Crochet A Zippered Makeup Bag: Quick, Easy, And Cute!

A crochet makeup bag with a zipper is a fun and quick yarn project that can be perfect for beginners. These bags are soft and can be used to hold makeup tools and necessities with care. They are also great gifts for friends and family members. There are several free crochet patterns available online for these bags, which can be customised with buttons, drawstrings, or zippers.

Crochet makeup bag patterns for beginners

If you're a beginner looking to crochet your own makeup bag, there are plenty of patterns and tutorials available online. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Drawstring Makeup Bag

This bag is quick and easy to make, using size 5 yarn and simple, increasing rounds. It's a stylish way to pack your makeup when travelling, or to store it in your bathroom. You can find the pattern on the CAAB Crochet website.

Colour Block Makeup Bag

This bag is another beginner-friendly pattern that works up quickly and uses less than 2 small skeins of yarn. It's finished with a tassel, making it a modern and unique accessory to take with you on any trip. You can find the pattern on the The Loopy Lamb website.

Free Crochet Makeup Bag Pattern by MAKEetc.

This bag features a lining and zipper fastening, making it sturdy and secure. The lovely two-tone crochet design also makes it a stylish addition to your dressing table. You can find the pattern on the MAKEetc. website.

Crochet Wicker Weave Makeup Bag

This bag is constructed from a beautifully textured stitch that looks like woven wicker when complete. It's perfect for use as a makeup bag, or for storing small items in your purse. It's also large enough to use as a clutch. You can find the pattern on the Fun Crochet Designs website.

Easy Crochet Pouch

This simple crochet pouch is a great project for beginners, using only a few basic stitches and a button. It's the perfect size to store makeup, tissues, or other small items, and can be customised by using more or fewer stitches to adjust the width. You can find the pattern on the Skip To My Lou website.

Crochet Makeup Bag in Rainbow 8/4

This bag is made using a simple and customisable pattern, with the option to use two contrasting colours and add a fabric lining. It's a great project for beginners, and can be made in a day. You can find the pattern on the Hobbii website.

There are plenty of other crochet makeup bag patterns available, including some that can be purchased on sites like Etsy. So, if you're feeling creative, why not give one of these projects a go and make your own unique makeup bag?

No-sew zipper pouch

A no-sew zipper pouch is a great way to store your crochet supplies, travel items, or makeup. This beginner-friendly project doesn't require a sewing machine, and you can easily adjust the size to fit your needs.

Materials:

• Yarn
• Coordinating hook size to yarn selected
• Zipper of your choice
• Coordinating hand sewing thread
• Hand sewing needle
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Clover clips or binder clips

Instructions:

Create the Crochet Panel:

• Start with a slip knot and create a foundation chain slightly longer than the zipper length.
• Double crochet (dc) in the third chain from the hook and dc in every chain to the end.
• Chain 2 (counts as dc), turn your work, and dc in the second stitch. Continue to the end, ensuring you dc in the top chain of the previous turning chain.
• Repeat the above step until you reach your desired panel size. Do not fasten off the yarn.

Slip Stitch the Sides:

• Fold your panel in half with the working yarn at the top. Line up the sides and slip stitch the side opening closed. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
• Repeat on the other side, starting at the fold and working your way up, slip stitching the front and back together.

Prepare the Fabric Lining:

• Fold a scrap piece of fabric in half with the right sides together.
• Place your crochet pouch piece on top and use it as a guide to trim the fabric, ensuring the lining fabric is slightly taller than the crocheted piece.
• Fold the top of the lining fabric with wrong sides together and press. Sew the sides of the fabric lining with a hand sewing needle and thread or a sewing machine.

Hand Sew in the Zipper:

• Place the zipper tape between the crochet piece and the lining, and clip it in place.
• Using a coordinating thread and needle, hand sew the zipper in place, using small stitches to keep them hidden. Go over any areas that need extra security.

And there you have it! A no-sew zipper pouch, perfect for storing your essentials and a great project for beginners.

Adding a fabric lining

Preparation:

Firstly, decide whether you want to add a plain lining or a zippered lining. For a plain lining, simply follow the steps for preparing the lining. If you opt for a zipper, you will need to purchase a zipper that is slightly longer than the width of your bag.

Preparing the Lining:

• Press your chosen fabric well.
• Fold the fabric in half, selvedge to selvedge, with the right sides touching.
• Calculate the size of your lining using the following formulas:

Length = Height of purse + Width of base + Height of purse + ½” seam allowance (¼” per edge)

Width = Width of purse + ½” seam allowance (¼” per side)

Trim the sides and top of the fabric according to these measurements.

Creating a Plain Lining:

• Fold one top edge (short side) ¼” with wrong sides together and press.
• Repeat the fold and press again.
• Sew down the folded edges to create a hem.
• Repeat for the other side.
• Fold the fabric in half, hem to hem, with right sides touching.
• Sew down each side with a ¼” seam allowance.
• Serge or overcast the edges.
• Insert the liner into the bag and pin it in place.
• Using an invisible stitch, hand sew the liner to the top of the bag, ensuring that the needle is not visible from the right side.

