The Jasmine Stitch Make Up Bag: A Complete Guide to Crocheting Your Most Beautiful Toiletry Bag Yet

If you’ve been searching for a crochet project that feels both practical and genuinely stunning, the jasmine stitch make up bag is about to become your new obsession. This gorgeous textured stitch transforms an everyday toiletry bag into a handmade heirloom piece — the kind of thing people pick up off your bathroom counter and ask, “Wait, did you make this yourself?” And yes, you did.

In this guide, we’re diving deep into everything you need to know about making a jasmine stitch make up bag or toiletry bag from scratch. Whether you’re a confident intermediate crocheter or someone who has just conquered granny squares and wants their next challenge, this post covers the stitch itself, the materials you’ll need, sizing tips, lining your bag, adding a zipper, and even some ideas for personalizing your finished project.

What Is the Jasmine Stitch?

Before we get into the bag itself, let’s talk about the star of the show. The jasmine stitch — sometimes called the star stitch or Catherine wheel, though these can differ slightly depending on the pattern — is a classic crochet technique known for creating a beautifully dense, floral-looking fabric. The stitch works by pulling up multiple loops through previous stitches and gathering them together with a finishing chain, which creates a puffed, star-shaped motif that tiles seamlessly across your work.

The result is a fabric that looks incredibly complex but is surprisingly rhythmic to work once your hands learn the motion. It has a lovely raised texture that photographs beautifully and feels substantial in the hand — both qualities that make it absolutely perfect for a make up bag or toiletry bag. The structure holds its shape well, and the thickness of the fabric means it’s protective enough to cushion your cosmetics and skincare products.

The jasmine stitch is typically worked flat or in the round, which gives you flexibility when approaching a bag project. Many makers choose to work it flat and seam the sides, while others prefer working in the round to avoid seaming altogether. Both approaches produce a gorgeous result.

Why Make a Crochet Toiletry Bag?

You might be wondering whether it’s worth the effort to crochet a make up bag when you can pick one up cheaply at any pharmacy or department store. Here’s the thing: a handmade jasmine stitch toiletry bag isn’t really the same category of object as those mass-produced pouches. This is a craft project that ends with a functional, beautiful piece you’ll actually want to keep and use for years.

Crocheted make up bags also make exceptional gifts. Whether you’re making something for a birthday, a bridal shower, a holiday, or a “just because” gesture, a handmade toiletry bag carries a weight of care and intention that store-bought items simply can’t match. When you pair the jasmine stitch’s gorgeous texture with a thoughtfully chosen yarn color, you end up with something that feels genuinely special.

On the practical side, crocheted bags are also surprisingly useful. They’re washable (depending on your yarn choice), customizable in size, and sturdy enough to hold everything from mascara wands and lipsticks to full-sized shampoo bottles if you go big with your dimensions.

Choosing the Right Yarn for a Jasmine Stitch Make Up Bag

Yarn choice matters enormously for this project, both aesthetically and practically.

For a toiletry bag or make up bag, you want a yarn that is durable, somewhat water-resistant or at least washable, and able to hold the texture of the jasmine stitch with crispness. Here are the best options to consider.

Cotton yarn is the classic choice for any project that might encounter moisture, and it’s particularly well-suited to a toiletry bag. Cotton is washable, smooth, and gives the jasmine stitch beautiful stitch definition. It shows off the texture clearly and comes in an enormous range of colors. Look for a DK weight or worsted weight cotton for a bag with good body without being overly stiff.

Cotton-acrylic blends offer similar benefits to pure cotton but with a slightly softer hand and often a lower price point. They’re also machine washable, which is a genuine convenience for a toiletry bag that might encounter spills from foundation or serum.

Mercerized cotton has a slight sheen that elevates the finished look of the jasmine stitch considerably. If you want your bag to look polished and almost luxurious, reaching for a mercerized cotton is a great call.

Avoid overly fuzzy or fluffy yarns like mohair or chenille for this project. The jasmine stitch relies on clearly defined loops and structure to look its best, and hairy or fluffy yarns will obscure the pattern and make the stitch definition muddy. Save the cozy textures for blankets and scarves.

In terms of yardage, a standard medium-sized make up bag worked in worsted weight cotton will use somewhere between 150 and 300 yards depending on your finished dimensions and hook tension. It’s always wise to buy an extra skein as insurance, especially since dye lots can vary between batches.

