The Broadland Backpack retains the Charlie’s Aunt vintage-inspired aesthetic whilst being wholly practical for modern use”
I’ve been thinking about designing a backpack sewing pattern for a while now, but wanted it to reflect the Charlie’s Aunt vintage-style aesthetic whilst making it wholly practical for modern use. The result after much deliberation is Broadland Backpack – a version of one of my most popular patterns, the Breckland Bag.
This pattern includes instructions for a recessed top zipper, along with a choice of either zip or patch interior pockets, making it ultra-safe as well as stylish. It combines the Charlie’s Aunt signature asymmetrical flap and pocket with 1940s simplicity, and modern functionality.
Zipper fastening:
I pride myself on trying to keep most of my designs fairly simple to make, and I’ve resisted the urge to go down the ‘less vintage’ zippers and hardware route of most modern bag patterns. I’ve only put zip pockets inside rather than top zippers. However, I felt as this bag will be worn on the back, it needed a zipper as well as a flap to make it more secure. Inserting a recessed zipper is quite straightforward – it is attached to zipper panels that are sandwiched between the facings and linings. But if you want to simplify the bag, you can omit the zipper and stitch the facings straight to the lining.
Straps:
Comfort and practicality is everything with a backpack so it was very important to get the straps in the correct positions. This is both to ensure that the bag is comfortable to wear and to prevent it from falling off your shoulders. In the past, I have been guilty of carrying too much around in my shoulder bags. But recent health issues have led my physiotherapist to suggest a backpack style bag as a much better option for me. So the sample bags have been thoroughly (off) road tested with varying degrees of ‘filling’, and I’m pleased to report that the style performed well!
Pockets:
Like its shoulder bag counterpart, the Breckland Bag, Broadland Backpack has a front pocket and the template can double as an interior patch pocket with a divider. There is also a template and instructions for adding a zippered pocket which will give yet another layer of security.
Construction notes:
The magnetic half of the snap-fastener for the flap is on the front pocket. This means that both the snap and the pocket need to be placed in exactly the right position to engage with the non-magnetic part of the snap on the flap.
The ‘running order’ for assembling the backpack is crucial and includes making the adjustable straps and attaching them before the back of the bag is assembled. This is an easier way of attaching back straps, but you do have to take care not to catch the straps in the seams when you are sewing the bag together. It pays to tuck them towards the centre, and when attaching the bag to the lining, you can pull the straps downward through the bottom of the bag lining (through the gap) to ensure they are safely out of the way.
Comprehensive instructions:
The result of all the potential features of the Broadland Backpack means the PDF pattern with instructions and templates is 26 pages – a bit longer and more involved than my usual patterns. It’s challenging in so far as you need to assemble the bag in a strict order and follow the instructions to the letter. However, as mentioned, if you wish to simplify the bag, you can omit the zipper, or one or both of the pockets, paring it back to something eminently more manageable.
New fabrics:
I will also be listing some new vintage-style fabric and button packs over the coming weeks which would be suitable for this style, so keep an eye out. I made the samples for this pattern using both English tweed and vintage wool, plus some wonderful canvas substrates from Free Spirit by Tim Holtz. The vintage styling of these fabrics makes the ideal spring/summer alternative to the Charlie’s Aunt signature wools. Keep up to date with new additions to our Etsy shop.
Happy sewing!
Emma xx
