Skip to the patterns
EVERY CROCHET

Accessories 3 rounds No account, no download

Two-panel cotton crochet storage pouch pattern

A beginner cotton pouch worked in half double crochet (UK half treble), with US and UK stitch names given throughout.

Two-panel cotton crochet storage pouch pattern
Skill
Beginner
Time
4-6 hours
Yarn weight
Medium (Worsted)
Hook
4 mm

Beginner

What the original write-up called it. Nothing here is graded again.

Medium (Worsted)

What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.

4-6 hours

What the original page reckoned. Your own pace is the one that matters.

About this pattern

This pattern makes a small rectangular storage pouch worked in half double crochet (UK half treble), using medium weight cotton yarn and a 4 mm hook, finishing at approximately 7 x 5 inches (18 x 13 cm). Two matching panels are worked flat in rows, joined at the sides and base, then edged in single crochet. The result suits a beginner crocheter and takes roughly 4 to 6 hours to complete.

This storage pouch sits within the half double crochet (UK half treble) family, a stitch that falls between single crochet and double crochet in height and produces a dense, slightly ridged fabric. Worked in a medium weight cotton yarn, the texture reads as a subtle, even grid rather than a pronounced pattern, which suits a small accessory meant to hold its shape. The stitch height keeps rows quick to work, making the project suited to a beginner who wants a finished object without complicated shaping.

The pouch is built from two identical rectangular panels, each worked flat in rows from a starting chain of 29 stitches, producing 28 stitches across every row. Finished size is approximately 7 x 5 inches (18 x 13 cm). The main pattern repeats the same row instructions throughout, so the panel grows evenly without counting increases or decreases. Once both panels reach full length, they are joined around the sides and base, then finished with a single crochet border that reinforces the opening edge and gives the pouch a neat, structured finish.

Materials

  • Medium weight cotton yarn in main color: approximately 160 yards (146 meters)
  • Contrast color cotton yarn for edging: approximately 20 yards (18 meters)
  • 4 mm US G-6 crochet hook
  • Yarn needle for sewing and weaving ends
  • Scissors

Optional

  • zipper, snap closure, or button closure

The list is the pattern's own wording.

Instructions

Every round is printed as the pattern wrote it, brackets and all. Open the key beside a round to see only the short forms that round uses.

Main Pattern

Panel Instructions (Make 2). The pouch is made from two identical panels. Each panel is worked from the bottom upward in rows. Turning chains do not count as stitches throughout the pattern.

  1. Row 1

    Ch 29. Hdc in the second chain from hook and across. Turn. (28 hdc)

    Key2
    hdc
    half double crochet
    ch
    chain
  2. Row 2

    Ch 1, hdc in each stitch across. Turn. (28 hdc)

    Key2
    hdc
    half double crochet
    ch
    chain
  3. Rows 3–30

    Repeat Row 2. Turn after each row. (28 hdc)Fasten off the first panel. Repeat all instructions to create the second panel.

    Key1
    hdc
    half double crochet

Optional Color Change

For a striped design, change colors every 5 rows. Complete the final stitch of the previous row with the new color, then continue the next row normally.

Making up

  1. InfoLightly block the panels before assembly if needed. Blocking helps relax the stitches and creates straighter edges. Add a zipper, snap, or button closure if you want a more secure storage pouch.
  2. Step 1Place both panels together with the right sides facing outward.
  3. Step 2Join yarn at the bottom corner.
  4. Step 3Single crochet through both layers along the bottom and side edges.
  5. Step 4Leave the top edge open for the pouch opening.
  6. Step 5Work one additional round of single crochet around the opening edge for reinforcement.
  7. Step 6Fasten off and weave in all ends securely.
  8. Step 7For the best results, gently shape the finished pouch before using it. Light blocking with water and air drying can improve the overall appearance of the stitches.
  9. Step 8Wash cotton crochet accessories gently by hand or according to yarn care instructions.
  10. Step 9Store flat when not in use to maintain the shape.
  11. Step 10Trim and secure all yarn tails to prevent unraveling.

