Packful of Backpacks

In today's post, I offer a selection of backpack patterns. This is the fifth and final post in my series of posts on knitted bag designs, over the course of which I've done posts on selected clutch/wristbag, handbag, tote bag, and messenger bag patterns.

The backpack depicted above is the Verbena Rucksack, by Katie Carlson. I think I'd go with a commercially made straps and toggle for it. The commercially made straps will be much stronger than the knitted ones and, as I've observed in my previous bag posts, using commercially made straps, handles, fasteners, and other fittings upgrades the look of a handmade bag. It can be difficult to find the right fittings for a bag (there isn't a lot of selection on the market), so I recommend buying them before buying the other materials and supplies for the bag you want to make, and then matching and adapting your bag project plan to suit them as necessary.

Macduff tartan bag, by Judy Furlong. This is probably my favourite design of the sixteen I've selected for this post, and indeed, I've singled it out before, for my post on selected plaid-like knitting designs.

Black Plaid Felted Mini Backpack, by Sherrie Kibler. Here's another, simpler, tartan backpack, and it's ever so smart.

Rainbow Back Pack, by Phoenix Bess. This one is so fun I think that, if I had one, it would cheer me up every time I used it. I'd also really enjoy picking out a pretty colourway for it.

Felted Shoulder Sling Bag, by Katie Nagorney and Ann Swanson. Here's a simple and serviceable one. As with the Verbena Rucksack above, I'd go with commercially made straps.

Felted Flannel Backpack, by Patons. Cute and rather stylish bag.

Felted Knapsack, by Megan Lacey. Basic but attractive backpack, and this one's of a more practical size than some of the other bags in this post. But then of course an experienced knitter and felter can always enlarge any of these patterns.

Now that I've done the adult-appropriate, serviceable backpack designs, we're going to move on to the fun part of this post: backpacks for kids. This one is the Orla Owl Felted Backpack, by The Yarn Genie. So cute! But I would use shank buttons for eyes for this design rather than the kind with holes.

Sheep Backpack, by Tatyana Fedorova. There is something about a knitted sheep -- it's so meta. And this one is especially well-rendered.

Kitty Backpack, by Dale Hwang. I know a couple of cat-obsessed little girls who would love to get something like this.

Birdie Backpack, by Alison Stewart-Guinee. Here's another, more cartoonish-style, owl backpack. This was a pattern from the now defunct Petite Purls, but it's still available online for free.

Berry Cute Backpack, by Amanda Saladin. The strawberry is perennial favourite motif in children's design, and it's easy to understand why given the appealing shape and colours of real strawberries. This is such a cute bag, and the side pockets and zippered pocket are such practical touches.

Ulyana Unicorn Felted Backpack, by The Yarn Genie. Fun little bag for the unicorn-obsessed child (or adult?) in your life.

Robot Backpacks, by Brenda K. B. Anderson. Here's a nice bag to make when artificial intelligence takes over the planet and you want to show our robot overlords that you're being a good and properly subservient person.

Punk Rock Backpack, by Heather Barnes, as published in Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook. Backpacks can be surprisingly easy to make. Heather Barnes writes on this pattern page for this one that, except for the intarsia, "all you’re doing is stitching together knitted squares, then throwing in a zipper and some straps". This would be a good basic backpack pattern to customize any way you care to by replacing the monkey with any motif you like.

Nemesis Knapsack vs Hero's Half-Shell, by Rachel Sanchez. I'm not a gamer, but I'm going to tentatively suggest that this backpack might be meant to represent a Koopa from Nintendo's Mario franchise. (I am sure one or more of my readers will correct me if I've gotten the reference wrong.) The level of detail here is amazing, and the spikes are also removable so that the backpack can be used as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume -- there are accessory horns, wristbands, and masks included with the pattern.

Messenger Bags That Send a Message

Today on The Knitting Needle and the Damage Done, we're going to look at a selection of messenger bag designs. This post is the latest in a series of posts on selected bag patterns, which also offers selected clutch/wristbag, handbag, and tote bag, and backpack posts.

The first messenger bag design, pictured above, is The Sun Satchel, designed by Stephen West. I love the sunburst design, and that West didn't go too literal with it.

Kauni Damask Understated Bag, by Karen Stelzer. This bag isn't my idea of understated, as it's too pretty to remain unnoticed. And it's a free pattern!

Woolly Bully Bag, by Lori Puthoff. Here's a contemporary classic. The decorative pin on the front flap is the perfect finishing touch.

Maple, designed by Susan Todhunter. As a Canadian, I am culturally obliged to love this one (and indeed have previously included it in a special Canada Day post), but I think I would anyway.

Tree of Life Felted Bag, by Jenny Williams. This one has a subtle charm. Stitchwork Tree of Life designs are always so attractive.

Circling Infinity Bag, by Jeanne C. Abel. Simple, attractive and serviceable shape, a commercially made strap that adds polish, and would you LOOK at those pockets that keep everything both snugly in place and accessible.

Andi Messenger Bag, by Sarah Hatton, which was published in Rowan Felted Knits. A nice-looking bag with a bit of texture.

Lucca, by Berroco Design Team. Cute bag, though I would probably nix the pom poms. It's a free pattern.

Felted Messenger Bag, by Julie Weisenberger. I like how this bag is designed to complement its strap. One of the reasons it's always a good idea to buy notions like straps, buttons, and other fastenings before you begin knitting a project is that you can then tailor your project to suit those notions.

