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Pastel rainbow daisy granny square backpack pattern
Crochet a daisy granny square (afghan square) backpack. Full US and UK stitch terms given throughout this worsted cotton pattern.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 4.0 mm
Intermediate
What the original write-up called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
4-6 hours
What the original page reckoned. Your own pace is the one that matters.
About this pattern
This is a bucket-style mini backpack made from 24 daisy-topped granny squares (UK afghan squares), joined into a tube over a crocheted circular base, then finished with a drawstring eyelet rim, scalloped pocket flap, cords, handle, and straps. It uses worsted cotton yarn and measures roughly 9 by 11 by 8.5 inches. Suited to confident intermediate crocheters already comfortable with motif joining, basic shaping, and cord-making, it rewards careful colour planning and attentive finishing over any single difficult stitch.
This mini backpack belongs to the granny square family (UK: afghan square), built from 24 individual motifs rather than worked as one continuous piece. Each square carries its own daisy applique with two small leaves, and the finished bag reads as a soft pastel rainbow rather than a single solid colour. At 9 inches wide by 11 inches tall by 8.5 inches deep (23 x 28 x 21.5 cm), it holds its shape thanks to a firm circular base and worsted cotton fabric.
Construction runs motif-first: 24 cream granny squares and 24 daisies are made separately, then the daisies are sewn to the centre of each square before joining begins. Squares are arranged eight around by three high, joined into three strips, and those strips are joined into a tube that forms the body. A crocheted circular base closes the bottom, after which the top rim, eyelets, scalloped flap, cords, pocket, handle, and straps are added in sequence, finishing with light blocking and end-weaving.
Materials
- Some excellent yarn choices include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton , Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran , or WeCrochet Dishie . You want a smooth worsted cotton that gives firm fabric and clear stitch definition. When selecting your pastels, choose colors with similar value so the flowers read as a soft, cohesive rainbow rather than a jarring mix.
- Item Amount / Detail
- Main yarn Worsted weight cotton or cotton blend: cream, 520 yd / 475 m
- Flower colors Pastel pink, peach, mint, lavender, yellow: 35-45 yd / 32-41 m each
- Leaf green Approx. 70 yd / 64 m
- Hooks G/4.0 mm for motifs and body; F/3.75 mm for cords if needed
- Notions Tapestry needle, locking markers, pins, 1 large pearl-style bead, optional fabric lining
The list is the pattern's own wording.
Instructions
Every round is printed as the pattern wrote it, brackets and all. Open the key beside a round to see only the short forms that round uses.
Daisy Granny Square Pattern
Make 24 squares total. Work each square in cream, then sew on one daisy with two small leaves.
- Round 1
MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, join. 12 dc, 4 corner sps
Key4
- Corner
- Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the same corner space. This creates the corner increase that shapes your square.
- ch
- chain
- dc
- double crochet
- MR
- magic ring
- Round 2
Sl st to corner. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner. Work corner in each remaining corner sp, join. 24 dc, 4 corner sps
Key5
- Corner
- Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the same corner space. This creates the corner increase that shapes your square.
- sl st
- slip stitch
- ch
- chain
- dc
- double crochet
- sp
- space
- Round 3
Sl st to corner. Work corner in corner sp, granny cluster in each side sp; rep around, join. 36 dc, 4 corner sps
Key6
- Granny cluster
- Work 3 double crochets into the same chain space. This creates those classic granny square clusters.
- Corner
- Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the same corner space. This creates the corner increase that shapes your square.
- sl st
- slip stitch
- rep
- repeat
- dc
- double crochet
- sp
- space
- Round 4
Sl st to corner. Work corner in corner sp, granny cluster in each side sp; rep around, join. 48 dc, 4 corner spsEdging Ch 1. Work 14 sc evenly along each side, placing 1 marked corner sc at each corner; join invisibly. 56 sc
Key8
- Granny cluster
- Work 3 double crochets into the same chain space. This creates those classic granny square clusters.
