Learn step-by-step how to make this spooktacular witchy crochet backpack just in time for Halloween. Free tutorial includes video, photo and written instruction.
Hocus pocus, toil, and doom
Halloween is near, ready your broom
Ghost and goblins witch-sisters unite
Time to prepare for a spoooooky night!
I literally just made that up off the top of my head lol.
But seriously though, Halloween is such a fun time of year!! I love making costumes and walking around our neighborhood showing them off, watching Ava shout “trick-or-treat” at every house.
If you loved the Candy Corn backpack from a few weeks ago, wait till you see this witchy modification!
This post may contain affiliate links meaning I may recieve a small commission from purchases made at no extra cost to you.
The body of the bag is made by following a grid, then the legs and feet are made separately and attached.
I go over all of this with you guys in the video tutorial here….
The ad-free PDF download here…
and of course the free step by step tutorial here on the blog.
Hold onto your broomsticks ladies, this one is a fun one!!!
Witch Backpack Crochet Pattern
Materials
3-4oz Worsted weight Body/shoes yarn
1-2oz Worsted weight Hat yarn
1oz Worsted weight legs yarn
4.5mm Crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch markers or scrap yarn
Graph- This is included in the ad-free PDF in printable format or you can view the image within this post.
Strap Material- This can be cord, rope, ribbon, etc.
Stitch Key (US Terms)
CH= Chain
SC= Single Crochet
SL ST= Slip Stitch
INC= Increase (two stitches in the same space in this case single crochet stitches)
DEC= Decrease (turn two stitches into one, in this case, single crochet stitches. Explained below)
Gauge is not required for this design since it doesn’t have to “fit” (can I get an amen?!) I do provide measurements throughout the pattern though for my measurement loving friends.
Special Stitches
Single Crochet Decrease
Insert hook into your first stitch, pull up a loop. Insert hook into the second stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all loops on your hook.
Back Bump
This is where you flip your starting chain over and insert your hook into the “back bump” of the chain and place your stitch there. If you are unfamiliar with this technique I would suggest watching this tutorial by Fiber Flux on YouTube. You do not have to use this technique, you can just single crochet as you normally would, but I feel like the back bump technique is cleaner.
How to change colors
Work your SC as normal but stop right before finishing the stitch, with 2 loops on your hook. Pick up your next color and pull it through the 2 loops on your hook, CH 1 and turn. Continue crocheting with your new color.
Before you start
– It works best if you use 2 skeins of your body-color (mine is gray) and one skein of your hat color (mine is purple. I will refer to the first body skein as G1 and the second body skein as G2 throughout the written version of this pattern.
– We will join and chain up 1 at the end of each row.
– You will TURN YOUR WORK after each row of the body of your backpack.
– The grid is worked upside down.
Witch Backpack Body
With your 4.5mm crochet hook and your backpack body color yarn (mine is gray)- G1
Make a slip knot and CH 41.
Row 1: Skip the back bump closest to your hook, SC 40 in each back bump. CH 1, turn. (40)
Rows 2-9: SC 40. CH 1, turn. (40)
Cut your yarn and set work aside.
Repeat all the steps a second time but DO NOT cut yarn.
Fold the rectangle you just created in half, hot dog style. (This will be your second rectangle)
Begin to crochet the first row and the 9th row together by lining up the stitches and putting a SC through the stitches of both rows at the same time.
After you SC the first and last row of your rectangle, pick up your first rectangle you made.
Fold it in half and continue to SC the first and last row of that rectangle together.
After you crochet the first and last rows of both rectangles together you should now have a line of two rectangle tunnels. (80)
Circle your work around, being careful not to get it twisted, and join your yarn into the top of your first SC (from the first rectangle) CH 1.
You just completed row 1 of the body of your backpack.
Rows 2-10: SC into each stitch around. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80) (G1)
Now we will be following our grid. I am going to write out each stitch combo for each row. You can follow the video above or the grid image if you need more help.
