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Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern

Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern
4.4★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
1.4K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

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Stylish Touch

An elegant detail to elevate any look, combining traditional techniques with contemporary design sensibilities.

About This Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern

This pattern creates a vintage-style lacy drawstring bag approximately 14-16" in diameter. It uses size 10 cotton crochet thread worked with two strands for a fuller, textured fabric. The design features shell motifs and grouped treble clusters for a classic look. Full instructions include rounds, drawstrings, and tassel/ fringe finishing.

Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Worked from the base up in joined rounds, the bag forms repeating shell and treble-group motifs. Drawstrings are crocheted separately and threaded through ch-1 spaces at round 16 for closure.

Why You'll Love This Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it combines delicate vintage lace motifs with a sturdy, practical construction that holds its shape. I enjoy how working with two strands of thread gives the bag a rich texture and vintage feel while still keeping the stitches defined. The shell and 7-tr groups create a satisfying rhythm as you work, and finishing with tassels makes each bag feel special. I also love that the pattern adapts easily to different yarns and hook sizes so you can personalize each finished piece.

Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern step 1 - construction progress Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love customizing this pattern by changing the yarn: try a sport or DK weight yarn worked as a single strand with a larger hook for a softer, slouchy bag.

For a sturdier market-style bag, use a heavier cotton or linen-weight yarn and a correspondingly larger hook to make a larger, more durable tote.

Swap the two-strand instruction and use one strand of a thicker yarn to create a chunkier version that works up faster and becomes a cozy statement piece.

Embellish the center sc of the 7-tr groups with small seed beads or pearls threaded onto the yarn before crocheting the stitch to add sparkle and vintage charm.

Make the bag smaller for a coin pouch by using finer thread or a smaller hook and reducing initial rounds to match desired diameter.

I sometimes add a fabric lining for durability and privacy—simply measure the finished bag, cut a fabric circle and side tube, then hand-sew the lining to the inside top edge.

Try color blocking by changing color every few rounds for a striped vintage look; carry yarn tails neatly inside or weave in as you go for a cleaner finish.

Personalize tassels by combining multiple thread colors or adding metallic thread for a luxe touch; trim tassels to match your bag length preference.

For a wearable strap, crochet a longer, sturdier strap and attach it to the bag edges rather than using two short drawstrings to create a shoulder bag.

I also enjoy swapping the shell motif rounds for alternate motifs—like fan stitches or picot-edged shells—to explore different vintage textures while keeping the same construction.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping the note to work with two strands throughout will change the gauge and drape; always carry and work with two strands of thread as instructed to achieve the intended size and texture. ✗ Forgetting to join rounds properly can produce a twisted or stepped fabric; join each round with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain and follow ch counts exactly. ✗ Not counting increases in early rounds leads to incorrect stitch totals later; count after Rnd 2, Rnd 3 and Rnd 4 to ensure you have the correct dc totals before proceeding. ✗ Twisting or rotating the drawstring while crocheting will make it hard to weave through ch-1 spaces; chain the drawstring carefully and lay it flat while joining to avoid twisting before fastening off. ✗ Overtightening stitches when making the picots and tassel attachment can distort the edge; keep a relaxed, consistent tension when making picots and when tying tassels to the drawstring.

Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern

Make a charming vintage-style drawstring bag that measures about 14-16" across. This pattern uses size 10 cotton thread worked with two strands for a lacy, textured shell motif. Youll get full round-by-round instructions, drawstring and tassel details, and tips for finishing. Perfect for gifting or carrying small treasures with handcrafted style.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Vintage Style Drawstring Bag Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Size 10 cotton crochet thread, approximately 450 yards, worked with two strands throughout
  • 02
    Optional beads for embellishing the center sc of 7-tr group (small seed beads), quantity to preference
  • 03
    Extra small amounts of contrasting thread for decorative tassel or fringe (optional)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 0 steel (or size C/2/2.75mm Crochet Hook)
  • 02
    Scissors
  • 03
    Yarn needle/tapestry needle for weaving in ends and sewing tassels
  • 04
    Cardboard 4" square (for making tassels/fringe)
  • 05
    Measuring tape or ruler
  • 06
    Pins for holding parts while finishing (optional)

Progress Tracker

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— Bag :

Info :

Supplies: Size 0 steel crochet hook (or size C/2/2.75mm Crochet Hook), 450 yds size 10 cotton crochet thread. Stitches Used: ch (chain), slst (slip stitch), sc (single crochet), scdec (decrease single crochet), dc (double crochet), tr (treble), picot (ch3, slst in 3rd ch from hook). Gauge: with 0 hook: 8 dc = 1 inch, 2 dc rows = 1 inch.

Info :

Directions-Working with 2 strands throughout entire project.

Round 1 :

ch 4, join with sl st to form ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc of next rnd).

Round 2 :

work 15 dc in ring, join to top of beginning ch 3, ch 3, do not turn. 16 dc

Round 3 :

dc in same st, *2 dc in next dc*, repeat from asterisks 14 times, join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3, ch 3, do not turn. 32 dc

Round 4 :

dc in first st, *2 dc in next dc*, repeat from asterisks 30 times, join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3, ch 3, do not turn. 64 dc

Round 5 :

skip next dc, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, *dc in next dc, skip next dc, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc*, repeat from asterisks 14 times, join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3, ch 1, do not turn. 16 shells

Round 6 :

sc in same st, 7 tr in next ch 1 sp, *sc in next dc, 7 tr in next ch 1 sp*, repeat from asterisks 14 times, join to beginning sc, ch 4 (counts as first tr of next rnd), turn. 16-7 tr groups

Round 7 :

6 tr in same sc, sc in center tr of next 7 tr group, *7 tr in next sc, sc in center tr of next 7 tr group*, repeat from asterisks 14 times, join with sl st to top of beginning ch 4, ch 1, turn. 16-7 tr groups

Round 8 :

7 tr in first sc, sc in center tr of next 7 tr group, *7 tr in next sc, sc in center tr of next 7 tr group*, repeat from asterisks 14 times, join to top of beginning tr, ch 1, turn.

