Cherry Blossom Backpack

Hook: E, H & I

Materials: Red Heart Super Saver (light blue, light pink and off white), 6/0 seed beads (dark pink), hot glue, yarn sewing needle

Gauge: Non-essential – a larger hook creates a larger backpack and vice versa  

Hints & Tips:

-          Beginning ch 1 does not count as a stitch anywhere in the pattern

-     Instructions for a larger size at the bottom

Abbreviations:

-          Ch – chain

-          Hdc – half double crochet

-          Sl st – slip stitch

-          St – stitch

-          Dc – double crochet

-          Sc – single crochet

-          Trc – triple (or treble) crochet

Bag (with I hook):

Round 1) Ch 7, 4 hdc in 3^rd ch from hook (ch 2 counts as first hdc), hdc in next 3 ch, 5 hdc in last ch, 3 hdc on other side, join to ch 2 with sl st – 16 hdc

Round 2) Ch 1, 2 hdc in next 5 st, hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next 5 st, hdc in last 3 st, join to first hdc with sl st – 26 hdc

Round 3) Ch 1, *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st* 5 times, hdc in next 3 st, repeat *-* five times again, hdc in last 3 st – 36 hdc

Round 4) Ch 1, *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st* 5 times, hdc in next 3 st, repeat *-* five times again, hdc in last 3 st – 46 hdc

Round 5) Ch 1, *hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next st* 5 times, hdc in next 3 st, repeat *-* five times again, hdc in last 3 st – 56 hdc

Round 6) Ch 1, *hdc in next 4 st, 2 hdc in next st* 5 times, hdc in next 3 st, repeat *-* five times again, hdc in last 3 st – 66 hdc

Round 7 - 29) Ch 1, hdc in every st around, join to first hdc with sl st (in last round join to first st with sl st) – 66 hdc

Round 30) Ch 1, hdc in same st as joining, *ch 1, sk next st, hdc in next st* around, join to first hdc with sl st – 33 hdc, 33 ch 1 sp

Row 1 - Drawstring) Ch 1, sl st into first ch 1 sp, ch 78, sl st in 2^nd ch from hook and all the way down ch, sl st into same sp that you started in, tie off – 77 sl st

Weave chain in and out of ch 1 spaces ending in the same space you started the chain in. (You can make this step shorter so you don't have long of a chain when you pull it tight, that is up to you. 

Straps (with H hook & make 2):

Row 1) Ch 4, sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc to end – 3 sc

Row 2 - 55) Ch 1, sc in every st across – 3 sc

Flowers (With E hook & make 13):

Round 1) Using magic circle, ch 1, 5 sc in circle, pull tight, join to first sc with sl st – 5 sc

Round 2) *Ch 1, dc, trc, dc in same st as joining, sl st into next st*around, sl st into first st, tie off – 5 petals

Trunk/Branches (With I hook):
With two strands, ch 35, drop one loop from your hook and ch 11, drop that loop off your hook, go back to first dropped loop and ch 14 with it as well. Tie off both strands. Make two more of these.

Twist the 3 trunks together to form a thicker truck. The branches will be secured under flowers after you have the trunk positioned onto the back pack.

Putting it all together:

You can sew everything on or use hot glue (I went the hot glue route do to it being easier).

Flowers: You are going to put the flowers upside down so the WRONG side will be visible. Using hot glue, glue a group of darker pink beads into the center of each one. I went with three different types of beads for appearance.

Bag positioning: Using the bottom of your bag, flatten it to where it is long ways.

Trunk: Take the three pieces of your trunk. You’re going to wrap them around one another and place them on the bag. I glued them as I wrapped them because it made it easier to visualize how the trunk was turning out. I would only glue every couple of inches though so I could manipulate the trunk pieces to perfect after it was in place. I wanted my trunk to come up from the bottom and up along the side, but not directly on the fold so that a few branches could curl around but most of the tree/flowers would be visible on one side.

Branches: Scatter your branches where you want them/think they look right.

Flowers (again): Put glue on the flower (unless you’re sewing them) and place it on a branch locking the branch in place via the flower. Once all flowers are placed (I used 12 of them) check to make sure all branches are secure. If not use a little more thread/glue.

Adjustable chain: Glue a flower at the end of the chain that opens and closes the backpack. This will keep it from every sliding out. If you want to still be able to slide it out, I suggest modifying the flower and sewing a button to the chain so the button can allow the flower to be put on and off.

Straps: Flip backpack over, line up where you want the straps and sew them into place securely. 

I'm sharing this extra photo just because of how much I love it. Lol my daughter is the perfect little model :p

***Instructions to make a larger bag - Increase the ch by 2 so that you'll have 5 hdc between each half circle end instead of 3, add an extra increase round and then add a few more hdc rounds to make it longer. Make the straps as long as needed.***