Crochet BIAS STRIPE Pouch Free Pattern

I was feeling that itch to create a new pouch pattern but nothing comes to mind. So I flipped through my red record book hoping to find an idea that I did not pursue. A light bulb turned on in my head when I saw the pattern draft for my BEHIND DIAGONAL BARS BANGLE.

A pouch with a diagonal stripe pattern! Wow, what a lovely idea! But first of all, I wanted to know how "used" that idea is so I researched Ravelry and Google for diagonal patterns. I was pleased to find that there is only one pattern similar to what I was thinking of and it was for a mitten (not much of a competition for a purse).

Since I am to have a bazaar in Merry Child School (where I used to work as a teacher), I decided to use the school colors red and gray for the stripes. I was aiming for an evening pouch, something that can be worn to a formal event or weddings or to a simple night out with friends. Therefore, I opted to use transparent plarn plied with 2-3 strands of red and gray thread.

It's a bit dull in the photo because my camera can't capture how the light reflects when the pouch is hit with light.

For more of my free patterns and crochet articles, check out the following links.

Materials:

• yarn in two colors
• zipper
• cloth

Tools

• hook
• sewing pins, needle and thread

This evening pouch was crocheted with 1/4-in single strand plarn cut from transparent plastic bags using #4 crochet yarn hook. Gray YKK zipper and cloth from my old t-shirt were used to zip and line this pouch.

This pattern uses American crochet notation.

• Ch - chain
• Sk – skip
• Dc – double crochet
• Dc tog – double crochet together
• Sc – single crochet
• Sl st – slip stitch
• St/sts – stitch/ stitches

Dctog literally means double crochet together. This stitch refers to a group of dc’s that drawn together at the top. The number of dc’s in a dctog stitch is indicated by the number preceding the word tog. For example, in this pattern, you’ll find dc 3tog and dc 2tog. The video floating at the right shows a dc 2tog.

This stitch is used to decrease dc’s and is very similar to a dc-cluster. Their difference is that dc-cluster is worked on the same stitch or space while the dctog is worked on adjacent stitches or spaces.

The crochet instructions for a dc 3tog:

[Y o, insert hook in next st, draw a loop through, y o, draw through 2 loops] 3x, y o, draw through all 4 loops on hook.

COLORWORK

• While working the Bias Strip, I changed color every 5 rounds.
• The Top Side Round is gray, the Bottom Round is red.

To Form Bias Strip:

Foundation Chain: Ch 30 (or any length desired).

Row 1: Sk 3 ch, 2 dc in next ch, dc on each ch across until 3 ch are left, dc3tog, ch 2, turn.

Row 2: Dc2tog, dc on each dc across, 3 dc on top of turning ch, ch 3, turn.

Row 3: 2 dc in first dc, dc on each st across until 3 sts are left, dc3tog, ch 2, turn.

Repeat row 2 & 3 for pattern. My pouch has a total of 40 rows. I changed thread color every 5 rows for a total of 8 stripes.

Begin work on the side of the strip. This will serve as the top round where the zipper will be attached.

Top Side Row 1: Ch 1, (5 sc every 2 rows) repeat till end of strip, turn.

Top Side Row 2: Repeat Top Side Row 1.

Join the strip into a coil by slip stitching adjacent stitches till the other side of the strip is reached.

Bottom Round: Ch 1, (5 sc every 2 rows) repeat all around, sl st to first sc.

Sew the bottom by slip stitching the adjacent sc's of the Bottom Round.

If you are new to zipping and lining a pouch, the tutorial by Carrie Wolf is a good place to start.

Once you've read that tutorial keep the following things in mind:

1. Stitch the zipper to the Top Side Row 1.
2. Run the stitch at least three times on each end of the zipper for those areas will receive a lot of stress and stretch.
3. Turn the piece inside out when attaching the lining.
4. Attach the lining to the zipper carefully hiding the stitches that attached the zipper to the crochet.