, just stick it on your washing line to air for a while.  But as someone with an incredible sense of smell, it really does go away once dry, particularly when ironed.  So don't worry about using it.  It's a great product.

How amazing is the zipper tape?  It's perfect for this bag and the black & white stripes go perfectly with Beetlejuice's black & white striped suit.  I couldn't have found a more perfect zipper tape.  I used it on the front double sided pocket and used it on the 3 zips on the inside too.  I love it.  The double sided pocket on the front is one large pocket that opens on either side.  Plenty of room to keep items safe.  I also love the gunmetal lock too.  It was a perfect little touch for a Tim Burton fan.

For the grab handle and backpack straps, I really wanted to use this fabulous grosgrain ribbon.  But I knew that grosgrain ribbon wouldn't be substantial or strong enough to work as straps.  But I also realised that if I used nylon strapping and added the grosgrain to it, it would make the straps way too bulky and they'd probably be too thick to work correctly with the hardware.  I want the straps to be easily adjusted and not be a struggle for a 9 year old to work.  So, I had some cotton webbing which is much softer.  I would usually use it for a tote bag strap, but wouldn't normally use it as a backpack strap on its own as I feel it's too soft and not rigid enough.  However, by sewing the grosgrain ribbon onto the cotton fabric, this made both substrates strong and rigid enough to use as a strap.  And it looks awesome with Beetlejuice & Lydia on the strap instead of just a boring, plain, old black strap.   

This faux leather wasn't my first choice.  I was hoping I had a black & white chequered faux fabric to mirror the floor pattern in the Netherworld in Beetlejuice but sadly, I didn't have any.  And I didn't have time to wait to have some delivered, even if I was able to find that pattern in faux leather.  However, I did have this black & white houndstooth one and although it wasn't exactly what I would have preferred, I think it still worked for this bag.  The side of the bag is sort of pulled in at the top to give it this great shape.  Believe it or not, this shape is created by a simple little Chicago screw on the inside.  You could also use a rivet but I just felt that as there was only one small bit of hardware holding the entire side of this side panels pull-in, I felt that a rivet might not be strong enough and could pop out with wear and tear and constant use of the bag.  Chicago screws, in my opinion, are stronger as they are essentially screws and not just pressed into the other side.  So, I feel that they will be much stronger over time.  And if it does pop off over time, it's extremely easy to put it back in as it just screws together.

Now look at all that real estate on the back there....isn't that just screaming out for a pocket to be added?  I deviated a wee bit from the pattern and added a slip pocket with magnetic closure on the back of the backpack.  But I pattern matched it pretty seamlessly so the slip pocket is essentially hidden on the back.  A magnetic closure also keeps it securely closed too.  I must say, I was very pleased at my pattern matching and how you can't even tell that there is a secret pocket on the back.  Perfect for hiding your phone in as it will be well hidden and against your back when being carried.

Of course, I had to use and black & white striped fabric for the inside of the bag.  Beetlejuice would be proud.  This is just a polycotton so I did interface it with an iron-on cotton woven interfacing.  I do love the woven interfacing.  But if you wanted a water resistance fabric for the inside, it works great for bags and you also don't have to interface it at all.  So that will save on money too.  But this fabric was just too perfect not to use.  So, the woven interfacing gave it the extra body and stability it needed for the inside.  

As I said, this wee backpack is packed full of storage.  It is divided into 3 compartments.  The centre with a great, secure zipper pocket and then on either side I added a zipper pocket.  Now, on the pattern, Monika adds a pocket onto the back only.  But again, I wanted there to be plenty of storage in this bag, so I did add another zipper pocket to the opposite side too.

Sorry for the dodgy photo here but it's a screen shot from a video that I took; but I wanted a close up of the grosgrain ribbon on the straps.  Do you recognise the image?  Aren't those images from the cartoon of Beetlejuice from the late 1980's to early 1990's?  Does anyone remember that cartoon?  My wee sister (the Mother of my niece.....ahhhhhhh) used to love watching that cartoon every weekend.  OMG I just realised that she wasn't even born when it first came out!  She was just about born when it ended, lol. Dear me, my wee baby sister has a 9 year old daughter!  How did this happen. Oh my giddy aunt, I'm getting old, teehee.  

There is a dodgy photo of the other zipper pocket on the front inside pocket of the bag.  I used the same faux leather from the sides to make the zip pocket overlays.  And again, I used the same zips too.  Although, Monika did say to use a No. 3 zip for the inside pockets but although the no. 5 zips are a wee bit bigger by 1/4 of an inch, I made them work perfectly fine.  

