Flower-Lined Drawstring Bag: A Crochet Pattern

If there's one question related to crochet that I get more than any other ... it's this: How do I line my crochet bags? Lining a crochet bag makes it sturdier and seem so much more elegant and professional. It's not difficult, either, but it needs to be taken in a few steps to understand well.

This pattern serves two purposes. It is a quick and easy pattern for a great-looking drawstring bag (not like any other drawstring bag you're thinking of!), and it teaches how to line a crocheted bag or purse. The same basic principles can be used to line a ton of crochet (or knit, for that matter) items including clothing.

Flower Drawstring Bag

Materials:
Worsted Weight yarn (Caron Simply Soft was used for the model): MC (heather gray) - 5 oz.
Size 10 Crochet thread: CC (pink) - scrap amounts
Size G/6 - 4.25 mm and Size 6 / 1.80 mm crochet hooks
Stitch Marker
3-9 Seed Beads
1/4 yard fabric for lining
Sewing needle and thread

Gauge:
4 sc / 4 rounds = 1"

Abbreviations:
Ch = Chain
Sc = Single Crochet
Dc = Double Crochet
Trc = Triple Crochet
St(s) = Stitch(es)

Notes: The bag is worked in rounds. Use a stitch marker - do not join rounds unless indicated.

The Bag (starting at base)

Round 1: Ch 3; join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Ch 1, 2 sc in each ch around. (6 sc)
Round 2: Work 3 sc in each sc around. (18 sc)
Round 3: Work *2 sc in first st, sc in next st* around. (27 sc)
Round 4: Work *2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts* around. (36 sc)
Round 5: Work *2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts* around. (45 sc)
Round 6: Work 1 sc in each sc around. (45 sc)
Round 7: Work *2 sc in first st, sc in the next 5 sts* around. (53 sc)
Round 8: Work *2 sc in first st, sc in the next 6 sts* around. (61 sc)
Round 9: Work *2 sc in first st, sc in the next 7 sts* around. (69 sc)
Round 10: Work (sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st) 3 times, sc each remaining st around. (72 sc)
Rounds 11-29: Sc in each sc around. (72 sc)

Peaks (continuing from last round made)

Round 1: Work (sc in next 12 sts, [sc, dc, 8 trc, dc, sc] in next st) 5 times around. (6 peaks started)
Round 2: Work (slip stitch in next sc, slip stitch in next dc, slip stitch in next trc. Sc, dc, 2 trc, dc, sc in the next 6 sts. Slip stitch in each of the next 3 sts.) 5 times around (6 peaks made)
Round 3: Work (sc in next 6 sts, trc next st, ch 4, sc in each of the next 6 sts) 5 times around (6 loops made).
Round 4: Work *sc in each of the next sts, 6 sc in ch-4 loop, sc in next 6 sts* around. Join with slip stitch to first sc.

Finish off, weave in ends.

Flowers (make 3 or 9)

Thread a bead on to crochet thread.
Round 1: Ch 2, trapping bead in first sc; 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with slip stitch to first sc. (10 sc)
Round 2: Work *ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc* around, placing last sc in the same space as beginning ch-3. Do not join.
Round 3: Work *6 dc in ch-3 space, slip stitch in next sc* around. Join with slip stitch to bottom of first dc.

Finish off, weave in ends.

Add to crochet bag before lining (see Illustration 01).

Lining

Measure and Cut: Measure and cut a piece of paper 7 1/4" high by 9" long. Place a short side on the fold of fabric. Cut, creating a long rectangle that is 7 1/4" high by 18" long.

For the base, set the crocheted bag on a piece of paper and carefully trace around the bottom circle of the bag. Clean up the lines, and cut the paper to use as a pattern. Cut one piece from fabric of this circle.

Sew or Stitch: Placing right sides together, sew the rectangle seam along the short (7 1/4") ends, using about 1/4" seam allowance. Matching edges, with right sides together, sew the sides to the circle bottom.

Lining the Bag: Placing the seams inside the bag (wrong sides touching the insides of the crochet), fold about 1/2" of the top of the fabric to the inside of the bag. Stitch the top hem to the crochet, treating crochet as fabric.