HAMPTON SOFT CHUNKY BACKPACK

LEVEL: EASY

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 'Moda Vera' Hampton Soft Chunky Cotton Blend 100g x 3 balls Main Colour (M) and 2 balls Contrast Colour (C)
• 6 x 28mm buttons
• 8mm crochet hook or size needed for correct tension
• Scissors, yarn needle, thread for sewing on buttons, sewing needle

SIZE

Length: 37cm
Circumference: 62cm

TENSION

11 sts x 8 rows to 10cm over patt using 8mm hook.

Note -The backpack is crocheted at a firmer tension than normally recommended for the yarn to help hide the carried yarn and to ensure a durable result.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

Tapestry crochet is traditionally made in double crochet (dc), and uses two or more colours - the colour/s that is/are not in use are carried along and stitched over by the yarn in use. When changing colours, work thepreceding dc as folls - insert hook into st, yoh with the colour you're currently using and draw the yarn through, yoh with the new colour and draw this through 2 loops on your hook. Cont working with the new colour. The same goes for beg a new row with a different colour - make the sl st with the new colour. Make sure you don't pull the carried yarn too tightly when you make the next st.

Note -The base and straps of the bag are worked in dc. The body of the bag uses dc worked into the back loop of the st below it =dcbl.

INSTRUCTIONS

BACKPACK (worked in one piece in rounds)

Beg Base -

Using M, make a magic ring.

Using 8mm hook, 1st round -2ch (counts as 1dc throughout), work 7dc into ring, sl st into 2nd ch at beg ... 8dc.

2nd round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 2dc in every st around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

3rd round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in next st, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

4th round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each next 2 sts, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

5th round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

6th round - 2ch, sk first st, 1dc in each st around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

7th round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

8th round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

9th round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 6 sts, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 6 sts, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

10th round - 2ch, 1dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, rep from * around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg.

11th round - 2ch, sk first st, 1dc in each st around, sl st with C into 2nd ch at beg.

Beg Sides -

Note - From here to end, dc into back loop in every st (dcbl), unless otherwise stated.

Using C,12th round - 2ch, sk first st, dcbl around, sl st with M into back loop of 2nd ch at beg. Using M,13th round - 2ch, sk first st, dcbl around, sl st into back loop of 2nd ch at beg.

Note -Beg tapestry, carrying the unused yarn along and working the sts over it.

Work 14th - 32nd rounds incl from Graph.

Using M,33 round - 2ch, sk first st, dcbl around, sl st with C into back loop of 2nd ch at beg. Using C,34th round - 2ch, sk first st, dcbl around, sl st with M into back loop of 2nd ch at beg. Using M,35th round - 2ch, sk first st, dcbl around, sl st into back loop of 2nd ch at beg.

36th round - 2ch, sk first st,1dcbl in each of next 3 sts, 2ch, sk 2 sts, * 1dcbl in each of next 7 sts, 2ch, sk 2 sts, rep from * to last 3 sts, 1dcbl in each of last 3 sts, sl st into back loop of 2nd ch at beg.

37th round - 2ch, sk first st, 1dcbl in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in 2ch sp, * 1dcbl in each of next 7 sts, 2dc in 2ch sp, rep from * to last 3 sts, 1dcbl in each of last 3 sts, sl st with C into back loop of 2nd ch at beg.

Using C,38th round - 2ch, sk first st, dcbl around, sl st into 2nd ch at beg. Fasten off.

STRAPS (make 2) -

Using 8mm hook and M, make 60ch.

1st row - Sk 2 sts (counts as first dc), 1dc in each ch to end.

2nd row - 2ch, sk first st, 1dc in each of next 47 sts, 2ch, sk 2 sts, 1dc in next 5 sts, 2ch, sk 2 sts, 1dc in last dc ... 2 buttonholes.

3rd row - 2ch, sk first st, 2dc in 2ch sp, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in 2ch sp, 1dc in each st to last dc, hook through last dc, pull M yarn through, yoh with C, pull through 2 loops. Cut off M, leaving a tail to sew in.

Using C,1st round - 2ch, sk first st, 1dc in each st to end, DO NOT TURN, work 2 more dc in last st (3dc in all in last st), turn work to cont across end of strap, 1dc into side of dc next to buttonhole, 1dc into edge of next row, turn strap, 3dc in first st of long edge, 1dc in each st to last dc, 3dc in last st, turn strap, 1dc into side of each of next 2dc, 2dc into end dc of first long edge, sl st into 2nd ch at beg. Fasten off.

DRAWSTRING

Using 8mm hook and C, make 121ch.

1st row - Sk 1ch, sl st in each ch to end. Fasten off.

Make a tassel using 4 x 30cm lengths of C. Hold the 4 lengths tog and fold in half. Insert hook into one end of the drawstring and pull the folded part of the 4 lengths through the drawstring, then draw the ends of the lengths through the 4-length loop and pull tightly. Trim to 10cm. Make another in the same manner for the other end.

FINISHING

DO NOT PRESS. Sew 2 buttons, 6.5cm apart on each side of the top of the backpack as pictured, on the outside of the drawstring holes on either side of beg of each round. Sew the rem end of the straps, with the two remaining buttons, to the bottom of the backpack, above the first C round and approx 6cm apart from the centre of the buttons. Thread the drawstring through the holes so that the ends emerge evenly at the two holes at the front of the backpack. Stitch the drawstring to the backpack at the centre back securely. Sew in ends.