Cow Backpack

Make a little one smile with this adorable free cow backpack crochet pattern!

My daughter, Netherlee, has always been a fan of big animals…cows being near the top of that list. So I had a suspicion that she’d love a fun cow backpack to carry her lunch to pre-school in.

I was right! Netherlee really enjoyed taking her new animal backpack to school, and I really enjoyed watching her. You can’t beat a happy Mom and a happy girl on the first day of school!

This pattern calls for Super Bulky yarn for a quick and fun project. You can also make it using 3-4 strands of worsted weight yarn (great opportunity to use up old skeins!).

Cow Backpack Crochet Pattern

Materials:

• Yarn: Approximately 300 yards of super bulky (6) yarn OR 3-4 strands of worsted (4) weight yarn held together to achieve gauge
• Approx. 100 yards white and 200 yards black
• Approx. 20 yards of Light Pink worsted (4) weight yarn
• Approx. 10 yards of worsted (4) weight tan yarn
• Crochet Hook: Size 9.0 mm (M/N) OR whatever size is needed to achieve gauge
• AND Size 6.0mm (J/10)
• Yarn or Tapestry Needle
• 2 ¾” buttons (nose)
• 2 1.5” buttons (eyes)

Abbreviations:

• SC: Single Crochet  
• DC: Double Crochet  
• CH: Chain
• FPDC: Front Post Double Crochet
• BPDC: Back Post Double Crochet
• **: Repeat the section in between the two stars as specified

Gauge:

Super Bulky Yarn:

5 sts and 2 rows = 2 inches (5 centimeters) in Double Crochet   

Worsted Weight Yarn:

8 sts and 9 rows = 2 inches (5 centimeters) in Single Crochet

***It is important to check your gauge!***

Finished Measurements:                      

14” (35.5cm) wide by 17” (43cm) tall

Crochet Backpack Pattern

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Pattern:

Front of Backpack

Using White yarn and size 9.0mm (M/N) crochet hook

Chain 24

Row 1: DC into third chain from hook and each chain across, CH2, turn work (22 total sts not including starting or ending CH2)

Row 2: DC into each stitch across, CH2, turn work (22 total sts not including turning chain)

Repeat Row 2 until your project measures approx. 15” (38cm) in length from the starting chain edge.

Row 3: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (20 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 4: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (18 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 5: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (16 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 6: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (14 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 7: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog finishing the last loop by dropping white yarn and picking up black yarn for a color change, don’t turn work (12 total sts)

Working down the edge of your project to create a border, SC around the entire outside portion evenly around your project.  You’ve just created the front (face) of the backpack and are now working on the depth of the backpack.  When you get around to the end of your round, slip stitch into first stitch to join in the round, CH1

Round 2: Single crochet each stitch around until you get to the top corner (top is the smaller, 12 stitch section) and CH17, skip the 12 top stitches (this creates your bag opening) and continue to SC each remaining stitch around, slip stitch into first stitch, CH1

Round 3: Single crochet each stitch or chain around, slip stitch into first stitch, CH1

Round 4: Single crochet each stitch around, slip stitch into first stitch, CH1

Round 5: Single crochet each stitch around, slip stitch into first stitch

Fasten off.

Back of Backpack

Using Black yarn and size 9.0mm (M/N) crochet hook

Chain 24

Row 1: DC into third chain from hook and each chain across, CH2, turn work (22 total sts not including starting or ending CH2)

Row 2: DC into each stitch across, CH2, turn work (22 total sts not including turning chain)

Repeat Row 2 until your project measures approx. 15” (38cm) in length from the starting chain edge.

Row 3: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (20 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 4: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (18 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 5: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (16 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 6: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, CH2, turn work (14 total sts not including turning chain)

Row 7: DC2tog, DC across to last two sts, DC2tog, do not turn work (12 total sts)

Working down the edge of your project to create a border, SC around the entire outside portion evenly around your project.  You’ve just created the back (shoulder strap portion) of the backpack.  At the end of your border round, slip stitch into the first stitch.

Line up this back portion of the backpack with the front portion you created earlier.  With right sides together, seam the two pieces together by doing a SC stitch through one stitch from each the front and the back at the same time.  Repeat this process all the way around to seam the two pieces together.  Fasten off.  Weave in all ends.

Nose

Using pink yarn and size 6.0mm (J/10) crochet hook

Chain 25 (leave 20 inch starting end)

Row 1: Working into the second chain from hook, SC each chain across, CH1, turn work (24 total sts not including starting or ending chain)

Row 2: SC each stitch across, CH1, turn work (24 total sts not including turning chain)

Repeat Row 2 until your project measures 2” (5cm) in length from the starting chain row, do not CH1 or turn work.

Continue working around the outside edge by adding a SC border.  Slip stitch into first stitch.

Fasten off.

Use your yarn needle and starting end to seam this piece onto the center bottom of the face of backpack.

Ears

Using black yarn and size 9.0mm (M/N) crochet hook

Chain 10 (leave 10-12 inch starting end)

Slip stitch first and last chains together to join in the round

Round 1: CH1, SC into each chain around, slip stitch into first stitch (10 total sts)

Round 2: CH1, SC into each chain around and slip stitch from last round, slip stitch into first stitch (11 total sts)

Round 3: CH1, SC into each chain around and slip stitch from last round, slip stitch into first stitch (12 total sts)

Round 4: CH1, SC into each chain around and slip stitch from last round, slip stitch into first stitch (13 total sts)

Round 5: CH1, SC into each chain around and slip stitch from last round, slip stitch into first stitch (14 total sts)

Fold this tube piece flat and SC into one stitch from each side at the same time in order to create a SC seam across the top.  You should have 7 total sts across the top seam.  This seam is the top part of the ear.  Fasten off.  Weave in all ends except the starting end.  Use the starting end and your yarn needle to seam the ears into place as shown in pic.  Repeat for side 2.

Horns

Using tan yarn and size 6.0mm (J/10) crochet hook

Chain 10 (leave 10-12 inch starting end)

Slip stitch first and last chains together to join in the round

Round 1: CH1, SC into each chain around, slip stitch into first stitch (10 total sts)

Round 2: CH1, SC into each chain around, slip stitch into first stitch (10 total sts)

Repeat Round 2 until your horn measures approx. 1 inch (2.5cm) in length from the starting chain edge.

Round 3: CH1, *SC2tog* Repeat around, slip stitch into first stitch (5 total sts)

Round 4: CH1, SC2tog until you can’t anymore.  Fasten off.

Use yarn needle and ending tail to finish off the tip of horn making it pointy.  Use starting end to seam onto the back portion of backpack in area shown.  Repeat for side 2.

Straps

Using black yarn and size 9.0mm (M/N) crochet hook

Chain 6

Row 1: SC into second chain from hook and each chain across, CH1, turn work (5 total sts not including starting or ending chains)

Row 2: SC into each stitch across, CH1, turn work (5 total sts)

Repeat Row 2 until your strap measures approx. 12” (30.5cm) in length from the starting chain edge.  Fasten off.

Use the starting and finishing yarn ends and yarn needle to secure strap onto the back of the backpack.  Repeat for side 2.

Add buttons for nose and eyes in desired locations.

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©MelodysMakings and may not be copied or reproduced in any way.

You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but please leave a link to my website, www.melodys-makings.com, in your product listing specifying that I am the designer of this pattern.  Thank you for supporting me as a work at home mother!