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This is a free cute Santa Sack Backpack made with the waistcoat single crochet stitch for a knit-like look. This is a great beginner pattern to learn the Knit-like Crochet Stitch.
Is it Christmas yet? Because it’s time to crochet gifts so you can be Santa and give the gifts to your loved ones. Now, with this Santa Sack Backpack, you can even deliver them the traditional way. It’s a roomy but also sturdy Santa Sack you can carry on your back.
This Santa Sack Backpack features the knit-like crochet stitch also known as the waistcoat stitch. It creates a knit look but also makes the backpack very sturdy. But no worries you can easily use the single crochet stitch if you rather do that.
To complete the Christmas look, I added a fun red and white twisted I-cord that looks like a candy cane for the drawstrings.
This pattern is 1 of 17 patterns featured as a kit through Lion Brands 2022 Countdown to Xmas. I’m so honored that my pattern was picked as one of them. You can get my Santa Sack Backpack Pattern Kit here.
Ready to make this fun pattern?
Table of contents
Santa Crochet Pattern
In terms of Santa Crochet Patterns, all you really need is 2-4 different colors. Traditionally, you’ll see red, white, and black, but sometimes you can even see gold. But Christmas also includes a beautiful green color.
This Santa Sack Backpack is red and white, but can easily change up a bit and you can add some black and gold to add a buckle to the backpack in case you feel fancy and want a slightly different look.
Personally, I love red and white for Santa crochet patterns and this backpack really reflects that with the red and white all over – even with the candy cane drawstring.
Get the PDF of the Crochet Santa Sack Backpack Pattern
This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printer-friendly pdf pattern that can be purchased at the links below for only a small fee.
If you like Santa crochet patterns, you might like these also:
- Santa Hat with Faux Fur Ribbing + Pom Pom
- Santa Belt Tissue Box Cover
- Faux Fur Santa Hat
- Santa Belt Christmas Ornament
So, let me now give you the supplies you need in order to crochet this cute pattern.
How to Crochet the Santa Sack Backpack Pattern
Materials you will need
- Lion Brand 24/7 Yarn (Worsted, 100% Cotton, 186yards/100g) (2 colors), I used:
- Red ([761-113B], bright red) – 4 skeins
- White ([761-100], pure white) – 1 skein
- 4.0mm Crochet Hook -> I used Furls Crochet Hook
- use NICKI15 for 15% off
- scissors
- tapestry needle
- optional: I-cord Knitting Machine
Gauge
4 wst x 5 rounds = 1 square inch
Size
14 inches tall x 12 inches in diameter
Stitches used in the pattern
Learn all the basic crochet stitches HERE
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- wst = waistcoat stitch
- sk = skip
- inc = increase
- 3rd loop behind the V
- sl st = slip stitch
- Icord made with an Icord Machine
Video Tutorial for the Santa Sack Backpack
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Free Written Pattern for the Crochet Santa Sack Backpack
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Pattern Notes
This pattern uses mostly the waistcoat stitch which is also known as the crochet knit or center slit stitch. You can substitute the sc stitch if you prefer, but the wst provides stability.
The companion video provides you with a tutorial on how to get started and how to adjust throughout the pattern.
Santa Sack Backpack Base
Use a stitch marker as you’re crocheting in continuous rounds.
Start with the color red and make a magic ring.
R1: 6 sc into the ring, close the ring
R2: 2 wst per st (12sts)
R3: *1 wst in the first st, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (18sts)
R4: *1 wst in the first 2 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (24sts)
R5: *1 wst in the first 3 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (30sts)
R6: *1 wst in the first 4 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (36sts)
R7: *1 wst in the first 5 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (42sts)
R8: *1 wst in the first 6 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (48sts)
R9: *1 wst in the first 7 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (54sts)
R10: *1 wst in the first 8 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (60sts)
R11: *1 wst in the first 9 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (66sts)
R12: *1 wst in the first 10 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (72sts)
R13: *1 wst in the first 11 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (78sts)
R14: *1 wst in the first 12 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (84sts)
R15: *1 wst in the first 13 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (90sts)
R16: *1 wst in the first 14 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (96sts)
R17: *1 wst in the first 15 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (102sts)
R18: *1 wst in the first 16 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (108sts)
R19: *1 wst in the first 17 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (114sts)
R20: *1 wst in the first 18 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (120sts)
R21: *1 wst in the first 19 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (126sts)
R22: *1 wst in the first 20 sts, 2 wst in the next st, repeat from * until the end of the round (132sts)
Santa Sack Backpack Body
Now you’ll crochet the body of the backpack.
R1: 1 sc per st into the 3rd loop behind the V
R2: 1 wst per st
R3: 1 wst in the next 65 sts, 1 wst dec, 1 wst in the next 65 sts, 1 wst dec (130 sts)
R4-31: 1 wst per st
Now change colors to white.
R1-8: 1 wst per st
R9: *1 wst in the next 6 sts, sk 4 sts, ch 4, repeat from *till the end
R10: *1 wst in the next 6 sts, 1 sc in each of the 4 chs, repeat from *till the end
R11-17: 1 wst per st
R18: 1 sl st per st
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Santa Sack Backpack Straps
Using red, ch 6
R1: from the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 sc per st, turn
R2: 1 sc per st, turn
Repeat R2 until you have the length direct (you can check by attaching the straps to the backpack temporarily using stitch markers). Mine is 50 inches long.
Now sew the ends to the bottom of the backpack. Then fold the straps in half and sew the halfway point to the top (below the drawstring area) of the backpack.
I cord Drawstring Closure
Using the white, ch 21
R1: from the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 sc per st, turn
R2-4: 1 sc per st, turn
Fold the rectangle in half, and sew the short edges together, then pinch the center and sew through the center to create 2 holes
I cord for the Santa Sack Backpack
In order to make the I cords you have a few different choices. To keep the “knit-look” I used my I-cord knitting machine to make 1 red and 1 white icord very quickly (each about 65 inches long).
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But you can also do the following:
- Crochet an Icord (6 different ways are shown in this video tutorial: https://youtu.be/5-OZiZcmqXw
- Crochet: ch 3 or 4, 1 sc from the 2nd ch from the hook, then turn 1 sc per st, until it’s about 65 inches long (per color)
- Buy a cord
Now weave your i-cords through the drawstring holes. They will come out of the front on the same hole. Then slide your i-cord closure over the i-cords to fasten them as you like.
Fasten off and weave in ends and enjoy your backpack.
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