Hook Size and Gauge

The jasmine stitch is typically worked on a hook that’s slightly smaller than what you’d normally use for a given yarn weight. This is intentional — a slightly tighter gauge gives the fabric more structure and body, which is exactly what you want in a bag that needs to hold its shape and protect your cosmetics.

For a DK weight cotton, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook often works well. For worsted weight, try a 4mm or 4.5mm. Your goal is a fabric that feels firm and structured when you compress it, not floppy or loose.

Gauge isn’t strictly critical for a bag project in the way it is for, say, a garment, but it does affect your finished size. If you want precise dimensions, work a small gauge swatch before starting and count your jasmine stitch repeats per inch. Adjust your hook size up or down until your swatch matches your target size.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s a practical checklist for making your jasmine stitch toiletry bag from start to finish.

You’ll need yarn in your chosen fiber and weight, a crochet hook in the appropriate size, a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming, sharp scissors, stitch markers if working in the round, and a zipper in a coordinating or contrasting color. A zipper in the 7 to 12 inch range will suit most standard make up bag sizes, though you can go longer for a larger toiletry bag.

For lining your bag — which is highly recommended for any bag that will hold cosmetics or liquids — you’ll also need a piece of lining fabric, a needle and thread or access to a sewing machine, and a few pins. Fabric with a water-resistant coating or a simple wipe-clean material like vinyl or coated cotton is ideal for the lining interior. That said, even a cotton quilting fabric works well and looks beautiful peeking out when the bag is opened.

Optional but lovely additions include fabric interfacing to give the lining a little more stiffness, a zipper pull charm or tassel, and a small label you can stitch into the lining with your name or initials.

How to Make the Jasmine Stitch: A Step-by-Step Overview

The jasmine stitch is worked in a specific way that takes a couple of rows to internalize, but once it clicks, it becomes almost meditative. Here’s an overview of how the stitch works so you can approach any pattern with a clear understanding of the technique.

The jasmine stitch is worked in multiples of two, with a turning chain typically counting as part of the pattern. Each “star” or “jasmine” motif is formed by inserting your hook into multiple locations — usually pulling up loops from the eye of the previous star, the top of the turning chain, and subsequent chains — then wrapping the yarn and pulling through all the loops at once to close the star, followed by a chain one to create a new “eye” for the next row’s stars to anchor into.

The key to a tidy jasmine stitch is consistency in tension. Each loop you pull up should be the same height. Many crocheters find it helpful to slightly exaggerate the height of their pulled-up loops in their first few rows until they develop a feel for their natural tension. Working loosely but evenly produces the most clearly defined stars.

The stitch also has a natural directionality — stars in alternating rows typically lean in slightly different directions — which creates the lovely all-over floral texture that makes this pattern so recognizable. If you find your stars are collapsing or looking uneven, try working a little more slowly and paying close attention to where each loop is pulled from.

Bag Construction: Flat vs. In the Round

There are two main construction approaches for a jasmine stitch make up bag.

Working flat means you crochet two rectangles (or one long rectangle that will fold in half) and then seam the sides together. This approach gives you more control over your exact dimensions and is often easier for newer crocheters. The seam can be worked using a slip stitch join or a whip stitch, and with a textured yarn the seam is virtually invisible once the bag is lining.

Working in the round means crocheting a flat oval or rectangular base and then working the jasmine stitch continuously around the sides. This approach eliminates visible seams on the sides of your bag and can feel more satisfying for crocheters who prefer seamless construction. It requires a bit more experience with reading the stitch as you go around corners and managing stitch counts.

Either approach works beautifully. If you’re making this bag for the first time, working flat and seaming is probably the more forgiving route. If you’ve made bags before and want a cleaner finish, try working in the round.

Sizing Your Toiletry Bag

The beauty of crocheting your own make up bag is that you can make it exactly the size you need. Here are some useful reference dimensions to guide you.

A small make up pouch — ideal for a lip and eye daily bag or a travel touch-up kit — typically measures around 5 inches wide by 4 inches tall. A medium make up bag, good for a moderate collection of products, sits around 8 inches wide by 5 inches tall. A full-sized toiletry bag intended for travel with bottles and larger items can run 10 to 12 inches wide by 6 to 7 inches tall.

