I spent a bit of time over Christmas coming up with a basic pattern for a crochet pen case, and I figured I’d share it since it turned out to be so easy!
All you need for this super simple pattern is two different shades of DK yarn (or you could use a plain one, or even a self striping one) and a 3.75mm hook. I can’t remember which brand my yarn is but it’s 100% acrylic!
I wanted my case to hold my Pro-Markers, so I measured how long they were, and used that as a guideline. Also, remember I’m in the UK so I’m using UK crochet terms, but as the only stitches I used were slip stitch and double crochet, just remember to substitute ‘dc’ for ‘sc’ (or single crochet) if you’re outside of the UK.
First, I created a chain of 31 stitches using the brown yarn. Then I skipped the first stitch from the hook and slip stitched into each of the remaining 30 stitches. At the end of this row, chain 1 and turn.
Now, skip the first stitch from the hook and double crochet into each of the 30 stitches. At the end of this row, chain 1 and turn. You need to get the hang of this process as it’s what keeps the edges of your work straight.
Repeat this line. Before you chain 1 to turn the work, change your colour yarn if you’re using different colours. Draw the new colour up to make your chain 1, and turn. 30 dc, ch 1 and turn. 30dc.
Repeat this process to give you your stripes, with each one made up of two lines per colour. I carried the different colours up the side of the work, but you can trim and sew in the ends if you prefer.
The number of stripes will depend on how deep you want your case to be, but I ended up crocheting 13 stripes for the front, one stripe for the bottom of the case, and then another 13 stripes for the back. I also crocheted another set of stripes for the top flap, so I had 32 stripes in total, each one 30 stitches wide. I began to decrease for the edges of the flap on the next stripe, which in my case was brown.
To decrease, 1dc, 1dc2tog, 24dc, 1dc2tog, 1dc. Ch 1 and turn. 28 dc.
Change colours. Ch 1 and turn. 1 dc, 1 dc2tog, 22dc, 1dc2tog , 1 dc. Ch 1 and turn. 26dc.
Change colours. Ch 1 and turn. 1 dc, 1 dc2tog, 20dc, 1dc2tog , 1 dc. Ch 1 and turn. 24dc.
Now you’re going to do your buttonholes.
Change colours. Ch 1 and turn. 1 dc, 1dc2tog, ch 3, skip 3 stitches, 12dc, ch 3, skip 3 stitches, 1dc2tog, 1 dc. Ch 1 and turn. 22dc, performing 3dc across each buttonhole.
Change colours. Ch 1 and turn. 1dc, 1dc2tog, 16dc, 1dc2tog, 1dc. Ch 1 and turn. 20dc. Ch 1 and turn. Slip stitch into each stitch across.
Don’t fasten off yet! Slip stitch down the side of the flap on the ‘right’ side to create a nice edge. Now fold the case so that the right sides are facing, ideally with the stripes matching up (in my case I had a ‘spare’ beige stripe that forms the bottom of the case) and slip stitch the side seams together. Fasten off. Starting at the bottom on the other side, slip stitch the side seams together. At the top of the seam, continue slip stitching up the side of the flap on the right side of the work to give a more decorative edge. If you carried your yarn up the side of the work, this also helps to hide it.
Turn the case the right side out, sew on your buttons, and ta da!
Incidentally, my buttons are cast from resin that I coloured using old powder eyeshadow by Max Factor! I wrote an earlier post here about using casting resin, and it’s fairly easy if you have resin, a mould, and a drill!
Let me know how you get on!
Incidentally, if you do make an item using this pattern, please note products are only for personal or gift use, not for sale. Also, please don’t share the pattern without linking back here!
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