I’m beyond thrilled to have my newest pattern, the Range Backpack, available today! This backpack has been so fun to make and plan and add details to. This is my first backpack design and I’m so excited. I’ve worked really hard on the design elements of this backpack so it can function the best it possibly can while still able to look great and be fun to sew.
It’s felt especially busy (oh summer, what can I say?) behind the scenes doing pattern writing, test sewing, and group test sewing. It’s been so much fun though, and has been super hard to keep secret!
I think you’re going to love this backpack! It’s so nice to be hands free while running errands, it’s perfect for biking (I’ve test ridden with mine many times), and my girls are already asking for one of their own. I really am excited to take mine on our family vacation, too! Here’s a few key features of the Range Backpack:
- foldover top with closure
- front exterior zippered pocket
- adjustable straps
- interior slip pocket
- hang loop
I’ve incorporated options for using several different fabric types. I prefer waxed canvas or cotton canvas (prints or solids), but cork looks amazing and I’ve added a lot of notes about using quilting cotton for the exterior fabric requirement. I know it’s fun to be able to pull right from your stash and get sewing, so I think you’ll love having these options.
Also, something new I’m trying is having a dedicated page on my website to just the Range Backpack pattern. It’s going to be a great resource for inspiration, fabrics, hardware, and more. I always love being able to share creative changes to my patterns, so it’ll be a great place to share in a different way that I can traditionally in a pattern. It’s a living breathing page that I can add more information to and have it be a great resource for makers.
Lastly, I have hardware kits available in Antique Brass and Nickel that include a piece of leather for the hang loop which I think is a really nice design element. Pick one up if you don’t have the hardware on hand already.
So please stop by my shop to pick up your copy of the Range Backpack pattern if it’s something that speaks to you. I’ve really enjoyed designing it and using mine. Have a great week!
A huge thank you to my cousin’s beautiful daughters for modeling! 
What a beauty! I really want one. I just don’t think I have the confidence to make it …
Thanks Liz! Well, I definitely understand that. Maybe start with something simpler like my Wool + Wax Tote and go from there? 🙂
Lovely design Anna, clean, crisp and super functional!
Love it!
Love the resource page, such a great idea! The one with the dots turned out so cute!!
Thanks so much Jeni!!! 🙂 And a huge thanks for your help, too!
Love the bag. Would you consider adding the zipper to the hardware kit too?
Thanks Jess! Maybe? Shoot me an email and we can figure something out for now. 🙂
Just sent you an email. ?
This is one backpack that I’d love to sew. Love the design!
I love this, Anna! I got a custom Timbuk2 for Christmas, but I may have to make this one, too!
You’ve done it again. I’m already making my christmas gifts from Noodlehead patterns. Now I have to figure out who’s getting this backpack.
That’s so awesome Monica! Well, whoever gets one made by you will love it for sure.
Finally! I love your design aesthetic and have always hoped that you would design a backpack. I use backpacks more than bags and I can’t wait to make this.
Love this, Anna. I am so excited! Just cut out and sewed four wool and canvas totes and I have extra waxed canvas to use! Wahoo!
I was thinking about buying a backpack or making one, as I will have to take public transportation to get to my teaching job.
Is it big enough to carry a laptop, a binder and a textbook around?
Yes! A small laptop I’m guessing. It fits a 1.5″ 3-ring binder and spiral notebooks, etc.
Love this pattern and am already planning! If I were going to wax canvas myself, would you recommend waxing before or after sewing the backpack together?
I think it can be done either way? I prefer purchasing the waxed canvas, so I might lean towards waxing the canvas first?
I always struggle with where to find the cute fabric that I see on the projects I fall in love with. I live in a rural area so I need to order everything. Can you give some hints on the brands of fabric you like and where you buy them? My daughter is very excited about this backpack.
They’re all linked in the pattern. 🙂 plus the Range Backpack page that’s linked here in the post has a ton of links and shopping suggestions.
THIS closed to making the wax and wool bag and then you previewed this. Can’t wait! I also second the idea to add zippers to the hardware kit. 🙂
This is soooo great, Anna! I love all of the samples, and your resource page is super helpful! Can’t wait to make one!!
Thank you so much Laurel! I’m so glad you like the resource page. I’m excited to add more to it! 🙂
I’m making ME one of these for Christmas!! My sisters will just have to wait until their 2018 birthdays. (My younger sis is already getting a Maker’s Tote for her upcoming birthday….)
yessss! so excited for you. hehe, yep, they can wait. 🙂
Congratulations Anna ??You have done it again, another amazing bag pattern.
