How to Knit a Drawstring Bag | Free Knitting Pattern
With any yarn or needle size, this drawstring bag is easily customisable to fit all your things!
This drawstring pouch makes use of a few advanced techniques so it’s perfect for confident beginners who already know the basics of knitting.
Scroll down for a free pattern of the drawstring bag or you can check out my YouTube channel with a video tutorial on how to knit one.
For this project, you can use any needle size and any yarn. This is the perfect project to make use of your scraps. Nonetheless, if you would like to skip the math, I have also included the pattern for the bag I made below.
Materials
A pair of circular knitting needles [1] — I used 4mm
A pair of spare knitting needles that is the same size to knitting needles [1] or smaller [2]
A similar-sized crochet hook to knitting needles [1]
Yarn — I used sport-weight
Scrap yarn enough for casting on using the provisional cast-on method
A stitch holder
Techniques used
knit and purl stitches
knitting in the round
provisional cast-on
three-needle bind-off
Abbreviations
BOR: Beginning-of-round
K: Knit (E.g. “K1” = Knit 1 stitch)
P: Purl (E.g. “P2” = Purl 2 stitches)
Rep: Repeat
RS: Right side
sl1wyib: Slip 1 stitch with yarn in the back
sl1wyif: Slip 1 stitch with yarn in the front
SS: Stockinette stitch
WS: Wrong side
Below is the pattern if you’re using a different needle size and yarn.
Gauge swatching
Step 1: Knit a gauge swatch of your intended yarn with the appropriate needle size, circular knitting needles [1]. This is done flat in stockinette stitch.
Step 2: Count how many stitches there are in your swatch and its respective width. The row count for this project is not important.
[A] stitches to measure [B] cm
E.g. 12 stitches [A] to measure 5cm [B]
Step 3: Calculate how big you want your bag to be. This does not include the length of the folded hem.
[C] cm (width) x [D] cm (height excluding the hem)
E.g. 22.5cm [C] (width) x 15cm [D] (height excluding the hem)
Step 4: Convert the number of stitches to match the desired measurements.
[A] stitches to measure [B] cm
[A] stitches / [B] cm = [E] stitches
[E] stitches measures 1cm
[E] stitches x [C] cm = [F] stitches
E.g. 12 stitches [A] to measure 5cm [B].
12 stitches [A] / 5cm [B] = 2.4 stitches [E]
2.4 stitches [E] measures 1cm
2.4 stitches [E] x 22.5cm [C] = 54 stitches [F]
Drawstring Bag
Folded edge
On circular knitting needles [1], cast on [F] stitches with scrap yarn using the provisional cast-on method.
Row 1 (RS): Attach yarn, K to end.
Row 2 (WS): P to end.
Row 3 (RS): sl1wyib, K to end.
Row 4 (WS): sl1wyif, P to end.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 until you’ve reached the desired length for the folded hem. Keep in mind that the folded edge will be half of this length. Your folded edge should measure at least 2.5cm when folded, or 5cm when not folded, to ensure that the strings can be threaded through later on. End on the WS. Then work the folded edge.
How to work the folded edge
Step 1: Loosen the knot from the provisional cast-on and transfer the stitches onto knitting needle [2].
Step 2: Fold the stitches from knitting needle [2] upwards with the live stitches on knitting needle [1]. The WS should be facing each other while the RS is facing outwards.
Step 3: Transfer the first stitch from knitting needle [2] onto knitting needle [1].
Step 4: k2tog the first stitch from knitting needle [2] together with the first live stitch on knitting needle [1].
Rep Steps 3 and 4 until all stitches from knitting needle [2] and knitting needle [1] are joined together.
Transfer the stitches onto a stitch holder. Cut yarn.
Rep the folded edge for a second side. However, when you are finished with the second side, do not cut the yarn. You will continue working with this yarn.
When complete, join the two edges together to begin working in the round.
Join the two folded edges
Hold your circular needles such that the edge with the working yarn is in your right hand. Transfer the other edge that has the cut yarn onto your left needle. Make sure that both panels are facing the RS.
On the right needle, place BOR marker after the second edge. From the RS, K the panel that is on your left needle. K the second edge panel. Ensure that the panels are not twisted. Slip the BOR marker when you come to it. Now you will work the piece in the round.
Round 1: K to end.
Rep Round 1 until your piece measures [D] cm, excluding the edge. Cut yarn
Seaming the bottom
Sew the bottom together using the three-needle bind-off method.
How to work the three-needle bind-off
Turn your work inside out. The WS (purl bumps) should be facing you now. You will work the three-needle bind-off from the WS so the seam is not visible on the RS.
Step 1: Divide your stitches into 2 and push them closer to the edge of your needle.
Step 2: With circular needles [2], k2tog the first stitch from the front needle with the first stitch from the back needle.
