Massage soap with the bumps and nubs on one side is lovely stuff. But what happens when you use soap? Within a few showers, those bumps are gone. What to do? Make the Pampering Massage Soap Saver!
This crochet soap saver pattern features 12 bumps (aka cluster stitches) on one side for perfect pampering that doesn’t wear away. Paired with a gorgeous soap it makes a great gift for teachers, neighbors, babysitters – and don’t forget one for yourself!
The soap sack is a quick project – each one done in an hour or less – but don’t let the soap itself be an afterthought. Bean Tree Soap is where I get all my precious lovely soaps for gift giving (and a few for myself)! It’s handcrafted artisan soap, as well as lotion bars, lip balms, and more. There are gift sets, custom scents, even soap on a rope that smells like dirt for the hunters on your gift list! It really is gorgeous, gorgeous stuff, I can’t say enough good things about the products.
Now on to the free crochet pattern!
Pampering Massage Soap Saver
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
- US – I, 5.50 mm hook
- 40 yards worsted weight cotton yarn (Recommended: Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie or Lily Sugar’n Cream)
- Prefer a non-bumpy version? Replace Round 4 and its repeats with Round 5 instructions each time.
- For video tutorials on the stitches used in this pattern, please go to the Video Tutorials page, including the Cluster (Puff) Stitch!
- Video tutorial for the entire pattern: Pampering Massage Soap Saver Tutorial
- Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie, met dank aan Elke van Het Haakbeest: PDF: ZEEPZAKJE
- Klicken Sie hier für die deutsche Übersetzung von Birgit Melchior (PDF)
CL – Cluster Stitch (Puff Stitch): [Yo, insert hook into next st, pull up a loop to height of row] 4 times, working into the same st each time, until there are 9 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through 8 loops, yo and pull through last two loops on hook.
INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1: Ch 10, starting in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each ch to end; turn. (9 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st to end of row; turn. (9 hdc)
Row/Round 3: This row goes all the way around the rectangle made in the previous rows, to start working in the round. Ch 1, hdc in each st to end of row, then work 2 hdc in the ends of the rows, 9 hdc in the unworked sides of the starting chains, and 2 more hdc in the other ends of the rows. Join to first hdc with a sl st, do not turn. (22 hdc)
Round 4 (RS): Ch 1. [Sc in next st, dc in next st] 5 times. Sc in next 2 sts. [CL in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 3 times. Dc in last st, and join to first sc with sl st. Turn entire sack inside out to work back in the other direction. (22 sts)
Round 5 (WS): Ch 1. Being sure to work into the last dc and not the sl st, [Sc in next st, dc in next st] 11 times. Join to first sc with sl st. Turn sack right side out to work back in the original direction. (22 sts)
Round 6 – 11: Repeat Rounds 4 – 5 three times.
Round 12: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Break yarn and use seamless join, joining to the second stitch of the round. Weave in ends.
Make Drawstring: Chain tightly for 12 inches. Weave through top of Round 12, tie knots in ends and trim strings.
Now go visit Bean Tree Soap and get something to fill it with! It’s great stuff!
Be sure to Like the moogly Facebook page for the latest updates and have some fun with us! Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2012. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please feel free to link to this page to share this pattern with others. Reseller info is on the About page.
Lori
Your Ravelry link is not working as of now. Great design!
moogly
Thank you! Sorry about that – had to run out for a preschool pick up! It’s ready now. 🙂
Jennifer
well, I made it. But it took me a while to realize that I was supposed to turn in the traditional “baby blanket” way. I turned the pouch and changed directions, but did not end up with a seam. You should try that — it saves the seam sewing. I also made mine another 2 rows longer because my husband (the receiver of this gift) used a longer bar of soap. Thanks for the pattern.
moogly
There’s no seaming involved as written because of the slip stitch join – I’m thinking we ended up doing it the same way? Glad you liked it though! 🙂
Jennifer
I’m apparently more (or less) confused than I thought I was. Matter of fact I was laying in bed thinking — “I followed the directions exactly, so what did I miss.” In your last direction what threw me off was the “seamless join”
Anyhow — thanks! And the soap – wonderful. I got a super quick reply from them and will be ordering to fill up my scrubby pockets.
Jennifer
ok — anyway, don’t mind me and my ramblings — I just watched your video for “seamless stitch” and though I am happy to have learned something new, I am feeling kind of like an . . well, the last two posts don’t make me look like someone who reads directions, do they?
moogly
Heh, no worries! I understand. I should probably have been more clear about turning the bag “wrong side out” when “turning.” Just because it’s clear to me when I write it doesn’t mean it’s clear to anyone else! I’m so glad you ordered the soaps – they really are lovely!
