Crochet Backpack: A Drawstring Mini Backpack with Flap
A round-bottom mini backpack with a drawstring top, a button flap and two adjustable shoulder straps sewn to the base. Firm moss stitch in cotton. Fits a tablet mini, wallet and a water bottle.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Intermediate
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) cotton, about 450 yd
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- About 10 hours
- Finished size
- About 7 in across × 11 in tall (18 × 28 cm)
You'll need
- Worsted (#4) cotton — about 450 yd
- 5 mm (H-8) hook
- One large button
- Two strap sliders (optional)
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
In this post
A crochet backpack is a bucket bag with two straps and a flap. You make a flat round base, work straight sides in moss stitch, add an eyelet round for a drawstring, then crochet a flap at the back that folds over the top and buttons. Two straps run from the top back to the bottom corners of the base, so it sits straight on the back.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
Base and body
- Base, Rnds 1–14: 6 sc in a magic ring and increase 6 per round (staggered), joining each round, up to (12 sc, inc) × 6. (84)
- Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in the back loop only of each st. Join. (84)
- Rnd 16: Ch 1, (sc, ch 1, skip 1) around. Join. (42 sc + 42 ch-1)
- Rnds 17–62: Sl st into the first ch-1 space, ch 1, (sc in the ch-1 space, ch 1) around. Join. The body should be about 11 in tall.
- Rnd 63 (eyelets): Ch 4, skip the next sc, *dc in the next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip the next sc* around. Join. (42 eyelets)
- Rnds 64–65: Sc in each st and space, then sl st around. (84)
Flap and straps
- Flap: At the back, join yarn and work sc rows on the centre 24 sts for 22 rows. Decrease 1 st at each end of the last 6 rows. Ch 10 at the centre of the last row for a button loop.
- Straps (make 2): Ch 9, sc 8 per row for about 30 in. Sl st along both edges.
- Attach: Sew the top ends of both straps side by side at the back, just under the flap. Sew the bottom ends to the base at the back, about 3 in apart from the centre on each side.
- Drawstring: Ch 140, sl st back along it, thread through the eyelets and knot.
- Sew the button to the front, where the flap loop lands.
Sizes
| Size | Base sts | Moss rounds | Strap length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids | 66 | 34 | 22 in |
| Mini (this pattern) | 84 | 46 | 30 in |
| Large | 102 | 60 | 34 in |
Strap lengths are a starting point; adjustable straps with sliders fit everyone (see the bag strap guide). For a simpler bag with cords as straps, try the drawstring bag. For moss stitch basics, see the moss stitch tutorial.
Common questions
How do you attach straps to a crochet backpack?
Sew the top ends together at the centre back, just below the opening, and the bottom ends to the base, a few inches apart. Sew each end with several rows of whipstitch.
Will a crochet backpack stretch?
Moss stitch in cotton stretches very little. Add a fabric lining if you'll carry heavy books.
How much yarn does a crochet backpack use?
About 450 yards of worsted cotton for this mini size, including the straps and flap.
School, travel or weekend backpack? 🎒
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