LWR School Kit Bag...

...In addition to the 12 LWR quilts for this season...I also need to make some School Kit Bags...

...Lutheran World Relief has changed the specifications for the bags from the tote style that we used up until last year...to the more gender neutral backpack style - directions here...

...and I thought I'd go ahead and make a prototype to take to the meeting on Tuesday as some of the ladies expressed concern that these would be more difficult to make than the totes...but I found them simpler to make...the handles on the totes were quite fiddly...

...I purchased some remnants of sturdy fabric at Stuff-Mart...both were stripe-y and would be OK for a boy or a girl...

...and made a pattern - but it's really just a 17" X 38" rectangle...and two little 2" X 4" tabs...that's it...this is going to be so easy...I serged around the rectangle and made a tube and turned that right side out using my handy-dandy ribbon turning method...

...I placed the little tabs about an inch form the bottom of the bag and just sewed them into the seam...which I did three times...I'd hate for the bag to come apart...so I'd recommend at least a double seam to make it extra sturdy...

...turn the top down 1 1/2" to make a tube for the cord - I used a cotton clothesline from the hardware store for the cord...and I reinforced the top and bottom of the opening with some zig-zag stitches...

...thread one 2 yard cord through from the right side...all the way around and back out the same opening...and one from the left...tie a knot in the cord and you're done...super easy...

...fill the backpack with the required school items...

...pull the strings to close the top...

...and that's it...see - this really was easier than the totes...

...these won't be shipped until next May...but it's easier to find all of the school supplies this time of year...

...I hope you'll make some school kits too...and have a lovely weekend!...