Sage Wildflower Drawstring Bag Free Crochet Pattern

This sage green drawstring bag is the one that makes everyone ask where you bought it! It has a crossed stitch lattice worked right into the body, dimensional little wildflowers sewn at the lattice intersections, a twisted rope drawstring, and two wrapped tassels to finish it off.

We work the bag in the round from an oval base upward. First the base grows to 68 stitches, then we shape the body out to 88 stitches for the lattice section, taper the top back down, and finish with an eyelet round for the drawstring and a soft ruffle edge. The flowers are crocheted separately and sewn on at the end, so you can arrange your little garden exactly how you like it.

I will be honest with you: this is an intermediate to advanced intermediate project, and it takes its time. But every round is written out with stitch counts, and if you are comfortable working in the round and with front and back post stitches, you are ready. Let us make something gorgeous together!

Materials

• Main Color (MC): approximately 400 yards worsted weight yarn (Category 4) in sage green
• Color A (CA): approximately 80 yards worsted weight yarn in light purple or lavender
• Color B (CB): approximately 80 yards worsted weight yarn in cream or off-white
• US H-8 / 5.0 mm crochet hook, for the bag body
• US G-6 / 4.0 mm crochet hook, for the flowers
• Stitch markers (at least 4)
• Yarn needle or tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Approximately 2 yards of cream worsted weight yarn or cotton rope, for the drawstring
• Optional: blocking mats and pins

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• sc2tog: single crochet two together
• dc: double crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• inc: increase, work 2 sc in the same stitch
• BLO: back loop only
• ch-sp: chain space
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round
• rep: repeat

Special Stitches

• Crossed Double Crochet (CrDC): Skip the next stitch. Work a dc into the stitch after the skipped stitch. Then insert your hook into the skipped stitch, working in front of the dc you just made, and complete another dc. One CrDC unit equals 2 dc worked over 2 stitch positions, with the left dc crossing in front of the right dc, creating the diagonal lattice texture.

Gauge & Size

• Gauge: 16 stitches x 18 rounds = 4 inches in single crochet in the round, with MC and the 5.0 mm hook
• Finished size: approximately 10 inches wide at the widest point by 11 inches tall, not including the drawstring or tassels; circumference at the widest point approximately 31 inches
• Construction: oval base worked in the round, body shaped with increases and decreases, lattice section in crossed double crochet, flowers made separately and sewn on
• Skill level: Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate

Bag Base Pattern

The base is an oval worked in the round, which gives the bag its wider, rounder bottom. With MC and the 5.0 mm hook, chain 13.

Round 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 sc in each of the next 11 chains. Work 3 sc in the last chain. Rotate to crochet along the opposite side of the foundation chain. Work 1 sc in each of the next 10 chains. Work 2 sc in the last chain. Join with sl st to first sc. (26 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st (inc). Sc in next 10 sts. Work 2 sc in each of next 3 sts. Sc in next 10 sts. Work 2 sc in each of next 2 sts. Join with sl st to first sc. (32 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1. Work (sc 1, inc) in first 2 sts. Sc in next 10 sts. Work (inc, sc 1, inc, sc 1, inc) across next 5 sts. Sc in next 10 sts. Work (sc 1, inc) in next 2 sts. Join. (38 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1. Sc in first 2 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in next 10 sts. (Inc, sc 1) 3 times. Inc. Sc in next 10 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in last st. Join. (44 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1. Sc in first 3 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in next 10 sts. (Inc, sc 2) 3 times. Inc. Sc in next 10 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in last 2 sts. Join. (50 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1. Sc in first 4 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in next 10 sts. (Inc, sc 3) 3 times. Inc. Sc in next 10 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in last 3 sts. Join. (56 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1. Sc in first 5 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in next 10 sts. (Inc, sc 4) 3 times. Inc. Sc in next 10 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in last 4 sts. Join. (62 sc)

Round 8: Ch 1. Sc in first 6 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in next 10 sts. (Inc, sc 5) 3 times. Inc. Sc in next 10 sts. Inc in next st. Sc in last 5 sts. Join. (68 sc)

After Round 8, your oval base should measure approximately 8 inches long and 5 inches wide.

Bag Sides and Shaping Pattern

Round 9: Ch 1. Working in BLO only, sc in each st around. Join. (68 sc)

Round 10: Ch 1. Sc in each st around (both loops). Join. (68 sc)

Round 11: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (68 sc)

Working Round 9 in the back loop only creates a neat fold line at the base edge, and after Round 11 the bag tube should be approximately 1 inch tall above that fold line. Now we expand gently toward the widest point.

Round 12: Ch 1. (Sc in next 16 sts, inc in next st) 4 times. Join. (72 sc)

Round 13: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (72 sc)

Round 14: Ch 1. (Sc in next 17 sts, inc in next st) 4 times. Join. (76 sc)

Round 15: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (76 sc)

Round 16: Ch 1. (Sc in next 18 sts, inc in next st) 4 times. Join. (80 sc)

Round 17: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (80 sc)

Round 18: Ch 1. (Sc in next 19 sts, inc in next st) 4 times. Join. (84 sc)

Round 19: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (84 sc)

Round 20: Ch 1. (Sc in next 20 sts, inc in next st) 4 times. Join. (88 sc)

Round 21: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (88 sc)

Count carefully here — you must have exactly 88 stitches before starting the lattice section, and the bag should measure approximately 4.5 inches tall from the fold line.

