Honey Washbag Crochet Pattern by PetiteKnittitle: A Complete Guide to Making Your New Favourite Bathroom Essential

There is something deeply satisfying about making something you will actually use every single day. A washbag sits in that perfect sweet spot between practical and personal — it holds your things, travels with you, and can be exactly as beautiful as you want it to be. The Honey Washbag pattern by PetiteKnittitle has become a beloved project among crochet makers for good reason: it combines a gorgeous textured stitch with a functional, structured shape that actually stands up on its own, looks stunning on a bathroom shelf, and survives the kind of real-world use that washbags demand.

Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for your next satisfying make or someone who has just picked up a hook and wants to move beyond scarves and dishcloths, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Honey Washbag pattern — the materials, the techniques, the tips for success, and the reasons why this particular pattern has earned such a devoted following in the crafting community.

What Is the Honey Washbag by PetiteKnittitle?

PetiteKnittitle is a crochet pattern designer known for creating patterns that feel modern, achievable, and genuinely beautiful. Their designs tend to attract makers who want something that looks polished and intentional — not homemade in a way that needs to be apologised for, but handmade in a way that gets compliments.

The Honey Washbag lives up to that reputation. It is a structured crochet bag designed specifically to function as a washbag or toiletry bag. It features a zip closure at the top, a flat base so it stands upright without flopping over, and an exterior that is worked in a textured honeycomb-inspired stitch that gives the bag its name and its visual character. The finished result looks like something you might find in a boutique shop, made from materials you chose yourself and sized exactly to your needs.

The pattern is written for intermediate crochet makers, meaning you should be comfortable with the basics — chain stitches, slip stitches, single crochet, and joining rounds — but you do not need to have tackled complex construction or garment-making before. The most demanding element is the textured stitch pattern itself, and PetiteKnittitle is known for writing instructions that explain this kind of technique clearly.

Why Make a Crochet Washbag?

Before we get into the specifics of the Honey Washbag, it is worth pausing on why a crocheted washbag makes such an excellent project in the first place.

For starters, washbags are one of those items that most people own but rarely love. The ones you get free with a purchase are flimsy. The ones sold in shops are often overpriced for what they are. A handmade crochet washbag, on the other hand, can be made to exactly the size you need, in a colour palette that suits your bathroom or your travel kit, from a yarn that has real texture and character. It is a project with a clear, daily use — which means every time you reach for your moisturiser or your toothbrush, you get to be reminded that you made something lovely with your own hands.

Crochet washbags also make exceptional gifts. They are personal enough to feel special but practical enough that the recipient will actually use them. A beautifully made Honey Washbag, lined if you choose, in a colour chosen specifically for the person you are giving it to — that is a gift that takes more thought and care than almost anything you could buy off a shelf.

There is also the craft element itself. The Honey Washbag gives you an opportunity to practise textured stitch work, to get comfortable working in the round, and to learn how to insert a zip into a crochet project — a skill that, once you have it, opens up a whole new category of makes.

Materials You Will Need

One of the lovely things about the Honey Washbag pattern is that it does not require a huge investment in materials. Here is what you will typically need to gather before you begin.

Yarn. The pattern calls for a cotton yarn, which is the right choice for a washbag for several reasons. Cotton is durable, washable, and does not stretch out of shape the way acrylic can. It also has a natural structure that helps the bag hold its form. A DK or worsted weight cotton works well for most versions of this bag — check the specific pattern for the weight recommended by PetiteKnittitle, as this will affect your finished size. Popular choices among makers include Paintbox Cotton DK, Rico Essentials Cotton, and Drops Safran, but any smooth, tightly spun cotton yarn in the right weight will do the job beautifully.

Crochet Hook. You will need a hook sized to suit your yarn — typically a 3.5mm to 4mm hook for cotton DK weight. If your tension tends to run tight, size up. If it runs loose, size down. The Honey Washbag benefits from a fairly firm tension that gives the fabric structure.

