Rows of raised red hearts give this little drawstring pouch its character. The white background separates the motifs, while small red hearts finish the cord ends and repeat the decoration in miniature.
The pictured pouch has a round base and three rows of textured hearts. Its gathered opening makes it a lovely reusable package for a small present, or a place to keep an earbud case and other little essentials.
The pattern is worked from the bottom upward. First, you make a double-crochet base. A back-loop round turns the fabric toward the sides, then a repeating sequence of red shells and white stitches creates the heart texture.
Use the written instructions for the round counts and the video near the end for the long-stitch placement and finishing details.
Materials
- White yarn for the base, background, and cords.
- Red yarn of a similar thickness for the hearts.
- A crochet hook suited to your yarn.
- Scissors and a yarn needle.
- A stitch marker.
The public tutorial description does not specify an exact yarn weight or hook size. Check the opening demonstration and choose a combination that produces a neat, flexible fabric.
Clear stitch definition is helpful for this pattern. Very fluffy yarn can make the shell centers and lower insertion points harder to find.
Abbreviations and Round Notes
This pattern uses US crochet terms.
- MR: Magic ring.
- ch: Chain.
- sl st: Slip stitch.
- sc: Single crochet.
- dc: Double crochet.
- tr: Treble crochet.
- inc: Work 2 dc into one stitch.
- BLO: Back loop only.
- long dc: An elongated double crochet worked into a lower round.
- st/sts: Stitch/stitches.
- R: Round.
Follow the video’s beginning-chain and joining method. Do not add an extra stitch where a beginning chain already represents the first dc.
The body pattern depends on 70 foundation stitches divided into 10 groups of 7. Check that count before starting the hearts.
Part 1: Crochet the Base
Use white yarn.
Round Instructions Stitches
1 14 dc into a MR 14
2 inc in every st 28
3 [dc, inc] × 14 42
4 [dc, inc, dc] × 14 56
5 [3 dc, inc] × 14 70
6 Working BLO, dc in every st 70
Round 6 creates the turning line between the base and sides. Work consistently into the back loops, leaving the front loops visible along the edge.
If the base looks noticeably uneven, check the stitch counts and increase placement before continuing. Blocking cannot correct an extra increase or a missed repeat.
Part 2: Create the First Heart Row
Round 7: Red Shells
Change to red yarn.
In the first stitch, work:
ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc.
The beginning ch 3 represents the first dc of this shell.
Then ch 2 and skip 6 stitches.
Repeat the following sequence nine more times:
[In the next stitch, work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc); ch 2; skip 6 stitches.]
You should have 10 shells, each occupying one seven-stitch section of the foundation.
Join as shown in the tutorial. Count all 10 shells before changing colors.
Round 8: Shape the Hearts
Change to white yarn.
Repeat this sequence for each red shell:
- Work sc into the shell’s ch-1 space.
- Ch 2.
- Work 2 long dc into the center area of the skipped stitches, two rounds below, following the insertion points demonstrated in the video.
- Ch 2.
Complete the sequence 10 times.
The insertion points and the height of the long stitches affect the heart shape. Bring each elongated stitch up to the current working height rather than pulling it tightly against the lower round.
Check the first completed section before repeating it around. The two red sides should remain visible, with the white stitches defining the space between motifs.
Round 9: Restore the White Background
Continue with white yarn.
Work 70 dc around, following the stitch and chain-space placement shown in the tutorial.
Each heart repeat from Round 8 contains seven positions: one sc, two chains, two long dc, and two more chains. Maintain seven dc across each repeat, counting the chain positions rather than treating an entire ch-2 space as a single stitch.
Check the final total before beginning another red round.
Part 3: Repeat the Heart Pattern
Round Instructions
10 Repeat Round 7 in red
11 Repeat Round 8 in white
12 Repeat Round 9: 70 dc in white
13 Repeat Round 7 in red
14 Repeat Round 8 in white
15 Repeat Round 9: 70 dc in white
16 Continue in white: 70 dc
You now have three rows of raised hearts.
Pause after each background round to count the stitches. Correcting a missing stitch here is easier than redistributing the next set of shells.
Part 4: Make the Drawstring Openings
Continue with white yarn.
Round 17: Repeat [sc, ch 3, skip 1 stitch] around.
Across 70 stitches, this creates 35 chain spaces.
Join and finish as demonstrated in the tutorial. Keep the chain loops consistent so the cords can pass through the opening comfortably.
Part 5: Make and Thread Two Cords
Make two crocheted chain cords, leaving sufficient length to travel around the pouch and extend beyond the opening.
Test the length with the pouch open before fastening off. Cords that work only when the opening is gathered may prevent the bag from opening fully.
Thread the first cord through all the eyelets, starting and ending on one side.
Thread the second cord through the same eyelets, starting and ending on the opposite side.
Pull the two pairs of ends away from each other. The opening should gather evenly. If one side barely moves, check the starting points and look for an eyelet that was missed or threaded differently.
Part 6: Make Four Tiny Hearts
Use red yarn.
Into a magic ring, work:
ch 2, 3 dc, 2 tr, dc, 2 tr, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st into the ring.
Pull the ring closed and fasten off.
Make four hearts, then attach one to each cord end after confirming the cord length.
Secure the yarn ends neatly and test the closure again. Check that the hearts stay attached and do not disappear through the eyelets during normal use.
Finish the Pouch
Weave in the remaining yarn tails, preferably through matching-color stitches. Inspect the inside as well as the outside for loose ends that could catch on the contents.
Gently arrange the base and raised hearts with your fingers. If further shaping is needed, follow a blocking method appropriate for your yarn. Avoid pressing the textured hearts flat.
If the Hearts Look Uneven
Check three things before stretching the fabric:
- Each red shell contains the same stitch sequence.
- The long stitches enter the correct lower positions.
- The long stitches have enough height to reach the working round.
A tight elongated stitch can draw the fabric upward and distort the motif. A misplaced one can pull the heart to one side.
If the Next Round Has the Wrong Count
Return to the white background round and recount each seven-position repeat. Chain positions are easy to overlook.
Keep the background at 70 stitches rather than compensating by changing the number of skipped stitches in the next red round.
Watch the Complete Tutorial
Use the demonstration for the long-stitch placement, round transitions, and drawstring finishing.
Useful chapter points:
- 0:34: Base, Rounds 1–6.
- 5:58: Heart pattern, Rounds 7–8.
- 9:58: Repeats and body.
- 12:20: Drawstring openings and cord.
- 13:15: Tiny heart decorations.
- 14:12: Final assembly.
Use It as a Small Gift Bag
Test the pouch with the item you intend to give. Its finished size depends on your yarn and tension, so check the fit before choosing the contents.
Wrapped candy, a lip balm, an earbud case, or a folded note can make a lovely small gift. For very small jewelry or stitch markers, use a separate inner packet so pieces cannot slip through the crochet openings.
For another palette, try dusty-rose hearts on cream or lavender hearts on pale gray. Keep the yarn thickness similar when changing colors.
Follow the yarn label when cleaning, reshape the pouch afterward, and let it dry completely before refilling it.
Watch every stitch up close
Pair these written notes with the complete video tutorial.
Made with yarn, shared with love. 🧶💗