The Cub-Pack Free Crochet Pattern

Meet The Cub-Pack, an adorable crochet backpack that combines playful personality with everyday function! Designed to look like a sweet little bear, this handmade bag features rounded ears, a stuffed muzzle and tail, embroidered facial details, and a flap closure that brings the whole character to life.

The Cub-Pack is crocheted with KnitPal Chenillique weight #4 yarn in Blueberry Whisper for a soft, cozy finish. The completed backpack measures approximately 13.5 inches (34.3 cm) tall and includes a crocheted strap and magnetic snap closure.

This easy crochet pattern uses approachable techniques like single crochet, increases, decreases, and working in continuous rounds. Once the main bag is complete, you’ll add the bear’s ears, muzzle, tail, safety eyes, and embroidered nose and mouth for a charming finishing touch.

Whether you make it as a special gift or a fun accessory for a little adventurer, The Cub-Pack turns a practical backpack into something extra lovable.

Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos

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What You’ll Need

• Yarn: 

  KnitPal Chenillique (weight #4 - 100% polyester, 214 yards per 100 g) 
  Approximately 3 balls in colorway Blue Whisper
  

  White cotton yarn (weight #3) for crocheting the Muzzle - 0.75 oz (20 g)

• Black cotton yarn (weight #3) for embroidering the Nose and Mouth - 30" (76 cm)

• Hook:
  3mm
  Or size needed to obtain gauge

• Notions:
  Stitch marker
  Scissors
  2-Plastic safety eyes - 12 mm
  Stuffing for toys
  Magentic snap
  Tapestry needle
  Sewing needle and thread (white)
  Sewing pins
  
  

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Details

• Skill Level: Easy
  
  

• Gauge: A 5-round gauge swatch = 2" (5 cm) in diameter with 3 mm hook 
  Swatch:
  Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
  Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
  Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
  Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
  Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6 (30 sts)
  

• Size: 13.5" (34.3 cm) tall

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• BLO: back loop only
  
• ch: chain
• dec: invisible decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together; use an invisible decrease when working in the round, see below)
• inc: increase (work 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch)
  
• sc: single crochet
  
• slst: slip stitch
  
• st(s): stitch(es)
  
• (...)x # - work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed (#)
• (# sts) - indicates the total number (#) of stitches you should have at the end of the round/row

Special Stitches

invisible decrease (dec) - insert hook in FRONT LOOP ONLY of next two stitches (which results in two more loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, pull through last two loops on hook

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Notes 

• Unless indicated otherwise, this pattern is worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round, moving it up each round.
  

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Pattern 

Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos

EARS (MAKE 2)

Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 9, inc)x 3. (33 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 5, inc, sc 5)x 3. (36 sts)
Round 8: (Sc 11, inc)x 3. (39 sts)
Round 9: (Sc 6, inc, sc 6)x 3. (42 sts)
Rounds 10-12 (3 rounds): Sc 42.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Ear on the Bag.

TAIL

Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 6. (36 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 11, inc)x 3. (39 sts)
Round 8: (Sc 6, inc, sc 6)x 3. (42 sts)
Rounds 9-13 (5 rounds): Sc 48.
Round 14: (Sc 5, dec)x 6. (36 sts)
Round 15: (Sc 2, dec, sc 2)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 16: (Sc 3, dec)x 6. (24 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Tail on the Bag.

Stuff the Tail.

MUZZLE

With white cotton yarn.
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 9, inc)x 3. (33 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 5, inc, sc 5)x 3. (36 sts)
Sl st in the 1 st of Round 7. st

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Muzzle on the Bag.

