Finally, my hot pink backpack dreams have come true! A few years ago when I took Douglas Davidson’s backpack class I was lamenting the lack of fun colors in technical fabrics. Huge thanks to Salt Lake Sewciety for stocking Ecopak in fuchsia, although I think Ripstop By The Roll also carries fun colors now, so yay! Who wants a boring black backpack anyways??
I previously made Prickly Gorse’s TRVL 15L backpack, but I’m taking an international trip in early summer and wanted something larger. The 15L is perfect for domestic flights but I knew I’d pack more into my carry-on for an international trip.
Changes: Top-open zipper instead of suitcase-opening, also moved zipper to middle of gusset instead of the edge, deepened main gusset to 7″ finished (orig pattern is 4.625″ finished), added a bit of ease to all gussets to aid in binding, added EVA foam to base, base corners and back panels (yes, that did make it a bitch to do the final assembly and I definitely won’t add EVA to the corners next time), and added lots and lots of interior pockets.
The most challenging part of this pattern for me was stitching the mid-liner to the laptop gusset and binding again probably because of the EVA in the bottom corner pieces. I had to resort to using staples instead of clips to hold everything in place. A pair of hemostats also helped immensely. The binding on this bag definitely doesn’t meet my usual standards but since it’s just for me, I will (learn to) let it be.
The pockets are all of my own design minus the front turtle shell. I thought about everything I needed it to hold and designed them that way. I also noted what didn’t work from my TRVL 15L backpack in terms of pockets and size.
Finished dimensions: 11″ wide x 9″ deep x 15″ tall (obvs by changing the depth I have changed the volume but I’m too lazy to calculate it 🥱)
- Pattern: TRVL 20L Backpack, Prickly Gorse
- Exterior Main: Fuchsia Ecopak EPX200, Salt Lake Sewciety
- Exterior Back: Black Ottertex WPC, Fabric Wholesale Direct
- Exterior Base & Gusset: 1000D Cordura, Ripstop By The Roll
- Lining – Green: 210D Venom Gridstop ECO, Olive, Ripstop By The Roll
- Lining – Blue: 210D ROBIC Ripstop Nylon, Steel Blue, Ripstop By The Roll
- Stretch Pockets: Venom Stretch Mesh ECO MAX, Black, Ripstop By The Roll
- EVA Foam: 5mm, Amazon
- Mid-Liner Foam: Pellon FF77 Sew-In, Wawak
- Standard #5 Zipper: Black on Black, My Handmade Space
- #5 Zipper Pull: Matte Black Ring, New Moxie
- Clear Vinyl: MyPunkBroidery
- YKK Molded Plastic Zips: from my stash
- Waterproof Zips & Pulls: #5 YKK Uretek Coil Zipper + Reverse Pulls, Black, Ripstop By The Roll
- Additional Zipper Pulls: Micro Insert Zipper Pull, Blaze Orange, Ripstop By The Roll
- Mesh: 4oz. Pocket Mesh, Ripstop By The Roll
- Webbing: 1″ and 2″ Black Seat Belt, from my stash
- Binding: 25mm Soft Stretch Petersham, Black, Ribbon Connections
- Sweary Sewist Label: Kylie and the Machine 2026 Sweary Sewist Advent Calendar
- Thread: Tex70, Siah Swag Bags
- Needles Used: 16, 18 & 20 135×17 Groz-Beckert
- Machine Used: Juki 1541S