{Troïka} Zippered foldtop backpack pattern

Modern and unisex, Troïka is a zippered foldtop backpack pattern, in 3 sizes. 

{Troïka} Zippered backpack for men and women

Troika is a zippered foldtop backpack in 3 sizes. You can give Troïka a city or hiking style, depending on your choice of fabrics.
Troika is secured by a zippered foldtop and a clip buckle.
Its shoulder straps are adjustable and padded for more comfort.
Troïka has 5 pockets : 2 zippered pockets outside + 1 divided pocket, 1 zippered pocket and 1 protective slip pocket for tablet or laptop, inside.

The pattern includes 3 sizes : Small, Medium and Large. The pics below will help you visualize the dimensions of these sizes.

• Troïka Small is suitable as a woman city backpack : width 22 cm (8 5/8″) x height 27 cm (10 5/8″) flap folded (flap unfolded: 36 cm – 14 1/8″) x depth 13 cm (5 1/8″). Tablet protective slip pocket 10.5″ maximum*
• Troïka Medium is an intermediate size of good capacity : width 26 cm (10 1/4″) x height 33 cm (13″) flap folded (flap unfolded: 44 cm – 17 3/8″) x depth 14 cm (5 1/2″). Laptop protective slip pocket 11″ to 13″ maximum*
• Troïka Large is the very roomy version : width 30 cm (11 7/8″) x height 40 cm (15 3/4″) flap folded (flap unfolded: 53 cm – 20 7/8″) x depth 15 cm (5 7/8″). Laptop protective slip pocket 13″ to 15″ maximum*

*Check your device measurements :

Choosing your fabric for Troïka

Troïka is the ideal pattern to use your cotton or synthetic canvas with!

You can also choose a lighter weight printed cotton (quilting cotton) that you will interface. This is what I did for one of the Small versions pictured on the page. It’s a very good option if your sewing machine doesn’t manage thicknesses well,… plus you’ll have a huge choice of prints!

Tutorials for Troïka buckles

The installations of the ladder lock buckles for the shoulder straps and the clip buckle closure are fully detailed in the instructions. But for an additional visual aid, for those for whom it would be a first installation, I added 2 tutorials with photos on the blog.

Photos

Troïka Large “Military” Canvas

• “Military” cotton canvas, olive and natural shades, not interfaced.
• Cotton webbing.
• The flexible foam was sewn on the pieces indicated in the pattern, but on the lining ones and not on the canvas ones. Personally I prefer basting the foam on the outer fabric, but I had to make this choice to avoid having too much thickness and to go easy on my home sewing machine.

Troïka Medium nylon canvas

• Synthetic nylon canvas in Camel and gold laminated foam, not interfaced. I had a flexible foam shortage during the stay-at-home order, so I used this laminated foam as the outer fabric back and bottom pieces, which are normally basted with flexible foam.
• Polypropylene webbing.

Troïka Small “Luggage” canvas

• Black “Luggage” canvas, not interfaced.
• Polypropylene webbing.
• Foam on the outer fabric pieces as instructed in the pattern.

Troïka Small quilting cotton

• Quilting cotton, interfaced with Vliesline/Vilene G700 (medium weight woven). The print is “A Ghastlie Gardenia” by Alexander Henry. Black “luggage” canvas bottom so it’s less prone to getting dirty.
• Cotton webbing.
• Foam on the outer fabric pieces as instructed in the pattern.

Troïka Small laminated polyester

• Laminated polyester, not interfaced. This fabric is “Dumb dot- laminate” by Michael Miller.
• Polypropylene webbing.
• Foam on the outer fabric pieces as instructed in the pattern.

Troïka backpack worn

The pics of the 3 Troika sizes were taken on a man measuring 1.85 m (6’1″) and on a 14 (and a half) year old teen measuring 1.58 m (5’2″).

Some of your Troïka backpacks

These are the latest foldtop backpacks sewn by you, using the Troïka backpack pattern.
View more here on Pinterest.

Thanks

To the testers DreamTeam  : Camille Camille M’craft, Caro Folies de Cajumy, Chantal Chantal New Style, Cyrielle Les mains en l’air, Dado Dado Créa, Julia J. l’Atelier 24, Manu Les Créas d’Ema, Marion Mes CreAJe, Nicole L’atelier d’Au, O’Kryn O’Kryn Prod, Rozenn Petit monde de Rozenn, Sophie Epik et Laurence et Guylaine La Mercerie des Créateurs.

Thanks also to Maria aka Velosews for proofreading the English version of the instructions and to Eléa and Frédéric for modeling for the pictures.

Buy the Troïka backpack pattern

You can buy the pattern in the shop.

Needed supplies are listed on the “supplies” tabs

This pattern is available as a downloadable pdf only. Help page.