How To Knit A Simple Drawstring Pouch

You may already know from my social media that I am a dedicated lover of skincare and makeup, and if you don’t, make sure you follow me on Instagram because I always post about budget cosmetic dupes – my other obsession other than knitting!

I manage to keep my collection of serums and beauty bits organised at home (kind of), but one thing I struggle with is keeping them ordered and together whilst travelling. Glass bottles and beauty packaging often looks beautiful, but it can get easily damaged when you’re on the go and cause chaos in your luggage. After all, who wants their socks covered in hyaluronic acid, right?

With that in mind, this Christmas the family and I are travelling to see relatives in Italy, and I always like to plan and prepare before a big trip. I am not the tidiest person in the world – you should see the non-aesthetic photos of my craft room – so staying as organised as possible and being neat when I pack our suitcases is really important to me..

So, I thought that one way of doing this would be to design some simple and very useful drawstring knit pouches to keep all my beauty bits and bobs safe and tidy. These gorgeous pouches aren’t only handy for makeup and skincare, though. They’re also fantastic to use as storage for baby items, to keep in your car or handbag, for keeping fruit and snacks on hand, to throw in your kid’s backpack for their toiletry items at school… You name it!

When planning these pouches, I kept a few things in mind. They had to be made out of a durable and, above all, washable yarn that would stand the test of time and deal with a lot of laundries, and that the knitted fabric had to be firm enough to keep everything safe inside without things poking out, meaning that I’d have to go down a few needle sizes to create a dense fabric. I also wanted the design to be approachable for confident beginners, to be an interesting introduction to the beauty of circular knitting, and, probably moslt importantly, I needed this pattern to be something you’ll actually use and not sling in a drawer once you’ve finished! I also included instructions for two different sizes to give you a more compact and a roomier option.

These drawstring pouches are both functional and pretty, and perfect for those of you who want to add a touch of handmade to your beauty regime. You don’t just have to use them for travelling, though. They’ll work perfectly well as storage in your bathroom or makeup area, too.

Just a note: you will find links on this post that are affiliate links. This simply means that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me!

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Why You’ll Love This Pattern

• Keeps Travel Organised: Designed specifically to corral skincare bottles, makeup, and smaller travel essentials so they stay tidy inside your suitcase rather than rolling around loose.
• Brilliantly Versatile: While ideal for cosmetics, these handy pouches double as practical storage for baby accessories, healthy snacks in your handbag, children’s school items or for use at home.
• Firm and Secure Fabric: Worked on smaller needle sizes to create a dense, sturdy texture that safely contains all your bits and pieces without anything poking through the stitches.
• Clever Construction: Features an engaging technique that begins by working the drawstring casing flat before seamlessly joining in the round for the main body of the pouch.
• Washable and Practical: Made using durable, machine washable yarn designed to withstand frequent use, laundering, and everyday adventures.

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Tools, Gauge, Needles & Notions

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Stitch Guide & Abbreviations

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About The Yarn · Laughing Hens Soft Baby Cotton

Because Laughing Hens Soft Baby Cotton is such a versatile, breathable, and hard-wearing yarn, its uses stretch far beyond travel pouches. The smooth stitch definition and soft handle make it an absolute joy for all sorts of projects that require both durability and comfort.

Here are a few ways you can use this yarn for your next crafting sessions:

• Baby Garments and Blankets: True to its name, this yarn is exceptionally gentle against delicate skin, making it wonderful for lightweight baby cardigans, little booties, heirloom blankets, and sweet little bonnets that need to survive frequent washing.
• Amigurumi and Toys: The firm twist and tight stitch structure create a dense fabric that prevents stuffing from peeking through, which is ideal for crocheting or knitting adorable soft toys and nursery decorations.
• Home Decor and Kitchen Accessories: Because cotton handles moisture well and holds its shape, it works brilliantly for everyday dishcloths, textured washcloths, reusable face scrubbies, and small decorative baskets for your dressing table.
• Lightweight Summer Garments: The breathability of pure cotton makes it a fantastic choice for breezy summer tops, market bags, lightweight shawls, and cardigans that you can throw on during cooler seaside evenings.

Shop Laughing Hens Soft Baby Cotton here and enjoy this gorgeus yarn for yoiurself!

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Notes

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Yarn & Yardage Note: You can approximately get two pouches out of the yarn listed (two balls of Laughing Hens Soft Baby Cotton, using roughly half of each ball).

Fabric Density: The pattern uses smaller needle sizes than typically recommended for the yarn to create a dense, sturdy fabric that keeps small items from poking through.

Construction Technique: The pouch begins by working back and forth in rows to create the upper casing (leaving side gaps for the drawstring), before seamlessly joining in the round for the main body.

Customisation: The stitch count is flexible and does not require specific multiples, making it easy to adjust the width and height to suit your needs.

Care: Made a with durable, machine washable cotton blend designed to withstand frequent use and laundering.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Note: the instructions are for both the smaller, plain pouch and larger colour block version.
Any instructions in bold are for the larger pouch.