Knitted Bag of Navajo-Churro Wool, by Susan M. Strawn. I find the combination of the diamond and stripe themes works together well.

Felted Messenger Bag, by Cheri Clark. Simple but fun use of stripes and colourblocking in this one.

Triple Pocket Bag, by Dawn Leeseman, published in Casual Elegant Knits: Classy Designs for Men and Women. This one's very smart and could easily pass for commercially made.

Old School, by Laura Birek, published in Picture Perfect Knits. A contemporary take on the argyle pattern.

Cherish, by Sue Hanmore. You can't go wrong with a nice cable arrangement.

Fab Felt Tote, by Maggie Pace. This designer has used appliqué cut from the lining fabric to tie the felted wool and lining fabric together visually, and added some embroidery to make the look even more special. Nice touch!

Signature Bag, by Berroco Design Team. This one is rather visually striking.

Not Just A Baby Bag, by Nora J. Bellows. This one's actually intended to be a diaper bag, and comes with patterns for a matching cosmetic bag and diaper changing pad, but of course like a truly good bag, it'll be useful to the parent after the baby's grown, or to the non-parent at any time. This one could be a good stash buster given the stripe pattern.

Stripey Noro Messenger Bag, by Deborah Cooke. Very pretty stripe arrangement, and it's a free pattern.

Classic bag, by Tina Barrett. This is a nice take on the Chanel-look design. Though I would recommend using better buttons for this project than these dead basic plastic ones.

Totes Adorable

Today we're going to have a look at the selection of tote bag patterns I've picked out. This post is the third in the series of five bag posts I've done -- I've also done posts on selected clutches/wristbags, handbags, messenger bags, and backpack designs.

The above pattern is the "Hello" Fair isle bag, from Bergère de France, although I think it could also be aptly named "the Hell Bag". Isn't there an expression about how one's life is "going to hell in a handbag"?

For those who feel unable to leave their Hudson's Bay blankie at home, I present this Felted Knot Bag, by k | knits.

Summer Fling, by Espace Tricot. A light, minimalist style bag. It's a free pattern.

ATX Linen Tote, by Staci Perry. Another light, sling-style bag with a smart stripe pattern. This bag and the one above aren't the bags for carrying a lot of stuff, but sometimes one doesn't need to carry a lot.

Plaid Squared, by Susan Rainey. This one looks both smart and sturdy.

Bedouin Bag in 3 Sizes, by Nora J. Bellows. These look as though they came from an expensive shop. The simple ridges add so much.

Felted Tote with Kureyon Scraps, by Janet D. Russell. This one would be an awesome stash buster.

Flock of Sheep Bag, by Denny Gould. How cute is this little bag?

Sand and Sea Felted Tote, by Maria Do Souto. Love the stitchwork on this one.

Felted Snowflake Tote, by Lion Brand Yarn. I really like that this one employs two complementary patterns.

Plein Air Tote, by Amanda Scheuzger. Love this one, though I believe I'd size it down a little, perhaps by using a slightly lighter yarn or smaller needles, as it does look awkwardly large.

The Bag, by Wendy Wonnacott, published in
No Sheep For You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo, and Other Delights. The other sample photos on the Ravelry page for this design show other, more muted colourways, but this bag looks best in the sharp contrast of black and white.

Bar Harbor Shell Bag, by Madeline Langan. This would be a fun one to plan a colourway for.

Intricate Stag Bag, by Norah Gaughan. Love the stag graphic in this one.

Shigra Diamonds, by Vicki Square, published in Folk Bags: 30 Knitted Patterns & Tales From Around the World. Ooh, this colourful harlequin-like effect is a lot of fun.

The Medallion Travel Bag, by Nora J. Bellows. The stitchwork on this is fabulous.

The Fleur Tote, by Ann Kingstone. Very pretty!

Tree Hugger, by Vickie Howell, published in AwareKnits: Knit & Crochet Projects for the Eco-Conscious Stitcher. I love the Shaker-like image of the needled-felted tree on this one.

Everything Totes, by Nora J. Bellows. These are so polished, and they also look capacious.

Bird Bag, by Pierrot Yarns Patterns. This one has an attractive folk art appeal. It's a free pattern.

Felted Tribal Bag, by Lion Brand Yarn. This one would be just the thing to wear with ankara, kente, or dashiki print clothing. And it's a free pattern.

Celandine, by Diane Bertolatti. I like this one's simple shape and neutral tone. It could go just about anywhere with just about any woman's outfit.

Amethyst Organiser, by Diane Bertolatti. This one's fun, and it also looks practical, because handy little pockets are always a nice feature in a bag. Making your own bag can be such an advantage in terms of the bag's convenience, because you can customize the pockets by adding whatever size and style of pockets you want to the body or the lining.

Just So Bag, by Andrea Babb. This one's both polished and visually interesting.

Superb OWL: The Felted bag, by Deborah Tomasello. A cute bag for the owl-lovers among us.

Wheatsheaf Carpet Bag, by Linda Cyr. This one's definitely a stand out. I remember reviewing it when it appeared in Interweave's Jane Austen Knits in 2014. The bag gets its great shape from an internal frame, and those are the best felted handles I've ever seen -- they look as good as leather or vinyl handles in the same style. The pattern's lovely too.

Rose Window Tote, by Laura Barker. As someone who does stained glass, I am always here for stained glass effects in knitting, and this an especially pretty example of a "stained glass window" knit. I would replace those wimpy-looking straps with leather or vinyl ones, though.

Carpet Bag, by Susan Mills. Very much like the pattern on this bag. It's a free pattern.