Striped Pouch - Free Bag Crochet Pattern in Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted - Downloadable PDF

Striped Pouch: Free Beginner Crochet Bag Pattern Using Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted

This Striped Pouch is a free, downloadable PDF crochet pattern from Paintbox Yarns that produces a compact, colourful zipped bag measuring 21 cm (8¼ in) wide and 15 cm (6 in) long. It is an ideal project for beginner crocheters looking to practise working in the round, managing colour changes, and finishing a functional accessory with a zip closure. The finished pouch is perfect as a makeup bag, coin purse, or everyday carry-all.

Construction Method and Techniques

The pouch is worked bottom-up and seamlessly in the round, meaning the crocheter begins at the base of the bag and builds upward without any seaming along the sides. This approach creates a clean, professional finish and is particularly beginner-friendly because it eliminates the need to sew body panels together.

• Bottom-up construction: The pattern begins with a starting chain. On the first round, stitches are worked around both sides of that foundation chain, which naturally forms the flat base of the pouch. Each end of the chain marks a side of the bag.
• Worked in the round: Each round is joined with a slip stitch and then turned before the next round begins. Turning chains do not count as stitches, and the first stitch of each new round is worked into the last stitch of the previous round, just past the joining slip stitch.
• Stripes: The design features a multicolour striped pattern created by switching between the various yarn colours at regular intervals. Managing yarn colour changes in the round is a foundational skill this pattern helps beginners develop.
• Zip finishing: Once the crochet body is complete, a 20 cm (8 in) zip is sewn in by hand using a needle and matching thread, adding a secure closure to the pouch.

Stitches Used

The pattern is written in UK crochet terminology, with US equivalents provided in italics within round brackets throughout the instructions. The primary stitch used throughout the body of the pouch is:

• Double crochet (UK) / Single crochet (US) — abbreviated as dc (sc): This is one of the most fundamental crochet stitches, producing a tight, dense, and sturdy fabric that is well suited to bag-making. It creates a firm structure that holds its shape when filled.
• Chain (ch): Used to create the foundation chain that forms the base of the pouch.
• Slip stitch: Used to join rounds. Note that the slip stitch joining each round is skipped when beginning the next round's stitches.

Tension and Hook

Although the pattern notes that tension is not essential for this project, the sample was worked at a tension of 16 stitches and 16 rows over 10 cm (4 in) of double crochet (single crochet). The recommended hook size is a 5mm (H/8) crochet hook, or the size needed to achieve the correct tension if precise dimensions are important to the maker.

Materials: Yarn and Colours

The pattern calls for Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted, a worsted-weight yarn made entirely from wool. This yarn weight pairs well with the 5mm hook and produces a sturdy, structured fabric ideal for accessories and bags. The yarn is available in individual 100g balls or as part of a Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted Mini Ball Pack (5 × 20g balls), making it easy to source small quantities of multiple colours for the striped design.

The specific colours used in the pattern sample are:

• Colour A: Seafoam Blue — 1 × 100g ball
• Colour B: Pistachio Green — 1 × 100g ball
• Colour C: Slate Green — 1 × 100g ball
• Colour D: Dusty Rose