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Pandalicious1

I am so excited to join the Pandalicious tour today!
Make sure to enter the awesome giveaway for a copy of the, Linen, Wool, Cotton Kids pattern book along with 2 yards of Hidden Panda Cottonbud in knit! There will be additional prizes on each stop along the tour. Today you can WIN your choice of a Chalk and Notch pattern. All prize details are at the end of this post.

Check out the awesome Tour lineup.

I was at Quilt Market in May working with UpCraft Club when I had my first look at the Art Gallery, Pandalicious Collection by Katarina Roccella. I had the pleasure of meeting Katarina and totally geeked out and introduced myself as a huge fan. She was lovely and I was probably super embarrassing but I’m glad I said hello. Later when my friend Karly of Paisley Roots invited me to join the tour, I was so honored to be asked and excited to create a project with this fantastic fabric that I had been admiring!

What I love about all of the collections that Katarina designs for Art Gallery is the fun graphic nature of her prints and the Pandalicious line is no exception. I was drawn to the Pandalings Pod print which is offered in Cotton, Voile, Knit & Canvas, so you can pretty much make anything with all of the substrates offered. I’m excited about using some knit fabric from this line for another project. If you have sewn with Art Gallery knits before you know the quality is awesome and so easy to work with.

PANDALICIOUS COLLECTION

As I was thinking about summer and the small weekend trips we have planned. I thought it would be fun to use the Canvas for a backpack for my kids. I used a Japanese pattern from the book A Sunny Spot from the Heart Warming Life Series. I paired the Pandalings Pod print in Canvas with the Hidden Panda Cottonbud in Cotton and I love the result. I took my kids to a wooded trail near our house and they had so much fun running around collecting treasures to put in the backpack. I couldn’t just make a backpack, so I paired this backpack with a dress because I’m super practical. I chose another Japanese pattern, this time from the Kana’s Standard for Kids. I used Tentative Dot Ink from Katarina Roccella’s AvantGarde Collection from my stash. I love how even though these fabrics are from different collections they still work great together.

PATTERNS USED

  • A Sunny Spot

Just a heads-up, both of these pattern books are in Japanese. For the backpack you are given the pattern dimensions with a diagram (the pattern is not included). I was able to follow along but it did take some time to figure things out. I made a few pattern adjustments to the backpack after making a test sample. Here are my adjustments for reference.

– I increased the overall size. The size worked – as is, for a toddler – but for my older kids, I thought they could use a little more room.
– I added a welt pocket using neon elastic and used the same elastic for the hook strap and a small piece for a tab on the flap.
– I padded the straps to make them more cozy. I also made the straps a fixed length, but that was mostly because I didn’t want to take all my kids to the fabric store to buy the correct strap notions!

– For fun, I used mini pom poms attached to 1/2″ elastic for the interior closure, instead of a drawstring. Admittedly the pom poms are not super practical so I might have to switch that out at some point.

For the Dress, I added the dress length from Pattern A to the A-5 View. I sewed the smallest size 100 for my 4 year old.

Overall I am really happy with the way this outfit  turned out and I already have “orders” for a few more of these backpacks. Apparently my husband is in need of a soccer bag…I’m getting right on that…

I hope you get a chance to check out the rest of the Tour!

You can see the whole line here: Pandalicious Line
And check out the Pandalicious Look Book!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

Enter the Rafflecopter to win:

Linen, Wool, Cotton Kids pattern book along with 2 yards of Hidden Panda Cottonbud in knit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter to WIN a CHALK AND NOTCH Pattern:

All you have to do is leave a blog comment below.

This blog post was sponsored by Art Gallery Fabrics. I have received fabric, but as always all opinions remain my own.

Thanks for following along on this tour!
Gabriela

Comments (34)

  1. Sarah Stanford
    4 years ago

    Cute backpack! I really like the pops of orange.

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Thank you Sarah!

      Reply
  2. Cassy Gobin
    4 years ago

    I love how your bag turned out! The pop of orange is great too! I am so impressed that you made something from a book written in Japanese! I don’t think I would tackle that.. Ever. 🙂

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      When you have the pattern it’s pretty straight forward…having to draft made my brain work for sure but you could totally do it!! I promise 🙂

      Reply
  3. Molly K
    4 years ago

    I love that backpack! After seeing one in the fabric line’s look book, I decided I needed a panda print backpack too! The orange pops look great on yours!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Yes, Molly -you will love it 🙂 Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Katarina
    4 years ago

    Stunning work Gabriela!!! Thank you so much for your beautiful creations and kindest words????????

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      That’s so sweet of you to say Katarina! It was my pleasure to work with this gorgeous fabric!!

      Reply
  5. fenna
    4 years ago

    Very cute backpack!! And that fabric looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Emi
    4 years ago

    The backpack is totally adorable, and yep — now that my daughters have seen it, they definitely want one each! I think I will be coming to you for tips now… 😉

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Sorry to add more to your to-sew list but I think you will love it 🙂 and you won’t need my help!!

      Reply
  7. Lizzy/lunik
    4 years ago

    I love the dress, the fabric is gorgeous!!! Bravo!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Thank you!! XO

      Reply
  8. Karly Nelson
    4 years ago

    I adore this little back pack! Thank you so much for being on tour Gabriela!!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Thank you Karly, it was my pleasure!

      Reply
  9. Leanne
    4 years ago

    Such a sweet backpack! My girls would love to have their own!!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      4 years ago

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Mie
    4 years ago

    Gah, sorry it took me so long to come over but MAN, what a lovely post. I LOVE both things that you have made and of course, now I want that Kana’s Standard for Kids book too 😉 That dress is SO cool!! and I have totally wanted to make that backpack too. And who knew that your husband wanted a panda backpack for soccer?! hehehe

    Reply
  11. Gabriela
    4 years ago

    Thank you for coming by! I know…it’s a good one 🙂 I’m not sure he was planning on a panda one…but maybe 😉

    Reply
  12. jeanine
    4 years ago

    I adore that backpack! super cute and perfect fabric for it!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      Thank you Jeanine!

      Reply
  13. Cindy
    4 years ago

    Oh man! Love the panda backpack! This is such a great back to school inspiration. I’m overflowing with ideas from this tour. LOVE IT!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      Thank you Cindy! This tour was so fun be on – so many talented ladies!

      Reply
  14. Melyana
    4 years ago

    Gorgeous backpack. Making bags is not really my call, I have great fear on sewing over thick fabrics but now, you may have changed my mind

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      You should try Melyana, it’s not so bad (just change to a heavy duty needle).

      Reply
  15. Joyce Reinert
    4 years ago

    Great backpack!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      Thank you Joyce!

      Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      *Congrats Joyce – you are the winner of a Chalk and Notch pattern! I have emailed you the coupon code. Please feel free to reach out if you have not received it.*

      Reply
  16. boevenbende
    4 years ago

    Love both dress and backpack!

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  17. Laura
    3 years ago

    That bag is gorgeous Gabriela! I’d be very happy to have one just like it. What a great idea to use another of Katarina’s prints, that dress is an absolute stunner. You’ve just added two more Japanese pattern books to my wishlist, you big enabler 🙂

    Reply
    • Gabriela
      3 years ago

      Thank you Laura! Oh no! Sorry…they are really great books though 🙂 LOL

      Reply
  18. Nelleke
    3 years ago

    Yay, I love your panda’s! :). The dress is so cute!!! Xoxo

    Reply

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