- Corner
- Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the same corner space. This creates the corner increase that shapes your square.
- sl st
- slip stitch
- rep
- repeat
- ch
- chain
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- dc
- double crochet
- sp
- space
Circular Base Pattern
Work in continuous rounds with cream yarn. Place a marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go.
- Round 1
MR, 8 sc in ring. 8 sc
Key2
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- MR
- magic ring
- Round 2
2 sc in each st around. 16 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 3
[Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 24 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 4
[Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 32 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 5
[Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 40 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 6
[Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 48 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 7
[Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 56 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 8
[Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 64 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 9
[Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 72 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 10
[Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 80 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 11
[Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 88 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 12
[Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 96 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 13
[Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 104 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 14
[Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. 112 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
Top Rim Pattern
- Round 1
Join cream at top edge. Sc in each st around. 112 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Round 2
Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 1, sk next st, [dc next st, ch 1, sk next st] around, join. 56 dc + 56 ch-sps
Key3
- ch
- chain
- dc
- double crochet
- sk
- skip
- Round 3
Ch 1, sc in each dc and ch-sp around, join. 112 sc
Key4
- ch
- chain
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- dc
- double crochet
- sp
- space
- Round 4
[Sl st next st, sk next st, 5 dc next st, sk next st] 28 times, join. 28 scallopsThe chain spaces in R2 create your eyelets for the drawstring cord.
Key3
- sl st
- slip stitch
- dc
- double crochet
- sk
- skip
Pocket and Flap Pattern
- Rounds 2–16
Ch 1, sc across, turn. 28 scEdging Sc evenly around, working 3 sc in each corner; join. 88 sc approx.
Key3
- Corner
- Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the same corner space. This creates the corner increase that shapes your square.
- ch
- chain
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Flap Round 1
Join to top edge of pocket; sc across 28 top sts, turn. 28 sc
Key1
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Flap Rounds 2-6
Ch 1, sc across, turn. 28 sc
Key2
- ch
- chain
- sc
- single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- Flap Round 7
[Sl st next st, sk next st, 5 dc next st, sk next st] 7 times. 7 scallops
Key3
- sl st
- slip stitch
- dc
- double crochet
- sk
- skip
Daisy Applique (Make 24)
Center: With cream or yellow, make a magic ring, work 12 single crochets in ring, join. (12 sc)
Petals: Join your pastel color. In each center stitch, work one picot petal. Repeat 12 times. Fasten off. (12 petals)
Leaves: With green, chain 6, single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, half double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet, fasten off. Make 2 leaves per flower. Sew leaves first, then flower centered on square.
Color Layout Tips
Arrange the 24 flowers in a mixed pastel order: pink, peach, mint, lavender, yellow, then repeat with small changes so no two identical colors sit directly side by side. Lay out all your completed squares before assembly to check that the color distribution looks balanced and pleasing.
Attaching the Pocket
Center the pocket over the lower front two squares. Sew sides and bottom only, leaving the top open. Sew one daisy to the flap center and one pearl-style bead above the flap as a decorative button.
Making up
- Step 1Joining the Square Body: Make three strips of 8 squares each. With right sides facing up, whipstitch or slip stitch through inner loops only to join squares side by side. Join strip ends to form rings, then join the three rings vertically. Keep 14 edge stitches per square side throughout. Your top edge should equal 8 x 14 = 112 stitches. Your bottom edge should also equal 112 stitches.
- Step 2Joining Base to Body: With wrong side of base against wrong side of body, pin the 112 base stitches to the 112 lower edge stitches. Slip stitch or whipstitch each stitch to each stitch around. The base should lie flat and the body should stand upright without puckering.
Notes from the pattern
- Place locking markers at each motif corner during squares and edging rounds; losing track of corners makes the strip and tube joins uneven.
- Check motif gauge before committing to all 24 squares, since the pattern depends on 14 edge stitches per side and 112 edge stitches around to match the base exactly.