Instructions for how to change colors is at the beginning of this post.
I do a lot better job at “teaching” the pattern through the video, so if you are having trouble I would strongly suggest giving that a watch, at least until you get the hang of it ????.
Row 11: SC 8 with Gray (G1), SC 3 with Purple, SC 69 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 12: SC 66 Gray (G2), SC 7 purple, SC 7 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 13: SC 6 with Gray (G1), SC 11 with Purple, SC 63 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 14: SC 62 Gray (G2), SC 9 purple, SC 1 Gray (G1), SC 3 purple, SC 5 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 15: SC 5 with Gray (G1), SC 2 with Purple, SC 4 with Gray (G1) SC 9 with Purple, SC 60 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 16: 59 Gray (G2), SC 8 purple, SC 13 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 17: SC 14 with Gray (G1), SC 8 with Purple, SC 58 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 18: 57 Gray (G2), SC 9 purple, SC 14 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 19: SC 14 with Gray (G1), SC 10 with Purple, SC 56 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 20: 55 Gray (G2), SC 10 purple, SC 15 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 21: SC 15 with Gray (G1), SC 11 with Purple, SC 54 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 22: 53 Gray (G2), SC 12 purple, SC 15 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 23: SC 15 with Gray (G1), SC 12 with Purple, SC 53 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 24: 53 Gray (G2), SC 11 purple, SC 16 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 25: SC 16 with Gray (G1), SC 11 with Purple, SC 53 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 26: 52 Gray (G2), SC 11 purple, SC 16 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 27: SC 15 with Gray (G1), SC 12 with Purple, SC 53 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 28: 52 Gray (G2), SC 13 purple, SC 15 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 29: SC 14 with Gray (G1), SC 14 with Purple, SC 52 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 30: 52 Gray (G2), SC 15 purple, SC 13 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 31: SC 13 with Gray (G1), SC 15 with Purple, SC 52 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 32: 52 Gray (G2), SC 15 purple, SC 13 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 33: SC 9 with Gray (G1), SC 23 with Purple, SC 48 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 34: 47 Gray (G2), SC 25 purple, SC 8 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 35: SC 7 with Gray (G1), SC 27 with Purple, SC 46 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 36: 47 Gray (G2), SC 25 purple, SC 8 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 37: SC 10 with Gray (G1), SC 22 with Purple, SC 48 with Gray (G2). Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 38: 51 Gray (G2), SC 15 purple, SC 14 Gray (G1) Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80)
Row 39-45: SC into each stitch around. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. TURN (80) (G1)
Do not cut yarn, just set your backpack body aside for now.
Witch Shoes (make 4)
With your 4.5mm crochet hook and your backpack body color yarn (mine is gray)
Make a slip knot and CH 11.
Row 1: Skip the back bump closest to your hook, SC 10in each back bump. CH 1, turn. (10)
Row 2: SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn. (10)
Row 3: INC, SC 9. CH 1, turn. (11)
Row 4: SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn. (11)
Row 5: INC, SC 10. CH 1, turn. (12)
Row 6: SC in each stitch. (12)
CH 5.
Row 7: Skip the CH closest to your hook, SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn. (16)
Row 8: SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn (16)
Row 9: SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn (16)
Now we’re starting on the heel portion of our witch shoe.
Row 10 Heel: SC 5. CH 1, turn. (5)
Row 11 Heel: DEC, SC 3. CH 1, turn (4)
Row 12 Heel: SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn. (4)
Row 13 Heel: DEC, SC 2. CH 1, turn. (3)
Row 14 Heel: SC in each stitch. Tie off (3)
Toe portion of the shoe
Join your yarn back into the same stitch as the 5th SC in Row 10 Heel.
