Free Crochet Drawstring Makeup Bag Pattern for Travel Essentials

If you’ve been searching for a practical, stylish, and completely free crochet pattern to organize your travel beauty routine, you’ve landed in exactly the right place. This drawstring makeup bag is one of those projects that feels like a small indulgence to make but becomes an everyday essential the moment it’s finished. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or someone who has just moved past the basics, this pattern is written clearly enough to follow without frustration and rewarding enough to make again and again in different colors and yarn weights.

Travel has a way of scattering your beauty products across the bottom of your bag, your hotel bathroom counter, and occasionally the floor of a plane. A well-made crochet makeup bag solves that problem beautifully — it’s compact, customizable, lightweight, and when you use cotton yarn, it’s naturally breathable and easy to wipe clean. You can also toss it in a mesh laundry bag and wash it when needed, which is something you absolutely cannot say about most store-bought pouches.

Let’s get into everything you need to know to make this bag from start to finish.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you cast on a single stitch, gather your supplies so you’re not hunting around mid-project.

Yarn: Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn works best for this project. Cotton holds its structure well, doesn’t stretch out of shape when wet, and is durable enough to withstand regular use. You’ll need approximately 150 to 200 yards for a standard-sized bag. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK Cotton, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, or Drops Safran are all excellent choices. You can also use a cotton-acrylic blend if that’s what you have on hand — the bag will still turn out beautifully.

Hook: A 4.0mm or 4.5mm crochet hook pairs well with worsted weight cotton. If you tend to crochet tightly, go up half a size to a 5.0mm to keep your stitches even and your fabric flexible enough to work with a drawstring.

Notions: You’ll need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers, and about 40 to 50 inches of cord, ribbon, or twisted cotton rope for your drawstring. You can also crochet your own cord using a chain stitch if you’d prefer to keep everything in the same yarn.

Optional: A fabric liner cut from a scrap of cotton fabric, sewn in by hand, gives the bag extra structure and prevents small items like mascara caps or bobby pins from slipping through the stitches. This is entirely optional but well worth the few extra minutes if you’re comfortable with basic hand sewing.

Gauge and Sizing

For this pattern, gauge is not critical in the way it would be for a garment, but it does affect the finished size of your bag. A general target to aim for is 16 stitches and 18 rows per 4 inches using a 4.0mm hook and worsted weight cotton.

The finished dimensions of the bag as written are approximately 7 inches wide and 5.5 inches tall before the drawstring casing. This is large enough to hold standard-sized lipsticks, mascara, travel-sized foundation, a compact, and a small brush roll without being so bulky that it takes over your travel bag. If you want a larger bag, simply add more foundation chains at the beginning and add rows until you reach your desired height.

Stitch Abbreviations

This pattern uses US crochet terminology throughout.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
sp — space
st — stitch
rep — repeat
BLO — back loop only
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rnd — round

Pattern Notes

This bag is worked in joined rounds from the bottom up, which means you’ll be building the base first and then working the sides upward. The bottom is flat and oval-shaped, giving the bag a structured base that sits upright. The sides are worked in the round to create a seamless tube. Near the top of the bag, a row of chain-one spaces creates the drawstring casing so your cord can be threaded through neatly.

If you prefer a circular bottom rather than an oval, you can substitute a magic ring and rounds of single crochet to build a flat circle of about 3 inches in diameter, then continue with the side rounds as written. Both constructions work — the oval base simply gives you a bit more room to lay items flat.

The Pattern: Free Crochet Drawstring Makeup Bag

Step One: Making the Oval Base

Foundation: Chain 14.

Round 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each of the next 12 chains. Work 3 sc in the last chain to round the short end. Now rotate your work and sc along the other side of the foundation chain, working into the underside of each chain — sc in the next 11 chains, then work 2 sc in the last chain to round the other short end. Join with a sl st to the first sc. You should have 28 stitches total. Place a stitch marker in the join to mark the beginning of each round.

Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch here or throughout). Work 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 12 sts, 2 sc in the next 3 sts, sc in the next 11 sts, 2 sc in the last st. Join with a sl st. (34 stitches)

Round 3: Ch 1. 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 13 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st] 3 times, sc in the next 11 sts, 2 sc in the last 2 sts. Join. (40 stitches)

Round 4: Ch 1. Working in BLO only for this round, sc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st. (40 stitches)

Working through the back loop only in Round 4 creates a defined ridge that separates the base from the sides of the bag and helps the base lay flat while the sides rise up evenly.

Step Two: Working the Sides

From Round 5 onward, work through both loops as normal unless otherwise noted.

Rounds 5 through 14: Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st at the end of each round. (40 stitches per round)

This gives you approximately 4 inches of side height in worsted weight cotton. If you want a taller bag, add more rounds here before moving on to the drawstring casing. If you want a shorter, wider bag, add stitches to your foundation chain rather than adding more side rounds.

At this point your bag should look like a little open cylinder sitting on a flat oval base. Try dropping your makeup items in and see how the sizing feels. It’s much easier to adjust now than after you’ve added the casing.

Step Three: Adding Texture (Optional but Lovely)

If you want a bit of visual interest on the sides of your bag, you can substitute some of the plain single crochet rounds for a simple textured stitch. One option is to alternate between front post double crochet and back post double crochet to create a ribbed effect. Another lovely choice is to work a row of [sc, ch 1, skip 1] across one round, then fill in the spaces with sc in the following round. This creates a subtle eyelet texture that adds charm without complicating the stitch count.

