inside: Use this sling backpack free pattern to create an amazing one shoulder sling bag. This bag is perfect for carrying all the things I need for daily outings. Grab the free pdf and get sewing.
I’ve been wanting to sew myself a new purse/bag for weeks now… I bought all the supplies long ago and then didn’t do it. I finally created this sling backpack free pattern and sewed up this amazing backpack. The single shoulder is easy to throw on and go, plus its comfy for wearing. I can’t wait to see what you will create with this patterns.
NEW!!! A full length video sewing tutorial link is included with every premium purchase! Click the premium button below to buy or check out this post for details.
Sling Backpack Free Pattern –
Let’s take a closer look at this bag before we get to the free pattern. You can scroll down for the pattern download and instructions.
How cute is this bag? With three pockets there is room for everything I need to carry around. An inside pocket, zipper pocket and buckle pocket give be the perfect amount of space and organization.
I love fun bag hardware and the zipper and buckle on this one not only look cute, but they are also part of the functional design. This bag is big enough to carry all the things I need for daily outings. The finished measurements are 9″ across the wide bottom of the bag and 17″ from the bottom to the top of the bag.
Use fun fabrics to give this bag a wow factor. I use Plastic coated floral fabric {from my stash, I’ve had it forever} and faux leather. {from Hobby Lobby}
Sometimes I like to just put it over like a regular bag on one shoulder as well. This is great for just popping in and out of the car when I’m out.
Free Bag Pattern Sewing Tutorial –
Like most bags this tutorial has a TON of photos! Remember if you want the printable version of this Sling Backpack Free Pattern you can buy the printable version for just $5. The premium version comes with printable pdf pattern, tutorial AND link to full length video walk through
Bag Supplies:
- Fabric {3 kinds} 3/4 yard each
- two should be outer fabric, one lining
- Outer fabric should be a thicker pleather, twill, canvas, etc… and the lining thinner… I used rip stop for cleanability.
- bias tape 3 yards double fold 1/2”
- 2x D ring 1”
- 1” buckle
- Swivel Hook
- scrap foam interfacing 2” x 18”
- 20” zipper
- 1” strapping 2 yards
- DIY bias tape cut from Main b for strap
Pattern includes ¼” seam allowance unless otherwise noted
Print pattern and assemble the pages. Need help with printing and assembly of this pattern? Tutorial here. Use this layout guide to help with assembly.
Cut out fabric and notions as directed on pattern. You should have:
- Cut 1 inside pocket
- Cut 2 of back {1 lining, 1 main}
- Cut 2 Middles {1 lining, 1 main}
- Cut 2 Fronts {2 main}
- Cut 2 Yoke {1 lining, 1 main}
- Cut 2 Straps {2 main}
- Cut 2 Bottoms {1 lining, 1 main}
TIP: Use a walking foot to help difficult fabric slide through your machine.
Cut 2.5” of strapping. Put strapping through one end of the buckle and fold over. Place both ends of the trapping at the top small edge of the front piece.
| With right sides together, place the other bag front on top of the first piece. Sew the two curved sides and top as shown with clips here. Turn right side out after sewing, then topstitch the same seams |
| Place the front on top of the two middle pieces. The middle pieces should be wrong sides together with the right sides both facing out. One up and one down. The main fabric should be up facing the front. |
Sew around the to attach the front to the middle. Sew the curved edge from the edge of the front curve around to the other. See markings on photos for where to sew. See front and back here.
Take the two yoke pieces. Mark the center of the top and the bottom center. Then mark the center of the zipper.
| Place zipper right side down on the main fabric and clip then sew one side of the zipper. The zipper may extend on either side of the fabric. Use a zipper foot to stitch. |
Cover the raw zipper edge with bias tape.
| Place the bottom lining on the yoke lining side. Then place the bottom main fabric on the right side of the zipper. You will be enclosing the zipper and yoke on both sides. Enclosed zipper and yoke. Sew to secure. Open up to see finished side. Repeat with the other side of the bottom and yoke. |
| Backside view of the lining. Trim the extra zipper. |
| Top-stitch the seam open. |
You should now have a circle with the yoke and the bottom.
