Crochet Bags and Scrubbers - A Step-by-Step Guide

Crochet bags and scrubbers are a delightful addition to any home. Not only are they practical for carrying essentials or scrubbing dishes, but they also add a charming touch to your daily routine. With a crochet bag, you can tote around your belongings in style while showing off your unique taste. And when it comes to scrubbers, these handmade wonders make cleaning a more enjoyable task, with their soft yet effective scrubbing power.

Materials Needed for Crochet Bags and Scrubbers

• US I/5.5 mm crochet hook
• 450 yds of Pima Cotton weight 4 yarn in “Blueprint“
• 70 yds of Stitch Soak Scrub weight 4 yarn in “Blue Indigo“
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors
• Stitch Markers

Gauge

11 hdc sts and 9 rows = 4″

Finished Size

• Bag – 14.5″ x 11.5″
• Sponge – 5″ x 3.5″
• Glove – 4.5″ x 4.5″

Crochet Terminology

• US Crochet Terms Used
• b-st(s) – bean stitch(es)
• beg – beginning
• ch(s) – chain/chains
• lp(s) – loop/loops
• pm – place marker
• RS – right side
• rem – remaining
• rnd(s) – round/rounds
• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch/stitches
• wc – waistcoat stitch
• WS – wrong side
• yo – yarn over

Notes

• The chain 1 at beginning of round/row does not count as a stitch.
• The chain 2 at beginning of round/row counts as a stitch.
• The bag is worked from the bottom up.
• The bottom portion of the bag is worked in continuous rounds using single crochet. Use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
• For the top portion of the bag, you will slip stitch to join, chain 2, and turn. This creates a staggered half double crochet and bean stitch giving the fabric a woven-like material.
• Surface single crochet is used to frame decorative bean motif.

Special Stitches

• Bean Stitch (b st) – Insert hook in st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, pull through all 6 lps on hook, ch 1
• Waistcoat Stitch (wc) – Insert hook in between the posts of st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, pull through both lps on hook
• Surface Single Crochet (surface sc) – With RS facing, insert hook around post, draw up a lp, yo, pull through both lps

Pattern for Crochet Bag

Bag Base

Using Pima Cotton, ch 25, pm in 25th ch

Rnd 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 1 in each of the next 23 chs, sc 3 into last ch, turning your work to sc into other side of chs previously worked, sc 1 in each of the next 23 chs, sc 3 into marked st, do not join, pm (52 sts)

Click on the picture below to watch the video on how to avoid the gapping that can occur at the bottom of the bag when you’re working into the beginning chains.

Rnd 2: *sc 1 in each of the next 23 sts, [2 sc in same st] 3 times, rep from * (58 sts)

Rnd 3: *sc 1 in each of the next 23 sts, [2 sc in same st, sc 1 in next st, 2 sc in same st] 2 times, rep from * (66 sts)

Rnd 4: *sc 1 in each of the next 23 sts, [2 sc in same st, sc 1 in each of the next 2 sts] 3 times, 2 sc in same st, rep from * (74 sts)

Rnd 5: *sc 1 in each of the next 23 sts, [sc 1 in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in same st, sc 1] 3 times, 2 sc in same st, sc 1, rep from * (82 sts)

Rnd 6: *sc 1 in each of the next 23 sts, [2 sc in same st, sc 1 in each of the next 4 sts] 3 times, 2 sc in same st, sc 1 in each of next 2 sts, rep from * (90 sts)

Rnds 7-14: sc around, without joining at end of each rnd (90 sts)

See picture of base below.

