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32+ Free Backpack Patterns to Sew

Tired of boring, mass-produced backpacks? Me too. That’s why I’ve put together a collection of free backpack sewing patterns that are anything but ordinary. From bold prints to unique shapes, these patterns will help you create a backpack that’s as one-of-a-kind as you are.

Backpacks aren’t just for school anymore. With this collection of free backpack patterns, you can sew a backpack that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hitting the trails or just running errands, these patterns have got you covered. So why settle for a boring store-bought backpack when you can create something truly special

Free backpack patterns for adults

Leather Rolltop Backpack pattern / Rucksack (Free PDF Download)

You will love wearing this lovely leather backpack whenever you can because it combines stylish with practicality magnificently, with its wide flat bottom, a deep main pocket, two decorative diamond-shaped patches on the front, adjustable leather shoulder straps, a carrying loop, and fold-over flap closure with a vertical belt across it to secure it when closed.

by Claridgeleather

Lightweight Day Pack

Adorable and extremely useful, that’s how you could describe this backpack that is made of lightweight fabric, has a flat rectangular bottom, a wide and deep rectangular main pocket with a flap closure, a handle on top, adjustable shoulder straps, and a small front pocket with a zipper.

by Sew4home

Making a Leather backpack

If you’re looking for a luxurious and professional-looking backpack, look no more because here’s a leather one that has a solid box style rectangular body with one large wide pocket with small side flaps on its opening, a fold-over closure with two snap buckles, a carrying handle, shoulder straps, and a small pocket with snap on closure between the flap and the main pocket.

Leather women’s backpack

Show off your feminine sense of fashion even on a camping trip with this leather backpack that has a boxy main pocket with a flat bottom, a curved top with a zipper, straps, and a handle, a smaller front pocket with a zipper, and a make-up pocket inside the main one.

Simple Backpack Pattern

Get ready for summer with the ideal backpack for all those beach parties or trips to the pool, featuring a light cotton baggy body, fabric shoulder straps tailored to your needs, a small flap that covers the pocket, and a drawstring threaded through the opening of the pocket so you can tighten it shut.

by Prima

The easiest rectangular backpack

Here’s a light and practical, but also cheerful and cute backpack with a lining, a square body that slightly widens towards the bottom, adjustable fabric straps, a carrying handle, a curved main pocket opening with a zipper, and a small front pocket with a zipper as well, large enough to hold your passport for those fun quick trips abroad!

Easy DIY Drawstring backpack

Bags can’t get much simpler than a drawstring bag, but they can get even more practical and fun to use, if you do what this pattern suggests and add some modifications to get a splendid backpack that’s fundamentally a drawstring bag with strings that act as shoulder straps.

by Hellosewing

Talvi homemade backpack

Here we have a pattern that somehow gives off those young people vibes so it’s great for everything from classes to mini trips, with a wide flat body and a flat bottom, a deep main pocket that has its top section different in color, and a tad smaller outer pocket at the transition between the two fabrics, both pockets sporting a zipper closure.

by Magazin.snaply

Wanderlust rucksack – free sewing pattern

The backpack we have here is great for those situations when you don’t know how much stuff you’ll need to bring with you because it can hold a lot but also a little thanks to the roll-up closure on its top that you secure in a high or low position with the two straps with buttons, and its practical zipper pocket that can hold all your valuables safe from falling out.

by Sewmodernbags

Easy Tote Backpack

Pockets galore, when you see a backpack like this one you know it can hold whatever you need it to, with its rectangular body that has a zipper on its main pocket, a slightly smaller zipper pocket on the front, a flap closure small front pocket, and a few open ones on the sides and the front.

Convertible backpack purse pattern

When you’re not sure if you should bring a bag or a purse with you, you should bring this bad boy because it’s both those put together into one, a bag that you can fold into itself and turn into a purse, or wear it on your shoulders as a backpack and enjoy its deep main pocket, two interior pockets, and three exterior pockets with magnetic snaps.

by Lifesewsavory

DIY backpack

Simple, yet chic and handy, this bag is all about those qualities, with a long main pocket that has a drawstring and its opening so you can tighten it shut, and an additional front pocket without any closure means where you can store your water or sandwich when you hike.

by Trashtocouture

Summer rucksack pattern

You and your little princess can now have matching backpacks and both will suit your age because this one is cheerful and practical, but also stylish and creative, featuring a rectangular body with a flat bottom that can hold books or a laptop, a fold-over closure with two buckle straps, and a handle, as well as adjustable shoulder straps.

by Seemannsgarn-handmade

Oilskin laptop backpack pattern

College, work, or a mini trip, this backpack will come in useful for all those occasions, with its boxy body that can hold a laptop, a curved top with a zipper closure and a double handle, adjustable shoulder straps, a front pocket with a zipper as well as a back pocket with a zipper to keep your valuables safe and sound protected by your back.

by Magazin.snaply

Diaper backpack with free pattern

Wherever you take your babies, you’ll have all your essentials nearby in this backpack that you can hang on their stroller, fill the main pocket with diapers, side pockets with bottles, large front pocket with a matching foldable changing mattress, small front pocket with wet wipes, and the small zipper pocket on the flap with a spare pacifier!

by Magazin.snaply

Small Backpack Pattern – For Small Budgets

Just because it’s a budget project it doesn’t mean it won’t produce amazing results, as this backpack proves it, with its small but sufficient boxy body big enough to store your clothes for the weekend, a curved top side with a zipper closure and a handle, adjustable shoulder straps, and a zippered front pocket that is also boxy so it can easily keep some snacks and drinks.

