Rangeela backpack

If crochet motifs are your thing and you just can’t get enough of your motif addiction then you are on the right blog!

I started making these crochet hexagon and pentagon motifs way back as a crochet beginner. These motifs used to work like breaks between my larger projects. In six months time I had a bunch of them with no clue about what to do with them.

I had much more than required for coaster set and much lesser numbers needed for crochet motif blanket. I ended up inspired by the idea of a backpack. Crochet bags are my absolute favorite accessories to make.

With motifs all ready, it took me less then a day to put together the entire bag. Just added a base, edging and a strap!! Totally rewarding experience for the fact that this happened to be an in between project!!

This pattern is free on my blog. Click on the respective link to get the pdf pattern download from Ravelry .

Also available on Lovecrafts or Etsy or Creative Fabrica or Ribblr

To make this bag you will need following material

Acrylic worsted weight yarn – sky blue- 200g, orange- 100g, peach- 100g.
Hook- 4mm
Scissors
Markers to mark important stitches
Yarn needle to weave in the ends

Video tutorial

Symbols for reading the pattern instructions–

SL ST- Slip stitch
ST- Stitch
YO = Yarn over
CH= chain stitch
CH-SP = Chain space
SC= Single crochet in stitch
DC= Double crochet in stitch

Step by step pattern instructions

Instructions

Gauge information

Difficulty level – Advanced Beginner

The pattern is written using US crochet stitch terminology. Here hook size 4 mm (US G/6 or UK 8) is used. The tension for the yarn used in this pattern is 16 dc = 10 cm/4” in width.

The bag measures around 55 cm from bottom to top (when held upright) and 40 cm in width.

Each hexagon and pentagon measures 14cm in diameter.

This pattern is not yarn specific and any type of yarn can be used for the project. Although remember that the type and weight of yarn used will change the final measurements of the bag. For example, bulky weight yarn will increase the length and width of the bag while DK weight yarn will make a smaller bag in final measurements.

Overview

Work total 12 hexagons and 12 pentagons.
Work the bottom round base for the bag separately.
Join the motifs and base to make body of the bag.
Work straps.
Work an edging at the top of the bag which includes spaces for straps.
Join the straps to the bag
Optional – Make pompoms and add to the ends of the straps.
Video tutorial for important steps – YouTube

Step by step pattern instructions – Hexagon

With shade A, Make a magic ring or CH5 and SLST into first ST to form a ring
Round 1 – CH3 (counts as DC), DC, CH1, * CH1, 2DC*, REP * to * 4 times more, CH1, SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn.
Round 2 – Join shade B in any CH1 space from 1st round. CH3, DC, CH1, 2DC. *Work (2DC, CH1, 2DC) in next CH1 SP*. REP * to * 4 times more. SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made.
Round 3 – Continue working with shade B. SL ST to nearest CH1 SP. CH3, 6 DC in same CH SP, *7 DC in next CH1 SP*. REP * to *4 times more. SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn.
Round 4 – Join shade A to the first DC (CH3) of previous around. CH1, SC in same ST, SC in next 6 ST. Work a long SC in the 2nd round in between two groups ((of 2DC+CH1+2DC group)) as shown in the chart. *SC in next 7 ST and a long SC in between next two groups* REP * to * 4 times more. SL ST into the ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn.
Round 5 – Join shade C to first SC of last round. CH3, DC in next 2 ST, (DC, CH1, DC) in next ST(1st corner) , *DC in next 7 ST, (DC, CH1, DC) in next st (2nd corner). REP * to * 4 times more, DC n last 4 ST after last 6th corner worked. SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn and weave in the ends.
Make total 12 hexagon motifs.

African Flower Pentagon

With shade A, Make a magic ring or CH5 and SLST into first ST to form a ring
Round 1 – CH3 (counts as DC), DC,, * CH1, 2DC*, REP * to * 3 times more, CH1, SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn.
Round 2 – Join shade B in any CH1 space from 1st round. CH3, DC, CH1, 2DC. *Work (2DC, CH1, 2DC) in next CH1 SP*. REP * to * 3 times more. SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made.
Round 3 – Continue working with shade B. SL ST to nearest CH1 SP. CH3, 6 DC in same CH SP, *7 DC in next CH1 SP*. REP * to *3 times more. SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn.
Round 4 – Join shade A to the first DC (CH3) of previous around. CH1, SC in same ST, SC in next 6 ST. Work a long SC in the 2nd round in between two groups ((of 2DC+CH1+2DC group)) as shown in the chart. *SC in next 7 ST and a long SC in between next two groups* REP * to * 3 times more. SL ST into the ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn.
Round 5 – Join shade C to first SC of last round. CH3, DC in next 2 ST, (DC, CH1, DC) in next ST(1st corner) , *DC in next 7 ST, (DC, CH1, DC) in next st (2nd corner). REP * to * 3 times more, DC n last 4 ST after last 5th corner worked. SL ST into the 3rd CH ST from first DC (CH3) made. Cut the yarn and weave in the ends.
Make total 12 pentagon motifs.