Pennycents
I love this idea but I don’t do crochet.
Do you have a pattern for knitting this?
moogly
Pennycents I’m afraid not. Not yet anyway!
Sara - My Merry Messy Life
Lovely pattern Tamara! Great idea to use the cluster stitch to make it exfoliating. Thanks for sharing at Hookin On Hump Day!
Cayty
I love this pattern! My preschooler was super excited to pick out the yarn and a bar of soap to go with it (we spent at least 10 minutes sniffing goat soaps at the organic store by us) for his teacher. Somehow I doubt it will be a surprise gift…
What is your policy for linking to and potentially using your patterns for selling product at a craft fair?
moogly
Cayty I’m so glad you like it! My policy is that you can use any of my *free* patterns to make finished items for craft fairs, as long as there’s a link back with “pattern courtesy of moogly” or similar wording on the tag. Good luck with the fairs!
Sharon A. Moles
I like your patterns for crocheting, and I’am going to try to crochet again. My Mother taught me to crochet and I usually knit everything I do ..I learned how to knit first. Thanks again
Diane
Hi!
How much would you charge to make 4 Pampering Massage Soap Holders?
Thanks,
Diane
moogly
Hi Diane! I’ll send you an email!
Jennifer
Hi again!
I just made my 2nd one of these (for the 3rd time 🙂 ). When I make the cluster, it really looks much better from the wrong side. Should I be switching the WS – RS notation in the pattern?
Thanks!
moogly
Jennifer, if you like the way it looks “wrong side out” better than “right side out,” then go with it! 😀 Everybody stitches differently, so always go with what you think looks or works best!
Christina
Thank you for posting this! They turn out so cute!
moogly
You’re very welcome! 😀 I’m so glad you like them!
Ashlee
Such a cute gift! But wow, I am so confused haha. I am vertigo so lost at the “turn” and wrong side. Is it not done in a round?
Ashlee
Getting* not vertigo. 🙂
moogly
😀 It’s kind of confusing if you haven’t encountered it before – it’s a technique I like to use that I haven’t seen many other places. Basically, each row is worked, and then joined to the first stitch, but the you go ahead and turn to work the next row from the inside, or wrong side, of the bag. This gives you the benefit of working in the round – no seaming, with the benefit of working in rows – no vertical slanting (the way items worked in the round so often have a seam that slants to the right instead of being straight up and down, and stitches that twist around the project). Sort of a best of both worlds solution! 😀
Ashlee
So, this may be an idiot question, do you turn it inside out? Ha sorry! Thanks so much for your response!
moogly
You can flip it inside out if you like, or just work from the inside – whatever is easiest for you! I usually flip for the first few rows and work from the inside towards the end.
Liza Kirschner
Cute pattern!
Deborah Friedrich
I loved this great pattern. Thanks a lot for sharing. I’m sharing it too. =)
moogly
Thank you Deborah!
Donna
Thanks for the awesome pattern! I’m pairing these with a matching shower scrubby for “Mother’s Day” spa baskets
moogly
Great idea Donna! Lucky mamas!
Joyce
This is my new favorite and the only soap saver pattern I like now 😀 I’ve tried several others and have hated how they turned out. I was easily able to tweak the pattern so I could have a mesh back on it and now I can’t wait to get my specialty homemade soaps in it to use.
Tamara Kelly
😀 That’s awesome! I’m so glad!
Stacey
How did you do the mesh back please?
Tamara Kelly
It’s all part of the pattern! 🙂
Rosemary Duncan
This may be a silly question, but…once you bathe with the little thing, does the soap stay inside until used again? Does it dry well with the soap left in? This is adorable and I want to try it. I make crocheted washcloths, this would be nice for gifts. Thanks for any hints!
Tamara Kelly
Different people use them different ways, but you can certainly leave the soap in if you like! It can help it dry if you use the string to hang it up too.
Melinda Scott
I just made one for my husband. I used 2 strands of 4ply, one white and one latte. Thanks for the great pattern. Now to make a white and fuchsia one for myself
Katy Cairns
I’m stuck on row 3! What do you mean by ” work 2 hdc in the ends of the rows”? Do you mean the short ends or the last stitch of the row? And the 9 hdc in the unworked sides of the starting chains…what in the world?! 🙂
I love your patterns and can’t wait to get to the next step and get stuck again!! 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Hi Katy! Basically you’re “spinning” the piece you’ve made, working into the edges all around. So you work into the sides/ends of the stitches, then along the starting chain then the other end, until you’ve circled the rectangle and are working in the round. Just like putting a border on a blanket, except you’re not doing extra stitches in the corners because we don’t want it to lay flat. Does that help?
