10 types of stitches for custom travel backpack

Overview

When you’re crafting a Custom travel backpack, these ten stitching methods cover everything—basic seams, edge finishes, and top‑tier reinforcement. Each section lists Purpose, Tools & Settings, Key Points, and Steps.

1. Basting – Hold layers in place for fitting.
2. Lockstitch – Join panels for your bag’s main seams.
3. Overlock (Serger) – Trim edges and lock them in one go.
4. Topstitch – Flat seams that double as decoration.
5. Bar‑tack – Tiny, dense stitches where stress peaks.
6. Box‑X Stitch – A square plus “X” for handle strength.
7. Coverstitch – Stretch‑friendly hems with a clean finish.
8. Boxed Bottom Corners – Give your bag a flat, stand‑up base.
9. Interfacing – Fuse or sew in lining to add shape.
10. Buttonhole Stitch – Reinforced eyelets—no hardware needed.

1.Temporary fixing seam (Basting)

1. Purpose: Temporarily fix the layers of the backpack (fabric, lining, zipper) to facilitate alignment and adjustment.
2. Tools and settings: 80/12 ordinary machine needle, adjust the seam length to 4–5mm.
3. Key points: The fixing seams on the backpack are loose, easy to remove, and do not bear weight.
4. Steps:
   • Align the layers of the backpack and sew a straight line with a large seam length.
   • After confirming the position is correct, remove the fixing seams.

2.Chain stitch (Lockstitch)

1. Purpose: Sew the main seam of the backpack, such as the connection between the side panel and the bottom panel.
2. Tools and settings: Home sewing machine, 2.5mm straight stitch, needle size is selected according to the weight of the backpack fabric.
3. Key points: The upper and lower threads are interlocked, the backpack is firmly sewn and not easy to unravel.
4. Steps:
   • Adjust the tension to make the backpack stitch smooth.
   • Feed the cloth steadily and complete the chain stitch along the seam edge.

3.Overlock/Serger

1. Purpose: Trim and overlock the backpack fabric at one time to prevent unraveling.
2. Tools and settings: 3-5 thread overlock machine, equipped with sharp edge knife, needle size is determined by the backpack fabric.
3. Key points: High-speed overlocking, the edge of the backpack is beautiful and wear-resistant.
4. Steps:
   • Leave enough seam allowance for the backpack (about 3-5mm) and feed it into the overlock machine.
   • Adjust the height of the knife to ensure that the cut and the stitch are synchronized.

4.Topstitch

1. Purpose: Make parallel decorative seams on the surface of the backpack to flatten the seam edges and add beauty.
2. Tools and settings: Topstitch foot, 3mm stitches, can use contrasting color thread to highlight the details of the backpack.
3. Key points: The stitches are clear and flat, highlighting the edge contour of the backpack.
4. Steps:
   • Align the edge of the presser foot with the seam edge of the backpack.
   • Keep the fabric flat and sew at a steady speed.

5.Bar‑tack

1. Purpose: Reinforce high-stress locations on the backpack, such as shoulder strap connection points and zipper heads and tails.
2. Tools and settings: Bar‑tack mode on industrial reinforcement sewing machines, or wide zigzag stitches on home machines, with a seam distance of 1–2mm.
3. Key points: Short-distance back-and-forth intensive stitching, high strength at key points of the backpack.
4. Steps:
   • Align the stress point of the backpack with the center of the machine head.
   • Sew back and forth several times and then lock the seam.

6.Box-X Stitch

1. Purpose: Make a box and “X” stitch on the backpack handles and shoulder straps to disperse the tension.
2. Tools and settings: ordinary flat sewing machine, strong sewing thread, medium-coarse needle size suitable for backpack webbing.
3. Key points: The box + diagonal line makes the backpack handle more resistant to pulling.
4. Steps:
   • Mark the four corners of the box at the base of the backpack handle.
   • Sew the four sides, then rotate and sew the two diagonal lines.

7.Coverstitch

1. Purpose: Organize the elastic pockets or hems of the backpack, and cover the bottom edge of the fabric.
2. Tools and settings: Double-needle coverstitch machine or household double needle, stitch length 2.5–5mm, with Looper thread.
3. Key points: Parallel double lines on the top, cross-hemming on the bottom, good elasticity of the backpack mouth.
4. Steps:
   • Feed the edge of the backpack into the machine mouth.
   • Monitor the alignment of the double lines and feed the cloth evenly.

8.Boxed Bottom Corners

1. Purpose: Make a flat support for the bottom of the backpack so that the backpack can stand on its own.
2. Tools and settings: Home sewing machine, 2.5mm stitch.
3. Key points: Cut corners and sew flat, the bottom of the backpack is three-dimensional and stable.
4. Steps:
   • Cut out equilateral triangles at the bottom corners of the backpack.
   • Fold the triangle in half, sew the bottom edge and cut off the excess cloth corners.

9.Interfacing

1. Purpose: Add lining to the custom travel backpack pockets, flaps, and main body to improve stiffness and durability.
2. Tools and settings: hot-melt lining is bonded with iron, and sewing lining is done with straight stitches.
3. Key points: different weights can be selected, and the backpack parts are more stable and not easy to deform.
4. Steps:
   • Cut the lining to the same size as the backpack fabric.
   • Iron and bond or sew into the backpack structure.

10.Buttonhole Stitch

1. Purpose: Make drawstring holes or drainage holes on the backpack to enhance the wear resistance of the hole edges.
2. Tools and settings: Home machine buttonhole function or narrow zigzag stitch, with extremely short seam distance.
3. Key points: Tight ring stitching, the travel backpack hole edge is not easy to fall off.
4. Steps:
   • Mark the hole center and length on the backpack fabric.
   • Machine needle reciprocating or buttonhole mode lock stitch, back stitch lock thread.

With these tweaks, your Custom travel backpack will look handcrafted, feel robust, and carry your adventures in style.