Drawstring Pouch - Bear

Drawstring Pouch - Bear by Knit Stitch by Sam Warburton

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted drawstring pouch featuring a charted bear design. The finished project creates a practical storage bag with a functional drawstring closure, suitable for holding small items such as notions, accessories, or gifts. The pouch is worked flat and then seamed to create a three-dimensional bag shape.

Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly project employs fundamental knitting techniques including:

• Flat knitting on straight needles, working in rows rather than in the round
• Stockinette stitch as the primary fabric base, creating a smooth, classic knit surface
• Intarsia or stranded colorwork using a charted pattern to incorporate the bear design in contrasting colors
• Seaming to join the cast-off edges and create the pouch structure
• Running stitch embroidery worked with yarn to create the functional drawstring channel

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on essential stitches suitable for beginners:

• Knit stitch (K) - the primary stitch throughout
• Stockinette stitch (st st) - alternating knit rows and purl rows to create the smooth fabric
• Cast on - establishing the initial 50 stitches
• Cast off - binding off stitches at the completion of the piece
• Running stitch - used for the drawstring channel and seaming

Materials and Specifications

This project requires minimal materials, making it an economical choice:

• Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK Wool, 100g total (1 ball each of two colors)
• Colors: 1823 Mustard (M) for the main pouch body and 1002 Black (B) for the bear design
• Needles: 4mm straight needles for working the flat fabric
• Additional materials: White wool for the drawstring and embroidery work

Pattern Construction

The pouch is constructed in three distinct sections totaling 163 rows:

• Rows 1-30: Stockinette stitch foundation in Mustard, establishing the pouch base
• Rows 31-81: Charted bear design worked from the top of the chart downward in stockinette stitch, introducing the Black colorwork
• Rows 82-132: Continuation of the charted design, worked from the bottom of the chart upward, completing the bear motif
• Rows 133-163: Return to solid Mustard stockinette stitch for the final 30 rows, creating the top section of the pouch

Assembly and Finishing

After knitting is complete, the flat piece is transformed into a functional pouch through simple assembly steps. The fabric is folded in half with the shortest edges meeting, and the longest sides are sewn together using mattress stitch or whip stitch to create the pouch structure. A drawstring channel is created by working a running stitch approximately 3 inches from the top opening, using white wool to create visual contrast. The drawstring ends are knotted to prevent the yarn from slipping through the fabric, providing a secure closure mechanism.

Skill Level

Designated as a beginner project, this drawstring pouch is ideal for knitters new to colorwork. The use of stockinette stitch throughout and straightforward shaping make it accessible, while the charted bear design introduces basic intarsia or stranded colorwork techniques in a manageable way.