Made from soft fleece fabrics with bright red straps and ladder lock buckles, our kangaroo backpack is just like the one Prince George was spotted with on William and Kate’s trip Down Under. The pouch conceals a joey comforter that can be taken out, cuddled and played with on long journeys. The zip opening on the back reveals a fully lined bag to stash all those essentials for a short trip to the shops or a long haul flight to Australia!
Make a kangaroo rucksack
Download your templates print and cut out. Pin the templates to camel fleece and cut out two heads, one centre head, four arms, four legs and two ear pieces, following the grain line as indicated on the pattern. Remember to reverse the templates to cut one head, back of arms and legs.
Pin the templates to cream fleece and cut out two ears, two soles and one pouch. Cut out a nose from brown fleece. Sew the dart into the cream ear section as indicated on the pattern. With right sides facing, pin camel and cream ear pieces right sides together and machine stitch. Turn the ear out and stuff lightly. Complete the other ear in the same way.
Sew in the neck darts as indicated on the pattern. With right sides facing, pin the side head section to the centre head piece and machine stitch into place. Pin the remaining side head to the centre head and sew. Pin from the nose down to the neck and machine stitch. With right sides facing, pin the nose into place and sew. Make small slits in the seam, as indicated on the pattern and insert large safety eyes. Secure by sewing up any gaps with strong thread.
Make small slits in the head for the ears, as indicated on the pattern. Pin the ears into place and hand sew, working over the same area several times to secure them. Turn the head the right way and stuff until nicely rounded. Sew running stitches around the opening of the neck and pull to create a small neck opening. Reduce the pattern to 70% and make the joey’s head in the same way.
With right sides facing, pin the leg sections together and machine stitch. Pin the sole to the leg and sew into place. Stuff lightly. Make the other foot in the same way. With right sides facing, pin the arm sections together and machine stitch. Stuff lightly and make the other arm in the same way.
Pin the template for the rucksack front to wadding and camel flee