Free Crochet Drawstring Bag Pattern

How to Crochet in the Round to Create a Circle.

Doing Single Crochet in the Round to create a flat circle is simple! Just pay attention to stitch placement (stitch markers are your best friend) and take the time to count! If you’re like me and want to know the math and break it down a bit more then this is for you!

1. Starting with a base circle of 6 single crochet stitches you will increase each round by 6.
2. Your Second Round will have to have 2 sts per 6 sts bringing you up to 12 sts.
3. The Third Round will have 2 sts in every other stitch making your final count 18 sts.
4. In the second stitch of every increase you will place another increase so that you will have 6 additional stitches per round.
5. If it’s easier, you may use 6 stitch markers so you know where to place that extra stitch and just move it up each round!
6. I have worked in the round to crochet a circle so many times that now I just look for that 2 stitch increase and place an increase in the second stitch!

How to Choose Yarn for your Drawstring Bag

For bags I love to use cotton! Specifically, I like to use Lion Brand’s 24/7 Cotton because it comes in a great range of colors and it is a very durable yarn. It washes well, holds it shape and won’t stretch out too much, especially if you use a tight stitch and smaller hook. Make sure whatever you use that it will hold up to wear and tear!

Materials

• 4.00 mm crochet hook                                                 
• #4 Worsted Weight Cotton
  Color A – 510 yards
  Color B – 510 yards
• Sample Made Using:
  Color A – 3 Skeins LB 24/7 Cotton in Goldenrod #761-158R
  Color B – 3 Skeins LB 24/7 Cotton in Lilac #761-143D
• 2 Stitch Markers

Gauge

• 20 sts x 20 rows – Using sc in the round is 4” x 4”

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations

• Chain Stitch – ch
• Slip Stitch – sl st 
• Stitch(es) – st(s)
• Skip – sk
• Stitch Marker – SM
• Single Crochet – sc
• sc2tog – Work two sc stitches together to create one stitch for a decrease.

Pattern Notes

• One Size – 13” deep x 33” diameter.
• Skill Level: Intermediate
• * Designates a repeat.
• Do not turn at the end of Rounds.
• Ch 1 of increase and decrease Rounds does not count as a stitch.
• Ch 2 in window Rounds 70 and 75 do count as stitches. 
• Rounds 1 to 26 and Rounds 118 to 143 are Sl St to join.
• All other Rounds are Continuous Rounds, use a Stitch Marker to indicate beginning of each round as noted in pattern.
• “sc 1” means to single crochet in the next stitch.
• “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches.
• “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next stitch to create an increase.
• “sc2tog” means to work two sc stitches together for a one stitch for a decrease.

Crochet Drawstring Bag Pattern

Color A

Round 1 – Ch 2, 6 sc into 2nd chain from hook. [6 sts]
*Sl st to first st to st, ch 1, on each round up through Round 26.
Round 2 – 2 sc in each st. [12 sts]
Round 3 – *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [18 sts]
Round 4 – *Sc 2, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [24 sts]
Round 5 – *Sc 3, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [30 sts]
Round 6 – *Sc 4, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [36 sts]
Round 7 – *Sc 5, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [42 sts]
Round 8 – *Sc 6, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [48 sts]
Round 9 – *Sc 7, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [54 sts]
Round 10 – *Sc 8, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [60 sts]
Round 11 – *Sc 9, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [66 sts]
Round 12 – *Sc 10, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [72 sts]
Round 13 – *Sc 11, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [78 sts]
Round 14 – *Sc 12, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [84 sts]
Round 15 – *Sc 13, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [90 sts]
Round 16 – *Sc 14, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [96 sts]
Round 17 – *Sc 15, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [102 sts]
Round 18 – *Sc 16, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [108 sts]
Round 19 – *Sc 17, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [114 sts]
Round 20 – *Sc 18, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [120 sts]
Round 21 – *Sc 19, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [126 sts]
Round 22 – *Sc 20, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [132 sts]
Round 23 – *Sc 21, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [138 sts]
Round 24 – *Sc 22, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [144 sts]
Round 25 – *Sc 23, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [150 sts]
Round 26 – *Sc 24, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end. [156 sts]
Round 27 – *Sc 25, 2 sc in next st, repeat from* to end, place a SM in last st to indicate the end of the round. Begin working in continuous rounds to minimize the seam. [162 sts]
Rounds 28 to 67 (40 total rounds) – *Sc in each stitch to marked stitch, move marker to last stitch in next round, repeat from * to stitch marker for end of round, move stitch marker up to next round. 

