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Simple Homemade

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Home » Backpack Tag Tutorial

Backpack Tag Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This tutorial for a handmade back to school Backpack Tag shows how to make a custom ID tag for information such as teacher, bus number and phone number.

backpack tag with student information

When my kids go back to school, I am always worried they will not remember their room number or bus number and get lost.  I know that the teachers are looking out for all the kids but I want my kids to feel confident that they know where they are supposed to go too! 

So, I always make them a notecard with their information on it and stick it in their backpack. This year I decided to make a fabric tag to house the small note!

Backpack Tag Tutorial

>backpack tag assembly

Cut out:
(2) 4×6 inch pieces of fabric with the corners clipped on one end
(1) 4×5 inch piece of fabric
(1) 2×31/2 inch piece of heavy plastic or vinyl

nylon cord between layers

Cut (1) 7-inch long piece of nylon cording (or ribbon) and sandwich it between the two 4×6 inch pieces, right sides together.

sew around edges leaving an opening

Sew around the edge of the piece, leaving an opening on one side.  Then, clip the corners and make small clips at the 2 wide angles (one is by the T in The).

turn tag inside out

Turn the piece right side out and push out corners with a scissor tip.

topstitch around tag

Press flat and topstitch around the piece (backstitch a few times on the nylon cording to help hold it in place)

vinyl layer

Center the piece of vinyl on the 4×5 inch piece of fabric.  Fold the fabric edges over the plastic with a double fold so the seams are tucked inside.  Pin the folds in place if it helps.

sew vinyl

Sew the fabric edges onto the vinyl.

cut off excess fabric

Flip over and cut away the fabric being extra careful not to cut the plastic.

clear framed window

Now it’s a clear, framed window!!

attach both pieces of tag

Sew the window onto the backpack tag leaving the right side OPEN so you can slide the information sheet inside!  I sewed it twice and you can see how right side is not stitched so many times.

insert contact info

Print or write your child’s information onto a 2×3 inch piece of paper and slide it in behind the window. (I also like to include me and my husband’s cell phone numbers on the back)

put loop through zipper

Attach the backpack tag to your child’s backpack by putting the nylon cord loop through the zipper pull…

put tag through loop

…putting the backpack tag through the loop…

polka dot backpack tag on a blue backpack

…pulling it tight.

(It is actually easier to put the piece of paper in now!)

polka dot backpack tag on a blue backpack

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cindy says

    August 30, 2011 at 1:42 am

    I will be making this for my son’s backpack this year.

    Thanks for a great tutorial! I’ve linked you to my blog, SEW that!

    http://www.sewthat.blogspot.com

    Reply
  2. Tanya Anurag says

    August 11, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    Thanks for linking. The party for this week – Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner – is on. Hope to see you there with latest posts.
    http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-2-and-features.html

    Reply
  3. Melanie @ bear rabbit bear says

    August 8, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    How cute! Thanks so much for sharing!

    I’d love to have you visit our first linky party this Thursday! It’s a party specifically for kids and teenagers craft and other ideas, so your idea will be absolutely perfect! Hope you’ll stop by!

    bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. Tanya Anurag says

    August 8, 2011 at 6:58 am

    This is so cool. With all these awesome sewing ideas afloat in blogland, I am inspired to learn sewing.

    I am hosting my first link-up party – Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner. Would be glad to see some of your awesome posts there. Hope to see you at the party.

    http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/celebrating-one-party-time.html

    Reply
  5. Rachel says

    August 8, 2011 at 12:35 am

    These are so cute! Your tutorial is also easy to follow. I love the fabric.
    I would love it if you would stop by and link this up to the crafty link party going on now at Lines Across My Face.
    🙂 Rachel
    http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/08/cure-for-common-monday-3-craft-link.html

    Reply
  6. Amanda says

    August 7, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    What a cute idea, and just change the fabric for boys or girls, love that!

    I run Fun Family Crafts, a site similar in nature to Craftgawker and Spotlight, but different in that it’s a library of craft tutorials geared only at kids. I would love it if you’d stop by and submit this to be featured! (I link to you, I don’t post your tutorial on the site) Feel free to submit as many kid friendly craft tutorials as you like! http://funfamilycrafts.com/

    Reply
  7. Natasha says

    August 6, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    Great idea!! i could do with some of these when my son goes back to school in September

    Reply
  8. KooKooCraft says

    August 6, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    I love it!

    Reply
  9. Tracy @ CraftJunkieToo.com says

    August 5, 2011 at 2:50 am

    Hopping over from Ladybug Blessings linky party….What a wonderful crafty project :)I’d like to invite you to link your projects up at my weekly linking party at Craft Junkie Too. We’d love to have fabulous projects to share….:)TracyT.G.I.F. Linky Party at Craft Junkie Too

    Reply
  10. www.StarHughes.com says

    August 3, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    LOVE this idea! I definitely want to do this for some of my suitcases! So cute, and I’ll be able to tell which bag is mine so easily too!

    Reply
  11. Ashley@EisyMorgan says

    August 3, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    Great idea! People are already commenting to me about them at my party:) Thanks for linking up!

    Reply
  12. cindy says

    August 3, 2011 at 3:40 am

    I’ve been looking for a tutorial on luggage tags, but didn’t think about backpack tags! My kids will love this for school on Monday! Thanks.

    Reply
  13. The Miller's @ Prezidential Life says

    August 2, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Thanks for sharing that with us!
    the fabric is so fun! That would be perfect for luggage too! I even want one for mine 🙂

    thanks again!

    The Miller’s
    Prezidential Life

    Reply

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