Basketweave Backpack: Free Tunisian Crochet Pattern
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Have you been loving all of the Tunisian Crochet tutorials, patterns, tips, and tricks so far this year? To say that this has been the year of Tunisian on Heart Hook Home would not be an exaggeration.
Basketweave Backpack: Free Tunisian Crochet Pattern
Just the other day we learned how to Tunisian Crochet in the round and we are working on a cowl using the Tunisian Reverse Stitch. If you’re looking for something a little more challenging – not to mention GORGEOUS – then this super cute little drawstring backpack may be just the thing!
There just aren’t a whole lot of Tunisian in the round crochet patterns out there, so this summer when I was in the height of my Tunisian craze, I was playing around with stitches and this bag was born. With drawstrings on either side we can cinch up the top to hold our goodies. This would be a great size for a child to take back and forth to pre-school, or for anyone to use as a small purse.
This works up super quickly. You could make one in a solid color as I have done here, or use a different color for the Backward Pass to make those basketweave stitches really pop.
We are combining regular crochet and Tunisian crochet for even more fun. You can even use your Lucet Fork if you have one to create a beautiful cord for the drawstring. Other options for the drawstring are included in the free pattern below.
To the bottom corners of the backpack we add two 1/2″ eyelets or grommets. This adds more stability to those corners and they look great, too.
For this pattern we are using a 100% cotton yarn for durability. Any worsted weight cotton yarn will suffice. My favorite is Dishie from WeCrochet. Read an entire comparison of all cotton yarn brands, textures, and values here.
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If you need help reading a crochet pattern, make sure you head over here and check out this detailed post.
Materials:
Worsted weight cotton yarn
-approx. 180 yards
Regular crochet hook in size H/5mm
Double ended crochet hook in size I/5.5 mm
(2) 1/2″ Eyelets
Gauge: 16 sts x 16 rows in 4″ square using the Tunisian Basket Weave stitch
Finished Dimensions: approx. 7” wide x 10” tall
Pattern Notes:
Pattern written using US terms.
Backward Pass as normal: Ch-1 to start the Backward Pass, then * YO pull through two loops* for the remainder of the pattern.
Check out the Tunisian in the Round complete tutorial here if needed.
Check out the Tunisian Basket Weave Stitch tutorial here if needed.
Pattern:
Using the regular crochet hook…
Round 1: Ch-28, 2dc in BLO of 3rd ch from hook, dc in BLO of next 24 sts, 4dc in final ch, rotate to work up opposite sided, dc in next 24 chs, 2dc in same as first sts Join to first st. (56)
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Switch to double ended hook…Tunisian in the Round is worked in a continuous spiral with no joining.
Round 2: Tunisian Foundation Row… pull up a loop in each st around. (Mark first st of this and every round throughout). Backward Pass. (56)
Rounds 3 – 6: * TKS in 4 sts, TPS in 4 sts * repeat between * * across. TKS in final 4 sts. Backward Pass. (56)
Rounds 7 – 10: * TPS in 4 sts, TKS in 4 sts * repeat between * * across. TPS in final 4 sts. Backward Pass. (56)
Rounds 11 – 26: repeat rounds 2 – 9 (56)
Rounds 27 – 30: repeat rounds 2 – 5 (56)
Tslst in each st around. YO pull through final 2 loops. Do not fasten off.
Switch back to regular crochet hook and continue working in a spiral for remainder of pattern…
Round 31: Sc in each st around. Mark first st with st marker. (56)
Rounds 32 & 33: sc in each st around. (56)
Round 34: * sc in next 4 sts, ch-3, sk-3 sts, * repeat between * * around. (56)
Round 35: * sc in next 4 sts, 3sc around ch-sp * repeat between * * around. (56)
Rounds 36 & 37: sc in each st around. (56)
Fasten off using Invisible Join. Weave in all ends.
Finishing:
Attach two eyelets to the bottom corners as pictured.
Make (2) 50” long (127 cm) drawstrings in the manner you prefer. (I-cord, Lucet Fork, Romanian cord, simple chain) Starting from either side, take one drawstring and thread it in and out of the holes around the top of the bag, then back around to the other side. The two ends of the first drawstring should be coming out of adjacent holes.
Mirror this on the opposite side with the second drawstring so that one drawstring goes each direction.
Take the ends of each drawstring and feed them through the eyelets, then tie a knot so they can not come out. Voila!
I hope you love this little backpack pattern. It was so fun for me to design and to crochet, and it looks so chic too. I just adore Tunisian crochet!
More Tunisian Crochet Patterns:
Harvest Moon Tunisian Crochet Pattern BOOK!
Tunisian Basket Weave Blanket: Free Crochet Pattern
Tunisian Sunrise Crochet Tank Top