Top Portion

Rnd 15 (RS): ch 2, hdc around, sl st to join, turn (90 sts)

Rnd 16 (WS): ch 2, hdc around, sl st to join, turn, pm on st 8, 24, 53, and 69

See Picture below that illustrates where to place the stitch markers

Rnd 17 (RS): ch 2, hdc 6, [b-st, ch 1**, sk 1] 9 times ending last rep at **, hdc 28, [b-st, ch 1**, sk 1] 9 times ending last rep at **, hdc 21, sl st to join, turn (56 hdc, 18 b-sts, 16 chs)

Rnd 18 (WS): ch 2, hdc 20, [b-st, ch 1**, sk 1] 9 times ending last rep at **, hdc 28, [b-st, ch 1**, sk 1] 9 times ending last rep at **, hdc 7, sl st to join, turn (56 hdc, 18 b-sts, 16 chs)

Rnds 19-28: Rep Rnds 17 & 18

Rnd 29 (RS): ch 2, hdc 6, [hdc in top of b-st, hdc in ch 1] 9 times, sk 1 ch, hdc 28, [hdc in top of b-st, hdc in ch 1] 9 times, sk 1 ch, hdc 21, sl st to join, turn (90 sts)

Rnd 30 (WS): ch 2, hdc around, sl st to join, turn (90 sts)

Rnd 31 (RS): ch 2, hdc around, sl st to join, turn (90 sts)

Rnd 32: rep Rnd 30

Rnd 33: ch 1, sc around, sl st to join, do not fasten off or turn (90 sts)

Handles

Rnd 34 (RS): ch 1, sc into same st, wc 5, ch 70 being careful not to twist chs, sk the next 22 sts on bag top, sc 1, wc 23, ch 70 being careful not to twist chs, sk 22 sts, sc 1, wc 18, sl st to join (46 wc, 140 chs)

Rnd 35: ch 1, sc into same st, wc 5, sc 1 in each ch, sk st, wc 23, sc 1 in each ch, sk st, wc 18, sl st to join (46 wc & 140 sc)

Rnds 36-37: ch 1, sc into same st, wc around including the sts in handles, sl st to join (186 wc)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Inner Edging of Handles

Rnd 1 (RS): make a sl knot and insert hook in st 5 of Rnd 43 (bottom right of handle), add sl knot to hook (see Picture below), pull through, ch 1, sc 1 in same st, wc 22, sc 1 in each of the next 70 sts, sl st to join (22 wc & 71 sc)

Rnds 2-3: ch 1, sc 1 in same st, wc 22, wc 70 around handle, sl st to join (93 wc)

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Rep on second handle.

Surface Single Crochet

Rnd 1 (RS): make a slip knot and surface sc around post of st 8 on rnd 2, continue surface sc around border of b-st motif, working up the side, top and back down the other side, sl st to join

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Rep on back.

Inner Pocket

ch 22

Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc across, turn (20 sts)

Row 2-10: ch 2, hdc across, turn (20 sts)

Row 11: ch 2, hdc across, do not fasten off

Pocket Assembly

Place pocket on right inside of bag with top of pocket lined up with Rnd 29, pin in place.

Sc through both thicknesses (pocket and inside of bag) around 3 edges of pocket.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Scrubber Glove Pattern

Using Stitch Soak Scrub held double, ch 25 and join in beg ch. Be careful not to twist.

Watch video below for tip on how to not twist chs.

Rnds 1-11: sc 1 in each st around (25 sts)

Rnd 12: sc 4, *sc2tog, sc 5, rep from * around (22 sts)

Rnd 13: sc 4, *sc2tog, sc 4, rep from * around (19 sts)

Rnd 14: sc 4, *sc2tog, sc 3, rep from * around (16 sts)

Rnd 15: sc 4, *sc2tog, sc 2, rep from * around (13 sts)

Rnd 16: sc around (13 sts)

Cutting a 2′ tail, do not fasten off, flip pouch inside out, working through both thicknesses, sl st 5, fasten off.

Using Pima Cotton and held single, join yarn in found ch

Rnd 17: sc 1 in each ch around (25 sts)

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Scrubber Sponge Pattern

Using Stitch Soak Scrub and Pima Cotton held together, ch 14

Row 1: sc 1 in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, turn (13 sts)

Row 2: ch 1, *b-st, sk next st, rep across, turn (7 b-sts)

Rows 3-9: ch 1, *sk first st, b-st, rep across, turn (7 b-sts)

Row 10: ch 1, sc in each st and ch across (14 sts)

Fasten off, weave in ends.