• For this crochet backpack pattern, we will be working in rounds.

Sunburst Granny Square:

• Make x14 for the crochet backpack pattern.
• Round 1: Using the 5mm hook, make a magic ring, then ch x3 (this counts as a dc) and dc x15 into the ring. Then sl st to the top of the chains that you made at the beginning to close the round (16).
• Round 2: Ch x2 and in the same stitch make a modified puff stitch. To make a puff stitch you will yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over again and pull up a loop (you have 3 loops on your hook).
• Now yarn over, insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over again and pull up a loop (you have 5 loops on your hook). You can now yarn over and pull through all 5 loops. Then make a chain.
• *In the next stitch make a puff stitch like before but repeat the yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, step 1 more time so you have 7 loops on the hook. Then yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on the hook. Ch x1.*
• Repeat from *. Sl st to the first puff stitch to close the round. (16 puffs + 16 ch)
• Round 3: Make a sl st into the ch space. Ch x2 and then make a 3-dc cluster in the same stitch.
• To make a 3-dc cluster: *yarn over, insert hook into the stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Then yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Repeat from * two more times, always inserting into the same stitch or space. You'll have 4 loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through all 4 loops.
• Then ch x2 and *make a 4-dc cluster (5 loops on the hook) in the next available stitch. Ch x2. Repeat from * for the rest of the round. Then when you get to the end of the round make a sl st to the top of the first dc cluster stitch. (16 dc clusters + 16 ch x2 spaces)
• Round 4: Now we will square off the sunburst granny square.
• Sl st into the ch x2 space from the round below. Then ch x3 and tr x2 into the ch space. In the next ch x2 space dc x3. In the following ch x2 spaces complete the following: hdc x3, dc x3,
• *tr x3 + ch x3 + tr x3 (this is a corner), dc x3, hdc x3, dc x3*
• Repeat from * 2 more times. When you get to the half corner that was done in the beginning of the round, go ahead and tr x3 and ch x3 into that corner then sl st to the top of the first ch x3 (which acts as a triple crochet). (60 + 4 ch x3 spaces)

Building the Bag:

• Sew the squares together by following the layout in the picture.

  Making a liner for the bag: At this point, this is where you would make a liner for the crochet backpack pattern. Lay the flat sewn squares on top of fabric, cut out, and leave a ½ inch seam allowance. Then sew the side seams together. Set aside for now. Okay now back to the crocheting.

  Once they are sewn together flat like above, sew the side seams of the bag so it becomes a proper bag with 2 granny squares on the bottom, 4 on the front and back and 2 on the sides.
• Once the bag is sewn together we are ready to begin crocheting the top of the bag.
• Round 1: Join the pink yarn to the top of the bag (anywhere is fine), then ch x3. Dc in the next stitch. Continue making dc stitches in every top stitch of the bag. When you get to the end of the round, sl st to the ch x3 at the beginning.
• Round 2: Ch x3 and then dc in every stitch. When you get to the end of the round, sl st to the ch x3 at the beginning.
• Round 3: This is the round we will make spaces for the drawstring. Ch x1 then in the next stitch make a hdc. Hdc another 4 times then ch x1 and skip the next stitch. *Hdc x5, then ch x1 and skip the next stitch*. Repeat from * for the rest of the round. When you get to the end of the round sl st to the first hdc in the round. If this round does not evenly divide, that's okay - it shouldn’t make a noticeable difference.
• Round 4: Ch x3 and then dc in every stitch. When you get to the end of the round, sl st to the ch x3 at the beginning. Fasten off and weave in any ends.

Large Sunburst Granny Square Lid:

• With the pink yarn, repeat the first 3 rounds of the normal sunburst granny square we did for the base of the bag.
• Round 4: Sl st to the ch space from the round below, then ch x2 and then make a 4-dc cluster in the same ch space (5 loops on hook). After, ch x3.
• *In the next ch space make a 5-dc cluster and then ch x3.* Repeat from * for the rest of the round (16 clusters + 16 ch x3 spaces). Sl st to the top of the 4-dc cluster to close the round.
• Round 5: Sl st to the ch space and then ch x3. Tr x2 into the same ch space. Then in the next ch space dc x4. In the following ch spaces follow this sequence: hdc x4, dc x4, tr x3 + ch x3 + trx3 (this is a corner), now dc x4 for every ch space. When you get to the beginning ch space, tr x3 and ch x3, then sl st to the top of the beginning ch x3 (it acts as a triple crochet).
• Round 6: Ch x2 and then dc in every stitch on the straight side of the lid. When you get to the corners, dc x2 + ch x2 + dc x2. For the rest of the clusters dc into the top of the stitches from the previous round but add an increase to one of the stitches per cluster that you are working into.
• When you get to the end of the round sl st to the ch x2. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
• Round 7: With white yarn, join the yarn to the side of the backpack lid, near the straight edge and make a shell stitch. A shell stitch is completed by Skipping a stitch, dc x5 into 1 stitch, skip a stitch and then sc into the next stitch. You will repeat this until you reach the other side of the straight edge. You do not want to make shells on the flat side of the backpack lid.
• Fasten off and weave in any ends.

Crochet Hook Loop:

• Row 1: With the white yarn and a 4.5mm hook ch x7 and then in the second ch from the hook make a sc. Sc for the rest of the row (6). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 2-25: Sc x6 and then ch x1 and turn. At the end of the last row, fasten off but leave a tail for sewing.

Crochet Straps:

• Make x2.
• Row 1: With the white yarn and a 4.5mm hook ch x7 and then in the second ch from the hook make a sc. Sc for the rest of the row (6). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 2-100: Sc x6 and then ch x1 and turn. At the end of the last row, fasten off but leave a tail for sewing. Note: you may need to adjust the amount of rows needed for the straps so adjust accordingly!

  Adding a liner to the straps: Lay straps on fabric and then cut out the shape with a ½ inch seam allowance. Then either hand sew or machine sew the fabric to the straps.

Crochet Drawstring:

• With white yarn and the 4.5mm hook, ch x175 and fasten off. Weave it through the top of the backpack, then with 1-2 6 inch pieces of yarn make tassels at the bottom of the chain. I do this with a lot of my scarves so if you need help you can find a tutorial on it with my crochet houndstooth scarf pattern.

Sewing:

• Sew the bag liner to the inside edge of where the squares and double crochet rows meet - either by hand or by machine.

  Sew the lid of the backpack to the backside of the backpack where the sunburst granny squares and first round of dc meet. Make sure it is centered.
• On the same line where you sewed the bag and lid together, sew the hook loop to the center top of the crochet backpack lid. Sew the straps to the left and right of the hook, and then the bottom of the straps to the bottom corners of the bag right where the backside, sides, and bottom sunburst granny squares meet.
• I hope you loved making this crochet backpack pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it!