Easy Breezy Backpack

Hi there!

Have you noticed that there just aren’t too many crochet patterns available for males? Is yarn too girlie?

Well, in answer to my own question, I set out to create a unisex string bag, which are oh so popular right now. My boys use them for sports and they love them! I wanted to create something with texture and style, something that anyone could use.

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This Easy Breezy Backpack is the epitome of easy! You crochet two rectangular panels, all with single crochet, half double crochets and double crochets, and stitch them together. Weave some cord through the generous sized holes at the top and attach the straps to the bottom of the bag and done. Easy breezy!

I used a size 5 bulky weight yarn to give this string bag plenty of strength without adding too much weight. The single crochet stitches at the base of the bag, keep the bottom solid, which prevents loosing items such as loose change or your chapstick. As a matter of fact, this entire bag is “hole-free”. 🙂

The large size of the Easy Breezy Backpack makes it perfect for carrying all your essentials for a day out. You could fit a towel, sunscreen, water bottle, sunglasses, hat and much more for a day on the water. Moms could fill it with all the baby essentials to be hands free when chasing her children through the zoo. Or maybe (like my boys) you could put your soccer spikes, shin guards, water bottle, goalie gloves and sunscreen in it for the big game. The possibilities are endless for uses!

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Easy Breezy Backpack

Materials Used:

• 1 skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole in Teal – 306 yds/280 m – 280 g/9.8 oz – I bought the yarn and cord at A.C. Moore
• 1/3 of skein of Stitch Studio by Nicole in Smoke Grey – 306 yds/280 m – 280 g/9.8 oz
  Or any size 5 bulky weight yarn.
• Approximately 75” of Bonnie Craft Cord in Black – 4 mm 100yd/90 m
• L/11 (8.00 mm) hook
• Tapestry needle

Finished Size Approximately:

14” Width x 17” Height

Gauge:

11 single crochet stitches and 12 rows in a 4” (10cm) square.

Abbreviations:

FC – foundation chain (beginning chain)
ch(s) – chain(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch

Notes:

• You can use grommets for the holes in Row 3 if you prefer, but it is not required.
• You will make 2 flat panel rectangles, which are then sewn together on 3 sides with a tapestry needle and yarn.

*** American crochet terms used throughout.

Instructions:

Make 2 panels

With Grey

FC: Ch 38

Row 1: In the 2nd ch from hook, sc. Sc in every ch across. Turn. (37 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in every st across. Turn. (37 sc)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in same st ch 1 comes out of, sc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, sc in next 31 sts, ch 1, skip 1 st, sc in last 2 sts. Turn. (35 sc)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in same st ch 1 comes out of,, sc in next st, sc in ch-1 space, sc in next 31 sts, sc in ch-1 space, sc in last 2 sts. Turn. (37 sc)

Row 5 – Row 10: Ch 1, sc in every st across. Turn. (37 sc)

Finish off.

With Teal

Attach teal in same st you finished off the grey.

Row 11 – Row 15: Ch 2, sc in next st, *dc in next st, sc in next st* Repeat from * to * across. Hdc in last st. Turn.

Finish off after Row 15.

****With Grey

Attach grey in same st you finished off the teal.

Row 16: Sc in every st across. Turn. (37 sc)

Finish off.

With Teal

Attach teal in same st you finished off the grey.

Row 17 – Row 21: Ch 2, sc in next st, *dc in next st, sc in next st* Repeat from * to * across. Hdc in last st. Turn.

Finish off after Row 21.****

Repeat pattern from **** to **** 3 more times. (5 teal stripes, 4 thin grey stripes)

Don’t finish off after Row 39 (your last row of teal in the 5th stripe)

Row 40: Ch 1, sc in every st across. Turn. (37 sc)

Row 41: Ch 3, (counts as hdc + ch 1), skip 1st st, hdc in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, hdc in next st* Repeat from * to * across. Turn. (19 hdc)

Row 42: Ch 1, sc in same st ch 1 comes out of, *sc in ch-1 space, sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * across. (37 sc)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Finishing

With the right sides of your panels facing (the thin grey stripes look thicker on the right side), use your tapestry needle and yarn to whip stitch or mattress stitch your panels together. Do not sew across the top (Row 42).

Note: I used the teal yarn along the teal side edges. Then I switched to grey yarn to stitch together the base and short grey sides.

Flip the bag right side out and lay flat with whichever side you prefer to be the back of the bag facing upward.

Using the cord, insert the cord into the chain 1 space at the top of your bag according to the photo below. Weave the cord in and out of the chain 1 spaces the entire way around and even overlapping some of the cord from the beginning. Exit according to the photo.

Insert each end into the ch 1 spaces from Row 3 (be sure to go through both thicknesses), loop around any stitch and bring back through using a crochet hook. Tie the end to the longer part of the backpack strap in a knot. Keep the tension so that the bag lays flat and the strings are not too tight.

Here is the back view…

Here is the front view…

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I hope you’ve enjoyed the Easy Breezy Backpack pattern! If you make one, I’d love to see it. You can tag me on Instagram @highlandhickorydesigns.

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