Zip. A zip is essential for a functional washbag, and choosing the right one matters more than people sometimes expect. A metal zip in a coordinating or contrasting colour gives a very polished, boutique feel. A nylon coil zip is more pliable and can be easier to sew in neatly. The pattern will specify a zip length — make sure you have this before you begin, because the top of the bag is worked to fit the zip, not the other way around.

Lining Fabric (Optional but Recommended). Many makers choose to add a fabric lining to their Honey Washbag. This does several things: it makes the interior wipe-clean, it hides the inside of the zip installation, and it gives the bag additional structure. A laminated cotton or an oilcloth is ideal if you want a bag that can be wiped down inside if something spills. A regular quilting cotton works if you prefer a softer interior and are willing to spot-clean carefully.

Sewing Needle and Thread. You will need these for attaching the zip and, if you are adding one, the lining.

Tapestry Needle. For weaving in yarn ends.

Stitch Markers. Helpful for keeping track of rounds, particularly at the beginning and end of each round if you are working in a continuous spiral.

Scissors. Obviously.

Understanding the Honeycomb Stitch

The stitch that gives the Honey Washbag its name and its gorgeous textured exterior is a honeycomb-inspired pattern worked in crochet. If you have never worked this kind of stitch before, it can look intimidating on first read, but it becomes quite intuitive once your hands get used to the rhythm.

The honeycomb effect in crochet is typically achieved using a combination of slip stitches and taller stitches — often half double crochet or double crochet — worked in specific positions to create raised diagonal lines that cross over each other and form a grid of diamond or hexagonal shapes. The key is working into stitches from previous rounds at the correct height and angle to create that dimensional, textured effect.

PetiteKnittitle’s approach to this stitch is well-regarded for being clearly written and methodically explained. The pattern takes you through the repeat in a way that helps you understand what you are creating, not just follow instructions mechanically. This matters because once you understand the logic of the stitch, you can catch your own mistakes much more easily and the whole process becomes more enjoyable.

Before you begin the main body of the bag, it is worth working a small swatch of the honeycomb stitch on its own — not just for tension purposes, but to get your hands accustomed to the movement before you are working it on the actual bag. Spend fifteen or twenty minutes working the repeat until it starts to feel natural. You will thank yourself later.

Construction: How the Honey Washbag Comes Together

The Honey Washbag is worked from the base up, which is a satisfying and logical construction method. You begin with the flat base of the bag — typically worked in a simple, tightly stitched fabric that will keep its shape and provide a stable foundation. From there, you pick up stitches around the edge of the base and begin working the sides of the bag upward in the round.

The honeycomb stitch pattern is worked on the sides of the bag, which is where most of the visual interest lives. As you work upward round by round, the texture builds and you start to see the distinctive pattern emerging. This is the point in most Honey Washbag projects where makers report falling in love with the make — there is a particular satisfaction in watching a geometric, structured pattern develop row by row.

Once the body of the bag reaches the desired height, you finish off the top edge with a neat border that prepares the opening for the zip. This is where precision matters most: a tidy, even top edge makes the subsequent zip installation much cleaner and easier.

Inserting the Zip: Tips for a Professional Finish

Inserting a zip into a crochet project is one of those techniques that many makers find daunting the first time and then wonder why they were so worried once they have done it. The key is going slowly and pinning generously before you sew.

Start by placing your zip along the inside of the top opening of the bag with the zip pull facing the exterior of the bag. Pin it in place, making sure it is centred and that there is equal fabric allowance on both sides of the zip tape. Using a whip stitch or back stitch and a thread that matches your yarn colour, hand sew the zip tape to the inside edge of the crochet fabric, working through the stitches of the top border row.

Take your time at the corners and at the zip pull end — these are the points where puckering or misalignment is most likely to happen. If you are adding a lining, you will sew the lining in after the zip, using it to cover the raw edge of the zip tape for a very clean interior finish.

