Staying hydrated is crucial, but let’s be honest, lugging around a water bottle isn’t always convenient. Whether you are at a festival, walking the dog, or just running errands, you need your hands free! That is exactly why I made this crochet water bottle bag.
If you have been looking for the perfect project to tackle that overflowing basket of leftover yarn, this is it. The pattern is designed specifically to use up those colorful bits of sport weight yarn you couldn’t bear to throw away. The result? A stunning, wavy, textured bag that looks complicated but is surprisingly easy to stitch up.
What makes this project truly special is the “Gelato” texture created by a unique wavy stitch pattern combined with slip stitches. It’s perfect for intermediate crocheters looking to learn a new technique, but adventurous beginners can definitely tackle it too. Plus, it makes for an amazing handmade gift! There is a lot of pieces in my wavy Gelato collection, you can check all of them here!
Scroll down for the free pattern below, or support my work and purchase the ad-free, printer-friendly PDF pattern here.
Why You’ll Love This Pattern
- Ultimate Scrap Buster: This project is designed for sport weight yarn scraps.
- Unique Texture: The wavy design is created using a combination of increases, skips, and back-loop crochet.
- Fits most water bottles: This pattern is written for a standard water bottle size.
- Seamless Look: The color changes are hidden neatly by threading the loop of the new color through the old one, keeping your transitions smooth.
Materials & Tools
Before we dive in, let’s gather our supplies. Since this is a scrap project, have fun with your color palette! In the sample shown, colors are changed every six rows for that classic striped look.
- Yarn: Sport weight yarn scraps. I used Drops – Safran
- Hook: 3 mm crochet hook.
- Notions: Scissors, tapestry needle, and stitch markers.
- Pro Tip: It is highly recommended to place a stitch marker at the start of the wavy rounds to keep track of your pattern repeats.
Gauge & Sizing
- Gauge: 12 rounds of single crochet (sc) in the round = 10 cm (4 in) in diameter.
- Finished Size: The bag is designed to fit water bottles with a circumference of 25 cm.
- Note: If your bottle has a different circumference, you may need to adjust your gauge or yarn weight accordingly.
Pattern Notes & Abbreviations
This pattern is worked in the round. Here are a few technical things to keep in mind to ensure your bag turns out perfect:
- Joins: End every round by slip stitching (sl st) to the first stitch of the round.
- Turning Chains: Ch 1 and Ch 2 do not count as stitches.
- Texture: After the initial slip stitch rounds, you will crochet in the Back Loops Only (BLO). Be very careful not to work into the slip stitch braids you created in the previous row; you want to work into the stitches behind them.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- Ch: Chain
- Sc: Single Crochet
- Hdc: Half Double Crochet
- Dc: Double Crochet
- Sl st: Slip Stitch
- Inc: Increase (2 stitches in the same space)
- Sk: Skip
- BLO: Back Loop Only
- St(s): Stitch(es)
The Gelato Water Bottle Bag Instructions
Part 1: The Base
We start by creating a circular base using single crochet.
Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Make 6 sc in the magic ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Make 2 sc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Make sc inc, then sc in next stitch. Repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Make sc in first st, sc inc in 2nd st, sc in 3rd st. Repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Make sc inc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc. Repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 6: Make 1 sc, 1 sc, sc inc, 1 sc, 1 sc. Repeat around. (36 sts)
Round 7: Sc inc, 5x sc. Repeat around. (42 sts)
Round 8: 3x sc, sc inc, 3x sc. Repeat around. (48 sts)
Round 9: Sc inc, 7x sc. Repeat around. (54 sts)
Round 10: 4x sc, sc inc, 4x sc. Repeat around. (60 sts)
Part 2: The Sides (Transition)
Now we build up the sides. This section sets up the wavy pattern.
Round 1: Ch 2. Make 2 dc, 1 hdc, 3 sc, 3 sl sts, 3 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc. Repeat this sequence all the way around.
Round 2: Sl st in every stitch around.
Part 3: The Wavy Body
Note: From here on, crochet into the two back loops only of the previous row’s stitches (not the slip stitch row).
Round 3 (Wave Row): Ch 3. Make 3 dc inc in the first stitch. Dc in next 3 sts. (Sk next st. Dc in next st) work a total of 4 times. Dc in next 2 sts. Make 3 dc in next st. Repeat the sequence inside the brackets [] until the end of the round: [Make 3 dc in next st. Dc in next 3 sts. (Sk next st. Dc in next st) work a total of 4 times. Dc in next 2 sts. Make 3 dc in next st] .
Round 4 (Slip Stitch Row): Sl st in every stitch around.
Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 a total of 13 times (or until the bag reaches your desired height).
Part 4: The Strap
Row 1: Ch 3, then Ch 1 (the Ch 1 does not count as a stitch). Hdc into all 3 sts. Ch 1 and turn.
Next Rows: Repeat Row 1 until the strap reaches your desired length.
Finishing & Assembly
You are almost done!
- Fasten off your yarn, leaving a tail for sewing.
- Attach the Strap: Sew the ends of your strap securely to opposite sides of the top of the bag.
- Weave in Ends: Using your tapestry needle, weave in all those loose ends from your color changes.
FAQ
Q: Can I use a different yarn weight? A: Yes, but keep in mind that using worsted weight yarn will make the bag larger, and thinner yarn will make it smaller. You may need to adjust your hook size to match the yarn.
Q: How do I change colors neatly? A: The best method for this pattern is to simply thread the loop of your new color through the loop of the old color when finishing a stitch.
Q: Where exactly do I place my hook on the wavy rounds? A: You should crochet into the loops marked from the second to last row (the row before your slip stitches). You will crochet into the two loops plus one loop in front of them for stability.
Share Your Work!
I hope you enjoyed making your Gelato Water Bottle Bag! This project is such a satisfying way to turn “waste” yarn into something beautiful and useful.
If you make one, I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram: @artsymaki and use the hashtag: #GelatoWaterbottleBag