Striped Mini-Backpack – Free Crochet Backpack Pattern

Note: Rounds 1 – 4 & Rounds 21 – 35 are worked in continuous rounds (a spiral). Do not join at the end of each round, instead use a scrap piece of yarn or a stitch marker to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move your marker up as you complete each round.

Rnd 1 (RS): With white, ch 1, sc in each st around. (96 sts)

Rnds 2 – 3: Do not ch, sc in each st around. Do not join.

Rnd 4: Do not ch, sc in each st around. Join w/ a sl st to the 1st st. *Change colors to Aqua. Fasten off White.

• Use locking stitch markers to mark the 30 centermost stitches along the front and back of the bag (long edges).
• The side where your rounds begin/end will become the back side of the backpack.

Continue on to the Front & Back Panels.

Note: The front and back panels are identical so it doesn’t matter which one you begin with.

Row 1 (RS): With the RS and the front or back facing you, join white yarn w/ a sc (click here for tutorial) in the stitch marked with a stitch marker on the right, sc in each st across to the next stitch marker, sc in the stitch marked with the second stitch marker. Turn. (30 sts)

Row 2: Do not ch, inverse sc (click here for tutorial) in each st across. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 4 – 7: Rep Rows 2 – 3.

Row 8: Skip the 1st st, do not ch, inverse sc in each st across to the last st, skip the last st. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 9: Ch 1, skip the first st, sc in the next st, sc in each st across to the last st, skip the last st. Turn. (26 sts)

Rows 10 – 13: Rep Rows 8 – 9. Stitch count decreases by 2 sts each row. (18 sts at the end of Row 13)

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Repeat for the second panel then continue on to Zipper Panels.

Row 1 (RS): With white yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 8, working into the back hump of the ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn.  (7 sts)

Row 2: Do not ch, inverse sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 4 – 45: Rep Rows 2 – 3.

Note: Before you continue on to edging, check the length of your zipper panel against the arch of the front or back panels. Make sure they’re the same length (or relatively close). If needed, adjust the length of your zipper panel by adding more rows in multiples of 2, or shorten the length by removing rows in multiples of 2. Make sure to end with a RS row (a row of regular sc).

Do not fasten off. Switch to Pink yarn. Continue on to Zipper Panel Edging.

Tip! When working Row 1, if the long edge becomes wavy, you may want to consider going down a hook size. If the long edge starts to cinch inward, you may want to go up a hook size.

Row 1 (RS): With pink yarn, continuing on from Zipper Panel, rotate piece to work into the sides of the rows along the long edge, work 1 sc into the side of each row. Stitch Count isn’t crucial.

Fasten off pink yarn. Do not turn.

Row 2: With yellow yarn, join with a sl st in the BLO of the first st of Row 1, BLO sl st in each st across.

Fasten off yellow yarn. Do not turn.

Row 3: With blue yarn, join with a sl st in the BLO of the first st of Row 2, BLO sl st in each st across.

Fasten off blue yarn.

Weave in ends. Make the second zipper panel, edge it,  then continue on to Attaching the Zipper to the Zipper Panels.

• Click HERE to see my Super Easy Way to Add a Zipper Tutorial.
• Gather your supplies: Use the zipper length suggested in the pattern. You’ll also need thread to coordinate with the yarn you used for your backpack (I used white thread), a sewing needle, and pins.
• Center one long edge of the zipper along the long edge of the zipper panel that has the colorful edging. With the RS of the zipper facing up, pin it to the WS of the zipper panel, every couple inches, to hold it in place while you sew it on.
• Using a needle and thread, knot your thread, then beginning on the WS of the zipper panel, sew the zipper to the zipper panel using a basting stitch. Weave in ends and fasten off. Note: I worked only one row of stitches to secure my zipper to the zipper panel, you may choose to work 2 rows of parallel basting stitches per side if you’re worried about strength.
• How to work a basting (or tack) stitch: Make evenly spaced stitches by working the needle in and out of the fabric from top to bottom. End on the inside of your project with a knot. Click HERE to see more close-up photos of the basting stitch in my How to Add a Zipper tutorial.
• After you’ve sewn the zipper to one of the zipper panels, open it up and pin the opposite side to the second zipper panel (along the long edge with the colorful edging) and sew it on in the same manner.

Note: When attaching the zipper assembly to the front & back panels, make sure to position the backpack so that you can whipstitch on the WS of it.

Tip! You may find it easier to line up the edges in step 1 on the RS of the backpack and then switch to the WS for seaming.

Step 1: Line up the long edge of the zipper panel (opposite the zipper) with the arch of a front or back panel. Use stitch markers to hold it in place.

• First, line up the corners of the zipper assembly with the bottom of the arch. See green stitch markers.
• Second, line up the center edge of the zipper assembly with the top center of the arch on the front or back panel.
• Third, line up the zipper assembly with the top “corners” of the arch.
• I used a total of 5 stitch markers to hold my zipper assembly in place.

Step 2: Cut piece of yarn 3.5 times the length of the arch. Use a yarn needle and piece of yarn just cut and whipstitch the long edge of the zipper assembly to the arch of the front or back panel.

• Make sure to pull both ends of the yarn tight, every inch or two, as you whipstitch so the seam is nice and tight.

Step 3: Using a 10″ piece of yarn, whipstitch the short edges of the zipper assembly to the sides of the backpack. You should have 7 sts to the right and left of the zipper to whipstitch on each end.

Step 4: You should be left with a small opening along the short edge of the zipper assembly where the zipper is. Use a pin to pin it in place. Then, use a needle and thread to sew this small opening closed.

Row 1: With white yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 25, working into the back hump of the ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn. (24 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across.

Fasten off leaving a 10″ piece of yarn for sewing. Continue on to Attaching the Hanging Loop.

Fold the hanging loop in half. With the back of the backpack facing you, pin the short edges of the hanging loop to the upper center of the back panel (approximately 2 – 3 rows from the top edge). Using a yarn needle and tail of yarn, sew the hanging loop onto the backpack.

Weave in ends. Continue on to Crochet Rope Instructions.

Use the Crochet Rope Instructions found HERE to make 2 crochet rope straps for your mini-backpack.

Rep Rnd 3 of the crochet rope instructions until your crocheted rope measures 17″ – 18″ long, or desired length.

Fasten off leaving a 12″ tail of yarn for sewing. Repeat for the 2nd crocheted rope then continue on to Attaching the Straps.

• With the back side of the backpack facing you, use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to sew one end of each strap, onto the back of the backpack, just under the hanging loop.
• With a yarn needle and tail of yarn, sew the opposite ends of the straps to the bottom left or right corners of the bag.

Weave in ends. Continue on to make a Tassel to hang from the zipper pull, if desired.