Hey y’all! Today we are going to take a look at my most recent bag make, the Noodlehead Range Backpack! This is the second Noodlehead back I’ve made this year, a couple months ago I made the Makers Tote.
Way back in April of 2020 my quilt guild, the Houston MQG, was going to do a workshop to make the Range Backpack… well you can guess how that went. After years of delay, the workshop finally became a reality this past weekend.
Range Backpack Pattern
The pattern is available in print or PDF. I accidentally bought it twice because I didn’t check my PDFs before I bought it. 😅 It features a fold over top with closure, front exterior zippered pocket, adjustable straps, interior slip pocket, and a hang loop.
Fabric Options + Hacks
The pattern recommends you use Waxed canvas, cork fabric, cotton canvas, cotton/linen canvas, denim for exterior and contrast bottom fabrics. I did not do that. 😏 I pulled this darling Minnie Mouse fabric from my stash. It’s a bit of a canvas, but a very lightweight one almost like a twill. There’s a similar fabric on Etsy, but not exact since mine had been in my stash for several years.
To make up for using a lighter weight fabric, I interfaced all of my exterior pieces with fusible fleece. It ended up giving me a bag with a bit of structure but it’s still soft and fluffy.
Hardware Options & Changes
Another switch I made was to use a clasp and D ring closure instead of the double D ring closure method in the pattern instructions. To do this you simply need to shorten the lower closure strap. Folding & top stitch the lower closure as indicated in the instructions. Then, cut the lower closure to 4″ in length, slide the D ring onto the strap, and fold it in half. The you simply secure it into the seam, catching both raw edges instead of just the one.
My hardware is the matte black ByAnnie hardware and I ordered it from Fat Quarter Shop. The strapping I used is the new Tula Pink webbing by Renaissance Ribbons, also purchased via Fat Quarter Shop.
I didn’t change anything for the bag’s interior and made it as directed in the pattern. Again I pulled fabric from my stash using a couple of old polka dot prints to coordinate with the exterior. Since the fold over “closure” of the bag shows the lining, I wanted something that wouldn’t stand out or draw attention away from the exterior print.
The entire bag was constructed using Aurifil Forty3 thread, it’s a 40wt 3ply thread that works great for bag making and garment sewing. I did change to Aurifil 50wt thread when I needed to color match the yellow and black portions of the bag.
I am really looking forward to using this bag on an upcoming trip I have in November with my SIL. I’m joining her at a medical conference that just so happens to be at Disney World. So she’ll go learn how to continue being a badass Dr. and I’ll galivant around Disney. Sounds like a perfect plan right?
Have you made a pattern by Noodlehead?
