The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag is a free pattern that is made to measure and can accommodate yarn with different gauges. It’s also really fast to make!
The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag is a bag that reminds me of my “pre kid” days when I had all the time in the world to wander the farmers’ markets. After spending hours eating fresh produce and sticks of honey, I would buy just enough to fit in my drawstring bag to make a meal for two.
I love the rustic bohemian look with the thick strong yarn. It has a care free, deconstructed feel to it. To capture the whole boho look, team it with the slouchy Nusa Mesh Net Crochet Sweater or the Bondi Beach Crochet Bra Top.
You will use this bag all the time! These days, mine carries my kids’ clothing, swim towels, water bottles and snacks! Make one for all your family and friends and they will be used at the gym, running errands, at school and college and always at the grocery store. They are strong!
The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag is designed this to be worn over the shoulder or back pack style. It’s great when bags can be carried both over the shoulder and as a backpack. Sometimes we just need two hands free! Even though the holes aren’t big enough to let your phone or wallet fall through, you may want to put them into another little bag (crocheted of course) just in case.
It’s really important to select your yarn carefully. Firstly, try to find a cotton or cotton blend yarn! It will keep your bag strong and in shape when you place heavy objects in there. I made my first bag many years ago out of acrylic yarn – big mistake! It looked amazing, worked up quickly and it was so much fun to crochet. I took it grocery shopping and pulled it out at the checkout. When I went to put my four items in there (literally a few pieces of fruit and a small jug of milk), the bag sunk to the floor due to the stretch in the yarn. I literally walked out holding all my groceries and bag in my arms! Lesson learnt….use strong cotton for bags!
The yarn I used for this bag is Macrame Colors by Loops & Threads. As the name suggests, this yarn is typically used for wall hangings and macrame art. The weight is a 7/Jumbo and it is 85% cotton and 15% polyester. The marl colours are gorgeous in this range. We chose the colours Tan Marl and Natural Marl and have photographed both! The best part was this yarn was on sale and it cost us less than $10 per bag to make!
If you can’t find this yarn, then consider any type of thick cotton yarn. This pattern will guide you with actual length measurements so that you can adjust the number of rows to reach the required length.
DESCRIPTION of The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag
The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag is a sturdy cotton bag perfect for groceries, books and running errands. This free pattern is easy to crochet and great for beginners. It has two straps at the back so that it can be worn over the shoulder or as a backpack. This pattern can accommodate for different yarn gauges and is quick to make.
CROCHET MEASUREMENTS & SIZES
The pattern is for one bag size, however it provides instructions on how to customize the length and for different gauges.
Diameter of the bag’s base: approximately 5 inches (13 cm)
Width of bag: approximately 12 inches (30 cm)
Length of bag: approximately 12 inches (30 cm)
CROCHET GAUGE for the Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag
Approximately 7 stitches and 4.5 rows of single crochet stitch in 4″ x 4″ (10 cm x 10 cm)
CROCHET MATERIALS
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Yarn brand: Macrame Colors by Loops & Threads. Weight 7/Jumbo. 300g per skein and 82 yards (or 75 metres). Approximately 2 skeins. Color used is Natural Marl for bag on left and Tan Marl for bag on right.
This pattern can accommodate for different gauges however try to select a strong thick cotton or cotton blend yarn.
10 mm (US size 15) crochet hook (or according to the instructions on your skein)
Measuring Tape. We use a super budget friendly measuring tape. Make sure it has cm and inches (not all patterns are written with both). We are always crocheting on the go so we like our tapes small and compact and we put one in our design area, one in our bag and one in our car. Retractable works best! We use these mini measuring tapes from Amazon.
Stitch Markers. Don’t get the knitting stitch markers and try to make sure when they open, they open wide! There is nothing more frustrating then trying to slip on a stitch marker that doesn’t open wide enough so that you need to use two hands to put it and have to put down your work. We use these crochet stitch markers from Amazon. They are cheap and colourful.
Yarn Needle. Blunt needles with large eyes for yarn.
Scissors. We love thread snippers!
STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS
ch = chain (With one loop on your hook, yarn over and pull through the loop)
sc = single crochet (Insert hook into desired stitch. Yarn over and pull through the stitch. You now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all two loops)
dc = double crochet (Yarn over and insert hook into desired stitch. Yarn over and pull through the stitch. You now have three loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. You now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all two loops)
ch-4 sp = chain 4 space (eg. crochet into the space and not the stitch)
tch = turning chain
sl st = slip stitch (Insert hook into desired stitch. Yarn over and pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook)
st = stitch
sk = skip stitch
* = repeat the instructions following the * as directed
Note unless stated otherwise turning chains do not count as a stitch if there are 1 or 2 chains and the turning chain does count as a stitch if there are 3 or 4 chains.
SUMMARY of CONSTRUCTION of the Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag
The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag is crocheted from the base up. First we will start with a ring and crochet a circular base. After we have completed this we will crochet the sides by using a large mesh design. When we have reached the required length of the bag we will crochet the straps and drawstring. We will thread the straps through the base of the bag up to the top, around the top of the bag and back down towards the bag to create the drawstrings and backpack straps.
PERMISSIONS AND COPYRIGHT
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may crochet items to sell using this pattern upon permission by email at [email protected]. Please link back to this post in exchange. Please do NOT use my photos as your own photos.
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS for The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag
Crochet the Base
Make a magic ring
Tip: There are many videos on how to make a magic ring and it is a useful technique to learn in crochet.
Round 1: 12 dc in the ring. Join with a sl st to the first ch. (Total = 12 st).
Pull the starting yarn to close the ring.
Tip: If you are new to crocheting in a circle, it will be helpful to count your stitches so you can ensure your circle rounds are even. Make sure your stitches add up to the total stitches indicated in each round. Place a stitch marker after you crochet your first stitch at the start of the round. It will help you see where each round started.
Round 2: ch3, 2dc in every st. Join with a sl st to top of tch. (Total = 24 st).
Round 3: ch3, *1dc in the first st, 2dc in the next st, rep from * until you reach the end of the round. Join with sl st to top of tch. (Total = 36 st)
Round 4: ch3, *1dc in the next 2st, 2dc in the next st, rep from * until you reach the end of the round. Join with sl st to top of tch. (Total = 48 st).
Do not fasten off.
Tip: At this point the diameter of the base (centre of magic ring to outer edge of circle) measures approximately 5 inches on our version. If you are using a slightly lower weight cotton yarn you may need to do an additional row to reach 5 inches (see Round 5)
Round 5 (optional): 1dc in the next 3 st, 2dc in next st, rep from * until you reach the end of the round. Join with sl st to top of tch. Turn. (Total = 60 st)
Do not fasten off.
Crochet the Sides of the Bag
Round 1: *ch4, sk 2, sl st into next st, rep from * until you reach the end of the round
Round 2: *ch 4, sc into the ch-4 sp, rep from * until you reach the end of the round
Tip: Place a stitch marker in the first ch-4 space in the round so that you know when you start and finish each round.
Repeat round 2 until you reach the desired length. The Kiks + Jack version is 12 inches in total length from base to the top of the bag.
When you have reached your desired length, finish the end of the round as follows: sl st to ch2 of the next ch-4 sp.
Fasten off.
Crochet the Straps/Draw String
ch 125 (approximately)
Fasten off.
Assemble and Finish the Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag
Thread one side of the strap from the edge of the bag base starting from the inside of the bag. Draw the string through to the outside edge of the bag. Pull it up to the very top row of the bag and pull the string through one of the spaces from outside to inside the bag. Weave the strap (inside to outside and outside to inside) all around the top row using the spaces. ie. you are weaving the strap in and out of the ch-4 spaces in the top row of the bag.
When you have completed the round (top row of your bag) and arrive at the last ch-4 sp, pull the strap back down the bag to the edge of the outside base of the bag. Thread through to the inside base of the bag (try to make it even with the start of your strap).
Tie large knots on both ends of the strap to secure it (the knots and ends should be sitting in the inside base of your bag).
Weave in all your ends.
Congratulations you have finished your The Pike Place Market Drawstring Crochet Bag. I hope you enjoyed this free crochet pattern.
It would be amazing to see a photo of your completed work on instagram. Tag us @kiksandjackcrochet.
