Busy Bee Backpack

Children of all ages will love showing off their new Busy Bee Backpack during the new school year. Great for little girls and boys alike, this crocheted backpack is a very simple project, and makes a great gift for the little one in your life. Use it for school or to tote art and craft supplies to grandmas house for the weekend. No matter how you use it, this is a great little tote bag for the busy bee in your life!

busy bee backpack

Materials:

3 balls Lily Sugar ’n Cream (70.9 g/2.5 oz; 109 m/120 yds) in Yellow (A)
1 ball Lily Sugar ’n Cream (70.9 g/2.5 oz; 109 m/120 yds) in Black
1 ball Lily Sugar ’n Cream (70.9 g/2.5 oz; 109 m/120 yds) in White
1 ball Lily Sugar ’n Cream (70.9 g/2.5 oz; 109 m/120 yds) in Tangerine
Sizes 4 mm (U.S. G or 6) and 5 mm (U.S. H or 8) crochet hooks or size needed to obtain gauge
Small piece of black felt for eyes
Craft glue
Black zippers 16" [40.5 cm] and 20" [51 cm] long
2 stitch markers

Gauge: 15 sc and 16 rows = 4" [10 cm] with smaller hook.

Instructions:
Approx 10" [25.5 cm] wide x 14" [35.5 cm] high x 3" [7.5 cm] deepINSTRUCTIONS
Note: Ch 2 for turning ch does not count as hdc.

Front and Back (make 2 pieces alike)

With A and smaller hook, ch 35.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of chain. Turn. 33 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each hdc to end of row. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
Rep last 2 rows for pat until work from beg measures 9" [23 cm], ending with a RS row.
Shape top: 1st row: (WS). Ch 1. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each hdc to last 2 hdc. Sc2tog. Turn.
2nd row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each st to end of row. Turn.
3rd row: As 1st row.
4th row: Ch 2. Hdc2tog. 1 hdc in each st to last 2 sc. Hdc2tog. Turn.
5th to 8th rows: Rep last 2 rows twice more.
9th row: As 1st row. 17 sts rem. Fasten off.

Base and Gusset

With A and smaller hook, ch 12.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of chain. Turn. 10 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each hdc to end of row. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
Rep last 2 rows for pat until work from beg measures 9" [23 cm], ending with a WS row. Place marker at end of last row.
Divide for zipper opening: Next row: (RS). Ch 2. 1 hdc in each of next 5 sc. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
Cont in pat on 5 sts until opening from marker measures 20" [51 cm], ending with a WS row. Fasten off.
With RS facing, rejoin A with sl st to unworked sts. Ch 2. 1 hdc in same sp as last sl st. 1 hdc in each of last 4 sts. Turn.
Cont in pat on 5 sts until opening measures 20" [51 cm], ending with a WS row. Do not fasten off.
Join sides: next row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each of first 5 sc. 1 hdc in each of next 5 sc from first side. 10 hdc. Turn. Place marker on last st.
Cont in pat until work from marker measures 9" [23 cm], ending with a WS row. Fasten off. Sew last row and foundation row tog (center of bottom base).

Wings (make 2)

With C and smaller hook, ch 8. Join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
1st rnd: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each ch around. Join with sl st to first hdc. 8 hdc.
2nd rnd: Ch 2. 2 hdc in first hdc. (1 hdc in next hdc. 2 hdc in next hdc) 3 times. 1 hdc in last hdc. Join with sl st to first hdc. 12 hdc.
3rd rnd: Ch 2. 1 hdc in first hdc. (2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next hdc) 5 times. 2 hdc in last hdc. Join with sl st to first hdc. 18 hdc.
4th rnd: Ch 2. 2 hdc in first hdc. (1 hdc in next hdc. 2 hdc in next hdc) 8 times. 1 hdc in last hdc. Join with sl st to first hdc. 27 hdc.
Fold work flat.
Joining row: Ch 1. Working through both thicknesses, work 13 sc evenly across. Turn.
Next row: Ch 1. 1 sc in first sc. *Ch 3. Miss next sc. 1 sc in next sc. Rep from * to end of row. Fasten off.

Antennae (make 2)

With B and smaller hook, ch 4. Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring.
1st rnd: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each ch around. Join with sl st to first hdc. 4 hdc.
2nd rnd: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. Join with sl st to first hdc.
3rd rnd: Ch 2. 2 hdc in each hdc around. Join with sl st to first hdc. 8 hdc.
4th rnd: Ch 2. (Hdc4tog) twice. Join with sl st to first st. Fasten off, leaving a long end. Thread end onto tapestry needle and draw tightly through rem 2 sts.

Pocket

With A and smaller hook, ch 33.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of chain. Turn. 31 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each hdc to end of row. Join B. Turn.
3rd row: With B, ch 2. 1 hdc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
4th row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each hdc to end of row. Join A. Turn.
5th row: With A, ch 2. 1 hdc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
6th row: Ch 1. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each hdc to last 2 hdc. Sc2tog. Join B. Turn.
7th row: As 3rd row.
8th row: Ch 1. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each hdc to last 2 hdc. Sc2tog. Join A. Turn.
9th row: With A, ch 2. Hdc2tog. 1 hdc in each sc to last 2 sc. Hdc2tog. Turn.
10th row: As 6th row.
11th row: With B, ch 2. Hdc2tog. 1 hdc in each sc to last 2 sc. Hdc2tog. Turn.
12th and 13th rows: As 8th and 9th rows.
14th row: As 6th row. Fasten off. 15 sts rem.
Pocket edging: (RS). Join B with sl st at lower right corner. Ch 1. Work sc evenly around outer edge of Pocket to opposite corner. Fasten off.
Leave edge of foundation row unworked.

Hanging Loop

With D and smaller hook, ch 22.
1st row: (RS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch to end of chain. Turn. 21 sc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
Rep last row once more. Fasten off.

Straps (make 2)

With 2 strands of D and larger hook, ch 7.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each of next 4 ch. Turn. 5 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc to end of row. Turn.
Rep last row until Strap measures 16" [40.5 cm], ending with a WS row. Fasten off.

Finishing

Cut black circles from felt for Eyes approx ½" [1.5 cm] and glue to Front of Bag. Embroider mouth with B, using chain stitch as shown in photo.
Sew Pocket to Front. Sew shorter zipper to Pocket edge and corresponding edge of Front noting that zipper tape will fold towards Pocket.
Pin Gusset and Base to outer edges of Front and Back, having Base seam at center of bottom edge.
Joining rnd: With RS of Front facing and working through both thicknesses, join A with sl st at center of bottom edge. Work 1 rnd of sc evenly around to join Gusset and Base to Front. Join D with sl st to first sc.
Next rnd: With D, ch 1. 1 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Rep these 2 rnds to join outer edge of Back, Gusset and Base.
Sew Wings and Antennae to outer edge of Front (behind joining rnds) as shown in photo.
Sew longer zipper in position along Gusset opening. Attach Hanging Loop as shown in picture. Sew Straps in position.