| Mark the top and bottom center of the front/middle piece you sewed before. |
pin/clip the circle with the bottom/yoke to the front/middle piece with right sides together. Move the buckle top of the front out of the way.
| I used a combination of the zipper foot and regular foot when sewing around this side of the bag. Open up the bag and it should now look like this. |
| Here is how the side looks now where everything comes together. |
Cover the seam you just sewed with the double fold bias tape. This reinforces the seam and covers the raw edges.
| Cut a piece of strapping 3.5” long and fold in half through 1 D ring/ or second buckle half. Place the two ends on one straight side of the triangle. Place the second triangle on top with right sides together. Sew the two straight sides. Turn right side out. |
| Grab your two straps of main fabric. Cut a piece of foam smaller than the straps on all sides. Cut a piece of bias tape 2” wide of the other main fabric. Cut it on the bias and the length of the outer edge of the strap. |
Place a strap piece in a stack. One face down, then the foam, then the other face up. Pin/clip the bias take around the outer edge of the strap. The layers should look like the photo.
Sew around the edge to secure the bias tape and all layers of the strap. Front and back of sewn strap and bias tape shown. With the wrong side facing up, fold over the bias tape, then fold again over the strap edge. Pin or clip all the way around the strap. Sew on the folded over side to secure the tape. My tape fabric was thick coated fabric so I didn’t love how the curve covered… You will end up covering this with some strapping later so don’t worry if it looks a bit off
My tape fabric was thick coated fabric so I didn’t love how the curve covered… You will end up covering this with some strapping later so don’t worry if it looks a bit off
| Here is the strap… The front side where I sewed and the back side. The stitching is right inside the floral tape on this side. Take the bag front with the buckle and unbuckle the other side. Cut 7” of strapping and also grab the strap. Sew the strapping 4” from the raw end of the strap. The strapping should point towards the rounded end, sew ½” from the strapping end. Fold back over then sew down again. Thread the buckle through the strapping, then fold and sew over the loose end of the strapping to finish. |
Place the strap on the bag back. The buckle we just put on should be UP. You should layer back lining face down, back main up, then strap lined up on top. Again the BUCKLE should be facing UP. Stay stitch the strap to the top of the back piece
| Stay stitch the triangle with D ring/buckle to one side of the bag back. The triangle should be place just about the curve at the bottom. If you want your strap over the right shoulder, place the triangle on the right side. If you want it on your L shoulder, place on L as shown. |
Fold the pocket piece in half with right sides together and sew the three sides. Leave a small opening for turning.
| Turn right side out and fold the seam allowance of the turning hole in. Sew along one side to create the top edge. Open up the back back to separate the lining from the back. Pin the pocket 2” from the bottom of the bag lining. Sew the sides and bottom of the pocket to the lining |
| You should now have two assembled bag pieces. . Mark the center top and bottom of both sides of the bag. |
| With right sides together pin/clip the two sides of the bag together. Start by matching up the marked top and bottom middle, then work around the sides. You may have to trim the top slightly… see my photo. OPEN THE ZIPPER for turning. {see next step} Sew around to stitch together. |
| Here is the bag sewn. Also, turn right side out and check the seam to make sure you sewed all the layers together. I had a small hole that I had to go back a re-sew. |
Cover this seam with bias tape.
You can now re-buckle the two sides of the buckle together.
| Sew a 20” piece of strapping to the curved end of the stap. Sew the opposite way first, then flip over and sew it again. Put the bag over your shoulder and measure the length of the strap. Put the swivel hook through the strapping and measure how long you want the strap. Mark the length. You can also add a second buckle here and make it an adjustable strap, rather than a fixed length. |
Sew the strapping to the swivel hook to finish the strap and the bag.
You did it!! Yeah!! Enjoy your new bag and make sure you share photos on social media! @lifesewsavory on all platforms.
Anastasia Scheel says
Wow! That’s a nice bag. And I had to re-read the faux leather from Hobby Lobby. I thought it was real leather!
