Make a Scrunchie Bag With Me ♥️

There is something quietly magical about making something with your own hands. Not just the finished object, but the whole journey — the choosing of yarn, the rhythm of the needles or hook, the way a project grows row by row until suddenly you have something real and useful and completely yours. Today I want to walk you through one of my absolute favorite makes: a scrunchie bag. It is small enough to finish in an evening or two, satisfying enough to make again and again, and cute enough to give as a gift or keep entirely for yourself with zero guilt.

Whether you are a knitter or a crocheter, this project is for you. I am going to cover both approaches, talk through yarn and material choices, share tips for customizing the design, and give you all the encouragement you need to cast on or chain up right now. Grab your hook or your needles, because we are making this together.

What Is a Scrunchie Bag and Why You Need One

A scrunchie bag is exactly what it sounds like: a small, gathered pouch that closes with a drawstring and has a ruffled, scrunchie-style opening. The gathered top gives it that irresistible, squishy look that photographs beautifully and feels wonderful in your hands. These little bags are incredibly versatile. You can use them as a project bag for your stitch markers and tapestry needles, a travel pouch for earbuds and chargers, a gift bag, a jewelry holder for your bedside table, or a little treat bag for a friend’s birthday.

They also happen to be one of the best beginner-friendly projects out there. If you are newer to knitting or crochet, this bag will teach you working in the round, basic shaping, and a simple drawstring finish — all skills that will serve you for years to come. And if you are more experienced, this is the perfect mindless make for movie nights or commutes.

What You Will Need

Before we dive in, let us talk supplies. The beauty of a project like this is that you do not need much.

For yarn, almost anything works, but some choices are better than others depending on the look you want. A smooth DK or worsted weight cotton gives you a clean, structured bag that holds its shape beautifully. Cotton is also a great choice if you plan to use the bag for jewelry or delicate items, since it is gentle and does not snag. If you want something softer and more slouchy, a wool or wool-blend yarn in DK or aran weight is lovely and gives the bag a cozy, organic feel. For a fun, textured look, try a boucle or a slightly fluffy yarn — the scrunchie top becomes extra dimensional and almost cloud-like.

You will need approximately 100 to 150 yards of yarn for a small-to-medium bag, which means this is a perfect stash buster. Have a partial skein of something beautiful sitting in your stash? This is its moment.

For knitters, you will want a set of double-pointed needles or a short circular in the appropriate size for your yarn — typically a US 5 to US 7 (3.75mm to 4.5mm) for DK or worsted weight. For crocheters, a hook one size larger than the yarn label recommends tends to give a nice, slightly open fabric that drapes beautifully on the bag body.

You will also need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a length of ribbon, cord, or I-cord for the drawstring, and a pair of scissors. That is truly it. This is a low-barrier, high-reward project in every possible way.

Choosing Your Colors

One of the most delightful parts of this project is that it is small enough to be a playground for color. You could make the whole bag in one solid color for a clean, minimalist look. You could use two contrasting colors — one for the body and one for the gathered top — for a graphic, intentional feel. You could stripe the whole thing with every color you have been meaning to use up. You could even go scrappy and use a different color for every single round.

Some of my favorite combinations have been a deep forest green body with a cream scrunchie top, a dusty rose bag with a rust-colored drawstring, and a multicolored self-striping yarn that does all the work for me. The scrunchie bag is genuinely forgiving of wild color choices because the gathered, puffy shape is inherently playful and fun.

If you are making this as a gift, think about the recipient. A neutral, sophisticated color palette works beautifully for someone who prefers minimal aesthetics. A bright, joyful explosion of color is perfect for someone whose personality fills a room. Either way, the bag will be received with delight.

The Knitted Scrunchie Bag

Let us start with the knitted version. I am giving you a basic pattern framework that you can adjust based on your yarn weight and needle size. Always swatch before you begin if sizing matters to you, though for a small bag like this, most people find that a little variation in gauge just means a slightly bigger or slightly smaller bag — both of which are completely functional and cute.

Cast on 48 to 60 stitches using your preferred cast-on method. I like a long-tail cast-on for its clean edge and slight elasticity. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.

Work in your chosen stitch pattern — stockinette (knit every round) gives a smooth, modern look, while a simple 2×2 rib gives texture and makes the bag slightly stretchy, which is useful if you plan to stuff it full. Seed stitch is another gorgeous option and adds a handmade, artisanal quality to the fabric.

Continue working in the round until the bag body measures approximately 4 to 6 inches in height, depending on how deep you want it. This is entirely up to you. A shallower bag has a more pouch-like, precious quality. A deeper bag is more functional for carrying actual things.

For the base, you will decrease evenly over several rounds. A simple approach is to place 6 markers evenly around the round and work a k2tog decrease before each marker every other round until you have 12 stitches remaining. Then cut the yarn, thread it through the remaining stitches on a tapestry needle, pull tight, and weave in the end securely.

Now for the scrunchie top, which is the heart of this whole project. Return to the cast-on edge and pick up stitches around the top. Increase on the first round by knitting into the front and back of every stitch, which will roughly double your stitch count. Work in stockinette for about 2 inches, then decrease back down to the original stitch count over the next 4 to 6 rounds. This creates the gathered, puffy effect. Bind off loosely.

