Crochet Club: Small drawstring bag

If your household is anything like mine, when there’s packing to be done there are never enough wash bags to go around, let alone spare bags for sun lotions and other essentials like your beach first aid kit! So I made a small drawstring bag that is the perfect size for sun cream, mosquito sprays, after-sun lotions and anything else that might take your fancy – with a matching sunglasses case.

The bag is made with a circular base, and is fastened at the top with a simple drawstring. It also folds flat when empty.

The finished bag measures: Base 13 cm (diameter) x 18cm (height)

This tutorial is written in UK crochet terminology, but you can convert to US using our handy chart in our guide to patterns!

Continuing in DC, work a further 5 rounds. Remember to SL ST to join at the end of each round and chain 1. Your first stitch of each round is worked into the same stitch as the chain 1.

As you work you will see the shape beginning to form.

At the end of the fifth round of yellow change to the second color yarn and work 3 rounds of DC.

After the third round of blue change back to the yellow and work 1 round of DC.

Your next round is going to be the bobble round.

Making a bobble

Join in the white by placing the yarn over the hook, work 7 TR all into the next stitch, leaving the last loop of each TR on the hook.

Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook, chain 1, yarn over with your main color and DC into the next stitch. After each bobble, cut the yarn leaving a tail long enough to sew in at the end.

After your bobble row, work 1 more round of DC in the yellow.

Change to blue and work 3 rounds of DC.

Change to yellow and work 3 rounds of DC.

Change to blue and work 1 round of DC.

Work a bobble round for the second blue round and then work 1 round of blue.

Continue in this pattern of 3 rounds of each color, with every third block of color having a bobble round in the middle of it.

In total I worked 3 bobble rounds. After the final bobble round, work your third round of yellow.

Working the border

You are now going to work your border of puff/bobble stitch!

Using the white DK yarn and a 3.5mm hook. With the RS of the work facing you, join your yarn into the back of your bag, on the left hand side of your joining seam (this round is worked on the reverse, but when you turn it around you will see that the bobbles are on the correct side). Work a DC.

Making the puff stitch bobble

Yarn over and pull up to roughly TR height.

Repeat this 4 more times all into the same stitch, yarn over and pull through all the loops on your hook.

Chain 1, SL ST in to the next stitch.

Work another puff bobble into the next stitch.

Repeat the pattern *one puff bobble, one SL ST* all the way around the top of the bag.