Drawstring Pouch - Dalmation

Drawstring Pouch - Dalmation by Knit Stitch by Sam Warburton

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern creates a charming drawstring pouch featuring a dalmation spot design. The project is ideal for beginner knitters looking to expand their skills with colorwork techniques while creating a practical, finished accessory. The pouch combines stockinette stitch with a two-color intarsia or stranded colorwork chart to produce the distinctive spotted pattern.

What Is Being Made

A small drawstring pouch with a dalmation spot motif, perfect for storing small items, jewelry, or notions. The finished piece is a rectangular fabric that is folded and seamed to create a functional bag with a drawstring closure at the top.

Techniques Used

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary stitch throughout the project, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric with a neat appearance on the right side
• Colorwork Charting: The dalmation pattern is worked from a provided chart using two-color knitting, with the design positioned in the center section of the pouch
• Casting On and Casting Off: Basic techniques for beginning and finishing the knitted fabric
• Seaming: The pouch is constructed by folding the knitted rectangle and sewing the side seams together using mattress stitch or similar seaming method
• Running Stitch: A simple hand-sewing technique used to create the drawstring channel approximately 3 inches from the top opening

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch (K): Used throughout the stockinette stitch sections
• Purl Stitch (P): Implied in the stockinette stitch construction (alternating rows of knit and purl)
• Running Stitch: Hand-sewn stitch for the drawstring channel and seaming

Materials Required

This project uses 100g of Stylecraft Special DK Wool, distributed across three colors in one ball of each shade:

• 1019 Cloud Blue (CB): Used for the main body and background of the pouch
• 1001 White (W): Part of the dalmation pattern and used for the drawstring
• 1002 Black (B): Creates the spotted dalmation design

Needles: 4mm knitting needles are used throughout the project. The DK weight yarn paired with 4mm needles creates a fabric with good stitch definition, ideal for displaying the colorwork pattern clearly.

Pattern Structure and Row Breakdown

The pattern is organized into distinct sections totaling 163 rows:

• Rows 1-30: Stockinette stitch in Cloud Blue, establishing the lower solid-colored section of the pouch
• Rows 31-81: Colorwork section worked from the top of the dalmation chart downward, introducing the spotted pattern
• Rows 82-132: Continuation of the colorwork, worked from the bottom to the top of the chart, completing the dalmation design
• Rows 133-163: Final 30 rows in Cloud Blue stockinette stitch, creating the upper solid-colored section

Construction and Finishing

After completing all 163 rows and casting off, the knitted rectangle is folded in half with the shortest sides meeting. The longest sides are then seamed together to form the pouch shape. A drawstring channel is created by sewing a running stitch with white wool approximately 3 inches from the top opening. Knots are tied at the ends of the drawstring wool to prevent it from slipping through the fabric, creating a functional closure system.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, this pattern is accessible to knitters new to colorwork. The straightforward stockinette stitch base combined with a charted colorwork design provides an excellent introduction to working with multiple colors while maintaining manageable complexity.