Make a Festive Crochet USA Backpack Using this Free Pattern Tutorial

Learn how to make a festive red, white, and blue crochet USA backpack with this quick and easy free crochet pattern with full video tutorial. This free crochet pattern will guide you through each step, helping you create a festive accessory.

Summer is my favorite season! I love the sunshine, trips to the beach, and days by the pool! Naturally, 4th of July would be my favorite holiday since it’s during my favorite season! I love designing 4th of July inspired crochet patterns.

This crochet USA backpack is perfect for summertime! Kids can carry all their own necessities and mom can free up one of her hands! Market these backpacks to your audience as the perfect bag for

Overnight trips to Grandma’s or a friend’s house
Carrying toys when they go on adventures in the yard
Packing entertainment and snacks for long car rides
Taking goggles and flipflops to the pool
Carrying necessities to daycare or school

I’m sure we could think of 100 more ways to market these cuties!

If you like crochet backpack patterns be sure to check out all the other free options here on the blog!

Here is the full video tutorial for my visual learning friends.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.

If you prefer an ad-free experience, you can purchase the inexpensive PDF in my shop here.

or you can purchase the Crochet Crafty Backpack Bundle and receive 6 backpacks for a 20% discount.

Materials

Worsted weight yarn (Red, White, Blue)
4.5mm Crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch markers or scrap yarn
Puff Paint (to make stars)

Strap Options– Choose One

Tulip i-cord knitting machine
4mm Cotton Rope
Crochet i-Cord

Click the pic to shop!

Blue Yarn used in making a USA Crochet Backpack Free Crochet Pattern

Red Yarn used in making a USA Crochet Backpack Free Crochet Pattern

Stitch Key (US Terms)

CH= Chain
SC= Single Crochet
INC= Increase (put two stitches in the same space. In this case, single crochet stitches)
SL ST= Slip Stitch
JAYG= Join as you go

SPECIAL STITCHES

Join as you go (JAYG): This is a joining technique I learned from Cypress Textiles while making her Trellis and Chevron baby blanket and I have used it ever since! I love joining this way because it’s faster, there are fewer tails to weave in and it makes a pretty join.

This is used when you are taking two crochet pieces and joining them together.

*Insert your hook into piece A and SC. Remove your hook from the loop.

Insert your hook into the same stitch but on piece, B. Grab the loop still attached to piece A and pull it through piece B’s stitch. Repeat from *.

If you’re still confused, watching the video should clear it up for you!

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.

Finished Dimensions: 10″ tall – 10″ wide (my tension was weird so mine turned out a little small)

Chart

Crochet USA Backpack Pattern

Strap Tunnel

With your 4.5mm crochet hook and your Blue 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)

Progress photos to make a festive red, white, and blue crochet USA backpack with this quick and easy free crochet pattern with full video tutorial.

Rows 2-9: SC 40. CH 1, turn. (40)

Tie off.

Using your Blue Yarn repeat Rows 1-9 (do not tie off)

Now we are going to turn our work into a little tunnel for the drawstrings to go through.

Row 10: Fold your work in half, hot dog style, so that row 9 and row 1 are touching.

Making sure your stitches are lined up, SC row 9 and row 1 together with 40 SC.

Grab the first blue rectangle you created and fold your work in half, hot dog style, so that row 9 and row 1 are touching. Continue SC row 9 and row 1 together with 40 SC.

Join your two tubes together (making sure they are not twisted), join with a sl st to the first SC of the first tube. CH 1 and turn.

Body

Rows 11-19: SC 40. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to White Yarn

Rows 20- 23: SC 40. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to Red Yarn

Rows 24- 27: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to White Yarn

Rows 28- 31: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to Red Yarn

Rows 32- 35: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to White Yarn

Rows 36- 39: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to Red Yarn

Rows 40- 43: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to White Yarn

Rows 44- 47: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Switch to Red Yarn

Rows 48- 51: SC 80. CH 1, turn. (80)

Tie off and sew in your tails.

Closing

Turn your backpack inside out and flatten your bag so the opening of the two tunnels are on the sides.

Insert your hook into your working yarn. We will be closing up the bottom of our backpack with the Join As You Go method. Skip ahead to 21:00 of the video to see this done in real-time.

Tip: If you do not like the JAYG method you can SC your two ends together if you prefer.

Place a SC in the first stitch next to your ch 1.

Remove your hook from your working yarn. Insert your hook into the stitch directly across from where you just placed your SC. Grab your working yarn and pull through.

Insert your hook into the next stitch (next to your first SC). Remove your hook and insert it into the stitch directly across from the SC you just made.

If you haven’t noticed yet we are paring up the front 40 stitches with the back 40 stitches.

Grab your working yarn and pull it through the stitch. Continue down until you have 40 JAYG stitches completed. Tie off and sew in your tails.

Flip your backpack right-side out.

I-Cord Drawstring Assembly

Here is how to make your backpack strap using the Tulip I-cord maker. I show this in the video if you need to see it step-by-step.

Grab your tulip i-cord and blue yarn

Thread yarn through the machine

Add your weight

Cast on by letting every other needle grab your yarn.

Crank until your cord is about 60 inches long.

Tie off.

Repeat for your second cord.

If you are looking at your backpack, right side up, your first strap will go into the left side of the front tunnel and out the right side. Wrap it around and go into the right side of the back tunnel and out the left side.

Your second strap will be the opposite. So into the right side of the front tunnel and out the left. Wrap it around to the back tunnel and go into the left side and out the right.

Using a large crochet hook, follow the guides above and pull your straps into the strap tunnels.

After you have both straps going through the strap tunnels we need to secure them to the bottom of the backpack.

Line up where you want the bottom of the straps to be attached so they are symmetrical. Pull the ends of the straps to the inside of your backpack with your large crochet hook.

Once they’re on the inside of your backpack, knot the ends together. Repeat for your second strap.

Sew in any remaining tails.

Stars

Use your puff paint to add the stars to the top of your crochet USA backpack. Be sure to let them fully dry before using your new bag!

Now you have a super cute crochet USA backpack that’s perfect for summer BBQs, packing necessities to the pool, or spending the day at the park for 4th of July fireworks!

I hope you loved this pattern. As always, you are more than welcome to sell the finished pieces you make using my crochet patterns. I hope you sell A TON of backpacks!

If you make a festive crochet USA backpack and post any pics, I would love to see them! Tag me @ACraftyConcept on social media if you’d like to share.

Happy Crocheting
🩷 Ashley