As I’ve been both working and recovering, my boys have been venturing out on their own a lot more. While Bob is supportive of my handbag habit, carrying a floral diaper bag while I’m not actually accompanying them is probably asking too much. Somehow Bob manages to carry practically nothing with him except a spare “nappy”, and he usually gets away with it. (It helps that he knows I stash spare clothes and everything else Emmett needs in the car, which is never too far away.) But, he would definitely have a more successful trip if he had somewhere to stash Emmett’s water bottle and a million snacks. :P

We had been using these $2 Kmart drawstring bags because they fit in the basket of the stroller and counter balance anything you hang off the handle, but I knew we could do better! I asked Bob what he’d like and he said an upgraded drawstring backpack. How convenient that I already had a pattern for that! :)

He chose this Tardis fabric that I’ve been hoarding, and noticed there was enough to make Emmett a mini one. Emmett is basically a mini-Bob and Bob enjoys emphasizing that by matching. He even let me use a pink zipper and lining to avoid a trip to the fabric store!

 The “Bigger on the Inside” part comes from the oval bottom, which allows the bag to stand up while open and lets you carry more than a typical flat drawstring backpack.

  To make the smaller one: 

• Start with the full size Bigger on the Inside Backpack PDF Pattern.
• Simply print the Main Body (A), Pockets (C&D), and Bottom (B) pattern pieces at 85%.
• Keep the zipper and strap tabs (Pieces E & F) the original size (use the measurements given on the pattern pieces.)
• Shorten the straps (These are approx. 65″ long.)
• Make the cut for the zipper 6.5″ from the top instead of 7.5″ in Step 7a.
• Change the measurement for the zipper from 11″ to 9.5″ in Step 7b.
• I added a little loop at the top to clip it to the side of the stroller. I cut this the same width as the straps and 5.5″ long.
• The finished size is about 12″ tall x 10″ wide x 4.5″ deep.

 As I was making it I realized the Bigger on the Inside Backpack pattern desperately needed an update, as the pattern pieces just said “Backpack” and didn’t have my logo or any identifying information. I fixed the cut list on Page 2 to reflect the update and re-packaged and re-uploaded it. If you purchased on Craftsy, you’ll be able to access the update automatically. If you purchased it from this website then you can either find your original email and click “download” or if you email me, I can locate and re-send your receipt with the download link. The dimensions haven’t changed, so an old version will sew up exactly the same, it just looks nicer now. 

The boys happily modeled their bags. :)

 
So far we’ve only needed the small one, which fits nicely next to Emmett in the shopping “trolley”. The only problem is that he keeps looking for snacks!

 Get the BIGGER ON THE INSIDE BACKPACK PDF Pattern from the Pattern Shop! Or, if you prefer Craftsy, you’ll find it HERE.

And as always, please join the Facebook Group to share (HINT: There is a group discount going right now!) or tag me on Instagram.

I hope you all survived Daylight savings! I heard it was brutal this year and required extra coffee, probably because more and more of my friends have kids! We go the other way in a few weeks, but that makes our time difference much more manageable (15 hours vs 17 hours) so it means I can usually go to bed *after* Chicago wakes up, so I can check in with more of you before you start your day.

Thank you all and HAPPY SEWING!

Erin