A personal favorite for this bag is a simple basket weave texture: after completing Round 8, work a round of 2 dc, skip the next st, sc in the st after that across the round. This creates gentle waves without affecting the gauge enough to matter. Then pick back up with plain sc for the remaining rounds before the casing.

Step Four: Creating the Drawstring Casing

Round 15: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here). Dc in the next st. Ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in the next 2 sts. Repeat from to around. When you reach the end of the round, ch 1, skip 1, and join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. The chain-one spaces create the eyelets through which you’ll thread your drawstring.

Round 16: Ch 1. Sc in each dc stitch and sc in each ch-1 space around (so you’re filling in every space to create a solid casing row above the eyelets). Join with a sl st. (40 stitches)

Round 17: Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around. Join. (40 stitches)

Fasten off and weave in all ends with your tapestry needle.

Step Five: Threading the Drawstring

Cut two lengths of cord, ribbon, or handmade crochet chain, each approximately 24 to 25 inches long. Using a safety pin or a blunt tapestry needle as a bodkin, thread the first cord through the eyelets created in Round 15, starting and ending on the same side of the bag. Thread the second cord through the same eyelets starting from the opposite side and ending on that same side. When you pull both cords, they will draw the top of the bag closed evenly from both sides.

Tie a simple overhand knot at the end of each cord to keep it from pulling back through. You can also thread a wooden bead onto each end and tie a knot below it for a more polished, finished look.

If you’re using yarn cord that you’ve crocheted yourself, make a chain about 50 inches long, slip stitch back along the chain to create a double-thick cord, and use that as a single drawstring threaded all the way around and tied at one point.

Finishing Touches

Once your drawstring is threaded and your ends are woven in, block your bag lightly if you’re working with cotton. Wet blocking cotton yarn evens out any tension inconsistencies and gives the finished piece a professional, polished look. Simply wet the bag in cool water, gently squeeze out the excess, shape it with your hands, and allow it to air dry on a flat surface. This takes a few hours but makes a noticeable difference, especially if your tension wasn’t perfectly even throughout.

If you’re adding a fabric liner, cut a piece of lightweight cotton fabric using the bag as a template, sewing the fabric into a small pouch shape slightly smaller than the crocheted bag, and slip it inside. A few hand stitches around the top edge to tack the liner in place is all you need to keep it secure.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about a simple pattern like this is how easily it adapts to different looks and purposes.

For a boho aesthetic, use a neutral or undyed cotton and add fringe along the bottom edge by cutting short lengths of yarn and knotting them through the stitches of the base round.

For a modern minimalist look, choose a single-color yarn in a neutral like sage green, dusty terracotta, warm cream, or charcoal, and use a sleek black grosgrain ribbon as the drawstring.

For gifting, make a set of three bags in graduated sizes — a small one for lip products, a medium one for everyday essentials, and a large one for skincare bottles. Nestle them inside one another and tie a ribbon around the set for a handmade gift that looks thoughtfully put together.

For kids or teens, use bright variegated cotton or a rainbow self-striping yarn. The pattern works just as well in playful colors as sophisticated neutrals.

For a spa or bath set, fill the finished bag with a small bar of handmade soap, a bath bomb, and a travel-sized moisturizer. The crochet bag becomes part of the gift itself.

Tips for Crocheting with Cotton Yarn

Cotton yarn behaves a little differently than wool or acrylic, and if you’re new to working with it, a few tips will make the process easier. Cotton has almost no stretch, which makes it slightly less forgiving of tension mistakes, but it also means your finished bag will hold its shape extremely well over time.

Keep your tension consistent but not too tight — tight stitches in cotton can make the fabric stiff and difficult to work into. If you find your hook keeps slipping or your hands are getting tired, you may be gripping the work too firmly. Relax your hands and let the hook glide.

Cotton yarn tends to split more easily than other fibers, so a hook with a well-rounded, smooth tip (rather than a sharply tapered one) helps you catch the entire strand cleanly. Clover Amour hooks and Tulip Etimo hooks are popular among cotton crocheters for exactly this reason.

Finally, cotton does absorb moisture, so your hands may feel dry after a long crocheting session. Keep hand lotion nearby and take short breaks if needed. The end result is absolutely worth it.

Why a Handmade Bag Beats Store-Bought

There’s something deeply satisfying about pulling a handmade bag out of your suitcase or tote. It carries the quiet confidence of something made with intention. Beyond the aesthetic, a handmade crochet bag is genuinely practical in ways that mass-produced alternatives often aren’t. You control the size, the structure, the color, and the durability. You can repair it easily if a stitch ever comes loose. And you made it yourself, which adds a layer of care to even the most mundane travel routine.

This particular pattern has been designed with the real needs of travelers in mind — compact enough to tuck into a carry-on personal item, structured enough to stand on a bathroom counter, and washable enough to handle everyday real life. Whether you’re traveling for a weekend or a month, this little bag earns its place in your kit.

Quick Recap of the Pattern

For those who want a at-a-glance summary before they begin: chain 14 and work an oval base over four rounds, transitioning to side rounds worked in joined rounds of single crochet for ten rounds, then complete the drawstring casing with a row of double crochet and chain-one spaces followed by two finishing rounds. Thread your cord, weave in ends, and block. That’s the whole project — elegant in its simplicity, deeply useful in practice.

Happy crocheting, and may your travel days be beautifully organized from here on.