Anna this pattern is awesome and I have purchased it already….a no-brainer decision for sure! LOL Could you tell me how soft/thin the leather strap is to sew through that you are offering? I was just curious how hard it was for a machine to sew through all those layers….for example, would you not recommend it without the use of an industrial machine? Thank you!!
Thanks Melissa! It’s the same leather from my shop (the leather handles), the black and brown are a 3/4 oz. weight which is thinner than the natural color. With all my testers no one had an industrial machine (one featherweight even) and no one had issues sewing through the leather. 🙂 Just go slow and use the suggested needle (either a denim or microtex size 14 or 16).
I love this backpack! Your designs are always great but this one is over the top. Great job!
I am going to try and put a zipper at the top where the fold is rather than have a buckle. I don’t think my 8 year old can handle a buckle but a zipper might be doable!
Hey! I can’t wait to make this! Where can I find the zipper?
Thanks Michele, I have clickable links for the shops at the bottom of page 2 of the PDF. 🙂 The samples I used all zips from Zipit on etsy.
I just finished making my first one and I LOVE IT! Super light weight, functional and CUTE! It is so hard to find a cute backpack pre-made and I had been toying with the idea of making one for a while but never found anything quite right but this pattern was exactly what I was looking for. I am excited to make a few more soon!
These look outstanding – I’m showing my daughters these.
Was so happy I could be in the test sew group. I got mine done in about five hours. I use it all the time and get tons of compliments on the backpack! Love it! Thanks Anna!!!
Thanks so much Colleen! So lucky to have had you help out with testing. 🙂
I love all color.been wanted to do similar for weeks
Love your designs!! I can’t wait to try this. Where did you get your lovely fabrics?
Hi, I bought the pattern a few weeks ago and today I tried buyig the supplies, but I couldn’t find waxed canvas here. I bought furniture fabric for the main exterior of the bag and outdoor furniture waterproof fabric for the bottom exterior. Do you think I should use interfacing for the exterior? Or would it make the bag too stiff?
I forgot to add, the weight for the fabrics is 7.75 oz. What is the weight of the recommended waxed canvas?
I would treat it as if it were regular canvas (so follow those instructions/interfacing suggestions, although with a waterproof fabric you probably won’t be able to fuse interfacing to it, so use a sew-in interfacing that’s comparable to Pellon 809 which is what I recommend when using regular canvas).
Thank you! I will follow the instructions for canvas, then.
Feel free to email me (through my contact page) if you have additional questions. Thank you! 🙂
This looks amazing! What a gorgeous bag. I want to start making it right now. 😀
I just returned from a trip and realized that I would like at better carry-on. This pattern almost fits the bill. I would like a bag that converts between a backpack and cross body or shoulder bag. I love the look of this bag and think I can see how I could modify the straps to make it convertible. Any thoughts?
where can i get the pattern. Its beautifull
Thanks Monique! If you click on any of the Range Backpack links in the post it’ll take you to the backpack shop listing. Otherwise at the top of my website follow the shop link. 🙂
Please help me understand why my straps measure 1.5″ wide and the hardware calls for 1″ strap slider?
Hi Colleen,
Please accept my apologies, there was a typo in the very first printing of the paper pattern only. You can read the update on my Errata page here: https://blog.noodle-head.com/shop/errata
I did my absolute best to contact every shop that had purchased those first patterns. Send me an email if you have further questions. Thank you!
I love the look of this backpack! Is there an option to pad the straps at all? I’d like to make sure it’s comfortable for my daughter to carry even when carrying several textbook in high school.
Thanks Sarah. You definitely could add padding to the straps. I’d slip a layer or batting or fusible fleece in the strap before topstitching. 🙂
Thanks! I’ll do that!
I ordered the ranger backpack but was did not receive an email with a PDF attachment.
Thanks Belva, I’ve sent you an email with the pattern. 🙂
Hello Anna, this is a beautiful piece- I am considering buying the pattern- but was wondering: (if I make the top part a little longer) I could use it as a rolltop backpack, right? I am just asking cause from the photos I have a hard time figuring out the way the bag closes. I would love to hear back from you on this, beautiful fabric is laying around waiting to get used for this! Thanks!!
Hi Andrea,
It’s a fold over top (no closure besides the d-ring closure on the outside), so yes, definitely easy to add a few inches to make it a roll top. 🙂