Lattice Body Pattern

This is where the magic happens! The stitch count stays at 88 throughout the whole lattice section.

Round 22 (Lattice Round): Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch). Work CrDC across all sts as follows: (skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st) 44 times. Join with sl st to first dc. (88 sts)

Round 23: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (88 sc)

Round 24 (Offset Lattice Round): Ch 1. Sc in first st. Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch). Work CrDC across next 86 sts: (skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st) 43 times. Sc in last st. Join. (88 sts)

Round 25: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (88 sc)

Rounds 26 to 29: Repeat Rounds 22 to 25.

Rounds 30 to 33: Repeat Rounds 22 to 25.

Rounds 34 to 37: Repeat Rounds 22 to 25.

Rounds 38 to 41: Repeat Rounds 22 to 25.

After Round 41, the bag body should measure approximately 8.5 to 9 inches tall from the base fold line. Confirm you still have 88 stitches, then we taper the top.

Round 42: Ch 1. (Sc in next 20 sts, sc2tog) 4 times. Join. (84 sc)

Round 43: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (84 sc)

Round 44: Ch 1. (Sc in next 19 sts, sc2tog) 4 times. Join. (80 sc)

Round 45: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (80 sc)

Round 46: Ch 1. (Sc in next 18 sts, sc2tog) 4 times. Join. (76 sc)

Round 47: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (76 sc)

Drawstring Channel and Top Edge Pattern

Round 48 (Eyelet Round): Ch 1. (Sc in next 3 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts) 15 times. Sc in last st. Join. (46 sc + 15 ch-2 spaces = 76 stitch positions)

Round 49: Ch 1. (Sc in next 3 sc, work 2 sc into ch-2 sp) 15 times. Sc in last sc. Join. (76 sc)

Round 50: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (76 sc)

Round 51: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (76 sc)

Now the top ruffle edging, which gives the opening its pretty gathered look.

Round 52: Ch 1. (Sc in next st, inc in next st) 38 times. Join. (114 sc)

Round 53: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (114 sc)

Round 54: Ch 1. Hdc in each st around. Join. (114 hdc)

Round 55: Ch 1. Sl st in each st around. Fasten off and weave in the end. (114 sl st)

The finished bag body should measure approximately 11 inches tall and 10 inches wide at the widest point.

Wildflower Motifs Pattern

Make approximately 22 to 24 flowers in total — the sample uses about 12 purple (CA) flowers with cream centres and 11 cream (CB) flowers with purple centres. Use the 4.0 mm hook and your chosen petal colour.

Round 1: Ch 1. Work 10 sc into a magic ring. Pull the ring closed. Join with sl st to first sc. (10 sc)

Round 2 (Petals): For each petal: sl st into next sc, ch 3, work 2 dc into the same stitch at the base of the ch-3, work 2 dc into the next sc, ch 3, sl st back into the same sc as the last dc. Repeat 5 times total for 5 petals. Join with sl st to base of first petal. (5 petals)

Round 3 (Center): Join the centre colour into the centre magic ring from the front. Work 5 sc into the centre ring. Join. Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch tail for sewing.

Finished flowers should measure approximately 1.25 to 1.5 inches across.

Finishing & Assembly

Wet blocking makes a real difference here. Submerge the bag body in cool water, gently squeeze to saturate, and roll it in a clean dry towel. Shape it over a rounded form or stuff it with plastic bags wrapped in a towel, and let it dry completely for 24 to 48 hours. Block the flowers flat on a blocking mat, pinning each petal open while wet.

Pin the flowers to the body at the intersections of the lattice diamond pattern — aim for each flower to sit at the centre of a diamond, not on the lattice lines. Alternate the purple and cream flowers across the surface. Using the long yarn tails and a yarn needle, sew each flower to the bag body with small invisible stitches, and do not pull too tightly or the fabric will pucker.

For the drawstring, cut 4 lengths of cream yarn, each approximately 120 inches long. Fold in half so you have 8 working ends, hold the looped end and attach it to a fixed point. Divide into 2 groups of 4 strands. Twist Group 1 tightly clockwise until it wants to kink, do the same with Group 2, then hold both together and let them twist around each other counter-clockwise. Tie an overhand knot at each end, and thread the cord through the eyelet round, weaving in and out through all the ch-2 spaces.

Make 2 tassels by winding cream yarn 35 times around a 3-inch piece of cardboard. Slip off and tie at the top, attach to the drawstring ends, then wrap the tassel neck with alternating stripes of cream and sage green yarn for the striped collar effect. Trim the bottom evenly to approximately 2 inches.

Tips and Care

To make the bag taller, work additional repeats of Rounds 22 to 25 before the decrease section — each full repeat adds approximately 1 inch of height. To make it wider, continue increasing by 4 stitches every 2 rounds after Round 21 for 2 to 4 more rounds, keeping the total divisible by 8. To make it smaller, stop the increase section earlier, for example at Round 18 with 84 stitches.

For care, hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Do not machine wash or tumble dry. Reshape while damp and air dry flat or stuffed, and do not bleach or iron directly.