Crochet Daytripper Backpack

You may remember the 2 kids backpacks I made for the back to school season last year, the Grayson Little Kid Backpack and the Aubrie Big Kid Backpack. They’re so cute!

This year, I wanted to make a backpack that works for moms on the go! This mini size backpack is perfect for holding a wallet, car keys, a compact, chapstick, and a few other goodies (like a few diapers and wipes – not for me, for my little person. Usually.)

I used Lion Brand Fast Track yarn for this project because of its chunky, bulkier weight and the cotton/polyester blend. This yarn is really durable with great stitch definition, making it great for a bag. I actually made my Mykonos Bag out of this yarn several months ago, carry it all the time, and it’s still holding up really well!

This backpack could easily be made bigger by adding a few more increasing rounds to the base and following the same basic stitch pattern up the body. It would take a little creativity, but it can be done! Personally, I like the mini look because it forces me to carry less stuff around with me that I don’t need. Plus aren’t all things cuter when they’re in miniature form?

And I have to talk about these straps for a moment – they aren’t actually backpack straps. They’re pre-made bag straps from Joann Stores called “Purse-analize it!” Straps. These things are like a godsend, y’all. They’re so durable and take your bag to the next level, they make your bags look so much more professional. I’m not being paid to say this, but you need these straps. That is all.

I used brown purse straps of this sort (attached a bit differently than on a usual purse) as backpack straps! I used a long piece of yarn to sew over the metal pieces of the purse handles and it was really easy to add such a stunning finishing touch. You can certainly crochet your own bag straps like I did on the kids backpacks linked above!

 

PATTERN

• Get the ad-free, large print, printable PDF pattern from Etsy HERE.
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• Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.

Materials:

-2 skeins Lion Brand Fast Track yarn in Jet Black

-Purse-analize it! brown straps (here is a good alternate from Amazon)

–Size K 6.5 mm crochet hook

–Dritz Home Cable Cord

–Large eye tapestry needle

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Base:

Ch 21, Sc in 2nd and across, 3 Sc in last st (next to slip knot), turn and work down the other side of your foundation chain, Sc in each, 2 Sc in last st, sl st to first st to join, Ch 1

Round 2: 2 Sc, Sc in next 19, 2 Sc in each of next 4, Sc in next 20, 2 Sc in next 2, sl st to join, Ch 1

Round 3: 2 Sc, Sc in next 22, 2 Sc in next 4, Sc in next 24, 2 Sc in last 2, sl st to join, Ch 1

Round 4: 2 Sc, Sc in next 24, 2 Sc, Sc, 2 Sc, Sc, 2 Sc, Sc, Sc 24, 2 Sc, Sc, 2 Sc, sl st to join, Ch 1

Round 5: 2 Sc, Sc in next 23, 2 Sc, Sc next 2, 2 Sc, Sc next 2, 2 Sc, Sc next 2, 2 Sc, Sc next 22, 2 Sc, Sc 2, 2 Sc, Sc 2, 2 Sc, sl st to join, Ch 1

Round 6: Sc in each around, sl st to join, Ch 1

Round 7: Back Loop Sc in each around, sl st to join, Ch 1

Body of the bag:

***Note: From this point on, work in a spiral and do not join rounds.

Round 8: *Sc, Ch 1, skip 1, repeat from * around

Round 9: *Sc in Ch 1 space, Ch 1, skip 1, repeat from * around

Rounds 10-36: Repeat Round 8

Round 37: Sc in each around (including Ch 1 spaces), finish off and weave ends

-Cut a piece of cable cord 3 feet long. Weave in and out of Round 35 every 4 Ch 1 spaces. Tie knots at the bottom of your cord, fray bottom and trim to your liking. Tie drawstring.

-Cut 4 long pieces of yarn and sew purse handles onto the back of your bag. I sewed mine while the bag lied flat, ungathered. Sew each strap 4 Rounds from the top and 2 Rounds from the bottom. Be sure your straps aren’t twisted and weave your ends well.