A drawstring pouch is one of those projects that proves its usefulness immediately.
It holds earbuds without tangling. It corrals the loose change at the bottom of your bag. It becomes a gift bag for jewelry or small treats, elevating the presentation beyond a plain box.
This version works up from a simple chain foundation in joined rounds. The body is plain double crochet—no counting clusters or charting patterns. An eyelet round near the top creates the channel for the drawstrings, and two simple chains threaded through in opposite directions create the cinching mechanism.
The whole pouch uses about 15 grams of yarn and takes less than an hour. It's the kind of project you make while watching a show and immediately put to use.
Why You'll Love This Crochet Pouch
The eyelet round is clever but simple.
One round alternates double crochets with chain-1 spaces and skipped stitches. The resulting holes form the channel for the drawstrings. No special stitches. No post stitches. Just basic double crochets and chains.
The drawstrings are separate chains threaded through the eyelets. Because they're not attached, they can be replaced easily if they wear out or if you want to swap colors for a different look.
Variegated yarn does all the visual work here.
A self-striping or rainbow-speckled yarn creates color variation without changing yarns. The simple double crochet fabric becomes visually interesting purely through the yarn choice. Caron Big Cakes in Rainbow Jellys is the yarn shown—one cake makes multiple pouches.
The size is genuinely customizable. More foundation chains make a wider pouch. More rounds make a taller one. The pattern includes formulas for adjusting both dimensions while keeping the eyelet spacing correct.
Materials Needed
- 15 grams of worsted weight (#4) yarn in main color
- Small amount of contrasting yarn for drawstrings
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
Caron Big Cakes in Rainbow Jellys is the variegated yarn shown. One cake ($9.99 for 603 yards) makes multiple pouches. Red Heart Super Saver in Aran ($4.49 per 364 yards) makes the contrasting drawstrings.
The yarn can be any worsted weight. Cotton gives a more structured pouch that stands on its own. Acrylic is softer and more flexible. Both work.
Best Yarn Choices for Small Pouches
Cotton gives structure. The pouch holds its shape whether empty or full, and the eyelet holes stay open for easy drawstring threading.
Acrylic gives softness. The pouch is more flexible and drapes gently. Variegated acrylics offer the widest color variety at affordable prices.
For gift pouches you want to look polished, mercerized cotton like Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton ($4.99 per 186 yards) gives a subtle sheen that reads as more expensive than it is.
Avoid anything fuzzy or heavily textured for the eyelet round. Fuzzy yarns fill in the chain-1 spaces and make threading drawstrings frustrating.
Gauge, Size Guide & Must-Have Tools
Gauge: 9 rows of 14 double crochets = 4 inches square.
Gauge isn't critical for a pouch. What matters is that your fabric is dense enough that small items won't poke through the stitches.
Finished dimensions (adjustable):
- Width: about 3.5 inches
- Height: about 4.3 inches
For a wider pouch, chain more (in multiples of 4, plus 3). For a taller pouch, add rounds before the eyelet round. For help with stitch multiples, see my beginner mistakes guide.
Must-have tools:
- 5.0 mm hook: Standard worsted weight hook.
- Tapestry needle: For weaving ends.
Pattern Notes & Tips Before You Start
The foundation chain is worked on both sides to create the base of the pouch.
You double crochet across the top of the chain, rotate, and double crochet across the underside. This creates an oval base that becomes the bottom of the pouch. No separate base piece. No sewing.
The chain-2 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch. Work your first double crochet into the same stitch where you slip stitched to close the previous round. This keeps the seam straight and the stitch count accurate.
The eyelet round (round 9) creates the channel for the drawstrings. Make sure your stitch count before this round is correct. The pattern alternates (dc, ch 1, skip 1) around, and the spacing needs to be even.
Drawstrings should be at least double the pouch width plus 6 centimeters. Too short, and you won't be able to cinch the pouch fully open. Too long, and the excess hangs awkwardly.
Abbreviations Explained
- ch – chain: Yarn over, pull through loop.
- ch-sp – chain space: The gap under a chain.
- dc – double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, (yarn over, pull through two loops) twice.
- rep – repeat: Work the instruction set again.
- sk – skip: Move past without working.
- sl st – slip stitch: Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop.
Step-by-Step Speckled Drawstring Pouch
Pouch Body
Foundation: Chain 15.
For a wider pouch, chain more in multiples of 4, plus 3 (so 19, 23, 27, etc.).
Round 1: Dc in the 3rd chain from hook and in each chain across. Rotate to work along the underside of the foundation chain. Dc in each chain across. Slip stitch to the first dc. (26 stitches)
Rounds 2–8: Chain 2. Dc in each stitch around. Slip stitch. (26 stitches)
For a taller pouch, add rounds here. For a shorter pouch, stop earlier.
Round 9 (Eyelet Round): Chain 2. (Dc, ch 1, skip 1) 6 times. Dc. Repeat from *. Slip stitch. (14 dc, 12 chain-1 spaces)
Round 10: Chain 2. Dc in each stitch and each chain-1 space around. Slip stitch. (26 stitches)
Fasten off. Weave in the tail.
Drawstrings (Make 2)
With contrasting yarn, chain 40. Fasten off, leaving short tails.
Make a second identical string.
Threading the Drawstrings
On one side of the pouch, weave one string over and under the double crochets in the eyelet round, working through the chain-1 spaces. Pull the string through so half extends from each end.
Flip the pouch and repeat with the same string on the other side.
Take the second string and thread it the same way, but starting from the opposite side. Both strings should now circle the pouch in opposite directions.
Pull both strings from opposite sides simultaneously to cinch the pouch closed.
Trim the string ends to about 1.5 cm. Tie small knots at the tips if desired to prevent fraying.
Easy Variations & Custom Ideas
Solid with contrasting strings: Use a solid color for the pouch body and a bright contrasting color for the drawstrings. The eyelet round pops visually.
Beaded drawstrings: Thread small beads onto the string chains before crocheting. Slide one bead down every few chains for a decorative touch.
Mini gift bag: Use sport weight yarn and a 3.5 mm hook for a tiny pouch perfect for earrings or a ring.
Phone pouch: Chain 27 and work additional rounds for a pouch that fits a smartphone.
Common Troubleshooting and Fixes
Eyelet holes are unevenly spaced: Count your stitches before round 9. You need an even number of stitches for the (dc, ch 1, sk 1) pattern to work correctly.
Drawstrings won't thread smoothly: The chain-1 spaces may be too tight. Work the chain-1 in round 9 slightly looser than your normal tension.
Pouch base is puckered: You may have worked too many or too few stitches on the underside of the foundation chain. Both sides should have the same number of double crochets.
Pouch won't stand: The base needs to be flat. Block the finished pouch by misting with water and shaping the base on a flat surface.
Final Thoughts
This little pouch has become my favorite way to use up the last yards of a beautiful variegated yarn.
It's fast, practical, and makes a gift feel more personal than a store-bought gift bag ever could. I keep a stack of them folded flat in my drawer for whenever I need a small pouch.
Make a few in different sizes and colors. You'll find uses.
Tag me if you post yours. A rainbow of tiny pouches is my favorite thing to see.