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1. Part One: Casting On & Knitting The I-Cord Casing

On your circular needles, cast on 70 (90) sts stitches using the long tail cast on. Instead of joining in the round immediately, we will work back and forth for 14 rows. Working this upper band flat creates two open vertical edges at the sides, which will later serve as the exit points for your drawstring.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): Purl all stitches.

Row 2 (Right Side): Knit all stitches.

Rows 3 to 14: Continue alternating purl and knit rows to maintain this sequence, ending with a purl row on Row 14.

After completing Row 14, your piece will measure the required height for the upper band and create the two open vertical side edges for your drawstring.

2. Part Two: Joining in the Round

Once your casing band reaches the desired height, arrange your stitches evenly across your circular needles with the right side (stockinette ‘v’ stitches) facing you. Place a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round and move your yarn in front of your work. Join your work to knit in the round by slipping one the last stitch on your left handle needle over to your right, and moving the right hand stitch over this stitch. You will now have 69 (89) stitches. Because you are transitioning from flat knitting to circular knitting, make sure the very first round is joined securely to avoid a small ladder or loose stitch at the join by pulling the working yarn firmly and increasing your tension slightly over the first two or three stitches. You can keep an eye on this by tugging the yarn firmly at the beginning of the second and third rounds too. Now, move your working yarn to the back of your work as if to knit.

3. Part Three: Knitting The Body

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Small plain pouch: Continue knitting every round in stocking stitch (knitting every round) for the entire length of the pouch body until it reaches 7″/15 cm.

Large colour block pouch: After 11 rounds in colour one, change to colour two and knit until your work measures 8″/20 cm.

4. Part Four: Casting Off & Finishing Up

Cast off all your stitches loosely. Arrange the pouch as shown, so that the front drawstring opening is at the front and the beginning of the round is at the side of your work. Weave in your ends securely on the wrong side. Turn your work right side out and seam the base of the bag by slip stitching it closed using your 4.0 mm crochet hook. If you prefer, you can also sew it closed using your preferred sewing method. I enjoy using slipped stitches as it creates an extremely neat and secure edge that looks finished and tidy.

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4. Part Five: Making the I-Cord (Video Tutorial) & Sewing Down The i-Cord Section

Making the tie cord (knit version): for the knitted version, cast on two stitches and work an i-cord until it measures around 50cm, or as long as you’d like. You can also use an i-cord maker if you prefer. Break yarn and fasten off.
Making the tie cord (crochet version): Using your 3.5 mm crochet hook, chain 110 sts or longer, depending on the length you’d like. Sk 1 st and sl st into every st across. Break yarn and fasten off. Weave in ends.

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How to Make an i-Cord

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Turn your work inside out. Using your yarn needle and matching yarn, sew the housing down neatly, working your stitches underneath the garter stitch ridges evenly, taking care to follow the same line of stitches. Check your work periodically to ensure that the stitches are even. When you’re done, weave in your starting and ending tails from the flat section, securing the bottom corners of the flat band neatly so the side openings look clean. Turn your work right side out. Finally, thread your cord or I-cord right through the upper channel using a large eyed, blunt yarn needle, letting the ends emerge from the side slits you created when you knit the top flat.

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Now you can enjoy your pouch and get organised!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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What skill level is this pattern suited for?

This pattern is ideal for confident beginners who are comfy with working in the round. If you already know how to cast on, knit in the round, and cast off, you will find this project a breeze. The technique of starting the casing flat and then joining in the round adds a fun, clever touch to your skillset without being overly complicated.

What kind of yarn should I use for these pouches?

You will want to choose a durable, washable yarn that can handle regular laundering and everyday wear and tear. Cotton or a robust cotton such as the one I used works wonderfully because it creates a firm structure and holds its shape well. Avoid 100% wool yarns, mohair and other delicate yarns, unless your pouch is more decorative and will have minimal wear.

How do I make the fabric dense enough so small items do not poke through?

To achieve a nice, dense fabric, this pattern uses needle sizes a few steps smaller than what the yarn ball band typically recommends. This tight gauge ensures that your smaller skincare items, cosmetics, or snacks stay safely inside the pouch.

Can I adjust the size and design of the pouch?

Yes, absolutely. You can easily customise the dimensions by casting on a different number of stitches (the stitch count is not important in this pattern as it doesn’t need any pattern repeats) and knitting the body to your preferred height before casting off. You can also play with colour however you like and add your own touches with stripes, Fair Isle colourwork, embellioshments like buttons or sequins, embroidery

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I hope you loved this pattern! If you enjoyed working up this project, you can explore more tutorials, stitch guides, and free patterns on Emmaknitty. Every bit of support helps me continue sharing free designs with our creative community! You can support my work directly on Ko-Fi or explore my complete PDF pattern library on Ravelry. Do tag @Emmaknitty on Instagram when sharing your completed  trees so I can share your lovely makes.

Have a creative day,

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