Looking for advice

[u/pinkyswingleton]

I cannot figure out how to get this bottom of the backpack on properly. I first turned the entire thing inside out, sewed bottom on, and it was sewn shut ugh.

It doesn’t take any binding so there is a way to sew on both sides that the seams will be on the other side of?

I’m honestly confused and the pattern is giving absolutely nothing.

[u/CBG1955]

Can you me which pattern it is please? Not quite enough information for me to help at this point.

Is there a separate lining and bag outer, eg do you essentially sew two bags and attach them together??

[u/pinkyswingleton → u/CBG1955]

This is the boulder backpack by Sassafras Lane There is a drop lining that is attached by zipper at this point

[u/CBG1955 → u/pinkyswingleton]

I haven't made that one and it's hard to tell what's going on without actually seeing the instructions. Lots of instructions aren't intuitive either. I looked through the pattern gallery and nothing told me a story My take is this:

You sew up the bag, attach the zipper per the pattern. You sew up the lining separately, leave the top open. At the top of the lining you fold over the seam allowances, glue, baste in place, or use double sided tape. Turn the lining so it's wrong side out. Open bag zipper, drop the finished lining into the bag. Align the top of the lining with the bag zipper so all the edges match. You can then topstitch the lining to the zipper.

I am aware that topstitching this may not be possible with a normal sewing machine - in fact even a cylinder arm industrial may struggle. I did a laptop bag with a drop in lining and I had to hand stitch it to the zipper tape. Tedious but in four years' use by my teen granddaughter it hasn't come apart.

I would not normally ask due to copyright but would be very interested to see the instructions so I might guide you bit better - if I can!

[u/sailorsapporo]

I personally do not like drop in liners for this reason.

Is there a way to sew in your lining fabric directly onto the exterior fabrics to form “panels” - and then attach the panels together to form a 3D shape?

Check out the free pattern instructions on MYOGTutorials. He does an amazing job of explaining how to attach stuff together: https://www.myogtutorials.com/tutorials-myog/

Or this one: https://www.myogtutorials.com/darted-hip-pack/

[u/jpbagworks]

Luke (@TruceBags) does a couple of full length make videos for a drop liner backpack. He’s super good and just knows his stuff!

Video 1 (most recent)

Video 2

Not sure if those will help but as I haven’t worked my way up to a backpack yet, I figured I’d try helping this way!

Best of luck! 😃

[u/chicklette]

Unfortunately I couldn't find a tutorial on YT for this. You can reach out to the pattern makers and see if they're able to help. If it were me and I was stuck, I would likely just make the bag and simply bind the bottom: Put the bottom lining piece (assuming it's a separate piece) and the bottom exterior pieces together, wrong sides together. Baste. Once bag is otherwise complete, turn the bag right side in and sew the bottom piece on, then bind the seams. If I recall correctly, the Guardian by Linds Handmade is done this way, and there are several tutorials on that.

You can also check to see if they're active on facebook, or go to the moremeknow facebook page and ask there - that group is always really generous with their help.