The Crochet City Backpack

The Crochet City Backpack by Woolfans

Project Overview

The Crochet City Backpack is a beginner-friendly crochet bag design created by independent designer Woolfans. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for crafting a structured, functional backpack suitable for everyday use. The pattern offers three size options—Small, Medium, and Large—allowing makers to customize the finished backpack dimensions to their preferences.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a practical city backpack with a bucket-style closure system. The finished backpack features a main body with defined length and width dimensions, complemented by adjustable shoulder straps. The design incorporates metal hardware including snap hooks and rings for secure closure and strap attachment, making it both decorative and functional for carrying essentials.

Available Sizes and Finished Measurements

• Small: Length 36 cm (14.2"), Width 30 cm (11.8"), Strap length approximately 53 cm (20.9")
• Medium: Length 41 cm (16.1"), Width 36 cm (14.2"), Strap length approximately 61 cm (24")
• Large: Length 46 cm (18.1"), Width 41 cm (16.1"), Strap length approximately 69 cm (27.2")

Crochet Stitches and Techniques

This beginner-level pattern primarily utilizes single crochet stitch, a fundamental crochet technique that creates a tight, dense fabric ideal for structured bags. The pattern employs working through the back loop only (abbreviated as tbl) for specific sections, a technique that creates textural variation and helps define different areas of the backpack. The gauge is established at 8 stitches by 7 rows per 10 cm (4") in single crochet stitch, which is essential for achieving proper finished measurements.

Additional techniques referenced in the pattern include working in rounds (rnds) and rows (r/rs), allowing makers to construct the backpack using both flat and circular crochet methods. The pattern uses standard crochet abbreviations and stitch markers to track progress throughout the project.

Materials and Yarn

The Crochet City Backpack is designed to work with super bulky yarn weight materials, specifically accommodating cotton cord or T-shirt yarn. The pattern provides yarn yardage requirements for all three sizes:

• Color A: 150 m (164 yds) for Small, 200 m (218 yds) for Medium, or 250 m (273 yds) for Large
• Color B: 50 m (54 yds) for Small and Medium, or 100 m (109 yds) for Large

Recommended yarn materials include cotton cord 5 mm (preferably braided with a polyester core for durability), T-shirt yarn, or tape yarn (category 6). These bulky materials work up quickly and create a structured, professional-looking finished backpack. The pattern notes that approximately 100 m of yarn weighs roughly 450 g (16 oz), providing guidance for yarn selection and substitution.

Tools and Hardware

Crochet hooks in two sizes are required for this project. A 8 mm / US L crochet hook is used for the main construction of the backpack, while a smaller 6 mm / US J crochet hook is recommended for weaving in ends, ensuring neat finishing touches.

Metal hardware components include 2 metal rings measuring 3 cm (1.2") in diameter and 2 metal snap hooks measuring 4.5 cm (2") in length. These elements attach the shoulder straps to the backpack body and provide the closure mechanism. Additional supplies needed are a stitch marker for tracking stitches, scissors, and sewing thread with a needle for joining cord ends together securely.

Skill Level and Construction Approach

Classified as a beginner difficulty project, The Crochet City Backpack is accessible to makers new to crochet or those seeking a straightforward bag project. The reliance on single crochet stitch and basic construction techniques makes this pattern ideal for building fundamental skills while creating a wearable, functional item. The three size options allow beginners to practice the same pattern multiple times if desired, or to make back