Learn How to Crochet a Drawstring Bag – FREE Pattern – Bella Coco Crochet

Whether you’re just starting out with crochet or you’ve been hooking for years, a drawstring bag is one of those projects that never gets old. It’s practical, it’s stylish, and it makes an absolutely wonderful gift. In this free pattern from Bella Coco Crochet, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know to crochet your very own drawstring bag from start to finish. By the end of this post, you’ll have a beautiful, functional bag you’ll be proud to show off — and the skills to make one for everyone on your gift list.

Why You’ll Love This Drawstring Bag Pattern

Before we dive into the stitches, let’s talk about why this particular project deserves a spot at the top of your to-do list.

First, drawstring bags are incredibly versatile. You can use them as a makeup bag, a gym bag, a beach pouch, a knitting or crochet project bag, a gift bag, a produce bag for the farmers market, a child’s toy storage solution — the list genuinely goes on and on. Once you’ve made your first one, you’ll find yourself reaching for your hook again and again to make more in different sizes and colors.

Second, this pattern is beginner-friendly. If you know how to chain, slip stitch, and work single crochet stitches, you have everything you need to complete this project. The construction is straightforward, the stitch count is forgiving, and the finished result looks far more impressive than the skill level required to make it.

Third, it works up quickly. Depending on the yarn weight and your tension, you can finish a small to medium drawstring bag in a single afternoon or evening session. That makes it ideal when you need a last-minute gift or when you just want the satisfaction of completing something start to finish in one sitting.

Materials You Will Need

Gathering your materials before you sit down to crochet makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need for this Bella Coco Crochet drawstring bag pattern.

Yarn: For a sturdy, well-structured bag, a medium weight (DK to worsted) cotton yarn works beautifully. Cotton holds its shape, washes well, and is naturally breathable — perfect if you’re making a produce bag or a bathroom storage pouch. That said, acrylic yarn works just as well if that’s what you have on hand, and it gives the finished bag a slightly softer, squishier feel. You’ll need approximately 150–200 meters of yarn for a small to medium bag.

Crochet Hook: A 4mm to 5mm hook is ideal for most medium weight yarns. Always check the yarn label for the recommended hook size, and remember that your personal tension may mean you need to go up or down half a size from the recommendation. The goal is a fabric that has a little structure to it — not so tight that it’s stiff, and not so loose that items fall through.

Scissors: A small, sharp pair of scissors for weaving in ends and cutting yarn.

Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): You’ll need this to weave in your starting and finishing yarn tails neatly.

Stitch Markers: Optional, but helpful for marking the beginning of each round so you don’t lose your place.

Cord or Ribbon for the Drawstring: You can use a pre-made cord, a length of ribbon, twisted yarn, or even crochet a drawstring yourself using a simple chain. You’ll need roughly 60–80cm depending on the size of your bag and how much of a bow you’d like.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

This pattern uses standard UK crochet terminology unless otherwise noted. If you usually follow US patterns, the conversion is listed alongside each abbreviation.

ch — chain stitch

sl st — slip stitch

dc — double crochet (US: single crochet)

inc — increase (work 2 dc into the same stitch)

st(s) — stitch(es)

MR — magic ring (also called a magic circle)

BLO — back loop only

sp — space

If you’re not familiar with any of these stitches yet, don’t worry. I’ll guide you through each step as it comes up, and there are video tutorials available on the Bella Coco Crochet YouTube channel and website that demonstrate every technique visually.

Pattern Notes

Before you start, here are a few things worth knowing.

The bag is worked in continuous rounds from the bottom up. This means you don’t join each round with a slip stitch and chain up — you simply keep going in a spiral. This creates a seamless fabric with no visible joining line, which looks neat and professional. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round so you always know where you are.

Tension matters more than hook size. If your tension is loose, your bag will be floppy and may not hold its shape well. If it’s very tight, the fabric will be stiff and hard to work with. Aim for a firm but flexible fabric that you can pinch slightly without it being rigid.

Gauge for this pattern (working in continuous rounds of double crochet using DK weight cotton and a 4mm hook): approximately 16 stitches and 18 rounds = 10cm x 10cm. If your gauge is significantly different, consider adjusting your hook size rather than your stitch count.

The Free Pattern: Bella Coco Crochet Drawstring Bag

Finished Size

Small to medium drawstring bag, approximately 20cm wide and 22cm tall (excluding drawstring), worked with DK cotton yarn on a 4mm hook.

Step One: Create the Base

The base of the bag is worked in a flat circle, then we’ll transition into working in the round for the body.

Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Chain 1 (this does not count as a stitch). Work 6 dc into the magic ring. Pull the ring closed. Place a stitch marker in the last stitch. (6 sts)

Round 2: Work 2 dc into each stitch around. (12 sts)

Round 3: 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from to around. (18 sts)

Round 4: 1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from to around. (24 sts)

Round 5: 1 dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from to around. (30 sts)

Round 6: 1 dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from to around. (36 sts)

Round 7: 1 dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from to around. (42 sts)

Round 8: 1 dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from to around. (48 sts)

At the end of Round 8, you should have a flat circle with 48 stitches. If you’d like a larger bag, you can continue increasing in this pattern (adding one more stitch between increases each round) until you reach your desired base size. For a smaller bag, stop at Round 6 or 7.

Step Two: Begin the Body

Now we’ll stop increasing and work straight up to build the sides of the bag. The key to getting clean, defined sides (instead of a gradual curve from the base) is to work into the back loop only for the first round of the body.

