Crochet No-Sew Convertible Backpack

I’ve been thinking of a simple backpack design since I first made the Crochet Foldaway Mesh Bag three years ago. Finally, here it is! Say hello to my new Crochet No-Sew Convertible Backpack!

It’s an eco-friendly bag that you can quickly convert from a backpack to a purse. I designed it to be spacious enough to fit a lot of things so it’s great for travel, beach, pool, or everyday use.

It’s my first time using nylon yarn, and I love how the material feels light but shapes the bag well. Of course, you could easily make this bag with any yarn you like.

You see, I like sharing patterns that are simple and a little bit mindless, without complicated stitch designs but modern-looking. With this bag, you’ll only need to have an understanding of two simple stitches; the double crochet stitch and the half double crochet stitch, both of which are easy to learn. Also, if you find sewing the most boring part of crocheting (like me, haha) you’ll love this project. I made the double-layer base with a handle insert so this means absolutely no seaming or spending time at the end of the project assembling everything. It’s perfect for beginner crocheters as well as advanced crocheters, and everyone in between.

MATERIALS:

5.0mm crochet hook (US H-8 / UK 6) for the bases and body
4.0mm crochet hook (US G-6 / UK 8) for the bag handle
Yarn: 100% Nylon yarn (2MM) in light brown color. I used approximately 300M.

ABBREVIATION/STITCHES:

ch – chain
sc – single crochet (US) / dc – double crochet (UK)
hdc – half-double crochet (US) / htr – half-treble crochet (UK)
dc – double crochet (US) / tr – treble crochet (UK)
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl st – slip stitch
[sc, inc] n times – repeat the pattern between parentheses n times.
(N sts) – number of stitches in a row after finishing round.

If you need guide with the stitches, you can always check my blog post about Basic Crochet Techniques HERE.

GAUGE:

16 dc sts and 8 rows = 5” square

NOTES:

Chain 2 at the beginning of each row is not considered a stitch.
Finished bag measures 13” height and 12” in width (measured flat lay, excluding base). You’ll be able to adjust this in length by adding more rows.
Any variations to hook size and yarn weight will also result in a different sized bag.

PATTERN

INNER BASE:

(Using the 5.0mm crochet hook)

Chain 22 (I recommend making lose chains or use a one size bigger crochet hook as you will be working the half of the first round in back humps of each chain)

Round 1: dc in the 3rd chain from hook, 2dc in the next st, dc in each of the next 17 sts, 2dc in the last chain, (working on the other side of the base chains) dc in the first chain, 2dc in the next chain, dc in each of the next 17 chains, 2dc in the last chain, sl st in the first stitch to join (44 dc sts made)

Round 2: ch 2, 2dc in the same st as the beginning chain, 2dc in the next st, dc in each of the next 18 sts, 2dc in each of the next 4 sts, dc in each of the next 18 sts, 2dc in each of the last 2 sts, sl st in the first stitch to join (52 dc sts made)

Round 3: ch 2, 2dc in the same st as the beginning chain, 2dc in the next 2 sts, dc in each of the next 20 sts, 2dc in each of the next 6 sts, dc in each of the next 20 sts, 2dc in each of the last 3 sts, sl st in the first stitch to join (64 dc sts made)

Round 4: ch 2, 2dc in the same st as the beginning chain, 2dc in the next 3 sts, dc in each of the next 24 sts, 2dc in each of the next 8 sts, dc in each of the next 24 sts, 2dc in each of the last 4 sts, Sl St in the first stitch to join (80 dc sts made)

Cut the yarn and weave ends.

BASE HANDLE INSERT:

Row 1: Ch 22, dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in each of the remaining chains (20 dc sts made)

Row 2-5: Ch 2, turn, dc in the same st as the beginning chain, dc in each of the next 19 sts across (20 dc sts made)

Fold the piece horizontally then insert hook into the very first base chain you made from Row 1, then pull the last loop you made from Row 5. Chain 1, *insert hook in all the 4 loops you see on top, yarn over then make an sc. Repeat from * until the end to join the folded piece (20 sc sts made)

Do not cut the yarn, we will continue crocheting the outer base.

