Crochet Bucket Bag: A Round-Bottom Bag with a Drawstring and Shoulder Strap
A sturdy circular base, straight sides in waistcoat stitch, an eyelet round and a cord drawstring, plus a single shoulder strap. The waistcoat stitch looks like knitting and holds the bucket shape.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) cotton or cotton-linen, about 260 yd
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- About 6 hours
- Finished size
- About 7 in across × 9 in tall (18 × 23 cm)
You'll need
- Worsted (#4) cotton — about 260 yd
- 5 mm (H-8) hook
- Stitch marker
- Two cord ends or beads
- Tapestry needle
In this post
A bucket bag is a cylinder with a round, flat base and a drawstring top. Its shape comes from a firm, flat base and straight sides that don't flare. Waistcoat stitch (single crochet worked between the legs of the stitch below) is ideal: it's dense, barely stretches and looks like knitting. Finish with an eyelet round, a drawstring and a shoulder strap.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
Base
- Rnds 1–12: 6 sc in a magic ring and increase 6 per round (staggered) up to (10 sc, inc) × 6. (72)
- Check: The base should be flat and about 7 in across.
Sides
- Rnd 13: Sc in the back loop only of each st. (72)
- Rnds 14–48 (waistcoat stitch): Insert the hook between the two vertical legs of the next sc (through the centre of the "V"), not under the top loops. Complete a sc. Work around in a spiral. (72)
- Rnd 49 (eyelets): *Sc in the next 4, ch 2, skip 2* around. (12 eyelets)
- Rnd 50: Sc in each sc and 2 sc in each ch-2 space. (72)
- Rnds 51–52: Sc in each st, then sl st around. Fasten off.
Waistcoat stitch is tight: if it's hard to get the hook in, go up half a hook size. The fabric shrinks in width slightly, which keeps the bucket straight.
Drawstring and strap
- Drawstring: Ch 100 and sl st back along it. Thread through the eyelets, starting and ending at the front. Add beads or cord ends.
- Strap: Ch 7, sc 6 per row for about 40 in. Sew the ends inside the bag at opposite sides, just below the eyelet round. For a strap that never stretches, use one of the bag strap methods.
Sizes
| Size | Base sts | Side rounds | Finished |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 54 (Rnd 9) | 24 | 5 × 6 in |
| Standard | 72 (Rnd 12) | 35 | 7 × 9 in |
| Large | 90 (Rnd 15) | 45 | 9 × 12 in |
For the eyelet round, keep a repeat of 6 stitches. A quicker, softer version is the crochet drawstring bag.
Common questions
How do you keep a crochet bucket bag from sagging?
Use a dense stitch like waistcoat stitch or tight sc in cotton, and keep the side stitch count exactly the same as the base. A plastic canvas circle in the base adds structure.
What is waistcoat stitch?
Single crochet worked through the centre of the stitch below, between its two vertical legs. It looks like knit stockinette and is very firm.
Can I add a lining?
Yes. Sew a fabric tube with a circular base and stitch it in below the eyelet round — see how to line a crochet bag.
Have you tried waistcoat stitch yet? 🪣
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