The most common problem in joined rounds is a pouch that keeps getting wider. It happens because the slip stitch that closes a round looks just like a stitch, and on the next round you work into it. This simple pink pouch is Elise's lesson in avoiding that: a tight join, a marker in the right place and the same number of stitches every round.
Once you can do this, every joined-round project gets easier: hats, baskets, bags.
Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "crochet drawstring pouch absolute beginner tutorial 🖇️ how to crochet a pouch" on YouTube.
From Elise's lilthings video for absolute beginners; the steps below follow it.
You'll need
- 5-ply milk cotton in pink and white
- 3.0 mm hook
- A stitch marker, scissors and a darning needle
Round 1: around the chain
With pink, chain 18 (16 + 2 for turning). Work 1 dc into the 3rd chain from the hook and into each chain across, so you have 16. Then rotate the chain and work 16 dc back along the other side, into the loops you haven't used.
Count your stitches. This number stays the same for every round of the pouch.
The join that keeps your count
At the end of each round:
- Take the marker out of the first dc.
- Put your hook under both top loops of that stitch and slip stitch.
- Pull the working yarn sharply. The slip stitch shrinks into a tiny knot that no longer looks like a stitch.
At the start of the next round:
- Chain 2.
- Work the first dc into the same stitch as the slip stitch, then put the marker straight into it.
- Work 1 dc into each stitch around, and stop when you reach the knot.
That's the whole technique. Repeat for rounds 2 to 10.
Drawstrings
With white, make two chains of 50 to 60 each. Using the darning needle:
- Thread the first through the gaps between pairs of stitches on round 9, starting and ending on the left.
- Thread the second through the same gaps, starting and ending on the right.
Knot each pair of ends. Pull both loops at the same time and the pouch closes evenly.
If something goes wrong
Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Pouch gets wider | Worked into the slip stitch | Count the round; pull out to where the count was right |
Pouch gets narrower | Missed the first stitch after the chain 2 | Put the first dc into the same stitch as the join |
Join line slants | Different place each round | Always mark the first dc, and join into it |
Our guide on counting stitches shows how to spot the tops of stitches in a round.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bottom flat or round?
Flat. Working round both sides of the chain gives a pouch with a straight seam along the bottom.
Why does the chain 2 not count as a stitch?
In this pattern it's there only to lift your hook to the height of a double crochet. Counting it as a stitch would change where you join and creep the round sideways.
Can I add a lining?
Yes. Sew a fabric bag of the same size and slip it inside before you thread the drawstrings, tucking the lining's top edge below round 9.
Questions & notes
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