Row 10 Toe: Starting in the same spot where you just joined, SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn (12)
Row 11 Toe: SC 10. DEC. CH 1, turn. (11)
Row 12 Toe: SC in each stitch. CH 1, turn. (11)
Row 13 Toe: SC 9. DEC. CH 1, turn. (10)
Row 14 Toe: SC in each stitch. Tie off (10)
Sew in all your shoe tails.
Assembling your witch shoes
Lay one shoe on top of the other and line them up.
SC around both panels of the shoes, lining up the stitches but leaving the leg hole open. I like to put 2 or 3 stitches in each outer corner space to round it out smoothly.
I have drawn illustrations for you below.
The illustrations were drawn using a picture of just one panel of the shoe, but this is what yours will look like, but yours will have all the tails sewn in and will be two panels lined up with each other.
Cut yarn and tie off.
If you have trouble, I would recommend watching the video 😀
Witch Stockings
You will not be turning after each row for the stockings.
Still using your 4.5mm crochet hook, pick your first stocking color (mine is purple) and join your yarn in the ankle stitch that’s in line with the heel of the shoe.
Rows 1: SC 20 purple. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1.
There should be 10 SC across the front panel of the witch shoe and 10 SC across the back panel of the witch shoe.
Rows 2-3: SC 20 purple. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1.
In the last stitch of row 3, switch to your second stocking color. Mine is neon green.
Rows 4-6: SC 20 green. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1.
Pro Tip: Now is a good time to sew in your tails. I rolled my stocking down a little bit and sewed my tails onto the inside of my work. If you need help with this I did the whole thing on film in the video.
Rows 7-9: SC 20 purple. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1.
Rows 10-12: SC 20 green. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1.
Rows 13-15: SC 20 purple. Join into the top of the first SC. CH 1. Tie off and sew in any remaining tails.
Attaching witch legs to the backpack
This part is a little hard to explain in words, but im going to do my best. If you need more help, refer to the video at the beginning of this post.
With the right side of your backpack facing up, lay your witch legs on top of the backpack, toes facing out, with the openings lined up to the bottom of the backpack.
Keeping everything in place, flip your backpack inside out. Your backpack is still attached to your working yarn at this point, so flip it inside out in such a way where you can still use the working yarn.
Now flip your backpack so it is back side facing up.
Adjust your backpack so everything is lined up and centered.
Insert your hook into your working yarn (still attached to the backpack).
Line up the stitches (40 front with 40 back), and begin to single crochet them together. (8 SC- going through the backpack only)
After 8 SC stitches, you will come up to your first witch leg. For the next 10 SC you will be going through two stitches on the backpack and 2 stitches on the witch leg.
The next 4 SC stitches will be just backpack stitches (this is the space between the two witch legs)
For the next 10 SC you will be going through two stitches on the backpack and 2 stitches on the witch leg.
End by SC the last 8 stitches of the backpack closed. Tie off and sew in your tail.
Flip your backpack inside out and now it’s time to add your straps!
To make my backpack straps, I cut two pieces of black 60″ long velvet knitted cord. I got this from Hobby Lobby for $20 a skein (but you know your girl used a coupon).
To add the drawstrings to your backpack, you will need a crochet hook (one without a rubber handle works best) to thread your straps through the tunnels we created when making the body pieces.
Your first strap will go into the left side of the front tunnel and out the right side of the front tunnel. Then you will thread it through the back tunnel, going into the right side and out the left side.
For the second strap, you do the complete opposite. Go in the front tunnel right side and out the left, then in the back tunnel left side and out the right.
Using your crochet hook, pull the ends of the straps into the backpack at the bottom-side, and knot them together. The knot should be on the inside of the backpack.
After you knot both straps your backpack is complete!
I hope you guys loved this pattern! I’m super happy with how it turned out, and Ava loves it too!
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If you make a Witch Backpack and post it on social media, I’d love to see!! Tag me @ACraftyConcept or use the hashtag #ACraftyConceptPattern and Ill see it!!
Happy Crocheting
❤️Ashley