Earlier this month I got a request on the moogly facebook page for "a pattern for a bag with a strap to hold my new phone, so I can be hands free and listen to music while doing chores." Well, how can I say no to a fan?
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links.
The Blue Agave Phone Pouch is really several patterns in one - you can make it with the spiky "agave" plant design or without; with a long strap to wear it as a necklace, or with a short strap to wear it as a wristlet; or leave off the strap altogether and call it a phone cozy!
It's sized to fit both my Android and my friend's iPhone (and probably most smartphones, but you'll have to check yours as you go). I didn't add a closure to mine, but a simple chain loop opposite a button would do the trick if you like extra security.
Blue Agave Phone Pouch
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- Hook: US G, 4.0mm
- Small amounts of worsted weight yarn in two colors; recommended yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream
- Clicca QUI per la traduzione italiana da Thalyta Campana
Special Abbreviations:
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
FSC - foundation single crochet
SPC (Spike Cluster) - To work an SPC, pick up 5 loops and bring them to the height of the current row by inserting the hook as follows: 1) 2 sts to the right of the current stitch and 1 row down; 2) 1 st to the right and 2 rows down; 3) directly below and 3 rows down; 4) 1 st to the left and 2 rows down; 5) 2 sts to the left and 1 row down (yo and pull up a loop in each location, 6 loops on hook). Next, insert hook into the top of the current stitch itself, yo and pull through (7 loops on hook), yo again and carefully pull through all 7 loops.
Now with video tutorial!
NOTES:
Turning after each row is important to keep the seam running straight up the side and to line up the spike clusters. If you don't mind a slanted seam and aren't using the cluster stitches, then you can skip the turns and just work sc across for each row.
All odd numbered rows are RS, even numbered rows are WS.
Instructions:
Round 1: With Color A, FSC 21, join with sl st. (Alternately, ch22 and sc in 2nd ch and ea st to end, join with sl st.)
Round 2-4: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
Round 5: With Color B, ch1 and turn. Work 3sc, SPC, 4sc, SPC, 12sc. Join with sl st. (2 SPC, 19sc)
Round 6-8: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
Round 9: With Color A, ch1 and turn. Work 3sc, SPC, 4sc, SPC, 12sc. Join with sl st. (2 SPC, 19sc)
Round 10-12: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
Round 13: With Color B, ch1 and turn. Work 3sc, SPC, 4sc, SPC, 12sc. Join with sl st. (2 SPC, 19sc)
Round 14-16: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
Round 17: With Color A, ch1 and turn. Work 3sc, SPC, 4sc, SPC, 12sc. Join with sl st. (2 SPC, 19sc)
Round 18-20: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
Round 21: With Color B, ch1 and turn. Work 3sc, SPC, 4sc, SPC, 12sc. Join with sl st. (2 SPC, 19sc)
Round 22-24: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
For iPhone (and other longer phone model users):
Round 25-26: Ch1 and turn. Sc in ea st to end, join with sl st. (21sc)
Break yarn, leaving a 12" tail. Turn case to WS and use tail to whip stitch the end closed. Weave in ends. Turn case back to RS. If you just want a phone cozy, you're done, otherwise, continue with handle instructions below.
Make cord/handle:
Holding Color A and Color B together, leave a 12 inch tail and make a slip knot. Ch to desired length. For a wristlet, I recommend about 9 or 10 inches, for a necklace length I'd recommend at least 30 inches, but either way, try it on as you go. Leaving another 12 inch tail on the end, break yarn and finish off. For the wristlet, sew both ends of the chain to one side of the pouch. For the necklace version, sew one end to each side. Add button and loop if desired.
Do you listen to music or podcasts on your phone? I think I'll listen to a lot more now that I have this pouch. And a big thank you to Lisa from Richmond for the idea and inspiration!
Written pattern copyright mooglyblog 2012, please do not reprint this pattern, but feel free to link to this page to share this pattern with others!
