This Dragon Range Backpack was a fun step in a direction that I don’t typically gravitate to. As I got to cutting and sewing, I really enjoyed working with Sarah’s fabrics. There’s a beautiful amount of detail that goes into the prints she designs. They really shine when you get to see the finished product come to life!

Upcoming Fabrics

I made this Range Backpack as a sample for the Ruby Star Society lookbook for the upcoming Fireflow collection. It features the upcoming Speckle Canvas for the Contrast bottom (designed by Rashida Coleman Hale), Sarah’s gorgeous designs on canvas for the main exterior and her feathers design on quilting cotton for the lining fabric (which also includes the straps/hang loops, etc).

Side Release Buckle Closure

For the closure, I chose to use a side release buckle! I hadn’t sewn a Range Backpack in a while, so as I was digging through my hardware I found a side release buckle and it finally clicked in my memory that I could use it for the closure AND that I had a video. Yay! Lucky for me and you, I had recorded a video back in 2017 on how to make the modification to the Range Backpack pattern. I’d say I did a pretty good job back then, it was an easy modification and I really like how it looks for this sample. Be sure to check it out on my YouTube channel!

Project Details:

• Pattern: Range Backpack (PDF and paper versions available in my shop)
• New! I added a new listing for a side release buckle, in case you want to make one, too! So check it out in my shop. They’re affordable, easy to install and easy to use. Plus, be sure to check out that video on the how-to.
• Fabric:
  • Fireglow canvas by Sarah Watts for Ruby Star Society (for Exterior fabric)
  • Fireglow quilting cotton by Sarah Watts (for Lining fabric)
  • Speckled Canvas by Rashida Coleman Hale for Ruby Star Society for the Contrast Bottom
• Interfacing:
  • I used Emmaline Bag’s EB-Fuse in Medium in place of the Pellon 809 for the Medium-weight fusible interfacing, I highly recommend this one if you don’t like or can’t find Pellon 809
• Other hardware/supplies used:
  • if you want to go with the traditional d-ring closure, I have kits here
  • if you’re using the Side Release Buckle, you can use this kit for the strap hardware! It’s for the Making Backpack, but that way you won’t have the d-rings
  • brass/black 8″ zipper
  • black leather decorative zipper pulls

Any The Summer I Turned Pretty fans out there? I had to make this “the summer I turned pretty Quarry Tote“! This fabric combo was giving all the east coast beach town vibes. Plus, I had just watched all three seasons of the show while I was making a quilt top (pics of that coming soon).

Let’s split up the exterior! A how-to

Anyway, I adore this late summer/early fall Quarry Tote! And of course I want to talk about how you can split up the exterior of this tote using two different fabrics if you find a fabric combo you just can’t get out of your head!

When I was designing the Quarry Tote, I had first started off with the pattern having an accent color around the top like this. As the pattern development progressed, I knew I had to keep it simple with a one fabric exterior. So that’s the way the pattern is written.

But, if you’re loving this version, it’s pretty easy to do! Here’s what you’ll do:

• 1/4 yard (for Small) or 1/3 yard (for Regular) of an Exterior fabric – cut the Main Panels and Zipper Facing from this fabric
• FQ (fat quarter = 18×21″) Accent fabric (works for both sizes) – cut the Top Panels, Top Inner Panels from this fabric
• same Lining amount as in pattern
• for mine I used the accent fabric for the base, too, so you’d need a 1/4 yard for the Accent fabric if you’re making the Small, 1/3 yard for the Regular

Project Details:

• Pattern: Quarry Tote (small size) available in PDF and paper format in my shop, also includes a zippered pouch!
• Fabrics:
  • Exterior: Waxed Twill (color is Amber) from AL Frances Textiles on Etsy, stripe is Nippon Hickory Stripes by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (purchased from Hawthorne Supply, but they’re out of stock, I’d recommend a google search)
  • Lining: Leah Duncan‘s newest fabric collection, Fern Grove (Cloud9 Fabrics)
• Hardware & other supplies:
  • mesh & fold over elastic for interior pocket is byAnnie’s (check your local quilt shop)
  • zipper is from Sullivan’s Trim (I think it’s the Khaki color)
  • decorative leather zipper pull
  • strap hardware kit
  • magnetic snap
  • 1″-wide webbing (in Cognac)
  • cutest label is from Cotton & Ochre

This is the last of my projects I’ve made for my latest fabric collection! These Oxbow Totes in Orchard Run were so fun to sew up!

Quilting the Main Panels

Even though Orchard Run is a nice weight for bag making. It still needs a bit of structure for a larger bag like the Oxbow. So quilting it is! I actually love quilting these bags. It’s fun because it’s a fairly quick process (especially if you quilt your own quilts, you know). It’s also a great opportunity to try different quilting designs! I like the process of quilting the Main Panels because it’s relaxing and fun to see the fabric transform.

Basting and auditioning

I used the same process as I show in my YouTube video for the Oxbow sew-along. Spray basting (here’s a link to the spray baste I use) is still my method of choice for bags because it is quick and secures the fabric layers easily. I can definitely understand that there’s a bit of a learning curve to quilting. If you’re new to quilting, it might help to pick a smaller project like a zippered pouch to try quilting on first. It would be a perfect way to get to know the process yet not have so much time and material sunk in. And you could always use scrap fabric and quilt a few small panels, too. Turn them into pot holders!

After quilting the Main Panels it’s fun to see the project come together. If I’m unsure of how the fabrics will look together (especially the front pocket fabric), I like to try a few different fabric and webbing combos just to see what stands out to me. I just lay my auditioned fabrics and webbing on top of a Main Panel and go from there!

I like the way these turned out! Please see the Project Details below for all the source information and shop links!

Project Details:

• Pattern: Oxbow Tote (Regular size in brown and the Overnight size in blues)
  • quilted Main Panels (two layers per panel, 80/20 batting)
• Watch my free YouTube sew-along for the Oxbow here!
• Fabrics used:
  • Exterior fabric is from my fabric collection, Orchard Run, for Robert Kaufman Fabrics
  • Accent fabric (front pocket & reinforced base) is Yarn Dyed Essex in Nutmeg (for Regular size) and Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun in Navy (for Overnight size) by Robert Kaufman Fabrics
  • Lining is more Orchard Run, check your local quilt shop or do an online search for “Orchard Run Anna Graham” or “Orchard Run Robert Kaufman Fabrics”
• Zipper by the yard/zipper pull is from Sullivan’s Trim
  • Pecan Bronze/Regular size
  • Scotch Bronze/Overnight size
  • I also have some solid YKK zips in my shop, 18″ for the Regular, 24″ for the Overnight size!
• Webbing is available in my shop (I used Cookie for both sizes) Be sure to purchase a quantity of 4!!
• Hardware kit available in my shop
• Snap, check out my blog post on snaps (includes a how-to, tool and source links!)
• scrap leather used for the zipper pull/end tab (I have some scrap packs available but they usually sell out pretty quickly)