Lighthouse Pouch in Cascade Yarns North Shore Prints - DK407 - Downloadable PDF

Lighthouse Pouch – Free Knitting Pattern by Carly Waterman for Cascade Yarns (DK407)

The Lighthouse Pouch is a charming, beginner-friendly knitted bag pattern designed by Carly Waterman and published by Cascade Yarns as a free downloadable PDF (pattern number DK407). This compact cylindrical pouch is worked entirely in the round from the bottom up, making it an ideal project for knitters who are new to circular knitting or looking for a quick, satisfying accessory make. The finished pouch measures 6 inches tall by 12¾ inches in diameter, creating a generously sized rounded bag perfect for storing small accessories, cosmetics, craft supplies, or everyday essentials.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single cylindrical drawstring pouch with a gathered, closed top and a drawstring closure threaded through a row of decorative eyelets near the bag's opening. A separate 4-stitch i-cord, measuring 29 inches long, serves as the drawstring and is threaded through the eyelets once the main body of the bag is complete. The ends of the i-cord can be sewn together to form a continuous loop or simply cinched and tied, giving the knitter flexibility in how the finished pouch closes and is carried.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Cascade Yarns® North Shore Prints – a 100% acrylic DK-weight yarn, sold in 100 g (3.5 oz) skeins with approximately 220 yards (200 m) per skein. Only 1 skein is required, in colorway #501 (Lighthouse).
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) double pointed needles (dpns) – used for both the main body of the bag and the i-cord drawstring.
• Notions: A stitch marker and a yarn needle for finishing.

Because the pattern uses only one skein of a widely available acrylic yarn, it is both budget-friendly and practical. The acrylic fiber content means the finished pouch is machine-washable and durable for everyday use.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round on double pointed needles – the entire body of the bag is worked as a seamless tube, eliminating the need for seaming and making it an excellent introduction to circular construction.
• I-cord construction – the drawstring is created as a 4-stitch i-cord by repeatedly sliding stitches to the opposite end of the dpn and knitting across, producing a neat, rounded cord without any sewing.
• Eyelet row – a decorative and functional row of eyelets is created using yarn over (YO) and K2tog combinations, producing 8 evenly spaced holes through which the drawstring is later threaded.
• Shaped decrease crown – the top of the bag is closed through seven rounds of paired decreases, using both K2tog (right-leaning) and SSK (left-leaning) decreases to evenly reduce the stitch count and create a smooth, gathered finish.
• Purl rows – two purl rounds are worked just before the decrease section, creating a subtle ridge that visually separates the body of the bag from the gathered top.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the primary stitch, used throughout the body and i-cord.
• Purl (P) – worked in two rounds to create a textural ridge near the top of the bag.
• Yarn Over (YO) – used in combination with K2tog to create the eyelet holes for the drawstring.
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together) – a right-leaning decrease used in both the eyelet row and the decrease crown rounds.
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) – a left-leaning decrease paired with K2tog in the crown shaping to create symmetrical, balanced reductions.
• Stockinette stitch in the round – formed by knitting