Color B

Rounds 68 and 69 – *Sc in each stitch to marked stitch, move SM to last stitch in next round, repeat from * to SM for end of round, move SM up to next round. 
Round 70 – Sc 5, *ch 2, sk 2, sc 8, repeat from * 14 more times, ch 2, sk 2, sc 6, move SM to last stitch in next round, move SM up to next round. [162 sts, 16 windows created with ch-2 sps]
Rounds 71 and 74 – *Sc in each stitch to marked stitch, move marker to last stitch in next round, repeat from * to SM for end of round, move SM up to next round. 
*Before starting Round 75 you may want to pull back a few stitches to make sure your Ch-2 windows line up when finishing the bag. 
Round 75 – Sc 5, *ch 2, sk 2, sc 8, repeat from * 14 more times, ch 2, sk 2, sc 6, move SM to last stitch in next round, move SM up to next round. [162 sts, 16 windows created with ch-2 sps]
Rounds 76 and 117 – *Sc in each stitch to marked stitch, move SM to last stitch in next round, repeat from * to SM for end of round, move SM up to next round. 
Round 118 – *Sc 25, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [156 sts]
*Sl st to first st to st, ch 1, on each round up through Round 24.
Round 119 – *Sc 24, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [150 sts]
Round 120 – *Sc 23, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [144 sts]
Round 121 – *Sc 22, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [138 sts]
Round 122 – *Sc 21, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [132 sts]
Round 123 – *Sc 20, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [126 sts]
Round 124 – *Sc 19, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [120 sts]
Round 125 – *Sc 18, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [114 sts]
Round 126 – *Sc 17, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [108 sts]
Round 127 – *Sc 16, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [102 sts]
Round 128 – *Sc 15, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [96 sts]
Round 129 – *Sc 14, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [90 sts]
Round 130 – *Sc 13, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [84 sts]
Round 131 – *Sc 12, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [78 sts]
Round 132 – *Sc 11, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [72 sts]
Round 133 – *Sc 10, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [66 sts]
Round 134 – *Sc 9, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [60 sts]
Round 135 – *Sc 8, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [54 sts] 
Round 136 – *Sc 7, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [48 sts]
Round 137 – *Sc 6, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [42 sts]
Round 138 – *Sc 5, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [36 sts]
Round 139 – *Sc 4, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [30 sts]
Round 140 – *Sc 3, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [24 sts]
Round 141 – *Sc 2, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [18 sts]
Round 142 – *Sc 1, sc2tog, repeat from* to end. [12 sts]
Round 143 – *sc2tog, repeat from* to end, finish off leaving an 8 inch tail. [6 sts]

Finishing

Thread your tail onto a darning needle and pick up your last 6 sts, pull tight and finish off. 

1. Take your bag and push Color B into Color A, the windows in Rounds 70 and 75 should align.
2. With Color A, create a round of Surface Slip Stitch between Rounds 71 and 72 through to between rounds 73 and 74. 
3. With Color A again, create a round of Surface Slip Stitch between Rounds 68 and 69 through to between rounds 76 and 77. 
4. These two rounds of Surface Slip Stitch should help to stabilize your bag and keep your windows aligned for your drawstring.
5. Any extra rounds of Surface Slip Stitch are curly decoration. I placed extra Surface Slip Stitch rounds as follows :

• Using Color B on the Color A side between Rounds 67 and 66.
• Using Color A on the Color B side between Rounds 77 and 78, Rounds 79 and 80 and also between Rounds  81 and 82.

I-Cord

Row 1 – Ch 3.
Row 2 –  Pull up a loop in the 2nd and 3rd chain from the hook, 3 loops on hook. Remove loops 2 and 3 from your hook (be sure to pinch the bottom of those loops before you remove the hook so they don’t change size) you may place them on a SM or a DPN (if you have one) or just let them fly freely!
Row 3 – Yarn over, pull up a loop in loop 1, insert your hook into loop 2, yarn over, pull up a loop, insert your hook into loop 3, yarn over, pull up a loop.
Remaining Rows – Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until your iCord reaches approximately 40 inches when slightly stretched, finish off, thread through your window rows and then seam together to create a continuous circle. 

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