"Bear-y" Handy Backpack By Lisa Price, HGTV.com
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Here's a bear backpack project that's sure to please young family members. With an easy-access zipper around the side and bottom of the pack, it's perfect for taking along that favorite book or toy.Materials:
straight pins
1/2 yard cotton fabric for lining
1/2 yard of fleece for shell
two, 24-inch lengths of woven 1" wide strap
22" separating zipper - we used one that zips from both ends
two strap adjusters
eyes and nose buttons
scrap of red fabric for tongue.
four, 4" circles of brown vinyl
1/4 yard 100-percent quilt batting
kraft paper and pencil
safety pin and novelty fabric for bow tie or hair bow - optional Steps:
- Draft an elongated, oval shape pattern using kraft paper. Ours measured 14 inches long and eight inches wide. Draft your pattern considering the size of the child that's going to wear the pack.
- Using the pattern, cut two pieces of lining fabric, two pieces of fleece fabric and two pieces of quilt batting.
- Following manufacturer's directions position and fasten eye and nose buttons to one of the fleece pieces. Cut two pieces of red or pink fabric in a tongue-shape. With right sides together, stitch around the perimeter of the shape, leaving a small opening for turning right side out. Turn the piece right side out then stitch closed. Position and stitch the tongue to the bear face.
- In this order, layer the bear face right-side up, a piece of lining fabric right side down and a piece of quilt batting. Pin to secure then, starting on one side, stitch around the perimeter of the oval sandwich, leaving a four-inch opening unstitched. Turn the bear face right side out through the opening, sandwiching the batting between the face and the lining fabric. Stitch the opening closed. Set aside.
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A hair bow makes a great accessory, too! Just pin the bow over one ear instead of at the chin.
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With two vinyl circles positioned right sides together, stitch around the perimeter, leaving a small opening for turning. Turn the stitched circles right side out to create the ears. There's no need to stitch these closed.Unzip the ovals, opening up the pack. Sandwich the open edge of the ears between the two ovals at either (top) side of the bear head and pin to secure. Cut a two-inch length of strap from each 24-inch piece and set the small pieces aside. Hem one end of each 22-inch strap then pin a length under either ear at the back of the pack.Zip the pack then stitch around the outside oval perimeter where ever there's no zipper. This step should envelope the ears and the top of the straps into the pack.Unzip the pack. Loop a strap adjuster onto each of the two--inch lengths of strap. For each strap, fold the ends under and position on either side of the outside bottom back of the pack so the adjuster is pointed up and the strap down. Pin and double-stitch all the area of the strap to secure.Loop each long strap through the strap adjuster on the same side. Loop them so the excess strap is underneath and pointed toward the bear's head. Hem the end of each strap after it's looped through the strap adjuster to prevent raveling.If desired, dress up the bag by pinning on a fancy fabric or ribbon bow tie or hair bow. For extra fun, color coordinate the bow to match your child’s clothing.
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![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/08/10/BP_BearOnChair_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/08/10/BP_Bear_BowTie_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/08/10/BP_Bear_HairBow_e.jpg",350,450))