Katy Cairns
That helped! I have completed one of these…and have started maybe a dozen or so… I can’t get the bumps to line up! The one that I finished to the end out of frustration has all of the bumps going off to the side in a diagonal. I would love to make these to sell at my spa…but I can’t! 🙁
Tamara Kelly
This is one of those cases where I’m sure if we were in the same room for 5 minutes we’d have it sorted. Are you turning at the end of each round? Are you making sure not to work into the slip stitch?
Katy Cairns
I’m too new to all this to know… I’m thinking I’ll take the pattern with me to the local yarn shop or Joann’s. I’ve tried marking the first sc. I’ve tried counting all the stitches when I finish a round…and just somehow the bumps get thrown off. I probably have too many other things going on at the same time.
When I see that the bump is off I end up counting 21 stitches..So I guess I am going into the slip stitch…*head explodes*
Katy Cairns
Do you happen to live in Asheville? 🙂 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Alas, no, lol!
Rachel Peters
I think I’m hung up on the same part to – since my bobbles aren’t lining up I think this part is where the problem is. When you have the two hdc at the ends of the rows – I’m assuming these are NOT in the same stitch as the last stitch (meaning you end up with three hdc in the same loop) – but rather two separate hdc’s in the SIDES?
Tamara Kelly
Sorry for any confusion Rachel! Yes, the hdcs are worked into the sides of the rows – 2 on each end.
Katy Cairns
I think I have the turning thing going on right..but my second row of bumps never lines up.
Katy Cairns
Yep…once again…I end up with the right amount of stitches in the round…but when I get to the first CL on the second time doing round 4 (round 6) I am just past the last CL. If I remove one sc in front of it… they will line up…sigh. I love this idea and I want it to work!
Tamara Kelly
If you can find a work-around, go for it! It might also help to put a stitch marker in the last stitch of each round, before you slip stitch. Then you can be sure to work into that stitch in the next row.
Katy Cairns
I have been putting the marker in the first sc of the round I am working on….I’ll try what you said!
Alwin
I love the pattern and I do wish you had a video for it. I follow a video better than written instructions..I think some other people do also. I will keep trying. 🙂
Tamara Kelly
I’ll add it to the list Alwin!
Rachel Peters
ok – got the sides – another questions – one you are finishing up round 4 – are you working the slipstitch into the chain 1 of the previous row or the 1st SC?
Tamara Kelly
You slip stitch into the top of the sc, not the ch. 🙂
Lori Smith
I am making these as party favors for our August Red Hat luncheon.
To keep the cost down, I’m using the mini bars of soap picked up on hotel stays to put those to good use and to show what the sacks are for. Thanks for the pattern. I think the ladies will like them.
Amanda
Love this item so much and want to make one for each of my sisters. I find the CL quite confusing. Not sure how to do it by the written pattern. I yo, insert hook into st – what do you mean by ‘pull up a loop to height of row? do you loop around the hook? the ‘working into same st each time’ – I just can’t wrap my little brain around it. Sorry if I am missing something.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Amanda! I think this might help: https://www.mooglyblog.com/half-and-full-cluster-stitches/
Ruth K.
I think it would be awesome if you had a video for this! I’m fairly new at crochet and trying to teach myself. I want to do this soooo bad but I get confused just reading it. Please & thanks? haha.
Tamara Kelly
I hope to have one up soon! 🙂 Thank you!
Sev
Love love love!
But I’m fairly ne at crochet, taught myself thanks to YouTube, and whenever I try following a written pattern, I make mistakes… 🙁
I’d be so grateful if you could make a video tutorial of these, they would be wonderful home-made Xmas presents! Thanks.
Tamara Kelly
I plan on doing so very soon! 🙂
Sev
Wonderful! Am looking forward to it 🙂 Thanks!
Nicole M
Thank you for this pattern! I had some trouble, but kinda figured it out 🙂 My family is loving these! Thank you!
Zillah
Am absolutely stuck on row 4!
I did the first SC and DC combinations, and not sure where the clusters are going to be, ie on the short side?
Tamara Kelly
Zillah this was a good day to ask – the video tutorial will go live in just about an hour! Stay tuned!
Penny
I finally made one of these as a gift, along with a bar of my homemade soap. I love, love, LOVE this pattern! So easy and fast to make, and such a nice gift to give! Thank you so much for the pattern. And thank you for the video tutorial! After watching it I whipped this up in about 40 minutes. You’re the best, Tamara! Thanks again.
