Easy Knit Backpack

Make this Easy Knit Backpack and use it to carry your everyday items, or even as a new knitting bag! The free knitting pattern is easy enough even for beginners.

Materials:

• Caron Jewel Box™ (64% acrylic, 20% rayon, 16% polyester; 2.5oz/70.9g, 100yds/92m): 2 skeins in #0018 Garnet
• 5.5mm (US size 9) knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• 4.5mm (US size G/6) crochet hook
• tapestry needle (tn)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
10” x 11”; 2.5” depth

GAUGE
Using 5.5mm ndls, in St st: 14 sts and 22 rows = 4”/10cm.

STITCHES USED
Stockinette stitch (St st): Knit side = RS

Instructions:

BODY
CO 84 sts; beg St st. Work even until piece meas 12” from beg; BO all sts loosely.

BOTTOM
CO 32 sts; beg St st. Work even until piece meas 3” from beg; BO all sts loosely.

FINISHING
Block pieces to measurements. Join 12" sides of Body to form a tube. [Seam will be at center back.] Fold 1” along top edge to WS; using tn and yarn, sl st in place. Pin Bottom to Body along lower edge. With RS facing, using crochet hook, join Bottom to Body.
Drawstring: Using crochet hook, work a chain 30” long; fasten off.
On top edge, pm at center Back [seam], center Front and mid-point at each side. Fold Backpack in half by bringing the markers of the sides tog, then fold bringing the markers of the Back and Front to the same point, flattening piece; [piece is folded with all 4 markers tog]. With Front of Backpack facing, insert crochet hook from Front to Back, 1” in from the side folds, through all 4 thicknesses; pull one end of the Drawstring through from Back to Front; rep for the other side, so the drawstring will tie at the Front of the Backpack.
Straps (make 2): Using crochet hook, work a chain 32” long; fasten off.
Attach one end of one Strap to the seam at lower edge of Back, [where Bottom and Body are joined], 1” in from the side. On top edge, pm 3” from the center Back seam and another 2” from the center Back seam. Insert the crochet hook at second marker [marker closest to center Back seam], then out at first marker. Pull through rem end of strap. Rep for other strap.
Tie strap ends tog in a bow, or allow to hang.
Weave in ends.

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS
Hand washing and drying: Turn inside out and wash gently in warm water using a mild detergent. Gently rinse well in cold water. Lay flat on a towel and roll in towel to remove excess water. DO NOT WRING, STRETCH OR HANG TO DRY.

HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS
When using Jewel Box, be sure to tie a knot at the beginning of each skein and at both yarn ends when joining. A small amount of shedding can be expected when using this yarn under normal conditions.