Michelle Salazar says
Do you have video showing step by step on how to put the bag together
Lynn Dart says
I am having difficulty sewing this bag. I find that the instructions are sometimes difficult to understand and it doesn’t say right sides together, or wrong sides together. Any advice would help
Rosemary says
I made a great backpack, thanks for the pattern
https://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/173451
Michele Matucheski says
Thanks for this tutorial! I made one this weekend. I’m very happy with it!
Laur English says
I love these very detailed instructions. I can’t wait to start, I just want to buy a few more supplies before I begin! Thanks so much!!
Liz Vega says
Thank you so much for your d
irections and pattern. It is exactly what I had been looking for.
Margaret says
Thank you for the free pattern I made it and love it made a few adjustments put in two zippered pockets in side and one on the outside I was going to send a picture but could not see where you do that thank you again
Milena says
Hello! What about commercial use of the pattern? If I wish to sell the final product? Cudos!
Emily says
yes, you can sell products sewn from the pattern.
Linda Moffett says
I am 74 years old, I’ve been sewing for years following patterns on You Tube, I have made numerous purses but for the life of me I cannot figure out your patter on how to connect the yoke to the bottom main and lining. In one photo you have the yoke not quite as wide as the bottom pieces, however, on the photo for the full connection pieces they are all even, please tell me what is the magic to make it fit correctly. I am making this for a gift and do not what it to be wrong. PLEASE GET AHOLD OF ME. I do not do face book, you can contact me via email or phone (605-580-0023). So frustrated, and I never give up but your photos have almost made me do just that. Please help
Pam Watson says
Linda, I am having the same problem. Did you ever figure out how to attach the pieces to the zipper. I have asked her for help and she wasn’t any. I’ve been sewing for 50 years anf I cannot figure out the instructions.
Diana Higgins says
I’m having trouble attaching yoke to bottom bands as well. I decided to just trim the excess since I can’t find a video tutorial anywhere. I have to make many adjustments to make it work for me.
Midnight says
When attaching the finished front pieces to the back piece I sew it from the middle up the edges to where the zipper starts/finishes. So from the middle of the very bottom and sew up the left side and repeat for the right. I say it helps to make sure it all is even on both sides. I then sew the yolk to where the back stops going straight up and angles to the very top and carefully press the yolk to the back piece. Carefully trim the yolk top and sides till the yolk would sit flush with the back piece. It is a nightmare getting everything to line up as something seems to be too big but this is the easiest way I found to do it.
Pam Watson says
Linda, I am having the same problem. Did you ever figure out how to attach the pieces to the zipper. I have asked her for help and she wasn’t any. I’ve been sewing for 50 years anf I cannot figure out the instructions.
Melinda says
Has anyone in this thread figured out how to attach the bottom bands to the yoke & zipper? I’m also questioning whether the two yoke pieces should be sewn wrong sides together to the side of zipper. How does that allow use of zipper once turned right sides out? I’ve sewn for over 50 years and can’t wrap my head around this, very frustrating because pictures aren’t clear.
Margaret Downes says
I have seen your products in these internet pages but still cannot figure out how to print off the free pattern! I go down to where it says free pattern and it gives me another page. Usually one I’ve already been on. How do I do this. I see a picture of the pattern all on one sheet but can’t lift that to be able to print it. And I’ve read your tutorial on how to do this, but it seems all pointed toward the paid for pdf. Could you please give a better explanation I could follow. I’m a college graduate so this should not be such a problem. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.
Nina lauria says
I’m stuck on this too
ANN MARIN says
Great pattern, easy to follow. Took me 3 hours and now I have a cool backpack!
Coleen says
Thanks Emily for all the lovely patterns, always eazy to follow. Used my scraps to make up this little bag and test the pattern. Enjoyed the project.
Angela Broussard says
I just finished this bag and I love it; However it took me several days because there were not enough step by step instructions. More than once I had to rip out a seam to redo it correctly once I understood the directions. Right side, wrong side of fabric indications would be helpful too.I ended up purchasing the “printable instructions for $2 but can’t figure out for the life of me how that was helpful.
Anyway, this pattern has the potential to be intermediate or even beginner level, but as an experienced sewer (55 years), this was ADVANCED level.