Carmen
What a fun last minute project! I have 3 more things to complete…but if I have time, I’ll make these and pair them with my homemade soap! 🙂 Thank you!!
Angie
I love this quick and easy pattern for a soap scrubby! I would never have though of it myself. It took me about an hour, but your instruction videos are great as well. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be making more of these.
Tamara Kelly
😀 They get faster as they go! Glad you enjoy the pattern, thank you for saying so Angie!
Katie
Fabulous idea! Thank you so much for sharing the and all the other great patterns you have created. I am thinking of making these as sets along with the back scrubber… for Christmas this year. And the soap will be an added bonus.
Tonya
Love love love this pattern!! After ripping out rows umpteen times because my stitch count was not coming out correctly I finally “got it”. Now I’m whipping these out like nobody’s business. Thanks so much for posting this pattern.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I’m glad it finally “clicked” for you! You’re very welcome, I’m happy you enjoy it!
Alexis
I want to make these for teacher gifts, and made a test using Bernat handicrafter (i had some already). It’s 100% cotton, and didn’t really lather very well at all.
Is the yarn you recommended part acrylic or 100% cotton?
These are so cute, I really want to make them, and have them lather well :-\
Tamara Kelly
Hi Alexis! I did use 100% cotton. To encourage more lathering, maybe bump up a hook size to get bigger holes between stitches? Just brainstorming…
Reena
Hi Tamara,
Love this and am going to give it a go for some gifts. Just wondering if you have ever used an acrylic yarn (or know someone who has)? Or does it just not lather well?
Thanks
Reena
Tamara Kelly
Thank you Reena! I haven’t tried it myself, but I believe others have tried it. A bit scrubbier depending on the yarn!
Reena
Thanks! Will give it a go. Good practice in any case!!
Birgit.M
Hi Moogli,
Your massage Soap saver is great. I am a Soap maker and I also do crochet. Do you mind if I translate your pattern into german and post it on a Soap Forum? (http://www.seifentreff.de) I will of course provide a link and respect your Copyright.
I know alot of People will be wowed by your soap saver, it is just that they cannot understand english crochet pattern.
I have already done three and i will definitely do a few more..
Thank you so much.. Bye
Kinpira
Tamara Kelly
Hello Birgit! I’d prefer if you could send me the translation and I’ll post it here (with credit to you for the translation of course!) and then you could share the link. You can email me at [email protected] 🙂
Garden Chef
Hi Tamara, featured your pattern last year among my give aways for father’s day. I’m making more this year. Starting the marathon now. Linked back to you in http://gardenchefsneedleandpen.blogspot.com/2013/06/mommys-choice.html
Thank you for the pattern again!
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you, so glad you like it!
Annette
Thank you so much for your generosity with your free patterns. I see an excellent Christmas gift/stocking stuffer for me to do.
Garden Chef
Hello, here are more to give a pampering massage to some fathers!
http://gardenchefsneedleandpen.blogspot.com/2014/06/give-dad-pampering-massage.html?spref=fb
Couldn’t thank you enough for the pattern.
Amy k
This may be a silly question, but do you put the soap in and take it out each time you use it? I was initially thinking leaving the soap in and let dry, but wouldn’t the soap get mushy? Thank you!
Tamara Kelly
That is completely up to you – some prefer to leave it, other’s take it out! 🙂
melissa
i love these i made them as christmas gifts last year for my son’s teachers and family they were an awesome hit everyone just raved over them
kristine H
I’ve made a ton of these little things and I forgot how to do them each time I go to make another. I can’t always access internet to see the pattern/video. Do you have it in PDF in English? I’d like to print it out and put into my favorites file.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you Kristine! You can create a PDF using the Print Friendly button at the bottom of the pattern page – here’s how: CLICK HERE
Kristafee
wow how did I not see that before, so embarrassing. Thanks so much!
Tamara Kelly
😀 No worries, and you’re welcome!
Susan
Love this pattern! One thing though, cotton is a soap eater, not a soap saver. Acrylic works much better for soap savers.
Deidre
I found a link to this on pinterest this evening and decided to give it a go. so cute! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thanks so much Deidre!
allison
Love this pattern..
Tamara Kelly
Thank you! 😀
gretchen
Ive been at this all day and end up with two many stitches. Please Help!
Round 4 Does this mean you sc dc, sc dc, sc, dc,sc,dc?
OR sc, dc, sc, dc, sc?
THEN
Round 4 – [CL in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 3 times. Dc in last st, and join to first sc with sl st. Do you dc in las st after crocheting 2 sc after making puff?
