This project has been a long time in process! I first had the idea last spring of crocheting a backpack for my sweet pea to take to pre-school. Then, over the summer, I absolutely loved the large sunflowers we got to pick in our local Community Supported Agriculture farm Bellair Farm. I just love the size and colors of sunflowers! Wish I had taken some photos to show you! Stay tuned this summer…
Some design comments – I made the backpack with a drawstring that loops through the shoulder “pads” and around the top of the bag so as to make it super easy for a pre-school age child who can’t yet work a toggle closure. I also made the sunflower with a crochet “backing” to allow for stuffing it. I played for a while with the stem and leaves until I ended up with what you see. I gave the stem some texture by working diagonal triple crochet stitches every few stitches. I gave the leaves some extra texture by sewing down only one edge so they curl out.
Remembering that my son’s pre-school sent home papers in a folder, I decided I wanted to make the backpack large enough to fit large kid books. I wasn’t sure if Roo would need a backpack so I thought I’d love to make it work for trips to the library. I started off writing notes for a potential crochet pattern but part way through I gave up. I may consider it in the future but no plans for now (let me know if you think it’s worth the work!)
Yep, you guessed it…this was Roo’s Christmas gift! I gave her the bag unlined though and then finally just finished sewing in a fabric lining. Please tell me I’m not the only person who gifts unfinished homemade gifts to close family?! I had some denim to use so I decided it would make a nice durable lining for the bag. I found an awesome tutorial on how to sew a crochet bag liner and then on how to sew a lining into a crochet bag. Until then, I was feeling quite stumped by the math of figuring out the lining. These tutorials worked great and the lining is in thanks to Alice!
If you’re looking for some crafty inspiration, check out the folks I’m linking up with over at Tami’s, Natural Suburbia, and Frontier Dreams. So many great ideas!!!
The backpack is so cute! I can see that your daughter loves it too.
I completely love your bag, and only wish I could crochet. It is on my list of resolutions for 2013, but guess I will have to start with some simple projects. What really made me smile was the book peeping out of the bag, as it was the absolute favourite of a boy I worked with at my last school, and was a bit of a lifesaver on several occasions.
That is the most adorable backpack (and model)! Beautiful!
Really cute bag and an awesome idea to make it big enough to fit large kids books, also about the drawstring.
She is too cute for words! And her backpack suits her very well. You did a great job with the design and construction of this project.
Thx so much! She is such a sunbeam of joy in the world and especially MY world!
I still haven’t finished my Christmas knitting, so you’re well ahead of me. She looks thrilled with her backpack – it’s so bright and happy!
Absolutely adorable! Looks like she loves it.
Thx! She does!
Super cute!! She looks like she loves it!
Lovely! Happy weekend! Regula
This backpack is SO CUTE! What a wonderful idea. I never thought about lining a bag like that! And the sunflower…..I am in love with sunflowers! This is too cute! I hope I remember this idea when my daughter is old enough for school!
Feel free to pin the idea for later – I do that all the time!
aww, I love it!!! And no your certainly not the only one who gifts almost finished presents:) I love the doll your making too, gorgeous
Thanks so much! I try to get gifts done but alas…it doesn’t always happen!