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Crochet Soap Saver

This crochet soap saver pattern is so quick and easy to work up! The unique addition of an extra loop before each stitch creates a beautiful texture.

This is one of those projects that is so fast to make that it is great on repeat… for gifts or selling at craft fairs. It also only uses roughly 36 yards of yarn, so it is a perfect scrap buster project.

The Origin of This Pattern

I’ve wanted to create a crochet soap saver pattern for a while that seemed light and airy… and a bit earthy. I feel like a soap saver should feel a bit “holey” so that it can air out between uses.

I also wanted something with really good texture to help get a good lather and scrub. I played around with some stitches and ended up feeling really happy with the texture created by adding an extra loop across each skipped stitch. It added some “bumpy-ness” while still leaving some room for air.

The Yarn For This Pattern

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links.

I chose Lion Brand Re-Up for this pattern for a few reasons:

1) It is a cotton blend. A cotton or cotton blend is always best for something that will be wet and/or washed a lot. It dries more quickly than most yarns and is durable.
2) For a size 4 yarn, it is on the thinner side, which I wanted to help me create that “airy” effect.
3) This yarn seems to split a lot, and even though that is usually thought to be a negative in the crochet world, I felt like it added even more “air” to the piece and also enhanced the “earthy” or “rustic” vibe I was going for.
4) On top of all that, it came out feeling smooth and squishy, just what you want for something you’re going to rub across your skin!

The Pattern

If  you would like to purchase an inexpensive, ad-free pdf version of this crochet soap saver pattern, you can find it here at my Etsy shop. (scroll down for the full free pattern)

Add this crochet soap saver pattern to your Ravelry favorites HERE.

Materials:
-Size 4 yarn, 36 yards (I used less than one skein of Lion Brand Re-Up, in Ecru and Ash)
US I/9, 5.5 mm Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
Scissor

Gauge:
Gauge is of minimal importance in this pattern. If you find that after round 1 your base is wider or narrower than you like, begin again with a smaller or larger hook.

Final Measurements:
3 ¾” x 5 ½”

Stitches Used:
(ch) chain
(sl st) slip stitch
(sc) single crochet
(dc) double crochet

Pattern Notes:

Beginning chain of each row does not count as a stitch.

I tend to crochet tightly. So be sure to check your gauge and if you are crocheting more loosely you can move to a smaller hook (or larger if you crochet even more tightly). Some people find they even need to go down two hook sizes to meet my gauge. You can find notes on size/gauge after round 1.

This pattern instructs you to complete 12 rounds. However, since each round is a repeat of round 2, you can stop at whatever round you prefer, or add rounds for additional length if desired.

Text on photos is usually a repeat of what is in the written instructions. This is so that you can tell what step the photo is representing.

The yarn used for this pattern (Lion Brand Re-Up) is a lighter size 4 yarn. Similar cotton yarns would be Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton or Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton. Lily Sugar N Cream, Peaches N Cream and Bernat Handicrafter are a little thicker so you might find they work up larger or tighter.

Video Tutorial:

Written Instructions:

Chain 16.

Round 1: Sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. (15) Turn your work clockwise to the right so that it is now upside-down in your hands (chain is now on top). Crochet back across the beginning chain, one sc in each loop, but this time in a different loop than the one you crocheted into the first time across. (see photos) (15).

You will end up back at the first sc of row 1. Join to the first sc with a sl st. This has in essence transitioned us from crocheting across rows, to crocheting in the round. You now have a sort of oval, which is your soap saver base. The total sc around should be 30 (15 on each side of the starting chain).

Note on size: At this point, my base was about 4 ” wide. It narrowed by about ½” after working up a few more rounds. If your base is significantly larger or smaller and you would like to have the same finished size as the pattern, you may want to start over with a larger or smaller hook.

Round 2: Ch 2.Turn (so that as you continue, the outside of the pouch will be facing you). Dc in the same stitch. Ch 1. Insert hook into the same stitch again. Yarn over and pull through. (Pull enough through so that the tension is loose. This will allow the loop to stretch across the space created by the upcoming skipped stitch.) Skip the next stitch (you still have two loops on your hook). *Dc in the next stitch. Note: As you complete your dc, since you have an extra loop on your hook, on your final yarn over and pull through, you will pull through 3 loops (rather than the usual last 2 of a dc). Ch 1. Insert hook into the same stitch again. Yo and pull through (again, the goal is to have loose tension on this loop). Skip the next stitch (you still have two loops on your hook)*. Repeat from * to * around. At the end of the round your last step will be to skip the last stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round. (30, or 15 “clusters”).

Round 3: Repeat round 2, but without turning.

Round 4-12: Repeat round 3.

Finish off and weave in ends.

Create a chain that is 10” long. Make a small knot on each end. Clip the excess yarn from the end of the knots as short (or long) as you like. Use a yarn needle to weave the chain in and out around round 11. Use it to tie the top of the soap saver shut. (Feel free to make the chain longer if you would like to be able to tie it in a bow)

Note: Feel free to sell finished products made with this pattern. If finished products are posted online, please include a reference/credit to this pattern, including a link. Do not distribute or claim the pattern as your own, or alter and use my photos to market your finished products.


More Free Patterns You Might Enjoy:

Drawstring Makeup Pouch

Star Stitch Bottle Carrier

Kitchen Scrubby


31 Comments

  1. It would be much easier for us seasoned crocheters if you wouldn’t telling us the sets of stitches required for the pattern when we are starting, so we can adjust as necessary. Such as (sets of 3, plus 1) repeated five times would be your chain 16. Or whatever it is this stitch required. I really loved the look but I wanted to create it with a smaller hook and softer thread. I just cant get the size I need though.

