Queen of Hearts backpack

This weekend Elora and I sewed a gift for her friend’s upcoming birthday. The party for this twirly-skirt wearing girl is hearts-themed, thus we shall sew hearts. Sugar pink prints combined with vibrant Kona Mediterranean blue should make her smile! I printed out four copies of the Penny Sampler Pattern Club heart pattern, and we set out to make a drawstring backpack.

Machine paper piecing makes such tidy work. Each of these hearts is 6” finished. Soon enough I had sewn a quartet of hearts or “hartjes” in Dutch. Berry sweet, yes?

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I had started out the project following the drawstring backpack pattern in the children’s sewing book Sewing School 2, which was one of Aria’s favorites. Along the way I switched over to Svetlana of SOTAK Handmade’s free drawstring bag pattern. The book is fantastic for kids who are learning how to sew, but the projects lack the extra details that make a fancier gift. Svetlana’s pattern is lined and has a nicer casing finish.

Yes, those are Cotton + Steel twill ribbons for the drawstrings, haha. I’ve had them for 6 or so years, saved from fat quarter sets. Finally put to use.