An envelope shape is the easiest pouch there is to crochet: make a square, fold it in half, close the sides, and add a flap. This one is solid single crochet, so it's firm enough for pens or makeup. A white contrast seam and two ties that close in a bow finish it off, so you don't need a zip.
The pattern is from Elise's back-to-school video on her lilthings channel.
Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "crochet pencil case for beginner💌 crochet back to school, crochet makeup pouch" on YouTube.
Written from the video.
Materials
- 5-ply milk cotton in pink and white
- 3.0 mm hook
- Stitch markers, scissors and a darning needle
Body
With pink, chain 41. Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 40 sc. Then chain 1, turn and work 40 sc per row until you have 40 rows.
It's a lot of single crochet, but it's very relaxing, and the square comes out dense and firm.
Seaming
Fold the square in half so 20 rows are at the front and 20 at the back. With white, join at the bottom left corner and single crochet:
- Up the left side, through both layers. (20 sc)
- Across the 40 stitches of the front opening, through the front layer only.
- Down the right side, through both layers. (20 sc)
The white single crochet is both the seam and a decorative edging.
Flap
Join pink along the 40 free stitches at the top of the back.
- 9 rows: 40 sc per row.
- 4 rows: sc2tog at the start and end of each row: 38, 36, 34, 32 stitches.
The decreases round off the corners of the flap.
Then, with white, work one round of single crochet evenly around the edge of the flap.
Bow ties
With white, join at the centre tip of the flap and chain 35. Do the same on the front of the pouch, below where the flap ends. Tie the two chains in a bow to close the pouch.
Tips
- Count every few rows. Single crochet rows lose a stitch easily at the ends. Mark the first and last stitch of each row.
- Seam evenly: one sc for each row on the sides, so the seam doesn't pucker or flare.
- Make it bigger: for a makeup bag, chain more and work more rows; the flap and seams work the same way.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the seam go through only one layer at the top?
At the top, the front is the opening of the pouch; the back carries on into the flap. Working through only the front layer gives the opening a neat edge.
Can I add a zip?
Yes: sew a zip along the opening before you add the flap, or leave the flap off and put a zip across the top.
What is sc2tog?
A decrease: work two single crochets but finish them together as one. It takes the count down by one. Our dc2tog tutorial shows the same idea with double crochet.
Questions & notes
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