Send the kids back to school in style!

Dear Sewing Superstar,

Here we are, right in the middle of summer, and what’s on our minds? For a lot of us, we’re already thinking about the kids heading back to school. Here at We Like Sewing, we think kids ought to have some special school supplies that will make them smile—and they’ll have you to thank for that homemade touch! Take a look inside our Best Back to School Collection.

Back-to-School Cool

Let’s start with an irresistible project for a special little one in your life. Forget about those expensive, store-bought backpacks that look like all the other backpacks out there. Make the Purr-fectly Pink Kids’ Backpack & get ready for big smiles! This adorable kitty backpack is packed with purr-sonality, in soft faux fur with a drawstring closure and custom kid-size straps. And who can resist that sweet little kitty face? This is one backpack that’ll really stand out!

Make a customized gift for your favorite bookworm. Our Pride and Pincushions Applique Book Bag features a shelf full of fabric books with witty sewing and literature puns you can customize to suit your recipient’s sense of humor. And even better, this project is beginner-friendly!

Book lovers will also love the Fully Booked Bookshelf Wall Hanging. Plus, it’s a scrapbuster’s dream. Stitch up your own little library with what you have in your scrap stash, or pick a custom color/pattern theme for someone special. Want to add some extra detail? Embroider titles onto your books. This wall hanging would make a great gift for a big reader in your family. Here’s to the bookworms!

Is there a little girl in your life who needs a pretty new dress for back to school? Our Amelia Girls Spring Dress is completely customizable, with three different pattern variations and sizes from 2T to girls’ size 8. Choose a Peter Pan or cloud collar, and add a scalloped hem for a sweet finish.

For some casual back-to-school style, you won’t want to pass up making our Bee Me Pocket Tee. This sweet little shirt is made with soft jersey fabric, sporting a comfy crew neck and a cute little front pocket. Embroider on itty-bitty bees and a whimsical message to finish off this adorable tee!

Old-school style is new again with our Addison Bomber Jacket. Our sporty fall jacket design is an updated version of the classic bomber jacket, complete with varsity-style letter. This black-and-white jacket looks great made in a heavy-duty fabric like wool or tweed.

A+ School Tools

So, what’s in your fabric stash? I bet you have enough scraps to piece together a reusable lunch bag that’s so much cuter than anything you’ll find at the store (and I bet it’ll last longer, too!). Plus, our Stashbuster Pinwheel Quilted Lunch Bag is a quilting stashbuster’s dream. Put the classic pinwheel pattern to excellent use to create the body of this bag. Each lunch bag will be unique—maybe you can let your back-to-schooler pick the pinwheel pieces!

While you’re at it, stay on the sustainable route and make some Snack Time Reusable Sandwich Bags. This is a great enviro-friendly alternative to the endless stream of plastic snack and sandwich bags, and it’s much more economical, too! Make these practical, reusable bags stand out with your choice of fun fabric; add embroidery for a personal touch.

Here’s another great way to use up your fabric scraps and make adorable back-to-school supplies at the same time. Our Shooting Stars Rainbow Zipper Pouch is totally customizable. Choose your color scheme and shoot for the stars! This is a quick pattern to make, so you might as well make a few while you have your sewing machine out. The hardest thing about making this pouch will be picking the fabric to showcase the star.

For tablet users, consider sewing up our Leisurely Scroll Quilted iPad Cover. Use a beautifully printed fabric in your student’s favorite colors to create a custom-made quilted case with a convenient Velcro closure. As fancy as this quilted case looks, it’s only a few hours of work. Once you’ve made one, you’ll be ready to field requests to make more!

One of the fun things about back-to-school time is including cute little extras along with pencils and notebooks. Put a smile on a child’s face with a cute little lip balm holder. Make a bunch of these Bring a Smile Emoji Lip Balm Cases as a fun attachment for backpacks and lunch boxes. You can stitch up these little felt cuties in no time—maybe make some extra for stocking stuffers. A little felt goes a long way!

For those times when long hair just needs to get out of the way, our All Tied Up Summer Scrunchies keep hair back in style any time of year! This project uses quilting cotton in cute prints you can pick to match the wearer’s wardrobe. A decorative tie finishes off this cute and useful accessory — and it looks great as a fabric bracelet, always at hand when you need it!

No expert sewing skills are required to make any of these projects in our Best Back to School Collection. Each pattern includes a detailed template, pattern notes, and a complete list of the tools and materials you need to succeed. All these projects are designed with smiles in mind! Get ready to sew up some super back-to-school gear!

Become a Charter Member of the We Like Sewing Gold Club today, and you’ll never run out of projects or inspiration! And right now, when you become a Gold Club Charter Member you will get instant access to printable, designer quilting and sewing patterns for home décor, quilts, bags, outfits, baby items, and so much more!

When you activate your We Like Sewing Gold Club Charter Membership today, you’ll get access to everything we have about sewing and quilting—all access, all the time:

Please act now, while this special offer is still in effect for you!

Happy Sewing!

Caitlin Eaton
Editor, We Like Sewing Magazine

P.S. Imagine having 24/7 access to hundreds of sewing patterns and articles, step-by-step instructions, and video tutorials to help you master any sewing project. All this and more can be yours when you become a Charter Member of the We Like Sewing Gold Club today!