Creating a Zippered Liner:

• Lay the zipper face down and unzipped.
• Unfold the fabric and lay one short edge, right side down, centered on the upper portion of the zipper.
• Bring the other short edge up to the bottom portion of the zipper, with the right side of the fabric facing the zipper.
• Iron the seams where the fabric and zipper meet.
• Line up the top corners of the fabric by manipulating the zipper.
• Sew down the sides of the fabric and finish with an overcast stitch.
• Insert the liner into the bag and pin it in place.
• Using an invisible stitch, hand sew the top of the bag to the zipper, grabbing the zipper just above the seam.

Additional Tips:

• It is recommended to use a solid piece of fabric without a seam at the bottom of the purse to prevent dirt and other particles from getting caught.
• The height of the fabric should be slightly taller than the bag.
• Use a thread color that matches the lining or the crochet bag.
• You can also use embroidery thread for a thicker and more secure hold.
• Ensure that the fabric is not puckering anywhere when pinning and sewing.
• Take your time and enjoy the process of adding a professional touch to your crochet creation!

Crochet stitch types

There are many different types of crochet stitches, ranging from basic to advanced. Here is a guide to some of the most common crochet stitch types:

Basic Stitches

• Single Crochet Stitch: This is the simplest stitch and is quick and easy to learn. It can be worked in rounds as well as rows and combined with other stitches for fun results.
• Double Crochet Stitch: This is one of the most basic stitches and is essential for completing patterns. It is commonly used to make "granny squares" or the "v stitch".
• Half Double Crochet Stitch: This is another easy stitch for beginners and is often used for textured bags or detailed sweaters.
• Treble Crochet Stitch: This is one of the taller stitches, and it is traditionally used as a joining stitch when crocheting in the round. It can also be used to create flat invisible stitches and is quite versatile.
• Moss Stitch (Granite Stitch): This stitch combines the single crochet stitch and the chain stitch to create a textured pattern. It is also known as the granite stitch or woven stitch.
• Slip Stitch: Slip stitches are commonly used for joining rounds of crochet or for manoeuvring to a different position in the fabric. They can also be used decoratively on edgings or to join two pieces of crochet.

Advanced Stitches

• Elizabeth Stitch: This stitch creates unique, raised, rounded shapes and is perfect for children's wear or washcloths.
• Star Stitch: The star stitch forms beautiful star or flower shapes in the fabric and is ideal for blankets.
• Puff Stitch: This stitch adds texture and creates soft, puffy shapes that resemble mini clouds. It is a fun choice for scarves or blankets.
• Shell Stitch: The shell stitch is simple to learn but looks impressive. It starts with a single crochet stitch and can be used to create delicate and beautiful projects.
• Cluster Stitch: This stitch mainly uses the single crochet stitch and is suitable for beginners. It can create a thick fabric with careful placement of stitches.
• Popcorn Stitch: The popcorn stitch is a variation of the puff and bobble stitches and requires the most yarn. It creates a chunky, rolled effect and is perfect for blankets.
• Picot Single Crochet: This is a variation of the single crochet stitch that creates a raised effect. It is similar in look to Tunisian crochet but without the need for special tools.
• Aligned Cobble Stitch: This stitch combines basic stitches like the single crochet and treble crochet to create a symmetrical pattern, perfect for a crochet blanket.

Crochet hook sizes

Crochet hooks are labelled according to size, with both US and metric measurements used to indicate the diameter of the shaft of the hook. The metric measurement is given in millimetres and is usually the most accurate.

The size of the crochet hook corresponds to specific weights of yarn. Patterns will usually list a suggested hook size to help you replicate the original design. Yarn labels will also recommend a hook size or range of sizes.

There are two main types of crochet hooks: inline (or straight) and tapered. Inline hooks have a deeper throat and a pointier tip with a flatter thumb rest, which can help with tension and gauge. Tapered hooks have a rounded point, a tapered throat, and a longer shaft length. Tapered hooks are better for yarns that easily split.

As a beginner, it is easier to learn with an inline hook. However, the style you use is down to personal preference.

For standard crochet hooks, the smaller the hook size, the smaller the letter (US) or the millimetre size (UK/metric). Here are some common hook sizes:

• H-8 (US) or 5mm (UK/metric): This is the most common hook size, recommended for use with worsted weight yarn.
• I/9 5.5mm: Another good size for beginners.
• J/10 6mm: Also a good size for beginners.
• G/6 4mm: A G crochet hook is usually 4mm, but can sometimes be 4.25mm.
• D-3 (US) or 3.25mm (UK/metric): Recommended for use with fingering weight yarn, which is smaller than worsted weight yarn.
• S-35 (US) or 19mm (UK/metric): A jumbo hook for jumbo yarn or roving yarn, strips of fabric, rope, or other very large yarn.
• B-1 (US) or 2.25mm: The smallest standard hook size.

Steel crochet hooks are the smallest hooks, used for fine thread crocheting such as lace or doilies, and are usually measured using a number system where the number gets higher as the hook gets smaller.

Frequently asked questions