Learn how to crochet a SWEET candy corn themed backpack in this beginner-friendly crochet tutorial. Full video tutorial included.

October is sneaking up on us and will be here in just a few days!! Then comes the fall festivals, costume contests, trunk or treat events and finally Halloween night at the end of the month.

This post may include affiliate links meaning I may receive a commission from purchases made at no extra cost to you.

I have a 4-year-old little girl, and every Halloween we spend half our trick or treating time picking up the candy that fell out of her little orange pumpkin basket.

She’ll drop it- it’ll spill. She will run to the next house- it will spill. She will hand it to me to hold becuase it’s too heavy for her to hold – and it’ll spill!

You get the idea.

That’s how I came up with the design idea for Halloween themed backpacks! They will be perfect for trick or treating! Backpacks are easier to carry, which means fewer spills, and they’re Halloween themed, we all know how much mamas like to be on theme.

I have designed 3 new Halloween themed backpack modifications of my original Dinosaur Backpack (this would also be cute for trick or treating).

I will post the links to each backpack modification here for your convenience. If one isn’t linked yet, that’s because the post isn’t live yet. I will link each new modification here as they become available.

• Dinosaur Backpack
• Shark Backpack
• Candy Corn Backpack
• Jack O Lantern Backpack
• Witch Hat Backpack

Today’s Halloween backpack is the Candy Corn themed backpack! This modification is the easiest of the three and the concepts you learn here will also be used in the other two designs.

How to crochet a Candy Corn Backpack

Grab the ad-free PDF version HERE for only $3.00

Materials

Worsted weight Orange yarn
Worsted weight Yellow yarn
Worsted weight white yarn
4.5mm Crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch markers or scrap yarn 
Strap Material- This can be cord, rope, ribbon, etc.

Stitch Key (US Terms)

CH= Chain
SC= Single Crochet
SL ST= Slip Stitch

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

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 the video included with this tutorial.

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.

Backpack- Drawstring Tunnel (make 2)

With your 4.5mm crochet hook and your white yarn
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.

The rest of the backpack will be made in the round meaning you will not join and chain up anymore.

Pro Tip: Use a stitch marker to mark where each row ends so you will know when you are starting a new row. I go over this in the video.

Round 2-14: SC in each stitch around (80)

14 total rows of white

In your last SC of round 14, switch to orange yarn and cut your white yarn.

Round 15-33: SC in each stitch around with your orange yarn (80)

19 total rows of orange.

In your last SC of round 33, switch to yellow yarn and cut your orange yarn.

Round 34-48: SC in each stitch around with your yellow yarn (80)

15 total rows of yellow.

Lay your backpack flat, so that the two tunnels are evenly on top of one another (openings on each side)

Gauge Check: Backpack should be about 12″ long and about 9.5 inches wide

SC with yellow until you are in the left corner of your backpack. For me, this was 12 stitches.

• 

• 

Pull up a long loop so your work won’t unravel and remove your hook from your backpack.

With your yarn still attached, flip your backpack inside out.

Pro tip: This works best if you push the top of the backpack out the bottom so you can still access your working yarn easily.

Flatten your backpack again, lining up and centering the tunnels.

Turn your work so your working yarn is on the right side of the backpack.

Pick up the loop from your working yarn and insert your hook.

SC the bottom of the backpack closed (40)

• 

• 

Tie off and sew in all your tails.

Flip your back right side out.

Now its time to make and assemble the drawstrings.

This part is much easier to explain in video format, but I will do my best to explain it in words for you here.

To make my backpack straps, I cut two pieces of black 60″ long knitted/woven cord.

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. 

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.

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 love this Candy Corn Backpack modification! You can leave it as is, or get creative and add a design to the front side!

You could surface stitch “Trick or Treat” or make and attach a cute appliqué! The options are endless.

Don’t forget your freebie! Sign up to my email list and you’ll receive the 2021 Content Calendar for crocheters absolutely free, and start receiving other handy freebies from me every week! 

If you make a candy corn backpack and share it online, be sure to tag me @acraftyconcept on social media so I can see your mad crochet skills!

Also, be sure to check out the other backpack modifications as well!

Happy Crocheting