How to Crochet a Soap Saver Bag
In this tutorial, I am showing you how you can crochet a very simple soap saver bag for your new bar soap or those little leftover pieces.
I don’t know about you but I don’t like to waste anything. Not even little pieces of soap!
That is why I love these soap savers so much!
You can either use these soap savers for your new bar soaps so they don’t get all goey. Or your can use them for these little leftover pieces of soap that would otherwise literally go down the drain.
I like to think of myself as frugal by saving every piece that is still good to use!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Soap Saver Bag supplies:
Yarn
Most of all you need some yarn.
I chose a 100% linen (flax) yarn that is both very durable but also getting softer with use. If you have followed me for a while you might know about my obsession with linen.
Cotton yarn would be a great choice or a cotton-linen blend. Some people like to use whatever yarn they use for their dish cloths.
However, I would say, simply use whatever you have at home.
Other supplies:
Since this is a crochet project, you will need a crochet hook. Make sure that it is the appropriate size for your yarn. If in doubt, you can always check the label. However, it doesn’t hurt to go slightly bigger than what is says. You want this to be rather loose than a very densely crocheted bag.
Lastly, you will need a darning needle. Regular sewing needles will be too small here.
How to crochet:
If you’re now thinking that you would love to make this cute little soap saver but don’t know how to crochet, please check out my tutorial that teaches you basic crochet stitches. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to learn how to crochet and make simple projects such as these cute farmhouse potholders.
How to crochet this soap saver bag:
Casting on:
Start by casting on chain stitches. I needed 15 stitches for my 3.5 oz soap bar. You will want to check your gauge, though, with your yarn, your crochet hook, and the size of your bar of soap.
Ideally, the length of your chain will go over the short side of the soap bar and the sides. I like my soap saver to be generous in size so I went a bit bigger than what I needed.
Crochet 3 rows:
Using the single crochet stitch, crochet 3 rows. You will now have a rectangle.
Creating the bottom of the soap saver bag:
At the end of your third row, insert your crochet hook into the first stitch of the first row and pull the yarn through. Make a single crochet stitch. Continue by going down the first row. This will create the bottom of your soap saver bag. It will also let your crochet in a round.
Crocheting the body:
Simply keep going, still using the single crochet stitch until you can easily place your bar of soap in this bag. By easily, I mean that your bag is at least a few rows longer than your bar soap.
Generously, snip off the yarn and weave in the ends.
Making the draw string
To make the draw string, use the chain stitch. You will need a little more than twice as many stitches as you cast on for the body of the bag. Then cut off the end and pull the yarn through.
Attaching the draw string:
Insert the cut off yarn of your drawstring into your darning needle. The body of your bag will have small holes. Insert the darning needle into those holes about 3 rows from the top of the bag. I like to go into every other hole. Go all the way around, gently pull the drawstring through and tie it together at the ends.
How to use your soap saver bag:
You can use it for any new bar of soap. With the drawstring, you can hang the bag from a hook in your shower. Then you will have no more gooey bars of soap lying around.
Of course, you can use this soap saver by your kitchen sink or anywhere where you might be using bar soap.
You can also use it for all these little pieces of soap that might have collected over time.
Shop THIS POST:
Linen Yarn: https://amzn.to/3b124n2
Linen cotton blend yarn: https://amzn.to/3dUk2JM
Cotton yarn: https://amzn.to/3bRPPsc
Crochet hooks: https://amzn.to/2NQNi9R
Darning needles: https://amzn.to/3sCK7kU
I am having trouble as the sides are fanning out-I don’t have straight sides. I made the last stitch third row, then went down to the first stitch in the first row, then I seem to be going into a round shape and I no longer have my 15 stitches-I seem to be increasing each time. What am I doing wrong?
I appreciate your help.
Without seeing exactly what you do, it sounds like you’re unintentionally increasing the number of stitches. I have this blog post https://ourgabledhome.com/basic-crochet-knitting-stitches/ but I am sure you can find more videos online on how to prevent that from happening ~ Anja
What size crochet hook did you use? What specific yarn did you use? Whats the measurements for the gauge? Where’s the pattern? I’d like to make one, but a lot of information is missing and it would require too much guesswork without it.
The link for the yarn is in the post but here it is again: https://amzn.to/3Lx7Bly I recommend using the size crochet hook as indicated on the label so in this case a 2-3 mm. Since everyone’s soap bar might be a bit different, I purposely did not include a pattern. However, I included a lot of pictures and detailed description. Hope this helps ~ Anja
Thanks for your reply. I crochet from patterns. Following a tutorial that is variable is tedious. I will likely end up having to undo and remake it at least once if not more times because I have no idea if it will be the right size. The yarn weight listed at that link is just a range. I already have linen yarn and wanted to be sure its the right weight, I’m not buying more from Amazon. The hook size listed is also just a range. If I do try to make this, and it turns out decent, I’ll reply again with the specific yarn weight and hook size I used and dimensions of the finished bag.
Sounds good! I just made the first two or three rows to see if it would fit my soap bar and then continued. Hope this helps and I look forward to your update!
This is such a good idea! And looks like something I could make with my limited knowledge of crochet! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much! You’ll be surprised at how easy they are to make!! Happy crocheting 🙂
I have only crocheted hot pads, so maybe I could try this!
Yes, they are very easy to make and you’ll love them! Let mw know how it goes if and when you make them!
You’re Very talented. I cannot crochet but some of my friends can. I’ll forward over this them. It’s a great idea.
Aww … thank you! They are actually very, very easy to make! And crocheting is very easy to learn, too, if you wanted to try …
This is such a great idea! I always save those little pieces because handmade soap is so precious. I try to squish them together to make a larger piece but it is such a pain to do…I am definitely going to make one of these!
Yay! These soap savers are so easy to make and definitely help you getting the most out of your soap bars 🙂
Hi Anja,
Please will you send a link for the sisal yarn mentioned to produce a scratchy exfoliating soap bag that will mot soften like the linen yarn. Thanks.
Hi Linda, while sisal is probably the most durable, it’s also the hardest on your hands. You could try this: https://amzn.to/2OpwzKM If you’re looking for something in between, you could try jute: https://amzn.to/3rmAuXd Hope this helps ~ Anja
I made one out of plain cotton string and it’s still going strong after almost five years! I love how rough it is without being scratchy.
That sounds great!! Thank you so much for sharing ~ Anja