Lisa says
Hi Tamara.... working on my bag and wondered - as I'm working around the circle, when i meet the other stitch do I slip stitch into the first then chain one and turn? Also, might you consider one of your awesome tutorial videos for the spike cluster? 😀 Having fun playing with the pattern though.. love learning new stitches. THanks again!
moogly says
Yes, join with a slip stitch before you ch1 and turn. I hope to make a spike cluster video as soon as I can get my mitts on a camera again - hopefully soon! 😀
moogly says
Ok, I added the joining instructions where they were missing. Thanks so much for letting me know! 🙂 Someday I'll get some official pattern testers, but in the meantime I have to depend on all of you to let me know when I've made a mistake. 😀
Lisa says
Sweet! Happy to be a tester anytime 🙂 Thanks again... I used my "first attempt" today when I mowed the lawn.. worked great!!
moogly says
Fantastic! 😀
moogly says
Video tutorial now included! 😀 https://www.mooglyblog.com/2012/05/02/spike-cluster-stitch-video-tutorial-crochet/
Mari says
Think I'll try this with an extra long strap so I can wear it like a messenger bag since I can't stand anything heavy hanging around my neck. Can't wait to get to the store to get the yarn
moogly says
Great idea! 😀
Julie says
How would you make this pattern for a camera
Tamara Kelly says
Cameras come in so many different sizes it would have to be a custom fit, starting with making the bottom of the pouch big enough, and the working up from there. 🙂
Nikki Brown says
Hi. I wondered how the messenger bag variation worked for you. I was thinking of trying the same. I can just see me bending over to pick up my toddler and knocking her in the head with my Samsung Note 4, if I were to use a necklace variation. LoL! Thanks for all replies and great work on the beautiful pattern.
God Bless,
Nikki
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Renee says
Hello! I'm getting ready to begin this project (very excited!) and I'm not sure what you mean but this instruction "Row 2-4: Ch1 and turn.". I'm very new to crochet. I've ch1 but not sure what I'm doing to turn. Help? Thank you!
moogly says
Renee, turn means to flip the work over so you're looking at the opposite side - like a pancake. Hope that helps!
Stacie says
Hello. Looking forward to doing this pattern but I'd like to do with just stripes. To do that do I do all instructions just leave out SPC?
Thanks!
Tamara Kelly says
Yes, just crochet straight across. 😀 I hope you enjoy it!
geri says
How about crocheting an iCord for the handle?
Tamara Kelly says
That would be great! 😀 Or use a pretty ribbon, or whatever you like.
vjbunny says
Hi
Thank you for this tutorial...
chayla says
I was just wondering what the actual measurements are when finished for android version
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Chayla! I wrote this pattern a few years ago, before tablet-style phones came into popularity, so I imagine you'll have to add quite a few stitches to make it fit the newer phones.
Thaly says
Hi,
thanks for your tutorial!! I post on my blog what I did with it, and put a link back to your page!
http://thalyscorner.blogspot.com/2015/04/phone-case-with-spike-cluster-stitch.html
XD
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Thaly!
Geri says
Thaly Hey! I checked out your adorable Blog through the link you posted to Tamara and I LOVE your wristlets, especially the yellow on blue. Brilliant! I'm really motivated to attempt the SPC after seeing how great your pouches turned out. I'm a little dyslexic so I can never seem to wind up with a straight seam no matter what I do. Thanks to everyone for their input...especially the crafty, creative Tamaran mind =D
(No...that's not a typo Tamara!)
G
RegiK says
I love this! How can I make it a little bigger my phone is bigger than the one in the picture.
Thanks
RegiK
Tamara Kelly says
Hi RegiK! This pattern was from before cell phones started getting so big again! 🙂 To make it bigger, add however many stitches are needed to get all the way around the phone, and then space the spike stitches out accordingly. It'll take some experimentation - phones come in so many different sizes now!
Karmen says
Thank you so much for this pattern. I made this phone pouch last weekend. It is perfect for my son's soccer games where I don't want to take my purse but I want to have my phone with me.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Anna says
I am having some difficulty with the first row with the star stitch, it seems that it is on the wrong side of the pouch, what am I doing wrong?
Tamara Kelly says
Are you perhaps holding the pouch inside out? It's hard to say without being there.
anna says
No I don't think I am holding it inside out, another question=are we working in rounds or rows? this may be the problem, I am working in rounds maybe I should be working in rows but the instrustions say to join at the end, just really confused here will try and start a new one today and figure it out
Tamara Kelly says
Rounds is correct. The spikes are pretty close to reversible though - as long as you're still stitching in the right direction you should be okay.
anna says
ok I think you may want to change your pattern to state that they are rounds, it may make it easier for the less advanced crocheter, I love this pattern and will try again another day after I finish a few projects that I have started thank you again for your help
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you Anna, that's a good point - this is one of my very early patterns and I was still learning the subtleties of writing them. 🙂
Susan says
Does anyone use their phone to count steps? I'm wondering if I could use this pattern with across-body-strap could be used when I'm at home and don't have pockets in my pants? Any thoughts?