Looking for a free crochet backpack pattern? Here are 24 of them: sturdy everyday backpacks for adults, easy drawstring and summer backpacks, colorful granny square backpacks, cute mini backpacks, and animal backpacks for kids (a unicorn, a cow, a panda, a dinosaur and more). Every one has the full written pattern free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. A crochet backpack takes a little longer than a tote, but it's a great project and a gift people actually use.
We first shared crochet backpacks here back in 2016. This 2026 update replaces that list with patterns we've checked are still free and online. For each one I've noted the yarn, the hook, the size and how it's built. Many designers also sell an ad-free PDF or a kit. That's optional: the version linked here is free to read on the page.
How crochet backpacks are made. Most start with an oval or rectangle base worked in single crochet around a starting chain. Then you work straight up in rounds to make the body. Near the top you add a round of eyelets for a drawstring, or a flap with a button or magnetic snap. The straps are either crocheted strips or bought leather straps sewn on. For heavy loads, a fabric lining stops the bag from stretching, and cotton yarn holds its shape better than acrylic.
Everyday backpacks for adults
These are full-size backpacks for work, school, travel or the farmers' market.
Bag Backpack 2-in-1 — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. It switches from a shoulder bag to a backpack, with a zipped pocket and leather straps. Premier Everyday worsted on a 4.5mm hook. The first row is 41 stitches, about 10 inches wide.
Florence Backpack — Hopeful Honey. A modern backpack in Lion Brand Rewind (a tape yarn) held double on a 7mm hook. It's 12 1/2 inches tall with 31-inch straps. The base is sc worked around the starting chain, and the gauge is 10 sc by 12 rows for 4 inches.
Journey Backpack — Hooked on Homemade Happiness. A cinched top plus a button flap, in about 200g of worsted cotton on a 5mm hook. Round 1 is sc around the foundation chain. The original yarn is discontinued, but any worsted cotton works.
Crochet Backpack — HanJan Crochet. A herringbone hdc panel (51 stitches, 71 rows) in worsted cotton on a 4.5mm hook, finished with a 193-stitch border round. It uses bought leather straps, D-rings and a clasp for a polished, shop-bought look.
Tapestry Crochet Backpack — Blue Star Crochet. A colorwork backpack in Scheepjes Cahlista aran cotton on 4.5mm and 3mm hooks. It's 24cm wide by 32cm tall. Tapestry crochet carries the second color inside your stitches, so the fabric is extra thick and strong.
Wanderlust Chevron Backpack — A Crocheted Simplicity. Bold chevron stripes in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton on a 4mm (G) hook. The base starts with a chain of 19, and the body rounds are 140 stitches. The color chart is on the page.
Betty Backpack — E&P Crochet. Worked in Lion Brand For The Home Cording, a chunky cord yarn that makes a firm, structured bag. Row 1 is 33 foundation hdc, and Round 1 of the body is 90 hdc, on a 5mm (H) hook.
Crochet Backpack — Life and Yarn. A roomy backpack with a flap, in 5 skeins of worsted cotton on a 4mm hook. The body is worked in rounds from a 6-sc start up to about Round 96, and the flap is 38 foundation sc.
Wheatsheaf Backpack — American Crochet Association. Beginner-friendly, with video tutorials for each step. The wheatsheaf stitch gives a pretty woven texture using basic stitches. Round 1 is a chain of 50 worked on both sides, on a 4mm (G) hook. It's 24 inches around. Use cotton, plant fibers or acrylic from your stash.
Drawstring and summer backpacks
A drawstring backpack is the easiest kind to make: no zips, no buckles, just a cord through a round of eyelets.
Amarillo Drawstring Backpack — Mama in a Stitch. Worked from the bottom up in a circle. Round 1 is 12 dc in a ring, building to a post-stitch round of 84. Worsted wool yarn. A soft, simple bag.
Inselberg Backpack — February Sky Designs. Two skeins of worsted cotton (about 600 yards) on 6mm and 5.5mm hooks. It has a 42-inch i-cord drawstring and textured 30-inch thermal-stitch straps.
Fading Stripes Bag — Yarn + Chai. Color blocks fade from one shade to the next. Worked on a 3.5mm (E) hook, starting with sc in the back bumps of the chain. It's 11 by 14 3/4 inches flat, a nice everyday size.
Happy Rucksack — Crocknit. A light, open mesh rucksack in DMC Petra crochet cotton (size 5) on a 2mm hook. It's 15 by 11 inches. Thin cotton takes longer, but it makes a lovely summer or beach bag.
Granny square backpacks
Granny square backpacks are great for scraps and look amazing on Pinterest.