Round 9-11 :

repeat rnd. 8.

Round 12 :

tr, ch 1 in first sc (7 times), sc, ch 1 in center tr of next 7 tr group, * tr, ch 1 (7 times) in next sc, sc, ch 1 in center tr of next 7 tr group*, repeat from asterisks 14 times, join with sl st to beginning tr, ch 1, turn.

Round 13 :

repeat rnd. 12, join with sl st to beginning tr, ch 1, do not turn.

Round 14 :

sc in each st and sc in each ch 1 sp around, join with sl st to beginning sc, ch 1, do not turn. 256 sc

Round 15 :

sc in first 4 sc, dec sc over next 2 sc, *sc in next 4 sc, dec sc over next 2 sc*, repeat around, join with sl st to beginning sc, ch 5, do not turn. 215 sc

Round 16 :

skip next sc, *tr, ch 1 in next sc, skip next 2 sc*, repeat from asterisks around, join to 4th ch of beginning ch 5, sl st to next ch 1 sp, ch 1, do not turn. 72-ch 1 spaces

Round 17 :

sc in same sp, skip next ch 1 sp, 7 tr in next ch 1 sp, skip next ch 1 sp, *sc in next ch 1 sp, skip next ch 1 sp, 7 tr in next ch 1 sp, skip next ch 1 sp*, repeat from asterisks around, join with sl st to beginning sc, ch 1, do not turn. 18-7 tr groups

Round 18 :

sc, ch 1 in first sc, tr, ch 1 in next tr (7 times), *sc, ch 1 in next sc, tr, ch 1 in next tr (7 times)*, repeat from asterisks around, join with sl st to beginning sc, ch 1, do not turn. 18-7 tr, ch 1 groups

Round 19 :

sc in first sc, sc, picot in next ch 1 sp, *sc in next tr, sc, picot in next ch 1 sp*, repeat from asterisks 6 times, [sc in next sc, sc, picot in next ch 1 sp, **sc in next tr, sc, picot in next ch 1 sp**], repeat from ** 6 times], repeat from brackets around, join with sl st to beginning sc, fasten off.

Drawstrings-Make 2 :

Rnd. 1: leaving 4 inch tail, ch 151, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, being careful not to twist, fasten off leaving 4 inch tail.

Info :

Weave drawstring through ch 1 spaces at rnd. 16, pull 2 strands of tail through the end sl st of drawstring, tie to secure drawstring closed.

Info :

Starting at opposite side of bag, weave 2nd drawstring through ch 1 spaces on rnd. 16, secure as done with first drawstring.

Fringe-Make 2 :

Wrap double strand of thread 12 times around 4" cardboard square, cut in half. Attach tassel on secured end of drawstring, trim if necessary.

Assembly Instructions

  • Weave the first drawstring through the ch-1 spaces created in Round 16, making sure to follow the opening placement and pulling the string evenly so the bag closes smoothly.
  • Pull two strands of the drawstring tail through the end slip stitch of the drawstring and tie securely to keep the drawstring from pulling through; repeat the same tying method for the second drawstring on the opposite side.
  • Attach tassels/fringe to the secured end of each drawstring by wrapping double strands around a 4" cardboard square 12 times, cutting and securing, then sewing or tying the tassel to the drawstring end and trimming to even length.
  • Fasten off and weave in all ends with a yarn needle, then block or shape the bag gently to open the shell motifs and ensure the bag sits evenly.
  • If using beads in the center sc of the 7-tr groups, add them before completing the round so they are secured within the stitch before joining and fastening off.

Important Notes

  • 💡Work with two strands of size 10 thread throughout the entire project for correct gauge and structure.
  • 💡Join rounds with slip stitch to top of the beginning chain as directed to maintain smooth round transitions and correct stitch counts.
  • 💡Do not twist drawstrings while joining; lay the drawstring flat as you work the slip stitches across to ensure easy threading through ch-1 spaces.
  • 💡Count stitch totals after rounds that increase (Rnds 2-4) to guarantee correct placement of shell motifs and tr groups later in the pattern.

This vintage-style drawstring bag brings classic lace motifs into a practical accessory youll love to use and gift. The pattern uses two strands of size 10 cotton thread for a rich texture and crisp stitch definition. Follow the round-by-round instructions, add tassels, and youve got a charming heirloom-style bag ready to wear or give. 🧶✨

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished bag measures approximately 14-16" in diameter when using size 10 cotton thread worked as two strands and the recommended hook size.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can adapt the pattern to different yarn weights, but the size and appearance will change; use an appropriate hook size and remember that using a single strand instead of two strands will make a looser fabric.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate and uses stitches like trebles, grouped treble clusters, picots, and decreases, so basic crochet experience and comfort working in rounds are recommended.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this bag in 5-7 hours, though time will vary depending on experience and any custom finishing like beads or extra tassels.