    1. Hi Katherine, thanks for your feedback. That is something I have put in some of my patterns, but it would be a good idea for me to be more consistent about it. For this particular pattern you can use whatever number of chains gets you the width you want, plus 1. The ultimate result of the pattern will be that it will transition to working in the round. The final number of stitches in the round needs to be an even number. But since the pattern automatically doubles the number used in the starting chain by working up the chain and then back (to create the round), you will always end up with an even number no matter what you start with. So, starting chain can be whatever you want the width across to be, plus 1. Also note that once you have worked a few rounds, it may tighten up and shrink a little from the original width of your starting chain (at least mine did with my particular tension). So, you may want to make the chain about a half inch wider than you want the final width to be. Although, this may depend on your personal tension. Hope that helps. Thanks!

  2. Thank you for sharing. I love this pattern! I am a seasoned “crocheter” and I appreciate your instructions, they are very clear. I used Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend and an I hook and it came out very close to your measurements. I am going to crochet some washcloths using this stitch and I am going to try a tote bag as well using a larger hook and a bulky yarn. Thanks again!

  3. Do you have a video showing this pattern I am not sure I am doing your pattern right are you starting by kind of making an oval ?

    Thank you

    1. Yes, it begins in an oval shape and then you continue to work in the round. I have a video for the stitch itself, but not the full pattern. If you think that would be helpful let me know and I will post the link.

      1. Thank you I think I figured it out as I was going through the back bump ( I am still learning to read patterns ) but I was excited do try as I have some Re Up yarn .

        Kay

  4. If I am not allowed/able to print your free pattern direct from the web page from my cell then in my opinion the pattern is not free. Tried emai but got redirected to page by page link. I feel played.

    1. I have not taken any actions that would block someone from printing my web pages, so if you are having problems I am not sure what the issue is. But even if you cannot print for some reason, if you have full access to my entire pattern in any format which allows you to follow the project to completion, then you have received a complete pattern for free.

  5. How many total “clusters” (i.e. DC, Ch 1, pull up a loop) should there be total? I keep ending up with 28 stitches (counting the loops at the top of the round) so thought it might be easier for me to make adjustments if I know how many of the clusters there should be. Logically I would think 15 but then I would think it would twist or be lop-sided.
    Also, am I supposed to chaining 2 at the beginning of each round before making starting the cluster? A Ch 2 is not included within the asterisks so I didn’t do that but maybe that’s supposed to be assumed?
    Lovely soap saver, hope I can get it right. Thanks so much for your help!

    1. Hi Leslie, You are correct, there should be 15 clusters. You do chain 2 at the beginning of each round before starting the cluster, but not again for the rest of the round. I will clarify that in the pattern.

  6. HI there, I love this stitch but I have made several attempts fo do the bag but I’m having trouble knowing where to join and start at the end of each round. Sometimes the pattern starts to go crooked where I start the new round and some times I end up with more clusters. Also the video isn’t very clear when you show the ending and start of each round. Can you help me as I really love the stitch?

    1. Hi Wendy, the seam will begin to slant and run diagonally along the project. However, this will not affect how it site. It will still lay flat. And if you are joining correctly, the seam should be barely noticeable. If you end up with an extra cluster you have probably just continued to add a stitch when it was time to join and you can undo the last stitch and join instead. Unless you are ending up with more than one extra, that might be a different problem.

      1. Thank you for getting back to me. I ended up figuring it out by changing the way I am joining the circle, it’s not at all like I’m reading your instructions! Maybe it’s me but they don’t make sense to me.

    2. I ended up figuring the joining of the rounds by myself! Sorry to say this, but your instructions just don’t make sense to me.

  7. I am having the same issue as others have mentioned here that is I end up with an extra “cluster” at the end of the row when I follow the instructions for the slip stich to join the other side. In In the video it’s hard to see into which stitch you insert the hook to join the two sides. Can you please explain further?

  8. I’m not sure what you mean in the first round when you say
    “Crochet
    back across the beginning chain, one sc
    in each loop, but this time in a different
    loop than the one you crocheted into
    the first time across.”
    What is a different loop?

  9. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern for this super cute soap saver! I make soap for my family and for others, and wanted something to stretch the bars. Perfect! And really, so pretty. I love this stitch. Your instructions are well-written. Thanks again!

  10. I just discovered your pattern for the soap saver bag. I absolutely adore this stitch, is it your own creation? I have been crocheting for 50 years and have never seen it before. If it is yours you should give it a name. Chicken scratch comes to mind. I am going to try making a dish rag using this stitch. Thank you so much for sharing!💜

    1. So glad you like it Maureen! I did create the stitch pattern on my own, but haven’t named it because I feel like surely I will run across someone else who has done it before! lol! But so far I have not. Chicken scratch is cute!

  11. I made this literally in 10 minutes before I jumped in the shower from scrap yarn. I noticed it was too wide halfway through so I double skipped a stitch at about the 7th row. It gave the finished product a teardrop effect that looked good. I added 3 loops at the each end for a clover embellishment, and chained a loop for hanging. Great and simple pattern. When my roomate says “that’s dope make me one” you definitely have a good pattern. Wish I could post pictures.

  12. What a lovely pattern Esther! I found your pattern on Etsy and really appreciate the link to your blog for a free pattern. I hope you have a great day!

  13. Esther

    Thanks a lot for the pattern this is my favorite stitch from now on.
    Greetings from Mérida Yucatán. México

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