Boho Backpack

Skill Level: Intermediate 

Size: 12” high; 31/2” deep; 10” wide

Gauge: 23 sts x 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stranded knitting using larger needle after wet blocking 

Materials

Yarn: Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted (100% wool; 220 yards [201 meters]/100 grams): #12269 Midnight (A, 1 hank), #71660 Honeydew (B, 1 hank), #12277 Periwinkle (C, 1 hank), #12292 Honeysuckle (D, 1 hank), #71662 Turquoise (E, 1 hank), #12275 Mulberry (F, 1 hank), #12144 Starfish (G, 1 hank)
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 24” circular and US size 3 (3.25 mm) straight needles
Notions: Markers, tapestry needle, cable needle (cn), crank-handle I-cord machine, 2 stop cord fasteners, 11/8” button

Special Stitches

Right Twist (RT): K2tog, do not slip from ndl, knit the first st again, slip both sts from ndl.
Left Twist (LT): Knit the second st on the left ndl through the back loop, knit the first st through the front loop, slip both sts from ndl.
2×2 Right Cross (RC): Slip next 2 sts from left ndl to cn and hold in front, k2 from left ndl, k2 from cn.
2×2 Left Cross (LC): Slip next 2 sts from left ndl to cn and hold in back, k2 from left ndl, k2 from cn.
3×1 Left Purl Cross (LPC): Slip next 3 sts from left ndl to cn and hold in front, p1 from left ndl, k3 from cn.
3×1 Right Purl Cross (RPC): Slip next st from left ndl to cn and hold in back, k3 from left ndl, p1 from cn.
6 st Double Wrap: * Slip next 6 sts to right ndl with yarn in back, bring yarn to front, slip same 6 sts back to left ndl; rep from * 1 more time, k6.
Left Twist Decrease (LTD): Sl next st to cn and hold in front, k2tog from left ndl, k1 from cn – 1 st dec’d.
Right Twist Decrease (RTD): Sl next st to cn and hold in back, k2tog, k1 from cn – 1 st dec’d. 

Stripe Sequence for Base

Rows 1-2: With G, knit.
Rows 3-4: With F, knit.
Rows 5-6: With E, knit.
Rows 7-8: With D, knit.
Rows 9-10: With C, knit.
Rows 11-12: With B, knit.
Rows 13-14: With A, knit.
Rep Rows 1-14 for patt.

Pattern Notes

Try spit splicing yarn ends together when changing colors to reduce number of ends woven in.
The bag base is knit flat in garter stitch. Stitches are picked up around the perimeter of the base and the bag body is worked in the round. Pocket and flap are worked separately and sewn to the bag body.
Instead of using a crank-handle I-cord machine, you can work a 4-stitch I-cord instead.

Pattern

Base

With A and smaller ndl, cast on 33 sts. Knit 1 row.
Beg with Row 1, work remainder of Base in Stripe Sequence for Base patt.
Inc row: K1, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, kfb, k2. (2 sts inc’d)
Working in Stripe Sequence patt, rep Inc row every row, 11 more times. (57 sts) Knit 18 rows.
Dec row: K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 – 2 sts dec’d. Rep Dec row every row, 11 more times. With A, bind off all sts. (33 sts rem) 

Bag Body

With A and smaller ndl, beg at center of cast-on edge, pick up and knit 19 sts along first half of cast-on edge, 12 sts along shaped portion of side, 10 sts along straight edge of side 12 sts along shaped portion of side, 38 sts along bind-off edge, 12 sts along shaped portion of side, 10 sts along straight edge of side 12 sts along shaped portion of side, and 19 sts along other half of cast-on edge. (144 sts) PM and join to work in the rnd. Purl 1 rnd. Knit 1 rnd. Purl 1 rnd. Switch to larger ndl. Work Rows 1-80 of Bag Body chart, changing colors as indicated. Break all colors except A. Switch to smaller ndl. Knit 1 rnd. Purl 1 rnd. Knit 1 rnd.
Eyelet rnd: P5, * yo, p2tog, p4; rep from * to last st, p1. Knit 1 rnd. Purl 1 rnd. Knit 1 rnd. Bind off all sts pwise.

Straps (Make Two)

Cast on 125 sts with smaller ndl and A leaving 10” tail. Knit 1 row. Working in Stripe Sequence beg with Row 1, knit 26 rows. With A knit 1 row. Bind off all sts over the next WS row leaving 10” tail.

Flap

Cast on 44 sts with larger ndl and C. Work Set-up row of Flap chart, then work Rows 1-38 of chart. Bind off rem 16 sts.

Flap Edging

With A and larger ndl, pick up and knit 44 sts along cast-on edge of Flap. Knit 5 rows, bind off all sts over the next RS row. Leave last st on ndl, do not break yarn. Pick up and knit 100 sts evenly around rem curved edge of Flap. Knit 6 rows. Bind off all sts over the next WS row leaving 16” tail.

Pocket

 

With A, cast on 25 sts. Purl a WS row. Work Rows 10-13 of chart.
Next row (WS): Cast on 6 sts, work Row 14 of chart to end.
Next row (RS): Cast on 6 sts, work Row 15 of chart to end – 36 sts. Cont in patt through Row 44 of chart. Break all colors except A. Switch to smaller ndl. Knit 3 rows.
Eyelet row: K2, * yo, k2tog, k4; rep from * to last 4 sts, yo, k2tog, k2. Knit 3 rows. Bind off all sts.

Finishing

 

Wet block pieces. Sew Pocket to side of Bag Body, matching up fair-isle pattern. Sew flat Flap edging to back of Bag Body, matching up center of Flap to beg of round from Fair Isle pattern. Pin one end of each Strap to center of upper Bag Body just beneath Flap. Pin other end of each Strap to lower edge of Bag Body just above lower garter stitch beginning and on each end of back of Bag. Sew Strap ends to Bag.

Main Drawstring

Using E and crank I-cord machine, make an I-cord 36” long following manufacturers instruction. Weave I-Cord in and out of eyelets on top of Bag Body. Pass both I-cords together through stop cord fastener.

Pocket Drawstrings (Make Two)

Using F and crank I-cord machine, make an I-cord 8” long following manufacturers instruction. Weave one I-cord in and out of left 3 eyelets on left top of Pocket. Sew down the end of drawstring inside pocket leaving the end hanging out of the front eyelet free. Rep for right top of Pocket/other I-cord. Pass both I-cords together through stop cord fastener.

Button Loop

With A and smaller ndl, cast on 20 sts. Bind off all sts. Bring ends of Loop together and sew to center of Flap. Bring Flap over to front side of bag. Place button beneath Loop to determine placement. Sew Button to front of Bag.