A few extra tips: beeswax or candle wax rubbed along the zip teeth before installation will make the zip glide much more smoothly once the bag is finished. If your zip is longer than the opening of the bag, do not cut it before installation — insert it with the extra length, then carefully cut and seal the end after everything is sewn in place.

Sizing and Customisation Options

One of the great pleasures of making your own washbag is that you are in control of the size. The standard Honey Washbag pattern produces a bag that is generous enough for a weekend away — holding full-size bottles, a razor, skincare, and small accessories without being overstuffed. But there is plenty of room to adapt.

To make a smaller bag suited for travel carry-on essentials or as a makeup pouch, you can work fewer rounds on the sides and use a shorter zip. To make a larger version for a full toiletry kit, extend the height of the sides and scale up the base accordingly — just remember to adjust your zip length to match.

You can also play with the yarn colour to completely change the character of the finished bag. The honeycomb stitch looks spectacular in a single bold colour — terracotta, deep navy, or a rich forest green all allow the texture to be the star. It also works beautifully in a neutral palette — oat, cream, or warm grey — for a quieter, more understated look. Some makers have worked the base and body in complementary colours for a blocked effect, and the results are striking.

Adding a small wrist strap or handle loop at one end of the zip is a practical modification that many makers find useful, particularly when the bag is being used for travel.

Washing and Care

Because the Honey Washbag is made from cotton yarn, it is relatively easy to care for. Cotton is machine washable in most cases, though you should check the care label on your specific yarn to be sure. A gentle cycle at a cool temperature will keep the bag looking its best. If you have added a lining, check that your fabric is also machine washable before putting the whole thing in.

Allow the bag to air dry rather than tumble drying, as heat can cause the cotton fibres to shrink slightly and may warp the shape of the bag. Lay it flat to dry to preserve the structure of the base.

Making the Honey Washbag as a Gift

If you are making the Honey Washbag as a gift, a few small additions can elevate it from a lovely handmade item to something that feels truly considered and special.

Tuck a few small items inside the finished bag before you give it — a pretty soap, a small notebook, a few hair clips. The bag is beautiful on its own, but filling it with thoughtful extras shows that you imagined the person actually using it, and that level of care is always felt.

You might also include a small card with care instructions, so the recipient knows how to look after their bag and gets the most use out of it. Something simple — “Machine wash on a cool gentle cycle, lay flat to dry” — is all you need, but it makes the whole gift feel polished and complete.

Where to Find the Honey Washbag Pattern

The Honey Washbag pattern by PetiteKnittitle is available through PetiteKnittitle’s official pattern shop. Like many independent crochet designers, PetiteKnittitle sells patterns through platforms such as Ravelry, Etsy, and their own website. The pattern is a digital download, so once you have purchased it you can access it immediately and return to it as many times as you need.

If you are purchasing from Ravelry, you can also browse the project gallery to see how other makers have interpreted the pattern — this is one of the most valuable resources available when you are about to start a new make. Seeing real-world versions in different yarns and colours gives you a much better sense of the possibilities, and the notes that makers leave on their projects often contain practical tips and modifications that are genuinely useful.

Final Thoughts

The Honey Washbag by PetiteKnittitle is one of those patterns that earns its place in your permanent rotation. It is challenging enough to be interesting and satisfying to complete, but not so difficult that it becomes a source of frustration. It produces a finished object that is genuinely beautiful and genuinely useful — and in the world of craft, that combination is rarer and more valuable than it might sound.

Whether you are making one for yourself, making several as gifts, or making it because you want to learn the honeycomb stitch and this seemed like the perfect vehicle for it, the Honey Washbag is a project worth your time. Gather your cotton yarn, find your hook, pick a zip in a colour that makes you happy, and enjoy the process. The result will sit on your bathroom shelf or travel with you in your suitcase for years to come, and every time you use it, you will remember that you made it yourself — which is, in the end, the whole point.