Ready for the Summer Backpack

Free Crochet Pattern.

Well the summer is about to start here in New Zealand and if you're an enthusiastic yarn shopper like me, you'll have plenty left over. This backpack is easy to make and you can have fun choosing and combining different colour yarns. 

Now I won't lie to you, I didn't exactly invent anything new here, in fact I borrowed the shoulder straps from this pattern. They are also used to tighten the opening on the backpack. And I was inspired by the amazing colours of this one. 

The bottom measures 21 cm across and the bag is 40 cm tall. That's big enough to carry a beach towel, but you can make yours smaller or even bigger. Simply change the number of rows on the bottom and/or on the entire backpack.

That's the beauty of this pattern, any yarn will do and you can make it any size you like.

Let's get started

You'll need a 4 mm crochet hook, about 200 g of 8 ply yarn, 100 g 12 ply yarn, 2 buttons and a yarn needle.

I've used a 12 ply yarn for the bottom because I wanted it to be thick and keep it's shape. Normally you'd use a 5.5 mm hook with that yarn. If you're using a different weight yarn, just make sure to use a slightly smaller hook size for the same effect. Ch 1 and 2 do not count as first sc/dc, so you'll be putting the first sc/dc into the same stitch as the ch 1 or 2.

The backpack is worked into rounds, so no turning.

Aberrations: ch - chain, sc - single crochet, st - stitch, sl st - slip stitch, MR - magic ring, dc - double crochet, dc2tog - double crochet 2 together.

Bottom

Beginning: MR, 6 sc, tighten off, sl st into the 1st sc and ch 1 (6 sc) 

Row 1: 2 sc in each st around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (12 sc)

Row 2: 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in the next, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (18 sc)

Row 3: 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in the next 2 st, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (24 sc)

Row 4: 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in the next 3 st, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (30 sc)

Row 5: 2 sc in the 1st st, 1 sc in the next 4 st, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (36 sc)

Row 6: 2 sc in the 1st st, 1 sc in the next 5 st, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (42 sc)

Row 7: 2 sc in the 1st st, 1 sc in the next 6 st, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (48 sc)

See the pattern here? I'm sure you do. Keep doing this until you get to row 20.

Row 20: 2 sc in the 1st st, 1 sc in the next 19, repeat the form around, sl st into the 1st st and ch 1 (126 sc)

Backpack

I have changed colours  in every 2 rows.

Row 1: ch 2, (back loops only) 1 dc in each stitch around, sl st into the 1st st (126 dc)

Row 2 - 36: ch 2, 1 dc in each stitch around (126 dc)

Row 37: ch 2, 1 dc in the next 6 st, ch 2, skip next 2 st, *dc in the next 13 st, ch 2, skip next 2 st* repeat * * form 7 times, dc in the next 6 st, sl st into the 1st st (103 dc and 8 ch 2 spaces) This is where the shoulder straps will go.

Row 38: ch 2, 1 dc in each st around and 1 dc into the each ch 2 space (111 dc)

Row 39: ch 1, 1 sc in each st around. (111 sc) Fasten off.

Flap

With the back side of the bag facing you join yarn in the 96th st of the row 39.

Row 1 - 13: ch 2, dc in the next 30 st, turn (30 dc)

Row 14: ch 2, dc in the next 14 st, ch 2 skip next 2 st, dc in the next 14 st, turn. (28 dc, 1 ch 2 space)

Row 15: ch 2, dc2tog, dc in the next 12 st, 1 dc in the ch 2 space, dc in the next 12 st, dc2tog. Fasten off.  (27 dc)

Edging: sc around the flap.

Shoulder straps

Make 4

Beginning: ch 101
Row 1: (colour 1) 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (100 sc)
Row 2: (change colour) ch 2, turn, 1 dc in each st across (100 dc)
Row 3: (change back to colour 1) ch 1, turn 1 sc in each st across (100 sc)

Sow 2 straps together to make them firm. Attach the flaps to the lower part of the backpack and pull them through the ch 2 spaces in the 37th row.

Pocket

Beginning: ch 19

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc across, turn (18 sc)

Row 2: ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, 1 sc in the next 16 st, 2 sc in the last st, turn. (20 sc)

Row 3: ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, 1 sc in the next 16 st, 2 sc in the last st, turn. (22 sc)

Row 4 - 24: ch 1, sc across, turn. (22 sc)

Fasten off at the end of row 24.

Edging: sc around the pocket.

Sow the pocket onto the backpack according to photo.

Pocket Flap

Beginning: ch 19

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc across, turn (18 sc)

Row 2: ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 7 st, ch 2 skip next 2 st, sc in the next 7 st, 2 sc in the last st, turn. (19 sc, 1 ch 2 space) 

Row 3: ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 8, 1 sc in the ch 2 space, sc in the next 8 st, 2 sc in the last, turn. (21 sc)

Row 4 - 10: ch 1, sc across. (21 sc)

Fasten off at the end of row 10.

Edging: sc around the pocket flap.

Sow the pocket flap above the pocket leaving some space between them.

I have never written a crochet pattern before, so please let me know if there is anything that could be explained better or if you spot any mistakes. Hopefully everything is written clearly and you'll be able to follow. Any feedback is most appreciated!