OUTER BASE:

Round 1: ch 2, (work in front loops only) dc in the same st as the beginning chain, 2dc in the next st, dc in each of the next 17 sts, 2dc in the last st, (work in each of the remaining single loops on the other side) dc in the first st, 2dc in the next st, dc in each of the next 17 sts, 2dc in the last st, Sl St in the first stitch to join (44 dc sts made)

JOINING THE INNER BASE AND OUTER BASE:

Place the inner base on top of the outer base (wrong side facing each other).

Without removing the hook from the last loop of the outer base, insert hook into the first stitch made in Round 4 of the outer base then into the front loop only of the first stitch made in Round 4 of the inner base, pull yarn over into the 3 loops on the hook. Chain 2, dc into the same loops as the beginning chain.

Make a dc in each of the remaining 79 stitches across by inserting the hook into the next stitch made in Round 4 of the outer base then into the front loop only of the next stitch made in Round 4 of the inner base, sl st in the first stitch to join (80 dc sts made)

Do not cut yarn, we will continue crocheting the body of the bag.

BODY:

Round 1-16: ch 2, dc in the same st as the beginning chain, dc in each of the next sts around, Sl St in the first stitch to join (80 dc sts made)

Round 17: ch 2, hdc in the same st as the beginning chain, hdc in each of the next sts around, Sl St in the first stitch to join (80 hdc sts made)

Round 18: ch 2, (work this round in every 3rd loop of the hdc stitches)

hdc in the first 3 sts, ch2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in each of the next 6 sts, ch2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in each of the next 14 sts, [ch2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in each of the next 6 sts] 3 times, ch2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in each of the next 14 sts, ch2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in each of the next 6 sts, ch2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in the last 3 sts, Sl St in the first stitch to join (64 hdc sts and 8 chain spaces made)

Round 19: ch 2, (work this round in every 3rd loop of the hdc stitches and back hump of each chain) dc in the first 3 sts, dc in the next 2 chains, dc in the next 6 sts, dc in the next 2 chains, dc in the next 14 sts, [dc in the next 2 chains, dc in the next 6 sts] 3 times, dc in the next 2 chains, dc in the next 14 sts, dc in the next 2 chains, dc in the next 6 sts, dc in the next 2 chains, dc in the last 3 sts, Sl St in the first stitch to join (80 dc sts made)

Round 20: (work in all stitches as you normally do) ch 2, dc in the same st as the beginning chain, dc in each of the next sts around, Sl St in the first stitch to join (80 dc sts made)

Round 21: ch 1, slip stitch in the same st as the beginning chain, slip stitch in each of the next sts around, Sl St in the first stitch to join (80 sl sts made)

Fasten off then secure the ends.

I-CORD HANDLE:

(I switched to 4.0mm crochet hook)

Chain 4

Round 1: Insert hook into the back hump of the 2nd chain from hook, yarn over then pull a loop. *Insert hook into the back hump of the next chain, yarn over then pull a loop. Repeat from * to the last chain. You should have 4 loops on your hook.

Round 2: While holding the loops securely remove the hook from the last 3 loops. Yarn over then pull a loop into the first loop made from previous round. *Insert hook into the next loop made from previous round, yarn over then pull a loop. Repeat from * to the last loop. You should have 4 loops on your hook.

Repeat Round 2 until you get your desired length for your bag handle. My finished i-cord measures 63.5″ long.

Closing the i-cord: While holding the loops securely remove the hook from the last 3 loops. Yarn over then pull a loop into the first loop made from previous round. *Insert hook into the next loop made from the previous round, yarn over then pull a loop into the 2 loops on the hook. Repeat from * until you only have 1 loop on the hook. Fasten off and secure the ends leaving at least 10 inches tail.

HANDLE FASTENER:

Chain 10, slip stitch to the first chain to join. Chain 2, dc in the back hump of the each chain, sl st in the first stitch to join. Fasten off and secure the ends. (10 dc sts made)

Note: You can adjust the number of chains/stitches based on how tight you want the fastener to be.

ASSEMBLY:

Weave the handle into the bag holes, then insert both ends into the adjustable insert.