craftygal table - Making a Backpack out of Placemats and Neckties

The first purse project on craftygal.

I wouldn’t use these placemats for backpacks, but they sure are pretty.

Placemats and Neckties to Backpack in 10 Easy Steps

by Christy

We are apparently obsessed with using placemats for purposes other than setting plates on! Earlier this year, we fashioned purses out of placemats, and recently, a craftygal pal Michelle Rogers turned a bunch of placemats into a backpack. When she told me about the materials she’d used to create this unique carryall, I wasn’t surprised at all. I mean, this is our friend who make a necktie skirt several years ago; we’re still trying to get her to do an article for us about that one!

The backpack, in action, with Michelle in Italy.

Inspired by her upcoming trip to Italy, Michelle set to work making a backpack from four placemats and two neckties. This backpack is a true craftygal project! The supplies are pretty cheap, and the project is utterly personalized. Pick colors you like and materials that will be durable. Michelle has a nice sewing machine, but even if you have a basic machine you’ll be all set. So rev up your sewing machine, put your pedal to the carpet, and let’s step through this project.

Supplies:

sewing machine

iron

chalk pencil

4 placemats

2 feet (about) of chord

1 toggle closure (you know, those spring-loaded plastic things that you cinch things closed with)

1 button or a spot of Velcro

2 neckties

1 spool of color coordinated thread

1 tassel or any other embellishments you may desire

Steps:

There are several ways you could accomplish the same objective here. I’m going to outline the steps that Michelle followed, and you can feel free to tweak them however you see fit for your particular needs. The one recommendation that I would make is to seek out placemats with a nice border like those Michelle used, and some of substantial weight that have some batting in them. It makes for a very nice, sturdy finished product.

Just to give you some perspective, two of your placemats will form the front and back panels of the backpack. The third will form the sides and the bottom. The fourth will become your top flap and your inner pocket.

Here’s a sketch of your supplies and what’s going to become of them.

1. Be sure to wind a bobbin and prep your machine by adjusting the tension and needle size according to the weight of your placemats.

2. To make an inner pocket, cut a 5- or 6-inch square scrap from the fourth placemat as illustrated. Fold the edges of the square back about a 1/4-1/2 of an inch and iron them down. Placing the ironed edges down, pin it to the backside, upper portion of one of the placemats. Sew the pocket into place. This will become the panel that will be against your back when finished.

Remember, when you start pinning, you’re actually pinning and sewing inside out. You won’t turn the pack right side out until after you’ve sewn on the bottom.

3. Using the third placemat, cut the two borders off lengthwise; these strips will become the sides of the backpack. Pin the strips to the long sides of the two placemats that comprise the front and back. Sew together.

4. Using the remains of the third placemat as the bottom of the backpack, pin it to the bottom of the pack, and sew it on.

5. Turn your pack right side out, now you’ll sew on the straps. Sew the bottom of the neckties, across their widest point to the bottom seam of the backpack (leave the points free so people can tell what they are and comment on how crafty you are). Adjust the length, and attach the ties to the top of the back panel. Reinforce the straps by sewing over them a couple times to make sure they stay put. If you have extra tie length once you’ve attached them at the top, you might not want to cut them off. On the inside of the backpack, pull the leftover tie length taught and tack down the ends at the bottom of the inside of the pack to form a folder or paper restraint. You know, like in suitcases where they have those straps to hold stuff in place.

Detail of the ties fastened as straps.

6. Using what remains of your last placemat, fold one corner up to match the bottom edge with the side edge. Mark your crease with a chalk pencil. Cut the placemat at your mark; this is going to be your closing flap. Sew the long end of the flap to the back panel of the backpack.

7. Using some of the border scraps from your fourth placemat, sew a channel on the inside opening for your drawstring. This might not be the prettiest part of the project, but it’s on the inside of the pack so don’t fret; it’s strictly functional!

8. If you’re going to use Velcro to close your pack, attach it now. Otherwise, slit a buttonhole in the closing flap near the tip of the point, big enough for your button, and sew around the edge of the slit to avoid fraying; then attach your button.

9. Insert your chord in the drawstring slot around the top of the pack and put your toggle on. Knot the ends of the chord to avoid fraying. Add your tassel or any remaining embellishments to the closing flap or straps.

10. Wear your new backpack in style!