This week brings a quick knit pattern, with simple crochet edging! The Chinese Waves Pouch is super simple, and a great “purse project” – small enough to keep in your bag for those quiet waiting room moments… and great for keeping your purse or bag organized when it’s all done! The thick fabric keeps even delicate items safe and secure.
I made this one back in 2009 – luckily I wrote down the pattern! It’s stood the test of time and still looks like new!
Chinese Waves Pouch
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
The finished pouch is approximately 5″ wide and 3.5″ tall when closed. To make a bigger (or smaller) pouch, just cast on an odd number of stitches of your choice, and knit until you have the height desired!
- Straight Needles: US 5 – 3.75 mm
- Hook: US F/5 – 3.75mm
- Peaches & Creme Ombres (shown), or other worsted weight yarn
- Button
Cast on 29 sts, using method of your choice.
Row 1: Knit across to end.
Row 2: *K1, slip 1* repeating to last st, k1 in last st.
Row 3: Knit across to end.
Row 4: K2, *slip 1, k1* repeating until 3 sts. Then slip 1, k2.
Repeat rows 1-4 until the piece measures about 7.5 inches. Bind off.
Fold one end of the knitting up to create a pouch approximately 3 inches deep. Using the crochet hook, work a row of sc up the right side of the pouch, across the top of the opening, and down the left side, holding the sides together and crocheting through both layers on the sides, to form the pouch.
Flipping the pouch over, work a sc border along the flap edges, until you get to the top center. Ch 5 sts (or number needed to accommodate your choice of button), and sc back into same st, and then continue around to end of flap. If you can’t/won’t crochet, you can always whip stitch up the sides and make a little i-cord loop for the button. Weave in ends, and sew on button, using the loop on the flap as a guide.
Easy peasy, right? I use my pouch to keep a spare pair of ear buds safe and untangled, but it could hold a lot more… What will you use your pouch for? I’d love to see a picture if you use this pattern!
Be sure to check out and like the Moogly Facebook page to get all the latest updates, fun links, sneak peeks, and more! Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2012. Please include links to this blog post when sharing this pattern with others. You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern, but a link back to Moogly on the listing or tag would be much appreciated!
Carol Staples
Great pattern. I like gratification projects that are quick, and beautifully functional when finished. Thank you for sharing!!!
Carol
moogly
Thanks Carol! I’m glad you like it! 😀
Shannon Chalden
Well, well, well…looks like I have my NEXT project lined up! This pouch is adorable and I love working with Peaches & Creme yarn. 🙂 Thanks for another awesome, contemporary pattern.
Katie R.
LOVE the stitch pattern. Did you invent it?
I’m making this as a little purse for my 3-year-old niece. Any suggestions for adding a strap?
moogly
No I didn’t invent it, but it’s a fun one! Hm, for a strap for a 3 year old, I think icord would work. Or maybe some pretty ribbon sewn on!
Katie R.
Thanks!
Eileen
OOh my! LOVE this!! Perfect gadget case! I love the ear-bud idea, too! Thanks!!!!!
eileen
I tried it!! I love the thick fabric that was created! I messed up on the third row, and did a k2, slip 1 all of the way across and used a US 7 or 8. So mine looks a little different. And it fits my iphone perfectly!! Ill try it again and read the directions more carefully this time. Thank you for sharing this pattern!
Eileen
moogly
Sounds like your “mistake” gave you a great result! Thanks for reading eileen!
PATRICIA
COULD YOU TELL ME HOW YOU DID YOURS THE DIRCTIONS THAT YOU MESSED UP AND WHAT KIND OF YARN AND SIZE NEELES THANKS
PATRICIA
ON EILEENS COMMENT SHE SAID SHE MESSED UP ON 3RD ROW SO WHT DID SHE DO FOR THE 4TH ROW SOUNDS GOOD ALSO LOVE THE DHINESE WAVE BAG AND TURNED OUT GOOD
PATRICIA
SO WHAT DID EILEEN DO FOR ROW 4 AS SHE SAID SHE MESSED UP ON ROW 3
moogly
No idea! Hopefully she’ll come back to say. 🙂
Frantzie
Darling little purse! And I like the idea of adding a strap to make a purse for my granddaughter.