- Plan the pastel colour layout before joining so no two identical flower shades sit directly side by side; lay all 24 daisies out flat first rather than deciding while joining.
- Motif gauge: one finished square after Round 4 and edging should measure 3.5 x 3.5 inches / 9 x 9 cm. Single crochet gauge for the base: 16 sc and 18 rounds equals 4 inches / 10 cm after light blocking. Match the motif size first, then use whatever hook gives a firm but flexible square; if squares are too small or too large, adjust hook size and reblock to hit that 3.5 inch measurement.
- Three tiers of squares create approximately 10.5 inches / 26.5 cm of body height before the top rim is added.
The essentials
- Rounds
- 26
- Parts
- 7
- Level
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 4.0 mm
- Yarn
- Worsted
Stitches you will use
- Granny square motif construction and joining Used across all 24 body squares through Round 4 and the edging; keep tension even so all squares finish the same size before joining into strips.
- Daisy applique placement and sewing Each of the 24 daisies with its two leaves is centred and sewn onto a finished square; pin before stitching so the flower sits true to centre, not skewed.
- Eyelet and scallop edging work Worked at the top rim where chain spaces from Round 2 become drawstring eyelets and Round 4 forms 28 scallops; keep the skip-and-stitch pattern consistent so eyelets align for the cord.
Troubleshooting
The base does not sit flat and the bag cups at the bottom
The circular base increases are likely uneven or the stitch count at a given round does not match 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and onward; recount each round against the pattern before joining it to the body.
The drawstring eyelets at the top do
This usually comes from inconsistent skip counts in the ch-1, skip-1 eyelet round; check that each dc and ch-1 pair is worked over the correct stitch before continuing to the scallop round.
The joined strips pull the tube out of
Uneven tension in the corner ch-2 spaces across the 24 squares is the usual cause; block squares lightly to a consistent size before joining strips into the tube.
Substituting yarn
- Worsted weight acrylic
- Keeps the same hook size and stitch count but gives softer drape and less structure, so the bucket shape may need a lining for firmness.
- DK weight cotton
- Produces a smaller, lighter bag than the stated 9 x 11 x 8.5 inch finish; drop to an E/3.5 mm hook and expect to adjust yardage upward for the finer gauge.
- Worsted weight cotton-acrylic blend
- Close match to the original gauge and firmness, with slightly more give than pure cotton, making the straps a touch more comfortable against the shoulder.
Washing and care
- Spot cleaning is preferred for this cotton bag; for full washing, remove any heavy contents first and hand wash in cool water to protect stitch definition.
- Roll gently in a towel to remove excess moisture, reshape the bucket form while damp, and dry flat; never hang it wet by the straps, as this stretches the cotton out of shape.
FAQs
Questions
What does the bracketed UK term in the about section refer to?
It refers to the granny square motif, known in UK pattern terminology as an afghan square. The construction and stitches are identical; only the name differs.
Can the daisy appliques be left off for a plainer bag?
Yes, the 24 cream squares can be joined and finished without the daisies for a simpler look. Leaving them off will not affect the stitch counts or finished measurements given for the body or base.
How much yarn is needed in total?
The main cream cotton requires about 520 yards (475 metres), with roughly 70 yards (64 metres) of leaf green for the appliques, plus 35-45 yards (32-41 metres) each of pastel pink, peach, mint, lavender, and yellow for the flowers. Leftover worsted cotton in several shades works well for the daisies.
Why does colour placement matter so much in this pattern?
The 24 daisies are arranged so no two identical shades sit directly side by side, which is what creates the cohesive pastel rainbow look in the finished bag. Planning the layout before sewing daisies onto squares avoids unpicking and resewing later.
Is lining the bag necessary?
Lining is listed as optional in the notions. It is worth considering for extra structure and to protect contents, given the bag is worked in open-ish cotton stitches rather than a dense fabric.
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.