When planning your jasmine stitch bag, remember that the stitch works in multiples, so you’ll need to adjust your starting chain to the nearest appropriate multiple that gets you to your target width. Add or subtract a repeat or two as needed — a half inch of difference in width won’t significantly affect the functionality of your bag.

Also account for the fact that crochet fabric has a slight stretch. A bag that measures 8 inches before lining will typically hold that dimension well, especially once it’s lined with fabric and stiffened slightly.

Adding a Zipper to Your Crochet Bag

A zipper is what transforms a pretty crocheted rectangle into a genuinely functional toiletry bag. The thought of attaching a zipper by hand puts some crocheters off, but it’s genuinely straightforward with a bit of patience.

The easiest method is to sew the zipper tape directly to the top edge of your crocheted bag using a whip stitch and a yarn needle, working through the holes in the zipper tape and the top loops of your crochet stitches. Use a thread or yarn that matches your zipper tape color so any visible stitches blend in.

Alternatively, if you’re lining your bag, you can sew the zipper to your lining fabric first and then attach the lining to the bag, which completely hides the zipper attachment on the interior. This method takes a little longer but gives you a truly professional-looking finish.

Choose a metal or nylon coil zipper in a length that’s close to your bag’s top opening. You can always shorten a zipper by hand by stitching a small bar tack below the zip pull and cutting away the excess — a useful trick if you can’t find exactly the right length.

Lining Your Jasmine Stitch Make Up Bag

Lining is one of those steps that separates a good crochet bag from a great one. A lining protects your products from snagging on the yarn fibers, prevents small items like eyeliner pencils or cotton buds from poking through the crocheted stitches, and makes your bag much easier to wipe clean.

Cut your lining fabric to the dimensions of your bag’s interior, adding a small seam allowance on all sides. Fold and press the seam allowances, then slip the lining into the bag and pin it in place. Sew the lining to the bag by hand using a neat whip stitch or ladder stitch along the top edge, securing it just below the zipper.

For extra structure, you can interface your lining fabric before sewing. A fusible woven interfacing fused to the wrong side of your lining fabric gives the bag a more polished, structured shape that holds itself upright when open.

Color Ideas and Personalization

The jasmine stitch is a pattern that really shines in solid colors and subtle tonals, which allow the texture to be the star. That said, there’s plenty of room to make your toiletry bag feel uniquely yours.

Classic choices like cream, dusty rose, sage green, and warm terracotta all look breathtaking in the jasmine stitch. For a more playful bag, try a bright cobalt or sunflower yellow. If you want something that feels more neutral and versatile, a heathered grey or natural undyed cotton is always elegant.

You can also experiment with a contrasting zipper — a navy bag with a gold zipper, for instance, or a white bag with a bright red zipper — to add a pop of personality without overcomplicating the design.

Adding a small tassel or pom-pom to your zipper pull is an easy finishing touch that feels both stylish and handmade in the best way. A few strands of coordinating yarn knotted together and trimmed to the same length takes about five minutes and completely elevates the finished look.

Caring for Your Jasmine Stitch Bag

Because a toiletry bag is a working item that will encounter product residue, moisture, and daily handling, it’s worth thinking about care from the start.

If you’ve used a cotton or cotton-blend yarn, your bag is likely machine washable on a gentle cycle in cool water. Always check the care label on your specific yarn. Remove the bag from the wash promptly and reshape it while damp, then allow it to air dry flat. The lining fabric should also be pre-washed before you sew it in, to prevent any future shrinkage mismatch between the yarn and the fabric.

For general maintenance, a quick wipe of the interior lining with a damp cloth handles most cosmetic spills without requiring a full wash. This is another reason that a water-resistant or coated lining fabric is such a practical choice.

Final Thoughts

The jasmine stitch make up bag is one of those projects that rewards you at every stage — from the satisfying rhythm of working the stitch itself, to the moment you attach the zipper and realize it actually looks like something you’d find in a boutique, to the long-term pleasure of using something you made entirely by hand. It’s a project with genuine staying power, both as a skill-building exercise and as a finished object you’ll reach for day after day.

Whether you’re making it for yourself or planning to gift it to someone who loves beautiful handmade things, a jasmine stitch toiletry bag is time well spent. Once you’ve made one, you’ll almost certainly want to make more — in different colors, different sizes, with different linings — because that’s simply what happens when you fall in love with a stitch.