Tamara Kelly
sc in one st, dc in the next. 🙂
and yes! 🙂
Cynthia
I crochet a bit loose, dropped one hook size and the bag is the perfect size for the soap I ordered!! Love the pattern, they are going to make wonderful gifts together! Thanks for sharing the pattern.
Tamara Kelly
😀 Perfect! Thank you so much Cynthia!
Shaina Chance
I grazed over the comments, but couldn’t find what I needed help with.
When you slip stitch into the single crochet, do you work your first stitch of the round into the same SC as the slip stitch?
Tamara Kelly
Hi Shaina! I think the linked video tutorial will answer your question! 🙂
Melanie
Made this pattern in under 2 hours. Gonna order some of the awesome bean tree soap just for my soap saver. Love this pattern. Thanks.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much Melanie!
Carrie
This might be a dumb question. But, how often do you wash these! I just bought a camper and want to use this in it and want to know if I need to make several for a week long vacation.
Tamara Kelly
I would wash them as often as you’d wash a washcloth. 🙂
Marley
I made this and it came out pretty well. All the scrubby knobs lined up and everything. Thank you for this pattern; I will be making more as gifts.
Tamara Kelly
🙂 I’m so glad to hear it Marley! Thank you!
Heather
Can this be customized to different size soaps?! I sell Perfectly Posh and Inwant to make these for out Chunk bars!!
Tamara Kelly
Yes, just add more chains/stitches to the beginning! 🙂
Roberta
Nylon !netting like a pouf? C’mon! Isn’t it a later maker and an easy dryout?
Roberta
Lather maker
Tamara Kelly
Everyone likes something different! 🙂
Beverley Dudley
Is there a video tutorial?
Tamara Kelly
Yes! It’s linked above in the bullet points, and at https://www.mooglyblog.com/pampering-massage-soap-saver-tutorial/
Courtney
I have tried to do this pattern all morning and it’s just not working out… ☹️ I love pattern/idea of the cluster stitches., etc. however I keep messing up. I’ll put it down again and try later.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Courtney, I’m sorry you’re having trouble! Did you see the video tutorial? https://www.mooglyblog.com/pampering-massage-soap-saver-tutorial/
Emma
I’m new to crochet and I busted out five of these for Mother’s Day for all the women in my family. This pattern is so much fun and is very easy to follow. Thank you!
Tamara Kelly
😀 That’s so great, thank you so much Emma, I’m so glad you liked it!
Elise
I LOVE this pattern, I need to work on my guage to make the nubbies more nubbie (mine are a little too soft and keep folding back into the fabric). For extra scrubby/sudsy – use a scrubby yarn on the other side with your regular yarn, I always have trouble with soap savers and suds till I started doing scrubby yarn on a side of these bits.
Tamara Kelly
Great idea! I haven’t played with the actually scrubby Scrubby too much yet, but I’m looking forward to it! 😀 Thank you Elise!
R.B.
Do you approve the use of this pattern for the maker to sell after made? If so, what do you require to do so?
Tamara Kelly
Yes! You can read my policy on the About Page: https://www.mooglyblog.com/about-moogly/ 😀 Best of luck with your sales!
Anna
I appreciate the video tutorials for various stitches. Do you happen to have a video showing what you mean by adding 2hdc at the end of the row? I’m having a hard time understanding where I’m supposed to stitch those…
Tamara Kelly
Hi Anna! Thank you!
Have you seen the video tutorial for this pattern? https://www.mooglyblog.com/pampering-massage-soap-saver-tutorial/
It’s the same maneuver as shown here, basically: https://www.mooglyblog.com/bag-bottoms-crochet-tutorial/
Does that help?
Garden Chef
Tamara,
Here are what came out from your pattern, Tamara. It’s been years since I made these. Linking back to you in my post.
http://gardenchefsneedleandpen.blogspot.com/2014/06/give-dad-pampering-massage.html
Tamara Kelly
They look great, thank you so much! ♥
Kayla Hoffman
Is there a bigger version of this? My soap won’t fit. And, are there alternative stitches to the cluster stich? I’ve done it about ten times and it always falls apart at the first scrub – the nine loops flatten out.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Kayla! I haven’t designed a bigger one specifically. Instead of puffs, perhaps bobbles?
Donna
Live this pattern – thank you so much for sharing. I made a red and white striped version with a contrasting blue tie to match the colors in the “Mis American Pie” soap I picked up from Fountain Alley Soap in Madison, Indiana. Its first a July 3th birthday- I think she’ll love it. Thanks again!
Tamara Kelly
Sounds lush! ♥ Thank you!