Notes from the pattern

  • A 4 mm (US G-6) hook is specified for the project; with cotton yarn, keep tension even, since cotton has less give than wool and uneven stitches show more clearly in a dense hdc fabric.
  • Turning chains do not count as stitches throughout the pattern, so each row begins directly with the first hdc into the actual first stitch, not the chain.
  • If working the optional striped colour change, complete the final stitch of the previous row with the new colour before turning, which keeps the colour join clean along the row edge.
  • The closure is left open to choice -- a zipper, snap, or button -- so decide on a method before finishing the border, as this affects where the opening edge is left.
  • Finished size: approximately 7 x 5 inches (18 x 13 cm).
  • Gauge: approximately 16 hdc x 12 rows = 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm).
  • To make a mini pouch, begin with 21 chains and work fewer rows; for a tablet or notebook pouch, increase the chain length and add additional rows. When adjusting the size, always make both panels identical before joining, since matching measurements create cleaner seams.

The essentials

Rounds
3
Parts
2
Level
Beginner
Time
4-6 hours
Hook
4 mm
Yarn
Medium (Worsted)

Stitches you will use

  • Half double crochet Used across every row of both panels for 30 rows; keep stitch height consistent so the 28-stitch count holds across the whole piece.
  • Panel joining and seaming Done once both panels are complete, joining the sides and base with single crochet through both layers and leaving the top edge open; match row counts beforehand so the edges line up evenly.

Troubleshooting

The panel edges curl or the rectangle doesn't lie flat.

Some crochet fabrics naturally curl while being worked; cotton worked at a tight gauge can also cause hdc rows to cup. Loosen tension slightly, and block the finished panel with water and air drying -- adding the border also helps the finished accessory lay flat.

The two panels end up different lengths

If one panel becomes wider or longer than the other, check your stitch count at the end of every row; consistent counting prevents uneven assembly, so recount every few rows and fasten off only once both panels reach the same row total before seaming.

The sides or border edges appear stretched or loose.

If the sides appear stretched, use a slightly smaller hook or crochet the border with tighter tension for additional stability, working the edging at an even, consistent spacing rather than forcing a fixed number of stitches.

Substituting yarn

Acrylic, medium (worsted) weight
Keeps the same hook size and stitch count but gives a softer, less structured pouch than cotton, so an interior stiffener may help it hold its shape.
Cotton-linen blend, medium weight
Keeps a similar firm hand and the same 4 mm hook, with a slightly drier surface texture and less stretch recovery than pure cotton.
Wool or wool-blend, aran weight
Produces a warmer, slightly thicker fabric; moving up to a 4.5-5 mm hook may be needed, and the finished pouch will be less structured than the cotton original.

Washing and care

  • Wash the cotton pouch gently by hand or on a delicate cycle according to the yarn label, since cotton holds its shape well but can lose definition if agitated roughly.
  • Reshape the pouch while damp, light block if needed, air dry flat, and store flat rather than folded to keep the rectangular shape and border even.

FAQs

Questions

Can the pouch be made larger or smaller?

Yes -- adjust the starting chain of 29 stitches in multiples that keep an even stitch count, and work the same number of rows on both panels so they match when joined. For a mini pouch, begin with 21 chains and make fewer rows; for a tablet or notebook pouch, increase the chain length and add additional rows.

Does the colour change striping affect the stitch count?

No, the optional striping only changes colour every 5 rows and does not alter the 28-stitch count or the row structure of the main pattern.

What closure works best for this pouch?

A zipper gives the most secure, flat finish, while a snap or button closure is quicker to attach and suits a more casual look; any of the three listed options fits the finished opening.

Why use cotton yarn instead of another fibre?

Cotton gives the pouch a firm, smooth structure and an easy-care finish that holds its rectangular shape better than more elastic fibres, which matters for a pouch meant to keep its form when carrying small items.

Is this pattern suitable for a first-time crocheter?

Yes -- the entire main panel repeats a single hdc row instruction for 30 rows, with no increases, decreases, or shaping, making it a straightforward beginner project.

These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.