Base of the bag

Round 1- With shade C, Ch 4; SL ST in 1st CH to form a ring. CH 1, 6 SC in ring. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total – 6 ST.
Round 2- CH 1, 2 SC in 1st ST, 2 SC in each of the remaining 5 ST. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total – 12 ST.
Round 3- CH 1, SC in 1st ST, 2 SC in next ST, *SC in next ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP * to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total – 18 ST.
Round 4- CH 1 , SC in first ST, SC in next ST, 2SC in next ST. *SC in next 2 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total- 24 ST.
Round 5- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 2 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 3 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total – 30 ST.
Round 6- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 3 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 4 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total -36 ST.
Round 7- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 4 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 5 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total- 42 ST.
Round 8 – CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 5 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 6 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total- 48 ST.
Round 9- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 6 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 7 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total- 54 ST.
Round 10- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 7 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 8 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total- 60 ST.
Round 11- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in next 8 ST, 2 SC in next ST. *SC in next 9 ST, 2 SC in next ST*, REP *to* 5 times total. SL ST in 1st SC to finish the round. Total- 66 ST.

Motifs Assembly

Join all the motif together in the manner as shown in the image below. Follow the video tutorial for added help with motifs assembly.
Row 1 and row 4 – arrange 6 pentagons on first and bottom row like shown in the image below ; Row 2 and row 3 – arrange 6 hexagons each in both middle rows. Join them stitch by stitch to form the body of the bag.

There are 10 stitches on each side of the motifs. Hence, while stitching together two motifs, make sure you join 10 stitches on one motifs to same number of stitches on the other motif.
Join base of the bag with the body of the bag stitch by stitch. There are total 60 stitches on the last round of the base and total 60 stitches on the six sides of the pentagons.

Top edging for the bag

Round 1 – Make sure you are holding the bag on the side supposed to be outside, join shade B in any ST on the opening of the bag, CH 1, SC in same ST, SC in each each ST till end of row. SL ST in first ST. Total SC worked- 60 (10 sc in top edge of each pentagon). Join with SL ST in first SC.
Round 2– CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in each ST till end of row in addition to increasing 3 stitches evenly in this row. SL ST in first ST. Total SC – 63. Cut the yarn.

Round 3 – Join shade A, CH 3 (works as DC), DC in next 6 ST, skip 2 ST, CH 2, **DC in next 7 ST, skip 2 st, DC in next 2 ST.** Repeat 5 times more. Total CH 2 spaces – 7, total DC – 49. SL ST in 3rd CH of CH 3.

Round 4- CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in each DC and in each CH till the end of round. Total SC – 63. SL ST in first ST. Cut the yarn.

STRAP

Row 1- With shade B, CH 211. Turn, SC in 2nd ST from hook, SC in each ST till the end of chain. Total– 210 ST.

Row 2- Turn, CH 1, SC in first ST, SC in each ST till end of row. Total– 210 ST.
Row 3- Join shade C, CH 1, pivot piece, SC in single loop on first CH at bottom edge on Row 1, CH 1, pivot piece, SC in first ST on 3rd row, ch 1. *pivot piece, SC in next ST on bottom edge of Row 1, ch 1, SC in next ST on 3rd row, CH 1*, REP *to* till end of row. Total -420 ST. SL ST in last remaining ST. Cut the yarn and weave in the ends.

Strap Assembly

Place markers on the CH 2 spaces on the opening of the bag as follows- place two markers on two adjacent CH 2 spaces ( P and Q) , skip 2 CH 2 SP and place third marker on the next (R) . Place markers on extreme pentegons on the bottom two CH3 Spaces (X) and (Y).
Hold one end of the strap and weave it through (R) in and out of 3 consecutive CH 2-SP, last being point (P). Leave enough length at opposite end of the strap for tying.

From point (P), drop the strap end down to bottom of bag and through marker point (X).
From inside of the bag, get hold of the strap end and bring it out from marker point (Y).
Now, bring strap end up to top of bag and weave strap in from (Q) and out 3 consecutive CH SP on top, last one coming out of (R).
Tie the two ends of strap together in front and adjust to make both lengths of stap ends on front equal. Add pompoms at the ends of the straps.

The bag is now complete.

Happy crocheting!!!

To make this bag you will need following material