The Meadow Mosaic Drawstring Backpack: A Free Crochet Pattern for a Textured, Color-Blocked Daypack

Introducing the Meadow Mosaic Drawstring Backpack

Carry your essentials in style with this unique, mosaic-inspired crochet backpack. The clever use of color blocking and post stitches creates a stunning, woven-like texture that is both durable and eye-catching. This free pattern is designed to be beginner-friendly, guiding you through every step to create a textured, color-blocked daypack you'll be proud to carry. The finished bag is a soft, rounded cylinder with horizontal bands of color: a moss green bottom, dusty rose, cream, sage green, and a final moss green top. The alternating front post and back post double crochet stitches give it a beautiful basket-weave appearance.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following materials. Using the exact yarn and hook size will ensure your gauge matches and your bag turns out the perfect size.

• Yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (or any worsted weight cotton yarn) in four colors. Approx. 250g total.
  • Color A (Moss Green): Approx. 80g
  • Color B (Dusty Rose): Approx. 70g
  • Color C (Cream): Approx. 50g
  • Color D (Sage): Approx. 50g
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and sewing straps, scissors, stitch markers (optional).
• Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Always check your gauge to ensure correct sizing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This bag is worked in the round from the bottom up. The mosaic pattern is achieved by working front post double crochet (FPdc) and back post double crochet (BPdc) stitches in a repeating sequence. Follow each step carefully, and you'll have a beautiful backpack in no time.

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• FPdc: front post double crochet
• BPdc: back post double crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round

Bottom of Bag (worked in continuous rounds, do not join)

Note: For the bottom, you will work in a spiral without joining at the end of each round. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round.

• With Color A, make a magic ring.
• Rnd 1: 8 sc into ring. (8 sts)
• Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (16 sts)
• Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (32 sts)
• Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (40 sts)
• Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (48 sts)
• Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (56 sts)
• Rnd 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (64 sts)
• Rnd 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat around. (72 sts)
• Fasten off Color A. The bottom should be a flat circle.

Body of Bag (worked in joined rounds, ch 2 counts as first dc)

Note: From here on, you will join each round with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain-2. The ch-2 counts as your first double crochet.

Color B Section (Dusty Rose)

• Rnd 10: Join Color B with a sl st in any st. Ch 2 (counts as first dc). Dc in each st around. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (72 dc)
• Rnd 11: Ch 2. *FPdc around next dc, BPdc around next dc* repeat around. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (72 sts)
• Rnd 12: Ch 2. *BPdc around next st, FPdc around next st* repeat around. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (72 sts)
• Rnds 13-14: Repeat Rnds 11-12. Fasten off Color B.

Color C Section (Cream)

• Rnd 15: Join Color C with a sl st. Ch 2. Dc in each st around. Join. (72 dc)
• Rnd 16: Ch 2. *FPdc around next dc, BPdc around next dc* repeat around. Join. (72 sts)
• Rnd 17: Ch 2. *BPdc around next st, FPdc around next st* repeat around. Join. (72 sts)
• Rnds 18-19: Repeat Rnds 16-17. Fasten off Color C.

Color D Section (Sage)

• Rnd 20: Join Color D with a sl st. Ch 2. Dc in each st around. Join. (72 dc)
• Rnd 21: Ch 2. *FPdc around next dc, BPdc around next dc* repeat around. Join. (72 sts)
• Rnd 22: Ch 2. *BPdc around next st, FPdc around next st* repeat around. Join. (72 sts)
• Rnds 23-24: Repeat Rnds 21-22. Fasten off Color D.

Color A Section (Moss Green)

• Rnd 25: Join Color A with a sl st. Ch 2. Dc in each st around. Join. (72 dc)
• Rnd 26: Ch 2. *FPdc around next dc, BPdc around next dc* repeat around. Join. (72 sts)
• Rnd 27: Ch 2. *BPdc around next st, FPdc around next st* repeat around. Join. (72 sts)
• Rnds 28-29: Repeat Rnds 26-27. Fasten off Color A.

Drawstring Casing

• Rnd 30: Join Color B with a sl st. Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (72 sc)
• Rnd 31: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (72 sc)
• Rnd 32 (Eyelet round): Ch 3 (counts as first dc). *Skip next sc, dc in next sc* repeat around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. (36 dc, 36 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnd 33: Ch 1. Sc in each dc and in each ch-1 space around. Join. (72 sc)
• Rnd 34: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (72 sc)
• Fasten off.

Drawstrings (make 2)

• With Color B, make a chain approximately 40 inches long. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Repeat for second drawstring.

Assembly

• Thread one drawstring through the casing (Rnd 32) from one side, and the other drawstring from the opposite side. Tie the ends of each drawstring together in a knot. To close the bag, pull both drawstrings.

Straps (make 2)

• With Color A, ch 100 (or desired length).
• Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (99 sc)
• Fasten off. Repeat for second strap.

Attach Straps

• Fold each strap in half to find the center. Attach the center of the strap to the bottom of the bag (on the outside) at the sides, using a tapestry needle and yarn to sew securely. Then, attach the ends of the strap to the inside of the bag at the top edge, about 2 inches from the sides. Repeat for the other strap.

Finishing

• Weave in all ends securely using a tapestry needle. Block if desired to even out stitches and set the shape.

Your Meadow Mosaic Drawstring Backpack is now complete! Enjoy your beautiful, textured, and functional creation.