Although summer isn’t quite here yet, it certainly feels like it in Florida. Summer seems to bring with it long days where I’d rather have my bag on my back and out of the way, while still needing enough space to carry everything. I’d seen Make & Do Crew’s Suzette Stitch across Pinterest, and have been visualizing it as a backpack for months. Now that the heat and long days are here, so is the Summer Drawstring Backpack!

To complete this project, you will need to know the following stitches: sl knot and ch, sl st, sc, dc, i-cord

You will also need the following supplies:

Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn, one skein Steel Blue (11006) and a quarter skein Gold (11003) [Affiliate Link]

6 mm (US J) crochet hook [Affiliate Link]

Tapestry needle [Affiliate Link]

This bag is very simple, and is a great beginner project. You will make two rectangular sides of the bag, and then two I-Cords for straps.

For the sides of the bag, start with ch 35, and then follow Make & Do Crew’s instructions for the Suzette Stitch until you’ve completed 34 rows of stitches. When tying off, leave the ends long. Complete two sides of the bag, and set aside.

For the straps, make two I-Cords. Each I-Cord will begin with a ch 3 and continue with three loops. The finished straps should measure roughly the perimeter of one rectangular side. To make sure that the straps are the correct length for wearing, fold in half and measure from the top of your shoulder to your hips. The straps will stretch when in use, as can be seen in the photos.

Once all pieces are complete, you will continue by sewing together the two sides of the bag, creating loops at the top for the straps, and then weaving and connecting the straps.

Before connecting the sides, note that you will be turning the bag inside out, and that the initial ch edge will become the top of the bag. The sides should be identical, but if you have a preference for the outside of the bag, lay the pieces with outsides facing each other. Join your yarn with a sl knot and sc at a corner next to the ch edge of the bag, going through both layers, as shown in the photo below.

Continue with a sc in each stitch, around three sides of the bag. The photos below show how the sides should be connected with sc.

Once three sides have been connected, the bag should be turned inside out. To create the loops for the strap at the top of the bag, you will be slip stitching into every other chain, the skipped ch spaces from the first row. They will appear as larger holes in the fabric.

After each sl st, ch 5. There should be 17 total spaces on each side of the bag. Once the loops have all been completed, tie off the yarn. Be sure to leave the long ends of the yarn on the inside bottom corners. The bag is now complete and ready for the straps to be attached.

When weaving the straps through, start at one side seam, weaving back and forth between the loops, as indicated in the photo below. Weave the strap all the way around until you reach the starting side. Weave the second strap through alongside the first, but starting from the opposite side seam. When you are done, you should have the two ends of one strap on one side, and the two ends of the other strap on the other side. Using a tapestry needle, feed the ends of the straps through the bottom corner on each side, so that the straps run straight down the edges of the bag. Turn the bag back inside out so that you can secure the straps on the inside of the bag. On each inside corner, you should have the long end left from finishing the bag side. Tie a knot with the two yellow strands and one blue strand in each inside corner. Once knotted, weave the strands through the bottom sc seam of the bag, making sure not to go all the way through where the yellow can be seen on the outside of the bag. Tie the strands in a knot where they meet in the middle.

With some wear, the ends may start to pull out so that a single strand can be seen at the base of the strap. This should not cause any long term problems, but you can always re-knot the straps if needed. With this method of knotting, there shouldn’t be tension on the corner of the backpack that could cause a hole over time. The finished bag is easily opened and closed by tugging on the straps or the opening of the bag, but still stays securely closed while in use.

While the days are still getting longer and the temperature hotter, I think I’m ready for summer!

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This pattern was designed by me and is intended for your personal use. I have provided it for free on my blog, and the selling of this pattern is strictly prohibited. If you are interested in selling completed items based off this pattern, please notify me and credit me as the designer.