BAG

Ch30
Round 1: Sk 1 ch, inc, sc 27, 4sc in last ch; working on other side of foundation ch, sc 27, inc. (62 sts) st
Round 2: (Inc)x 2, sc 27, (inc)x 4, sc 27, (inc)x 2. (70 sts)
Round 3: Sc, (inc)x 2, sc 29, (inc)x 2, sc 2, (inc)x 2, sc 29, (inc)x 2, sc. (78 sts)
Round 4: Sc 2, (inc)x 2, sc 31, (inc)x 2, sc 4, (inc)x 2, sc 31, (inc)x 2, sc 2. (86 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, (inc)x 2, sc 33, (inc)x 2, sc 6, (inc)x 2, sc 33, (inc)x 2, sc 3. (94 sts)
Round 6: Sc 4, (inc)x 2, sc 35, (inc)x 2, sc 8, (inc)x 2, sc 35, (inc)x 2, sc 4. (102 sts)
Round 7: Sc 5, (inc)x 2, sc 37, (inc)x 2, sc 10, (inc)x 2, sc 37, (inc)x 2, sc 5. (110 sts)
Round 8: Sc 6, (inc)x 2, sc 39, (inc)x 2, sc 12, (inc)x 2, sc 39, (inc)x 2, sc 6. (118 sts) Sl st in the 1 st of Round 8. st
Round 9: Ch1 (does not count as a st), sc BLO around.
Rounds 10-61 (52 rounds): Sc around. Sl st in the 1 st of Round 61. st

Cut the yarn and fasten off.

Flatten the Bag opening. You should have 59 sts on each side of the opening. Working on the side closest to you, sk 9 sts at each end and mark the 41 sts in the center (see photo). You will make the Flap in these 41 sts. Attach the yarn at the first marked st.

Work in rows now.
Row 1: Ch1 (does not count as a st now and throughout), sc 41, turn.
Rows 2-19 (18 rows): Ch1, sc across, turn. (41 sts)
Row 20: Ch2 (does not count as a st now and throughout), (dec)x 2, sc 33, (dec)x 2, turn. (37 sts)
Row 21: Ch2, (dec)x 2, sc 29, (dec)x 2, turn. (33 sts)
Row 22: Ch2, (dec)x 2, sc 25, (dec)x 2, turn. (29 sts)
Row 23: Ch2, (dec)x 2, sc 21, (dec)x 2, turn. (25 sts)
Row 24: Ch2, (dec)x 2, sc 17, (dec)x 2. (21 sts)

 Cut the yarn and fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Flip the Flap over the Bag opening, then attach the safety eyes to the front in Row 11, 21 sts apart.

STRAP

Work in rows.
Ch6.
Row 1: Sk 1 ch, sc across, turn. (5 sts) st
Rows 2-210: Ch1 (does not count as a st), sc across, turn. (5 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Strap to the Bag.

ATTACHING THE EARS

Using sewing pins, pin the Ears on Row 1 of the Flap, at either end of the Flap.

Using the yarn tails from the Ears, sew each Ear to the Bag. Secure the yarn ends, then weave in the ends.

ATTACHING THE MUZZLE

Stuff the Muzzle. Using sewing pins, pin the Muzzle on the Flap of the Bag between Rows 13 and 24, centered between the Eyes.

Using the yarn tail from the Muzzle, sew the Muzzle to the Bag. Secure the yarn end, then weave in the end.

ATTACHING THE TAIL

Using sewing pins, pin the Tail at the back of the Bag between Rounds 11 and 19.

Using the yarn tail from the Tail, sew the Tail to the Bag. Secure the yarn end, then weave in the end.

ATTACHING THE STRAP

Pin the first and last rows of the Strap at Round 9 of the Body, on either side of the Tail (see photo in downloadable PDF).

Using a piece of yarn, sew both ends of the Strap to the Bag.

Secure the yarn ends, then weave in the ends.

Pin Rows 87 and 123 of the Strap, one row on top of the other, at Round 61 of the Bag, centered between the Ears.

Using a 15-inch-long piece of yarn, sew the Strap to the Bag. Secure the yarn ends, then weave in the ends.

EMBROIDERING THE NOSE AND MOUTH

With Black cotton yarn held double, embroider the Nose at Round 3 of the Muzzle by making 3 sts, one on top of the other, spanning 4 sts (see photo in downloadable PDF). Continue by making a long vertical st from the center of the Nose to Round 7 of the Muzzle (see photo in downloadable PDF). 

Secure the yarn ends, then weave in the ends.

ATTACHING THE MAGNETIC SNAP

Using a sewing needle and sewing thread, sew one magnetic snap piece on the inside of the Flap and the other on the outside front of the Bag so that they line up when the Flap is closed (see photo  in downloadable PDF).