Last Thursday night I did manage to crochet four granny medallion gift pouches for the little ones for Hanukkah! I used chunky yarn and mostly double crochet to make the drawstring crocheted pouches as quickly as I could! It's a little tradition that I've started, and I've told my children that we'll save them each year and then they'll have pouches to use with their kids. Unless of course my future daughter in laws are crocheters? Time will tell, and in the mean time, it's a little tradition from the heart that I'm very happy I've started, and a great excuse to fit a little fun crocheting into my busy schedule!
And while of course if you're really in a hurry, you can skip the granny medallion base and make simpler pouches, as they appear here, above, but I love the little surprise at the bottom which makes the whole thing just a bit more special!
While I kept all the bases the same, I made blue, green and lavender pouches so the kids will know which one is theirs!
Granny Medallion Crocheted Gift Pouch Pattern:
I used worsted weight or chunky yarn and a size H hook, you can use any yarn with the appropriate hook as guage is certainly not important here!
Granny Medallion Base:
Round 1: using color A, chain 4, join as a ring with slip stitch. Ch3, then crochet 11 double crochets into the ring. Join to intial ch3 with a slip stitch.
Round 2: Using color B, chain 3, 1 double crochet in the same space. dc 2 in all spaces between the stitches of the first round. Join to ch3 with a slip stitch.
Round 3: Using color C, chain 3, dc 2 in same space. dc 3 in all spaces between the stitches of the second round. Join to ch3 with a slip stitch.
Sides of Pouch:
Round 4: Join color of your choice and single crochet around, in the back loop only.
Round 5: Make another round of single crochet in back loop. (I like to do this so the sides will really stand up straight.)
Round 6: Join another color is desired. Ch 3 and dc around. Join to top of first dc (NOT to the ch3) to avoid holes at the end of the round. I only realized this part way through, and you can see those holes in my photos, so don't forget to take my advice, lucky you!
Round 7-12: Continue as in round 6
Round 13-14: Join color of your choice and sc around.
Round 15: Make picot stitch trim as follows: sc in first stitch, ch3 and sc in same stitch. sc in next stitch and then make sc, ch3, sc in next stitch around.
Weave in all ends with a yarn needle, my least favorite part! Weave in drawstring ribbon or a crocheted chain through the stitches in row 11, and voila!
Note: I was pressed for time so I crocheted the simplest base that still had some decorative interest. If you have a bit more time, so do explore all the options for making crocheted medallions by googling "crochet granny in the round" or "crocheted medallion". If you're in need of a truly special gift, so investing a bit more time in the base will result in something stunning, so go for it!
