an in-disguise laptop backpack
I searched for a laptop backpack small enough to stay on my back on the tube, incognito enough to bring to after-work events, but large enough to bring all my stuff.
- Mark these shapes out on paper, using an existing shirt as a guide:
Two back pieces, a long strip that forms the side of the bag, 4x straps, 2x hood sides, 1x hood middle section. - Sellotape the pieces together, snipping away/adding pieces and re-taping until it fits you as you want.
- Cut out the pieces on the actual fabric (I used denim), pin and sew together:
- Sew the middle piece and sides of the hood together.
- Sew each pair of straps together to make a thick left and right side strap.
- Sew the straps to the inside back panel.
- Sew the hood edges to the inside back panel (and strap edges if you've made it long)
- Sew the long strip to the sides and bottom of the outside back panel, leaving the top raw.
- Sew the other side of the long strip to the inside back panel, creating the bag shape.
- Sew the zip between the two bag-top strips, then stitch that into the bag to close the opening.
The final backpack was much bigger than my laptop, so I also sewed a rectangle inside big enough just for the laptop, to contain it in place.
The final, slightly scrappy result:
