Don’t let Cindy’s snowy photos fool you, the Jet Pack Bag is a great bag to make for all of your spring adventures!
Hi there! I’m Cindy. Most of my sewing at Raspberry Sunshine involves designing and sewing handbags and on occasion, buying some too. But in a house with three active boys I often find myself reaching for a bag that I can use for a full day of activities, from grocery shopping to Boy Scout outings.
What totally sold me on the Jet Pack was how I could change the position of the straps to carry it differently. Who could imagine this long adjustable swivel clip strap would let me change my bag to a backpack, shoulder bag, or cross body in a matter of minutes?!
Because of my intended use for the Jet Pack, I opted to quilt my exterior. The pattern suggests using medium-weight fabric for the exterior with fusible fleece and fusible woven interfacing for the interior. I left the interior as designed, but substituted the fusible fleece for this mix: Quilt cotton + quilt batting + canvas.
Quilting a bag is as simple as stitching straight lines every 3/4” apart on the pattern pieces BEFORE you assemble the bag. It’s a great way to add stability and structure to any bag. Plus, it’s very nice to look at! Just make sure you have nice sharp needles and a walking foot.
Another change I made was to the front pleated pocket. I replaced the twist lock in the pattern with a large Tuck Catch Lock. You can find them in various sizes and finishes on Etsy.
And not only are they are super easy to install, Betz has a fantastic Video Tutorial on how to install one if you want to give it a try!
The final change I made was to the actual adjustable straps. I opted to use a thicker cotton webbing with a coordinating pattern sewn on top to accent the main bag fabric. Webbing is a great way to change up a bag without adding more work for yourself!
With simple changes like a catch lock, quilting, and cotton webbing I have made the Jet Pack bag perfect for any adventure I have coming my way! You can find the pattern in Betz’s Etsy shop here.
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This post is part of the Betz White Sewing Collective series. Content is written by compensated contributors expressing their own views and opinions.