Drawstring Pouch - Rabbit

Drawstring Pouch - Rabbit by Knit Stitch by Sam Warburton

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern creates a charming drawstring pouch featuring an intarsia rabbit motif. Designed by Knit Stitch by Sam Warburton, this beginner-friendly project combines simple stockinette stitch with colorwork techniques to produce a functional and decorative storage bag. The finished pouch is ideal for holding small items such as notions, jewelry, or craft supplies.

What Is Being Made

A knitted drawstring pouch with a rabbit design worked in colorwork. The pouch features a rectangular construction that folds and seams to create a finished bag with a drawstring closure at the top. The rabbit motif is created using intarsia colorwork, displayed prominently on the front and back of the completed pouch.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary stitch throughout the project, worked in knit rows alternating with purl rows to create a smooth, flat fabric with a distinct right side
• Intarsia Colorwork: A color pattern technique used to incorporate the rabbit design from a provided chart, worked over the middle section of the pouch using two contrasting yarn colors
• Casting On and Casting Off: Standard techniques to begin and finish the knitted piece
• Seaming: Joining the folded knitted rectangle along the longest sides to form the pouch structure
• Running Stitch: A hand-sewn embroidery stitch used to create the drawstring channel approximately 3 inches from the top of the finished pouch

Stitches and Stitch Counts

The pattern begins with a cast-on of 50 stitches in stockinette stitch. The pouch is constructed in three distinct sections: a solid mustard-colored stockinette section (rows 1–30), a colorwork section featuring the rabbit chart worked in both directions (rows 31–81 and rows 82–132), and a final solid mustard stockinette section (rows 133–163). This structure creates a pouch with the rabbit design centered on both the front and back when the piece is folded and seamed.

Materials Required

This pattern calls for DK weight yarn in two colors from Stylecraft Special DK Wool: one ball each of 1823 Mustard (the main color for the pouch body) and 1002 Black (for the rabbit motif). The total yardage is approximately 100g. Knitting is worked on 4mm needles. White wool is required for the hand-sewn drawstring channel, though yardage is minimal. A yarn needle is needed for seaming and embroidery work.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as beginner-friendly, making it suitable for knitters new to colorwork. While intarsia is introduced, the straightforward stockinette stitch base and simple construction keep the overall difficulty accessible. Knitters should be comfortable with basic cast-on, cast-off, and seaming techniques before beginning.

Pattern Structure and Assembly

The knitted rectangle is folded in half along its shortest sides and seamed along both longest sides to create the pouch shape. A running stitch worked in white wool approximately 3 inches from the top creates a channel for the drawstring. Knots are tied at the ends of the drawstring to prevent it from slipping through the knitted fabric, completing the functional closure.