And in case you needed to see how the front pocket works.....here is my hand demonstrating.....how....the.....pocket.....works!  **FACE PALM**  teehee

And a little over the top view of the inside of the bag.  The top right lining might look like it's not attached to the bag properly but trust me, it is attached.  But this was the part of the bag that my poor wee Janome struggled with the most.  There is quite a bit of bulk at the front top of the bag so when I was adding the lining to the bag, I had to sew it a little lower than I would have liked.  Now as I previously said, it wasn't an issue with the pattern.  I added a little too much interfacing and forgot to cut it out of the seam allowance at this section.  So this was completely on me.  Mind you, if I had my dream sewing machine, the Janome HD9 would have glided through it like a hot knife through butter.  But alas, my pennies are nowhere near the hefty price tag of £1300 yet!!!  I was hoping the price might drop this year....but NOPE.  I don't think the Janome HD9 will ever be on sale.  Boohoo!

And of course, a front photo is never enough, you must always get the off centre pose too, lol.

And another side view

Another deviation from the pattern is that I added metal purse feet to the bag.  You can barely see them there as they are gunmetal in colour and blend perfectly into the faux leather.  But as it's a backpack for a child, I'm sure it'll be chucked onto the floor when Lexi heads off to play.  So a little extra protection on the bottom of the backpack can only be an added bonus.  I also added a gunmetal handmade tag.  I wanted it to also blend into the fabric, hence the colour.  

And would it be a bag share without a photo of it hanging from my washing line?  Of course not.  So as not to disappoint, here it is, the Penelope backpack, hanging on my washing line, teehee.  

I did say that this bag was for my wee Niece, Lexi-Morgan.  However, my sister had told me that, you know.....as the Mother, she will gladly take it off her daughter's hands so she can go play etc.......wouldn't want it being too much for her to carry.  So being the good Mother, T will gladly use it....oops, I mean, carry it on Lexi-Morgan's behalf, lol.  Yep, we all know that poor Lexi won't get to use it for long, lol.  I'm also pretty chuffed to say that my sister was at a fun fair with Lexi, you know......holding the bag for her of course and a lady approached her and told her she had been staring at the bag for ages and had to ask where she got it from.  My sister said she was all proud to say that her big sister made it.  The lady didn't believe her.  So T showed her the inside where I had my wee label and showed her all the ins and outs of it, lol.  It always makes me blush a wee bit when someone compliments something that I have made.  Particularly when they don't believe that it's handmade.  

And that's it from me folks.  I hope you are all well.  Tell me, all the folks from the UK & Ireland; are you all loving this absolutely stunning start to April we are having?  We've had so much sunshine that I am wondering if I even live in Northern Ireland at all.  And after one of the darkest Winters that I ever remember having, a bit of sunshine is a well needed change.  It's amazing how some sunshine can lighten the mood (excuse the pun).  Ok, I'm definitely away this time.  Sorry it was a long one.  The shopping list of items I used is below for you.

Toodles Noodles.....Lee aka Crafty Loops xx

SHOPPING LIST

At the time of typing, the items I linked to are available.  However, items stock changes all the time and with time marching by, some items I link may no longer be available from that particular seller.  However, a quick Google search should help you out if my links are no longer working/available.  Also, just to be clear, NONE of these links are sponsored or affiliate links.  I will always tell you if they are.  But none of these are and I haven't been asked to share them.  I just think it's nice to share where I get the items I create with.

Penelope backpack pattern - Oh Sew petite

Self adhesive interfacing - Interfacing Temu 

Woven cotton interfacing (similar to SF101) - Ebay 

Bag lock - Lock Temu

Gunmetal Chicago screws - Screws Temu 

Gunmetal handmade tag - Tags Temu 

Black & white houndstooth faux leather, Temu - Faux leather 

Gunmetal metal purse feet - Purse feet Temu 

No. 5 Black & white striped zipper tape & pull Zipper, Temu 

Beetlejuice grosgrain ribbon - Ribbon, Ebay

Black & white poly cotton fabric - Stripe fabric, Ebay

Tim Burton character fabric - Character Fabric, Ebay

Cotton webbing for straps no longer available from the seller I bought it from but if you search for 25mm cotton webbing on eBay hopefully you'll find some.

Magnetic closure, Temu

Odif, Odicoat - makes your fabric water resistant, Odicoat, Amazon

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