It's almost back to school time, save money and send your child back with style when you design and sew a custom backpack. DIY backpacks aren't easy but are rewarding and allow you to tailor the bag to your personal needs and choose your fabric. This process will require drawing your design, editing a pattern, and adding foam support structures. This task isn't for an amateur seamstress. This project will take an advanced level of sewing skills. The cool thing about creating your backpack is that you can always make additions and changes.

What you will need to Make your own backpack

I recommend an industrial walking foot sewing machine Like the Juki sewing machines industrial at Goldstar global for straight stitching.

Materials

For backpack:

2 yards of fabric

Ripstop nylon fabric (2 yards)

Nylon webbing 1"(with reflector strips) (4 yards)

2" Seatbelt webbing (1 yard)

1" Webbing binding tape, a sports mesh fabric (.5 yards)

1/8" Closed cell Volara foam (.5 yards)

1" Aluminum cam buckles (x2)

2" Quick-release buckle (x1)

1.25" D-rings (x2)

2" Velcro (5")

12" Zipper (x1)

Following are the steps you will need to take to create the perfect DIY backpack:

Step 1: Creating Your Design

Step 2: Edit pattern and Cutting Fabric

Step 3: Sewing Pockets-Use your Juki sewing machines

Step 4: Preparing the Side and Bottom Pieces

Step 5: Sewing the Straps

Step 6: Creating the Back Padding

Step 7: Adding the Zipper Pocket

Step 8: Basting Together the Front, Back, Sides, and Bottom Pieces

Step 9: Binding the Outer Raw Edges/finishing touches