Bunny drawstring backpack
This bunny backpack is so cute, once you have made one, you’ll have many requests for more. With its ears, paws and a big fluffy tail, it really looks like a bunny riding on your back!
Materials
- 40cm of 1.15m or 1.5m width medium weight fabric – you can use linen mixes, cotton duck, drill or light denim*
- 40cm of 1.15m or 1.5m width cotton fabric for lining the inside of the bag, inside of the ears and paw pads – we used a pretty floral print*
- Small piece of double-sided fusible interfacing (DSF)
- 5m cord, macrame cord or draw string tubing for draw strings
- Matching thread
- Handful of stuffing
- Faux fur pom-pom
- 2 x D-rings - ½”/1.5cm wide
- Sticky tape or glue stick
Sewing patterns (download using the button below)
Equipment
- General sewing machine supplies – needles, thread etc
- Iron
- Sewing machine with sewing foot and free motion foot
- Bodkin
- Tailor’s chalk/water-soluble pen
- Hand sewing needle and thread
- Scissors and snips
* Tip: you could use old clothes to cut these pieces - print the pattern pieces and fit them on the flat parts. Old jeans are very suitable for this project.
How to
Step 1
Watch the full video here before starting your project.Step 2
Step 3
Cut out all your fabric pieces as indicated below.
Step 4 - assembling the paws
Step 4a
Take the paw paper pattern piece and cut on the dotted line, so you only have the cutting line and the seam allowance left.Place the cut pattern piece on the paw and trace on the inside to draw the sewing line.
Step 4b
Using the paper paw patterns, trace paw pads onto the paper side of your double-sided fusible interfacing. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric you’re using for the paw pads.Step 4c
Cut following the lines you have traced. Peel the interfacing paper off and fuse in place on the paw pieces of fabric. Use the placements on the paw pattern piece as a guide.Step 4d
With matching colour thread, use your sewing machine to sew free motion around each pad to secure.Step 4e
Place front and back of paws together, right sides facing. Pin, and sew all around with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Follow the sewing line you traced earlier.Tip: doing this with free motion sewing is much easier than navigating these small curves with a normal foot.
Step 4f
Trim your seam allowances away, and clip between the toes.Step 4g
Turn out and add a small amount of stuffing. Push the stuffing into the toes.Step 4h
Pin the raw edges and baste across on the stitching line (1.5cm from the edge).
Step 5 - bunny ears
The outer ear is slightly larger than the inner ear, resulting in a little of the outer ear showing around the ear. Make two ears, using the instructions below for both.
Step 5a
Transfer the dots at the top of the ear and the ear lining to the fabric.Step 5b
With right sides facing, match and pin the dots, then pin the one side of the inner ear to the outer ear.Step 5c
Use your sewing machine to sew from the dot to the base of the ear and tie off.Step 5d
Match the edges on the other side, sew from dot to base, tie off.Step 5e
Trim all around and turn out. Poke the tip out with a point turner.Step 5f
Position the lining in the centre so an equal amount of the outer ear fabric is showing on all sides. Press.Step 5g
Fold a tuck into base of ear and pin.
Step 6 - top drawstring channel
Make two using the instructions below for both.
Step 6a
Fold and press the short ends of the channel pieces on the folding line. Sew in place with a zig zag stitch, simultaneously finishing off the raw edge and securing. Step 6b
Fold double lengthways and press.
Step 7 - assemble the bag
Step 7a
Make sure you have the placement marks for the paws, ears and second drawstring channel transferred to the bag fabric before removing the pattern pieces.Transfer the marks for the drawstring channel to the wrong side of the main bag fabric too.
Step 7b
With a water-soluble or heat erasable pen, draw a line across the right side of each bag piece, connecting the second channel marks.
Step 7c
Pin the paws in place (check the marks on the bag pattern). Step 7d
Pin the ears and top channels in place – match to the markers and to the edge of the sewing pattern.Step 7e
Tack all in place.
Step 7f
Place the second bag piece over, right sides of bag pieces facing and match edges.
Step 7g
Sew all around, leaving gaps between the dots for the second channel. Make sure to tie off on both sides of the channel opening.Step 7h
Press the seam open all around.Step 7i
Assemble the lining of the bag. Place lining pieces together with right sides facing. Pin and sew all around, leaving opening in one side as shown on the sewing pattern.
Step 7j
Press the seams open all the way around.Step 7k
Turn the outer bag so that the right sides are facing out.
Step 7l
Push the main bag into the lining bag, align and pin top of bag and lining together. Sew all around and trim the seam.
Step 7m
Turn the bag out through the opening in lining.Hand sew the opening in lining closed.
Step 7n
Push the lining all the way to the bottom of the bag.Smooth the sides of the bag and lining, matching seams up to the openings left in the bag sides.
Step 7o
Pin above and below. Pin a few places through outer and lining.
Step 7p
Remove the accessories unit of your sewing machine, exposing the free arm. Place the bag around the free arm and sew through the lining and outer bag on the lines you have marked.This will form the second channel, creating the bunny’s head.
Step 8 - attaching the D-rings
Step 8a
Fold strip double lengthways. Sew ¼” (7mm) seam.
Step 8b
Turn tube out and press. Cut in half to form two tabs.
Step 8c
Thread the tab through the D-ring and fold the wrong sides together. Slide the side facing up back 1cm and pin in place. Sew this end in place. Tip: watch the video to see how this is done.
Step 8d
Pin onto bag (check the position against the sewing pattern).Step 8e
Triple sew (sew across, reverse and sew again) just next to where the double layer starts.
Step 8f
Fold the loop up, covering the previous stitching and the raw edge. Triple sew just above the D-ring.
Step 9 - insert the drawstrings
Step 9a
Cut the cord into two pieces of 1.5m and two pieces of 1m each.Step 9b
Using a bodkin, thread the longer two pieces of cord into the top channel from each side. Do not tie the ends just yet.Thread the shorter pieces through the second channel from each side and tie the ends.
Step 9c
Knot the ends of the longer drawstring (the one in the top channel) and tie them together through the D-ring, adjusting the length to suit the owner of the bag.Step 10 - add the bunny tail
Sew the pom pom securely in place.
If you like bunnies, why not use your ScanNCut and sewing machine to make this Bunny Easter Egg Hunt Bag, or cut a cute Spring Garland? For more hints, tips and projects direct to your inbox, why not sign up to our newsletter? Sign up here.