Sunburst Granny Square Drawstring Backpack — The Caffeinated Snail. Fourteen sunburst squares in Red Heart Soft on 5mm and 4.5mm hooks, joined into a drawstring backpack. Each square starts with 16 dc in a magic ring. The designer suggests a fabric lining if you'll carry heavy things.
Wildrose Backpack — All About Ami. A big 5-inch granny square set into a sc backpack, in 4 skeins of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton on 2.75mm and 3.75mm hooks. The tutorial is split across three blog posts, all free.
Daisy Granny Square Backpack — A Crafty Concept. Popcorn-stitch daisy squares in four colors of worsted yarn on a 4mm (G) hook. Each square starts with 12 dc and then 12 popcorns. It's about 15 inches tall and 14 inches wide, and it's great for teens.
Mini backpacks
A mini backpack is about the size of a purse but leaves your hands free. They're quick, and they make great gifts.
Striped Mini Backpack — A Crocheted Simplicity. Neat stripes in 24/7 Cotton on a 4mm (G) hook. The base starts with a chain of 17 and grows to 96-stitch rounds.
Mini Backpack with Drawstrings — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. A little backpack with a flap, magnetic snaps and adjustable slider-buckle straps. About 3 skeins of Premier Everyday worsted on a 5mm hook. Teens love it.
Beachcomber Mini Backpack — Hook Yarn Carabiner. A tiny round-bottomed backpack, about 7 1/2 inches tall and 6 inches wide. Round 1 is 6 sc in a magic circle. A tight gauge on a 3.25mm (D) hook makes a sturdy little bag.
Kids' backpacks
Kids' backpacks are smaller, so they're faster to make. Most of these use thick yarn or several strands held together.
Unicorn Backpack — Love Life Yarn. Worsted yarn held double on a 9mm (N) hook, with a crocheted horn on a 6mm (J) hook. The body is a chain of 41 worked up to 11 1/2 inches. Add a unicorn button for a charm.
Cow Backpack — Melody's Makings. Super bulky yarn (about 300 yards), or 3 to 4 strands of worsted, on a 9mm hook. Black-and-white spots, little horns and ears. It works up very fast.
Panda Backpack — Crochet For You. About 175 yards of worsted cotton on a 5.5mm (I) hook. It's about 9 inches tall, worked in sc around a chain, with a panda face on the front.
Dino Backpack — A Crafty Concept. Two colors of worsted yarn on 4.5mm and 4mm hooks, with spikes down the back and drawstring straps. Each side is a chain of 41 worked in sc rows. A favorite for little dinosaur fans.
Drawstring Backpack — Crochet It Creations. A child-size drawstring backpack with a button flap, in Bernat Maker Home Dec (about 300 yards) on a 6.5mm (K) hook. Round 1 is sc around the starting chain.
Tips for a backpack that lasts
- Choose cotton or cord yarn. Cotton and cotton blends stretch much less than acrylic, so your backpack keeps its shape.
- Go down a hook size. A tighter gauge than the yarn label suggests makes a firm fabric that things won't poke through.
- Line it. A simple fabric lining stops the bag from sagging and keeps small things from slipping out.
- Make the straps strong. Work straps in tight sc, or use bought leather or webbing straps, and sew them on firmly through several stitches.
- Use stitch markers. Most backpacks are worked in continuous rounds, so mark the first stitch of each round.
Frequently asked questions
How much yarn do I need for a crochet backpack?
An adult backpack usually takes 400 to 800 yards of worsted yarn, or about 4 to 5 skeins of cotton. Mini backpacks need 150 to 300 yards, and kids' backpacks about 175 to 300 yards.
What's the best yarn for a crochet backpack?
Cotton or a cotton blend, such as Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton. It's strong, it doesn't stretch much, and it's washable. For a quick, structured bag, try a cord yarn like Lion Brand For The Home Cording or Bernat Maker Home Dec.
Can a beginner crochet a backpack?
Yes. Start with a drawstring backpack like the Amarillo or the Wheatsheaf (which has video tutorials), or a chunky kids' backpack like the Cow. They use simple stitches and need no zips or buckles.
How do I stop a crochet backpack from stretching?
Use cotton yarn, a smaller hook, and a fabric lining. Sewing a piece of plastic canvas or a cardboard insert into the base also helps it keep its shape.
More crochet bags and gifts
Looking for something to carry instead of wear? Our free crochet bag patterns cover totes and market bags, and our crochet purse patterns have clutches and coin purses. A matching crochet scrunchie or a crochet bookmark is a quick add-on for a back-to-school gift. For kids, pair a backpack with a crochet teddy bear, or tuck a few small makes into it from our cheap crochet stocking stuffers. Making gifts this Christmas? Our crochet gift bag and wrapping patterns help you wrap them by hand, too.