by So-sew-easy

Chloe’s backpack

Show off your happy and positive attitude to everyone you meet on your travels with this backpack that consists of many colorful fabric pieces put together into a backpack that has a soft and long, slightly boxy body with one deep pocket, a big flap to go over the opening, fabric shoulder straps and a matching handle.

by PBTex on Webarchive Pbtex

Walkabout Daypack pattern

Use this pattern to create a wonderful and inventive backpack that has a slightly elongated boxy body, a fold-over closure with a strap across its center, and a fun zipper pocket on the flap edge, as well as a zipper pocket at the front, shoulder straps, and a carrying handle.

by Huffncuffs

Large backpack with buckle and front pocket

Here’s something your husband will love if you surprise him with it, a backpack much like those plain retro military kind, wide and deep, with a zipper on top, and an additional strap with a buckle that goes across it to keep it shut, complete with an open front pocket just below the buckle.

by Sustainmycrafthabit

Small backpack patterns for kids

Bitty Boy Bean Bags and Backpack

Get your little one ready for an adventure with a backpack they’ll love wearing, featuring a lightweight body with a flat bottom, a small fold-over flap on top that has a loop on its end that you can hook onto a big button on the backpack front, and shoulder straps with a matching handle.

by Modafabrics

Old School Backpack

The retro school backpack we have here is a lot like the ones our moms had, it looks great and it’s handy, with a wide shape, a folding flap on top with a belt you pull through a loop and snap onto itself, a smaller front pocket with a flap closure, and two side pockets with zippers that are great for snacks.

by Bagntell

Kid’s Animal Backpack

Use the pattern here to make sure your kid has the most adorable backpack in their daycare or school, a beautiful big dog with floppy ears and a big snout, arms spread out for a hug, and a zipper behind his back as the opening of the backpack, just in front of the shoulder straps.

by Cottonandcurls (on webarchive)

Back-to-school backpack

This colorful pattern uses one color of fabric for the sides of the backpack and another one for its front and the back, it has a round top side with a zipper that goes from one side to the other so books can go in nicely, a big front pocket that can easily hold a pencil case or a lunch, adjustable shoulder straps, and a matching handle.

by Pellonprojects

Hooded Beach Towel Backpack

Family fun at the beach got even more interesting with this transforming backpack that your little ones will love because it turns from a regular beach towel into a neat backpack they can wear on their back and fill with their favorite toys for the beach!

by Andreasnotebook

Toddler Penguin BackPack

Give your kid a lovely new penguin friend that will stay on their back wherever they go, flapping around his tiny wings and legs joyously and looking around curiously while the zipper on the top of his round head keeps all your child’s favorite stuff safe inside.

by Daffysdream

DIY School Backpack

Here’s a backpack with so many awesome features, it will make you wish you still go to school so you could wear it every day, with a zipper main pocket with some lined interior pockets, a vertical zipper pocket on the front, padded shoulder straps, and optional additions of a pencil pocket under the handle, a bottle pocket, a phone pocket and a USB connector, and a matching lunchbox that latches onto the backpack.

DIY Rectangular BACKPACK for students and pre-schoolers

If your kids are a bit apart in age so one goes to college and the other goes to school, they can still have matching backpacks that are just as cool for both of them, with a boxy body that can hold a laptop or books, a zipper that goes from one side to the other and is hidden with a flap, an open front pocket, topped off with adjustable shoulder straps and a matching handle.

by Petit a Petit and Family on Webarchive Petitapetitandfamily

DIY Children’s Backpack Sewing Tutorial

Your little princess can be ready for any adventure you decide to take her on with this adorable backpack on her back that has an elasticated opening on its main pocket, a flap that covers it and snaps in place thanks to magnets, adjustable shoulder straps,  and a side pocket that can hold her water or juice bottle nearby!

by Infarrantlycreative

Mini Backpack Pattern /free/

Little girls and big girls alike love this miniature backpack just as much, all because of its fashionable and unique appeal due to its boxy yet round at the top shape and the zipper main pocket that isn’t located in the middle like on most backpacks but instead on the outer edge so you can open it as a flap when you pull the zipper.

by Spoonflower

Pre-schoolers’ Drawstring + Flap Backpack

This pattern gives you the opportunity to create a splendid lightweight backpack that has a drawstring threaded through the opening on its main pocket, a flap with a short belt with a buckle or hook in its middle, adjustable shoulder straps, and two small front pockets with a flap closure each.

by Patternpile

DIY Toddler Backpack

Whip up a tiny lined backpack for your little one, featuring a boxy shape with a curved top that has a zipper that goes from one side to the other, a front pocket with a magnetic clasp, a side pocket for a bottle, and the unavoidable shoulder straps with a matching carrying handle.

by Vikalpah

We hope this collection of backpack patterns has inspired you to get creative and start sewing. We’ve scoured the web to bring you the best backpack patterns out there, and we’re confident you’ll love what you see. Whether you’re looking for a sleek and stylish design or something more functional and durable, with so many unique backpack designs to choose from, you’re sure to find a backpack pattern YOU can sew that also suits your style. So grab your fabric and let’s get sewing!

No matter what kind of adventure you decide to go on, you’ll do it in style with any of these backpacks on your back. When you make one or more be sure to come back and tell everyone in the comments how they turned out! And remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date with the freshest content we put out. Now start packing that new backpack and hit the road!