Autograph Bag by buffy0214

The bags are 10 3/4 x 8 3/4; pocket 4 1/2 x 7 1/4
The backpack is 10 3/4 square. I made it for a 3.5 year old, so you may need to adjust size.
I cut an old piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper to size to make a pattern. for each bag you will need:
1/2 yard of fabric-for bags cut four squares and 1 pocket; for backpack cut four
squares (you can also get 1/3 yard for outside and 1/3 for lining if you want you
lining to be different)
fusible batting (kinda like felt with fusible backing); Cut 2 the same size as bags for each bag.
Also, you will need at least 1 yard of the lanyard (measure how long you want it to
be and add about 4 inches) and some sew on velcro.

Sewing Directions:
1) Iron fusible batting to 2 outside pieces and pocket piece
Pocket
2) Turn top of pocket down 5/8; top stitch on outside at 1/2
3) Turn sides in 5/8; press. Pin to center front of purse, bottom is even with purse bottom. Stitch sides of pocket to purse front close to edge.
Purse
*hint: when sewing through batting, you might need to increase stitch length* Sew at 5/8 unless otherwise mentioned.
4) Pin purse front to purse back, right sides together. Stitch sides and bottom. Trim edges.
5) Line up side seam with bottom seam until you get a corner edge. Stitch 1 inch down (looks like a triange after stitching). Do the same to the other corner. This adds fullness to the purse. I didn't trim this in order to add stability.

Lining
6) Sew velcro tab in center of both sides of lining, 1 1/4 inch from top.
7) Pin lining front to back, right sides together. Stitch sides. Sew bottom but don't
sew it closed. You need a hole in the middle to turn the purse. So, sew from each side edge towards the center. Repeat step 5 above for purse only.

Add lining to purse
8) Turn purse right side out. Lining should be inside out. Put the purse inside the lining so the right sides are together; Pin top and stitch.
9) Turn the purse through the hole in the lining. Every thing showing should be right sides.
10) Stitch the hole in the lining closed
11) Put lining inside purse. Top stitch 1/4 on top of purse.

Lanyard
12) Cut lanyard to size. I fray-checked the edges but not sure if it was needed.
Turn each edge under 1 inch and sew to purse at sides near top. I put mine just below the top-stitching.
For backpack, cut lanyard in half. Skip step 2 & 3. Before starting step 4, pin lanyard to backpack front, about 2 inches up, even with raw edge of side. Do this with both sides. Continue step 4.

Skip step 5.

At step 12 I pinned the lanyard about 2 1/2 inches in from sides, and about 1 inch from top.