Crochet a Small Bag ‘Nola’ – Free Crochet Pattern

Deutsche Version: Hier geht’s zur deutschen Häkelanleitung.

Looking for a small crochet project that’s quick to make and perfect for gifting? This little pouch works up in no time and is just right for small surprises, cash gifts, or other little treats. It also makes a lovely Advent calendar pouch. In this free pattern, I’ll show you step by step how to crochet it yourself.

What you’ll need

• Cotton yarn, Sport / 2 Fine (125 m/50 g), e.g. Schachenmayr Catania,
  3 colors of your choice – approx. 8 g total per pouch
• Crochet hooks: 2.5 mm and 3.0 mm
• Tapestry needle (for weaving in the yarn ends)
• 2 beads of your choice, approx. 8 mm in diameter; small clips (if available); craft glue
• Optional: thin sewing needle and sewing thread (for threading the beads)

Size

6 cm (width) × 4.5 cm (height)

Stitches/Abbreviations (US)

ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet

Explanation of the notation:
2 sc – work 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts
3 sc – work 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, etc.
(2 sc) – work 2 sc in the next st, i.e. 2 sts in the same stitch

How to crochet the little pouch

Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook and the desired color, ch 13 (12 + 1 turning ch).

Round 1:
Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, (3 sc), 10 sc (fig. 1), (3 sc) in the last ch.
Continue along the underside of the foundation chain:
10 sc, join the round with 1 sl st in the first sc of the round (figs. 2/3) (= 26 sts).

Round 2:
Ch 1, 3x (2 sc) (begin in the same stitch as the sl st),
10 sc, 3x (2 sc), 10 sc, join the round with 1 sl st in the first sc of the round (= 32 sts).

Turn.

Round 3:
Ch 2, 1 tr in the next st (= 2nd st), ch 1,

* work 1 dc and 1 sc together as follows:
yarn over, insert the hook into the next st, pull the yarn through the st (fig. 2),
insert the hook into the next st, pull the yarn through the st (fig. 3),
3x (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops), ch 1 (fig. 4),

Repeat from * 14 more times (fig. 5).

Join the round with 1 sl st in the tr at the beginning of the round (fig. 6).

Round 4:
Ch 2, 1 tr in the same stitch in which the sl st was just worked (= 1st st), ch 1,
* work 1 dc and 1 sc together as follows:
yarn over, insert the hook into the next ch-1 space and pull up a loop, insert the hook into the next ch-1 space and pull up a loop, 3x (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops), ch 1,
repeat from * 14 more times.

Join the round with 1 sl st in the tr at the beginning of the round.

Rounds 5 to 6: repeat Round 4 (fig. 1)

Turn the pouch inside out; the wrong side is now facing out (fig. 2).

Turn.

Round 7:

Ch 2, 1 hdc in the 1st ch-1 space,
* 2 hdc in the next ch-1 space, repeat from * 18 more times. Join the round with 1 sl st in the 1st hdc of the round.

Fasten off and weave in the yarn end as follows:

Pass the yarn through both top loops of the second stitch ahead (fig. 1), then insert it into the back loop of the last stitch worked (fig. 2) and pull the yarn through (fig. 3). Continue weaving in the yarn end invisibly on the inside.

Crochet Chart – Rounds 1 to 4

Open crochet chart separately

Strap

For the strap, using a 3.0 mm crochet hook and Color 2, make a chain approx. 13 cm long (mine is 35 ch). Switch to a 2.5 mm crochet hook. Work 1 sc in each ch, starting in the 2nd ch from the hook and inserting the hook into the small loop on the back of each ch (see figs. 1 and 2).

Fasten off and weave in the beginning and end yarn tails.

Steam the strap under a slightly damp dish towel with an iron so that it lies nice and flat.

Glue the strap to the inside of the pouch on the left and right and secure it with small clips until dry (figs. 3 and 4). Alternatively, you can sew the strap on.

Cord

For the cord, using a 2.5 mm crochet hook and Color 3, make a chain approx. 11 cm long.
Fasten off and thread one bead onto each yarn end. If the hole in the bead is large enough, you can thread the yarn through using a tapestry needle. If the hole is too small – as with my beads – proceed as follows:

Thread a piece of sewing thread through a very thin sewing needle and pull both ends of the sewing thread through the bead so that a loop remains on one side (figs. 1/2). Thread the end of the chain through this loop (fig. 2). Then pull on the sewing thread to draw the yarn end through the bead (fig. 3).

Tie a knot in the yarn end directly next to the bead. If the bead opening is larger, you can also secure the bead with a drop of glue.

Thread the closure through the pouch from front to back as shown in figs. 5 and 6. Insert the beads through the loop from the top and adjust the closure (fig. 7).

Your little pouch is finished

Your little pouch is now finished and ready to fill and give as a gift. Its handy size makes it perfect for small surprises such as jewelry, hair ties, coins, folded banknotes, gift vouchers, individually wrapped chocolates or candies, small perfume samples, earbuds, or other little favorite things.

The pouch also works beautifully as an Advent calendar pouch. Simply crochet several of them in different colors and fill them with small surprises – and little by little, you’ll create your own personal crocheted Advent calendar.