When I saw the Finn backpack pattern at Kandou Crafts, I was enchanted immediately. It’s small and cute, but holds a lot. I made the prototype for myself using leftover waxed canvas and quilt cotton. I experimented with coating the quilt cotton on the exterior with Odicoat to make it water resistant. I like the sheen it added to the fabric, plus it adds some texture and structure as well, making it more like canvas than quilt cotton. I like the final result and learned a lot from this project, leading me to make one for Karla and another for Michelle.

Karla’s I made with waxed canvas and some Starr hand-dyed purple cotton. I again coated it with Odicoat. This cotton didn’t take to the Odicoat quite as well, so it doesn’t have as much sheen as the on the first bag, but it did add some structure. I used fun striped zippers for additional pizzazz.

Then the third version I made for Michelle. I love the floral fabric I found for the exterior so much I used the same design in a lighter colorway for the lining. Again with the striped zippers for pizzazz, and I used brown faux leather for accents on the bottom, zipper strip, and top. This one came together easier since I learned so much from the first two projects.