If you are planning on drawing or tie-dying your bag, you want a lighter background (e. g. white, cream, or light blue). Added colors will not show up on a dark background. Dark colors such as navy or black are better background colors if you are adding things like patches, beads, glitter, or other appliques.
Read any instructions carefully before starting any type of DIY or craft project. Do not be afraid to ask for help if needed, especially if you are inexperienced using a sewing machine, fabric dyes, or an exacto knife.
Purchase fabric pens or markers from a craft store. These come in different tip sizes, and the ink is designed to adhere to fabric. Regular permanent markers may fade or run overtime. [2] X Research source Iron over the decorated area on a medium setting to help the colors to set. Remember you can’t undo or erase your drawings. Make a sketch first on a piece of paper, and practice drawing with fabric markers on old jeans or a t-shirt before using them on your schoolbag.
Make sure the iron is turned on and set to “dry” (not steam) at low to mid heat. Slowly press down on the patch with the iron in an up and down motion (do not move back and forth) for 30 to 40 seconds. Make sure pressure is applied firmly and evenly. Finally, turn the school bag inside out and iron the opposite side for 20 to 30 seconds to reinforce the patch. Once the patch has cooled, slide your finger around the edges to make sure it is secure. Repeat ironing if needed.
Place the patch in desired location. Use a safety pin or straight pin to hold in place. Alternatively, you can secure the patch before sewing by using a brush to apply a thin, even coat of fabric craft glue to the back. Place patch in desired location and smooth out edges. Allow to dry for at least 1 hour before sewing. Once the patch is secured, set machine to make a tight stitch and sew around the periphery. If possible, use a multi-stitch zig zag setting to create a strong, tight stitch.
Cut a piece of thread that is no longer than 18 inches (45. 7 cm). Thread a needle and knot at one end. Start by placing the needle through the underlying fabric and pushing it through the patch. This will ensure the ends of the thread are hidden and not stick out from the patch. Stick the needle back through the patch and underlying fabric so it catches the edge of the patch. Pull the needle back through the fabric so the stitches are set not more than 1/4 inch apart. Repeat, stitching along the perimeter until the entire patch is sew on. Re-thread the needle as needed. When finished, knot the thread and pull needle through patch and fabric. Cut ends of thread and tuck under patch.
For certain hand beading, it is easier to have an embroidery hoop to help stabilize the fabric, keeping it taut so the beads will lay flat on the fabric. This way, you can have full visualization of the area that needs to be beaded. The easiest way to sew beads onto fabric is to have the right tools. Make sure your needle is thin enough to allow the bead to pass through. Some smaller beads might require smaller thinner or specialized beading needles. Draw a design or letters with chalk, or purchase a beadwork pattern from a craft or fabric store. Use a beading needle (these tend to be leaner and have smaller eyes than regular sewing needles) and select a size (10 to 15) based on your bead size. [4] X Research source Thread the needle and tie a knot at one end of your string. [5] X Research source Place needle underneath fabric and push through. Slide bead over needle and pull down length of thread until at fabric level. Push needle back through fabric alongside (not through center) of bead. Repeat 3 to 4 times so bead is secure before moving on to next bead. [6] X Research source When finished or need to re-thread, tie several knots in the thread on the inside of the schoolbag and tuck under adjacent threads. This will keep the knots hidden, and prevent ends from fraying. [7] X Research source
Sketch your pattern in chalk on your schoolbag. This way, you can wipe it off with water if you make a mistake. Glue the rhinestones on one at a time. If necessary, use tweezers to pick-up rhinestones. Use a toothpick to place a small drop of glue on the bottom of the stone and gently press it onto the fabric. Once all stones are glued on, let sit for 24 hours. While the glue should stabilize in about 1 hour, it takes an entire day to fully dry. [9] X Research source Simply re-glue any stones that fall off.
Decorate a small section or cover your entire schoolbag. Alternate horizontal and vertical strips to create a checkerboard pattern, or alternate diagonal strips to make a chevron design. Cut-out shapes (triangles, circles, squares, etc. ) by placing tape stick-side down on a self healing mat. Use a ruler and precision cutting tool, such as an exacto knife, to cut shapes. Gently lift off of mat using the tip of the blade and use your fingers to press evenly and firmly onto your schoolbag. [11] X Research source
Let dry for several hours before removing tape. Glitter can get messy, so it might be better to do this outside or over a drop cloth or newspapers. This will make it easier to clean-up when you are done. If you need to wash your schoolbag, hand wash it separately in a sink and let air dry. Placing it in a washing machine may cause the glitter to fall off and stick to other clothes.
Make your own stencil by drawing a design on cardstock or freezer paper. Use a marker to color in the areas that you want to cut out. Place the paper with your design on top of cardboard and carefully use an exacto knife to cut out the colored-in sections. Freezer paper works well for making stencils to use on fabric because it has a regular and glossy side. You can use a hot iron to fuse the glossy side to the fabric. When the paint is dry, you can simply peel off the stencil. [13] X Research source
Fill an old pot you no longer use for cooking food with enough water to cover the schoolbag but still allow it to move freely. Stir in dye (2/3 ounce of dye per 1 pound of fabric). [15] X Research source [16] X Research source Add schoolbag to water with dye. Heat water to 185 to 200 °F (85 to 93 °C) and let simmer for ten minutes. Add vinegar (1/4 cup vinegar per 1 pound of fabric). Maintain temperature and stir frequently for about 30 minutes. Turn-off burner and allow water and fabric to cool gradually. Remove schoolbag and wash in warm water with synthrapol or a professional textile detergent. Rinse schoolbag in cold water several times, or until water runs clear, to remove excess dye. Place in dryer on a “hot” setting to set the dye. [17] X Research source Check the manufacturer’s tag on your schoolbag to see what type of fabric it is made out of. If the schoolbag is nylon with a waterproof coating such as Gore-Tex, then you will not be able to dye it (the waterproofing will prevent any water and therefore dye from soaking into the fabric). [18] X Research source
You can buy mini sharpie marker key-chains. Hang these on your schoolbag so you and your friends can sign you name or draw designs at any time.
Look online for buttons from foreign countries or foreign sport teams. Keep a collection at home and change them up frequently to keep things interesting. Avoid anything with profanity or nudity, especially when at school. Always unpin any buttons prior to washing.