Step 3: k2tog the second stitch from front needle with the second stitch from the back needle.
Step 4: Pass the first stitch over the second stitch.
Rep Steps 2 to 4 until all stitches have been bound off. When there is one stitch left, cut a tail of yarn and pass it through the last stitch.
Drawstring ties
On circular knitting needles [1], cast on 3 stitches with scrap yarn using the provisional cast-on method. Work I-cord for the drawstring ties.
How to work I-cord
Step 1: Attach yarn, K to end.
Step 2: Move stitches to the other end of your needle. K to end
Rep Step 2 until your I-cord measures 2 times [C] cm.
Thread the I-cord through both of the folded edges.
Remove the provisional cast-on edge and transfer the stitches onto the other end of your needle. Sew the two edges together using duplicate stitch.
Rep the drawstring tie for the second side. However, this time around when you are threading the completed I-cord through the folded edges, do it in the opposite manner of the first one.
Weave in any loose ends and block your piece to finish.
Your drawstring bag is complete!
Drawstring Bag
The yarn used to make this drawstring bag is the BigKnit Cotton Mallow.
Below is the pattern if you’re following what I did.
Gauge
24 stitches x 33 rows to to measure 10cm × 10cm, knitted flat in SS using 4mm (US 6) needles
If there are too many stitches in your gauge, size your needle up. If there are too few stitches in your gauge, size your needle down.
Finished measurements
Width: 22.5cm
Circumference: 45cm
Length: 18cm
Drawstring Bag
Folded edge
On 4mm (US 6) circular knitting needles, cast on 54 stitches with scrap yarn using the provisional cast-on method.
Row 1 (RS): Attach yarn, K to end.
Row 2 (WS): P to end.
Row 3 (RS): sl1wyib, K to end.
Row 4 (WS): sl1wyif, P to end.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 another six more times. Then work the folded edge.
How to work the folded edge
Step 1: Loosen the knot from the provisional cast-on and transfer the stitches onto your spare knitting needle.
Step 2: Fold the stitches from the spare knitting needle upwards with the live stitches on the 4mm knitting needle. The WS should be facing each other while the RS is facing outwards.
Step 3: Transfer the first stitch from the spare knitting needle onto the 4mm knitting needle.
Step 4: k2tog the first stitch from the spare knitting needle together with the first live stitch on the 4mm knitting needle.
Rep Steps 3 and 4 until all stitches from the spare knitting needle and the 4mm knitting needle are joined together.
Transfer the stitches onto a stitch holder. Cut yarn.
Rep the folded edge for a second side. However, when you are finished with the second side, do not cut the yarn. You will continue working with this yarn.
When complete, join the two edges together to begin working in the round.
Join the two folded edges
Hold your circular needles such that the edge with the working yarn is in your right hand. Transfer the other edge that has the cut yarn onto your left needle. Make sure that both panels are facing the RS.
On the right needle, place BOR marker after the second edge. From the RS, K the panel that is in your left needle. K the second edge panel. Ensure that the panels are not twisted. Slip the BOR marker when you come to it. Now you will work the piece in the round.
Round 1: K to end.
Rep Round 1 until your piece measures 15cm, excluding the edge. Cut yarn
Seaming the bottom
Sew the bottom together using the three-needle bind-off method.
How to work the three-needle bind-off
Turn your work inside out. The WS (purl bumps) should be facing you now. You will work the three-needle bind-off from the WS so the seam is not visible on the RS.
Step 1: Divide your stitches into 2 and push them closer to the edge of your needle.
Step 2: With your spare knitting needles, k2tog the first stitch from the front needle with the first stitch from the back needle.
Step 3: k2tog the second stitch from front needle with the second stitch from the back needle.
Step 4: Pass the first stitch over the second stitch.
Rep Steps 2 to 4 until all stitches have been bound off. When there is one stitch left, cut a tail of yarn and pass it through the last stitch.
Drawstring ties
On 4mm circular knitting needles, cast on 3 stitches with scrap yarn using the provisional cast-on method. Work I-cord for the drawstring ties.
How to work I-cord
Step 1: Attach yarn, K to end.
Step 2: Move stitches to the other end of your needle. K to end
Rep Step 2 until your I-cord measures 65cm.
Thread the I-cord through both of the folded edges.
Remove the provisional cast-on edge and transfer the stitches onto the other end of your needle. Sew the two edges together using duplicate stitch.
Rep the drawstring tie for the second side. However, this time around when you are threading the completed I-cord through the folded edges, do it in the opposite manner of the first one.
Weave in any loose ends and block your piece to finish.
Your drawstring bag is complete!
If you share your finished works on Instagram, please tag me @daylightsbynurin. I’d love to see and share your posts.
This pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. Please do not claim this pattern as your own, share it with others or sell digital or printed copies of this pattern. Please do not sell finished items made using this pattern.
