Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One – Preparation

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along - Andrie Designs

Welcome to Day One of the Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along. Today we will be cutting out our pattern pieces, fusing the interfacing and preparing the piping. I won’t lie, this is a big job but, with some careful planning you will breeze through in time for the fun stuff.

If you’re not sure what I’m even talking about, you can read more at Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Introduction.

Today we will be looking at:

  • Preparing your pieces (page 5)

You will need:

  • The Adventure Time Backpack pattern
  • All pattern pieces for your chosen options
  • Outer fabric
  • Contrast fabric
  • Lining fabric
  • Piping Fabric
  • Mesh/Knit fabric
  • Light-medium weight fusible interfacing
  • Foam interfacing or fusible fleece
  • Cotton cording
  • Fabric cutting tools of your choice (scissor, rotary cutter, mat, rulers etc).

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

I have hinted a few times that this is a complex pattern. I say that not because it is difficult to sew, but because it has a lot of pieces. You may already be feeling intimidated by all the pattern pieces you see. Don’t be. With a little planning and organisation, you will sail through this pattern and be itching to make another.

Here are some hints for cutting your paper pattern pieces:

  • Use an old rotary cutter blade to cut the paper pieces. You may find it faster than scissors and it’s great practice for when you cut the fabric.
  • Take note of which pieces are for the large option and which are for small. Don’t make work by cutting more than you need.
  • Use this time to familiarise yourself with each pattern piece, highlighting any information you think will be useful later. For example, which pieces are cut on the fold and which are not? What does the gusset piece look like? Which pieces are cut from fabric and which are only from foam/fleece/interfacing?

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

You’re now ready to cut your fabric, interfacing and foam/fleece. I have detailed some methods I use for working my way through a pattern of this size. Obviously this is a personal choice and you may find one method more useful than another. Do whatever suits you and remember to comment in the Andrie Designs Facebook group with any hints and tips you think might help others.

I find it useful to group my pattern pieces together. For example, outer fabric pieces in one group, lining pieces in another, foam/fleece only in yet another. I find this level of organisation makes it a much quicker process than digging around trying to find the next piece for the fabric I have on the cutting table.

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

Lisa has provided a great set of labels, on pages 21 and 22 of the pattern, to help keep your pieces organised. You will notice that I use the pattern pieces themselves. This is simply a habit of mine.

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

I start by cutting my outer, contrast and lining fabrics, from largest piece to smallest. Pay close attention to things like fabric direction, grain line or ‘cut on fold’.

Next, I cut my interfacing. Where practical, I cut two layers at once to speed things up.

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

Take your time. You’re better off spending a few lazy days cutting, than trying to rush through and stress yourself out before you even start sewing.

For fleece or foam I use the cut fabric piece, laid out in full, as my pattern. I find this easier than trying to cut on the fold from the paper pattern. I also don’t actually cut any of the foam for the pieced units until I have sewn them together in later steps (as shown in this photo…we will reach this stage in a few days).

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

Once you have all of your fabric, interfacing and fleece/foam cut, place them together with their labels. This will save you a lot of heartache while sewing.

Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One Preparation - two pretty poppets

Follow the pattern closely for fusing and basting the interfacing and foam. I highly recommend investing in an iron press for this as it greatly speeds up the process.

Finally, it’s time to make the piping. Follow Lisa’s Create and Attach Piping Quick Reference Sheet for a great way to make piping.

I did find the narrower piping a little fiddly to master, but it eventually came together with a wee bit of patience. Next time I’m going to try cutting it larger and trimming it back to size once it’s basted around the cord. I’m a bit of a bull in a china store at times and dainty just isn’t my thing ; )

To prevent the piping moving around when I first started sewing, I found it helpful to glue/tape the first few inches of fabric around the cord.

There you have it. One Adventure Time Backpack cut out and ready to sew. I will meet you back here on Monday, 27 June 2016, when the fun really begins!!!!

Remember to jump over to the Andrie Designs Facebook group and post progress photos, ask questions, or share your own hints and tips.

Until Monday,

Rachael x

5 thoughts on “Adventure Time Backpack Sew Along: Day One – Preparation

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