Soft yarn spiraling into a festive cone shape brings an instant holiday warmth to any bookshelf or fireplace mantel. These simple ornaments stand upright with a dense, squishy texture that makes them look professionally finished even if you are holding a crochet hook for the first time. You will find that these projects serve as a relaxing way to spend a cold evening while clearing out your leftover yarn scraps. This guide focuses on mastering the basic increases and decreases required to shape the evergreen silhouette, ensuring you feel confident throughout the entire assembly process.

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Why You’ll Love This Pattern

This simple crochet drawstring bag relies on a sturdy, tight stitch structure that keeps small items secure while remaining flexible enough to open wide. Because the pattern uses a basic single crochet base and a double crochet mesh for the upper portion, it works up quickly even for those newer to the craft. The drawstring closure prevents contents from spilling, making it a functional choice for project bags, marble collections, or travel toiletry holders. You can complete this project in a single afternoon using only one skein of cotton yarn.

I finished this bag in two evenings and the drawstring mechanism works perfectly without getting stuck. It is exactly the right size for my current knitting project and fits easily in my purse.

— Sarah, intermediate crafter

Pattern Overview & Skill Level

Skill Level: Beginner
Approximate Time: 3 to 4 hours
Construction: Worked in continuous rounds from the bottom up, transitioning from a flat circular base to a vertical body with eyelets for the drawstring.
Finished Dimensions: 6 inches wide by 7 inches tall when laid flat.

Materials & Supplies Needed

Yarn: Worsted #4 weight, 100% cotton, approximately 120 yards. Cotton provides the structural integrity needed for bags compared to acrylic, which can stretch out of shape.
Hook Size: 4.5 mm / US 7.
Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a locking stitch marker for rounds, and scissors.
Safe yarn substitutions: A high-quality acrylic yarn of the same weight will work but may feel slightly softer and provide less support for heavy items.

Stitch Guide & Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
yo = yarn over
MR = magic ring
inc = 2 sc in the same stitch
sk = skip one stitch
sp = space
sc2tog = single crochet two stitches together (decrease)

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Base

Rnd 1: Start with MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (42 sts)
Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (48 sts)

Body

Rnd 9: Sc in each st around. (48 sts)
Rnds 10-20: Repeat Rnd 9. (48 sts)
Rnd 21: (Ch 2, sk 2 sts, 1 dc in next st) repeat 16 times. This creates the eyelet row for the drawstring. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 spaces)
Rnd 22: Sc in each dc and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp around. (48 sts)
Rnd 23: Sl st in each st around to finish the edge. Fasten off and weave in ends. (48 sts)

Drawstring

Chain 80 with the same yarn. Fasten off. Weave the chain in and out of the eyelets created in Rnd 21. Knot the ends together or add beads to the ends to prevent the drawstring from pulling through.

Care & Washing Instructions

Machine wash your cotton bag on a gentle cycle in cold water.
Lay the bag flat on a towel to air dry, reshaping it while damp to ensure the base remains circular.
Do not iron the bag, as this can compress the stitches and lose the structure, but you may lightly steam it to remove any wrinkles.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Maintain consistent tension throughout the body of the bag to ensure the sides stand upright without slouching. Use a stitch marker at the beginning of every round to keep track of your count, as it is easy to accidentally skip a stitch when working in continuous spirals. When weaving in your ends, run the yarn through the back loops of the base stitches for several inches to ensure it does not come undone during use. If you want a larger bag, increase the size of the circular base by continuing the (increase) pattern in multiples of 6 until you reach the desired diameter, then proceed with the body rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a larger hook for this pattern?

Using a larger hook will result in a larger, looser bag with more visible gaps between stitches. It is best to stick with the recommended hook size to ensure the structural integrity of the base.

Is this pattern suitable for complete beginners?

Yes, the pattern only requires basic knowledge of single crochet and double crochet. The transition from the flat base to the vertical sides is the most important step to master.

How do I adjust the size of the drawstring?

You can make the drawstring as long or short as you prefer by increasing or decreasing your starting chain count. Ensure it is long enough to pull the bag opening completely shut.

May I sell items made from this pattern?

You are welcome to sell physical items produced using this pattern. Please credit the original design when listing your handmade products online or at craft markets.

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Your finished handmade decorations bring a unique, cozy charm to your holiday space that store-bought items simply cannot replicate. You might consider holding two strands of metallic thread along with your green yarn to add a subtle, shimmering effect to the needles. Please share a photo of your finished work on social media so others can see your color choices. You can find more winter-themed tutorials and patterns by browsing the rest of our collection on the main blog page.