Round 9 (Transition Round): Working in BLO (back loop only), work 1 dc in every stitch around. (48 sts)

This single BLO round creates a crisp fold at the base, giving the bag a defined bottom edge and a neater shape overall.

Rounds 10–36: Working in both loops as normal, work 1 dc in every stitch around. (48 sts per round)

Continue working these straight rounds until the bag measures approximately 20cm from the transition round (or your desired height). The number of rounds you work will depend on your tension and yarn weight, so measure as you go rather than counting rounds rigidly.

Step Three: Create the Drawstring Channel

The drawstring channel is a simple row of chain spaces worked near the top of the bag. This creates the holes through which you’ll thread your drawstring cord later.

Drawstring Channel Round: 1 dc in next 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, repeat from to around. This creates a series of evenly spaced holes around the top of the bag. (You’ll have 12 chain-2 spaces around the bag.)

Following Round: Work 1 dc in every dc stitch, and work 2 dc into every ch-2 space. This keeps your stitch count consistent and creates a neat finished edge around the drawstring channel. (48 sts)

Step Four: Finish the Top Edge

Work 2–3 more rounds of plain dc to finish off the top of the bag and give the opening a clean, stable edge.

Rounds (top edge): Work 1 dc in every stitch around for 2–3 rounds. (48 sts per round)

To finish, slip stitch into the next stitch to close the round neatly. Fasten off and leave a tail of approximately 15cm for weaving in.

Step Five: Finishing

Thread your yarn tail onto a tapestry needle and weave it in carefully through several stitches on the wrong side of the fabric. Do the same with your starting tail from the magic ring. Trim any excess yarn close to the fabric.

Step Six: Thread the Drawstring

Cut two lengths of cord or ribbon, each approximately 60–80cm long. Take the first length and thread it all the way around through every chain-2 space in the drawstring channel, starting and ending on the same side of the bag. Tie the ends together in a knot or bow. Take the second length and do the same, but start on the opposite side of the bag. When you pull both cords together, the bag will close evenly from both sides, which is both practical and looks really professional.

If you’d prefer a single drawstring, simply use one longer cord (about 100–120cm) and thread it all the way around, then tie the two ends together.

Tips for Customizing Your Drawstring Bag

One of the best things about this pattern is how easy it is to adapt. Here are some ideas for making it your own.

Change the size. To make a smaller bag (perfect for jewelry or a little gift pouch), use a lighter weight yarn such as 4ply or fingering weight and a smaller hook, and stop increasing the base at Round 5 or 6. For a larger tote-style bag, use chunky yarn and a 6mm or larger hook, and continue increasing the base to 60 or more stitches.

Add a textured stitch. Once you’re comfortable with the basic pattern, try swapping the plain double crochet rounds for a moss stitch, waffle stitch, or shell stitch to add texture and visual interest. The structure of the pattern remains the same — just be mindful that some stitch patterns require a multiple of a certain number, so you may need to adjust your stitch count accordingly.

Use stripes. This pattern is a great candidate for color stripes. Simply change yarn color at the beginning of any round by joining the new color with a slip stitch or by picking up the new color on the last pull-through of your final stitch in the previous round. Even simple two-color stripes make the finished bag look really striking.

Add a lining. If you want your bag to be extra sturdy or to hold smaller items without them slipping through the crochet fabric, you can sew in a simple fabric lining. Cut a rectangle and a circle of fabric to match the body and base of the bag, sew them into a tube shape, fold down the top edge, and slip stitch it neatly to the inside top edge of the bag.

Embellish it. Crochet flowers, button eyes, pompoms, tassels, or surface slip stitch designs all look wonderful on drawstring bags. Children especially love a bag with a little personalized embellishment on the front.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wash this bag? If you used cotton yarn, yes — most cotton yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle, but always check the yarn label to be sure. If you used acrylic, it’s generally very easy to care for. Lay the bag flat to dry to help it keep its shape.

What if I don’t know how to do a magic ring? You can substitute a magic ring with a simple starting chain. Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring, then work your Round 1 stitches into the center of that ring. It works just as well and is a little easier for complete beginners.

My bag is coming out too floppy. What should I do? Try going down a hook size, or consider switching to a cotton yarn if you’re currently using acrylic. Cotton has a natural stiffness that gives bags more structure. You could also try working with a slightly tighter tension.

Can I sell items made from this pattern? Please check the full terms and conditions on the Bella Coco Crochet website. Many free patterns allow you to sell finished items in small quantities as long as you credit the designer, but it’s always best to read the specific terms for the pattern you’re using.

A Few Final Thoughts

Learning to crochet a drawstring bag is one of those milestones that opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Once you’ve mastered the basic construction — base circle, straight sides, drawstring channel — you can apply the same framework to dozens of different projects: market bags, project pouches, kids’ backpacks, and much more.

This free Bella Coco Crochet pattern is designed to be as accessible as possible, so if you get stuck at any point, don’t be discouraged. Crochet has a learning curve, and every stitch you make — even the imperfect ones — is teaching your hands something valuable. The Bella Coco Crochet YouTube channel is an excellent companion to this written pattern, with video tutorials that show you exactly how each step should look as you work through it.

Share your finished bags in the Bella Coco Crochet community, tag your projects on social media, and most importantly — enjoy the process. There’s something deeply satisfying about turning a ball of yarn into something beautiful and useful with nothing but a hook and your own two hands.

Happy crocheting!

This pattern is free for personal use. If you share it, please link back to the original Bella Coco Crochet page rather than copying the pattern in full. For video support, visit the Bella Coco Crochet YouTube channel.