For the drawstring channel, work a simple eyelet round a few rounds below the gather. You can do this by working (k2tog, yo) around the entire round. Thread your ribbon, cord, or I-cord through the eyelets to finish.

The Crocheted Scrunchie Bag

The crocheted version has its own particular charm. Crochet creates a thicker, more structured fabric than knitting, which means the bag has a lovely firmness that helps it stand up on its own. It also works up quickly, which is always a joy.

Start with a magic ring or chain 4 and join to form a ring. Work 6 single crochet into the ring and pull tight. This is your foundation round.

Round 2: Work 2 single crochet into each stitch around. You will have 12 stitches.

Round 3: Work (1 sc, 2 sc in next stitch) around. You will have 18 stitches.

Continue increasing in this way — adding 6 stitches per round — until your circle is approximately 3 to 4 inches in diameter. This is your base.

From here, you will stop increasing and begin working in the round without any increases or decreases to build up the sides of the bag. Work in single crochet, half double crochet, or any stitch you love. A simple alternating row of half double crochet and single crochet creates a subtle texture that is really beautiful in person. Continue until the bag body is the height you want.

For the scrunchie top, increase by working 2 stitches into every stitch around the top edge. Work 4 to 6 rounds even on the increased stitch count, then decrease back down to the original count. This creates that beautiful gathered ruffle that makes the bag instantly recognizable and irresistible.

For the drawstring channel, simply work a row of (skip 1, chain 2, sc in next stitch) around the bag at the point where you want the drawstring to sit. This creates a series of holes through which your drawstring can pass easily.

Weave in all ends, insert your drawstring, and you are done.

Customizing Your Bag

The basic pattern is just the beginning. There are so many ways to make this bag entirely your own, and that is honestly one of the best things about handmade objects. They can be as personal as you want them to be.

Consider adding a crochet flower or a knitted bobble to the front of the bag before seaming. A few rows of colorwork — even something as simple as alternating two colors every two rounds — transforms the bag from sweet to absolutely stunning. You could add beads to the drawstring for a luxurious, jewelry-box feel. You could embroider small flowers or initials onto the bag body after finishing.

The size is also completely modifiable. Work on more stitches for a larger bag that could hold a whole ball of yarn or serve as a project pouch for your WIPs. Scale down for a tiny, precious bag the size of your palm that is just right for a ring or a pair of earrings.

The scrunchie top itself can be made more dramatic by increasing more aggressively — try tripling the stitch count instead of doubling it for an over-the-top, almost flower-like ruffle. Or keep it subtle by increasing only by half for a more restrained gather.

Gifting Your Scrunchie Bag

I want to say a word about giving these bags as gifts, because I think this is one of the most underrated gift ideas in the fiber arts world. A handmade scrunchie bag filled with something thoughtful is genuinely one of the most personal, beautiful gifts you can give someone.

Think about filling the bag before you give it. For a fellow knitter or crocheter, fill it with a set of pretty stitch markers, a small skein of luxury yarn, or a beautiful tapestry needle. For someone who loves jewelry, fill it with a delicate necklace and a pair of earrings. For a friend who needs a little self-care, tuck in a lip balm, a small bottle of hand cream, and a piece of chocolate.

The bag itself is already a gift. The contents are just a bonus. And the fact that the whole thing was made with your hands and your time makes it something that no amount of money can fully replicate.

A Few Tips for Success

A couple of small things that will make your experience smoother and your finished bag even more beautiful. First, pay attention to your tension, especially around the scrunchie top. If you knit or crochet tightly, the gather may not puff up as much as you would like. Loosen your tension on the increased rounds to allow the fabric to bloom naturally.

Second, weave in your ends really well. Because this is a bag that will be opened and closed repeatedly, the ends are under more stress than they would be in, say, a shawl or a blanket. Weave in at least two directions and consider adding a small drop of fabric glue if you are using a particularly slippery yarn.

Third, block your finished bag before adding the drawstring. Wet blocking (gently submerge in cool water, press out the excess, reshape, and dry flat) does wonderful things to both knitted and crocheted bags. It evens out your tension, softens the fabric, and makes the bag look polished and intentional.

Why This Project Will Always Be Special to Me

There is a version of this bag that I made during a particularly hard week a few years ago. I needed something my hands could do while my brain was too full and tired for anything complicated. I pulled out some leftover yellow cotton and a hook I found in my bag and just started working. The circles. The sides. The little ruffle at the top. By the time I threaded the ribbon through and pulled the drawstring closed, I felt like myself again.

That is what small handmade projects can do. They do not solve anything. But they give your hands something to follow, your brain a soft place to rest, and your heart the quiet satisfaction of having made something where there was nothing before. A scrunchie bag is not going to change the world. But it might change your afternoon, and sometimes that is exactly enough.

Let’s Make This Together

I hope this post has given you everything you need to get started on your own scrunchie bag. Whether you knit or crochet, whether you are a brand-new beginner or you have been making things for decades, this project has something to offer you. It is quick, it is satisfying, it is endlessly customizable, and the finished result is something genuinely useful and lovely.

If you make one, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos, leave a comment with your yarn choices, or just send me a message to say how it went. Seeing what all of you create from the same basic starting point — different yarns, different colors, different hands — is one of my favorite things in the world.

Now go find that yarn, cast on, and make something beautiful with me. ♥️