Mermaid Backpack

One of my favorite hobbies in the Summer is paddle boarding. I love to take my board out on the lake, and stand up while paddling around. The absolute quiet you get is unlike anything else, and it truly gives you time to just think while taking in the beauty of the world around you. Many times, I like to bring one of my children along. SUP boards are long enough that there is plenty of room for a child to sit in front, while you stand behind them and paddle. These are my absolute FAVORITE moments.

Just me and one of my kids, on the absolute quiet of the lake. The quality one-on-one time we get is unbeatable. I usually just let them talk, as they have my undivided attention (and I have theirs). I have had lessons on Pokemon, talks about boys and crushes, and a very lengthy discussion on mermaids.

Turns out, my middle daughter had a lot of questions about mermaids. Whether they were real, did they live in our lake, would she ever get to see one? So many thoughts of these mythical creatures danced in her head whenever we were near water. I just listened, and answered the best I could. I always find it a fine line to answer truthfully, while not bursting any bubbles of imagination that might be playing out in their head. It’s times like these that make me think, it is SO FUN being a Mom.

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Mermaid Tote / Backpack DIY

with free download mermaid pattern

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This was a paid content post first seen on Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Creative Spark blog. Jo-Ann paid for the post content to be published on their website. All instructions and photos are my own. Thank you!

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Mermaid Beach Bag DIY

Skill level: Intermediate
Time Needed: Weekend project

MATERIALS:

• Free mermaid applique download
• White canvas fabric
• Fat quarters for mermaid
• Metallic scales cosplay fabric (affiliate link)
• Blue RIT dye
• Pellon Wonder Under
• Poly-fil
• Basic sewing essentials

 

Download your free mermaid pattern by clicking HERE

HOW TO MAKE A MERMAID BAG:

1. Iron the wonder under onto the wrong side of your mermaid fat quarter fabric. Do this for all mermaid upper body pattern pieces (not the tail).
2. Cut out pattern pieces as indicated.
3. Cut (2) rectangles of fabric from the white canvas fabric 14”W b 19”L. Measure along the bottom of the width of the fabric, and place mermaid body where desired ⅜” up from the bottom edge. If you want the mermaid body on both the front and back of the bag, then place mermaid body on opposite side of other fabric rectangle (you want them to be mirror image).  Mark where you want the mermaid to be with a fabric marker or chalk.
4. Remove wonder under paper backing, and iron on. For added security, sew around raw edge using a small zigzag stitch. Repeat for mermaid bodice and hair.
5. Trace facial markings onto the mermaid face, and embroider. I used the darning stitch on my sewing machine and simply moved the needle back and forth as desired. If you do not feel like embroidering the face, you can also use fabric friendly markers or puff paint to simply draw the face on!

6. Following the RIT dye instructions, prepare the dye bath adding salt to the dye. Make sure the dye water is no higher than 3 – 4” deep.
7. Dip the mermaid fabric panel in, letting the mermaid ‘swim’ in the water for a good 20 minutes. When finished, rinse with cold water until the water runs clear. Run the fabric panels through the washing machine and dryer at this time.

8. While you are waiting for the dye process to finish, you can sew the straps for the bag. Cut (2) straps 3”L x 60”W. Fold strap in half right sides together, matching up the long outer edge. Pin and sew, using a ½” seam allowance.
9. Using a safety pin or fabric turner, turn strap right side out and press. Tuck the raw side edges ¼” to the inside of the fabric tube and press. Edge stitch all around. Repeat for both straps.

10. You will have a ‘swimming’ mermaid when finished.
11. Place mermaid tail right sides together, matching up the raw edges. Sew around the sides and bottom. Clip seams and turn right sides out.
12. Stuff tail with polyfil. Baste stitch top opening closed, using a ¼” seam allowance.
13. Pin the top of the tail to the bottom of the bag, directly underneath your mermaid.Baste stitch in place to secure.

14. Place the front and back of the bag right sides together. Pin around the side and bottom edge and sew using a ½” seam allowance. Finish seam with either a serger, zigzag stitch or pinking shears.
15. Fold the top edge ¾” towards the wrong side and press.
16. Find the front top center of your bag, and measure down 1”. Sew 2 buttonholes, 1” in length, ½” apart from each other, on either side of that center marking. Repeat for both front and back of the top of the bag.
17. Fold the top of the bag down 1.25” towards the wrong side and press. Sew around to secure the tie casing closed.

18. Pin the bottom of the ties to the bottom of the wrong side of the backpack on either side. Sew a small rectangle around the bottom of each tie to secure.
19. Pin a safety pin to the top of each tie, and bring up through the back buttonholes. Gently pull the tie through the casing to the front of the bag, using the safety pin as your guide, being careful not to twist the safety pin as you pull.  Pull the ties through the front buttonholes, remove safety pin – and you are finished!

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Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy sewing!