Do you have instructions for making the little daisy decoration?
moogly
Thank you! And yes, that flower was linked as part of my post on crocheted flowers: https://www.mooglyblog.com/2012/03/05/10-beautiful-and-free-crochet-flower-patterns/
camelia
Do you crochet all around and then fold up the pouch or fold and stitch through both the first time? What the trick to make the crochet stitches evenly spaced? Thanks I love the pattern.
moogly
camelia it’s knitted flat and then I fold up the end to create the pouch and crochet the sides closed. Spacing the crochet stitches is just done by eye – try and work one every row or two so that it creates a nice flat seam.
You’re welcome! 😀
sharon rose
This will be a fun project and who knows if there is more left over yarns in my shelving there could be more. Thanks for sharing this. I have a question about the floral pin/button that is shown at the end of the directions. Are there directions for it? If so, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Sharon
moogly
You are very welcome! That flower attracted some attention today! 😀 It’s from this post: https://www.mooglyblog.com/2012/03/05/10-beautiful-and-free-crochet-flower-patterns/
Renee
Thank you for this cute pattern and the easy way to create a PDF of it. I will definitely make a few of the darling little purses!
Crafty Gardener
Cute little puse. I have already cast on and I’ve knit a couple of inches since last night. I found your link via the Knit Picky newsletter. Thanks for sharing a nice pattern.
moogly
You are very welcome!
Jane Walsh
It looks like a great idea for a church fair item. I’m going to give it a try.
Andie W
This is a quick and easy case to make . It fits my eyeglasses perfectly. I love the pattern and the thickness.
Julia
Beautiful !!!!!! I ‘m going to make one
Betty
As I’ve just recently moved into an apt and must have my key and fob with me when I leave the apt, this is perfect to just add a shoulder string and away I go. Will be making a few for the church bazaar. Thanx for sharing the pattern.
Bookworm
How do you slip a stitch?
moogly
Hi Bookworm! To slip a stitch in knitting, just move the loop over to the right needle without knitting or purling it. 🙂
Bookworm
Thank you! I know I will enjoy making this pattern.
Bookworm
How do you work a sc pattern with the crochet hook?
moogly
Bookworm, sc = single crochet. Insert hook through both layers, yarn over, and pull a loop through. Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook. 🙂
Nearly Done
Love the stitch and would like to make a dog coat with it. Have you tried shaping and if so could you share??? 😉 otherwise I’ll try the one row forward and two rows back method. LOL Thanks
moogly
😀 I have not! Good luck with your dog coat!
patty w
Thanks for the really cute pattern. I will be flying in a few weeks and wanted a small project I could knit while on the plane. This is it. Thanks again. Patty
Katydid
When I slip the stitch, it doesn’t get knit or purled at all correct?
moogly
That is correct, just pass it onto the left needle as if it were sliding along one long needle.
Crafty Gardener
I just finished your
cute little pouch and did a blog post about it today, with a link back to your site for the pattern.
Bookworm
If you do the sc pattern how do you attach the button on?
How do you do the whip stitch and make an i-chord loop?
moogly
Bookworm, the button is sewn on with thread, and the button loop is a chain of five. If you don’t crochet you can whip stitch the sides closed – that just means sew them together as shown here: http://www.knittingfairy.com/techniques3.htm . Then you could make a short length of i-cord and sew it to the front in a loop.
Bookworm
How long does it take to do this pattern?
moogly
I’m sure an experienced knitter could make it within a couple hours, maybe less! It’s always hard for me to estimate because I rarely have more than a few minutes uninterrupted by my kids or other life demands…
camelia
Do you crochet all around and then fold the pouch and crochet connecting the crocheted stitches ? Or fold and crochet through both layers at the beginning? What’s the trick to get the crocheted stitches evenly around?
moogly
Sorry that wasn’t clear – I fold and then crochet through both layers. Getting them even is the same as knitting into an edge or sewing the sides closed – just spacing and a bit of trial and error to see what looks good! I wish I had some sort of trick!
Helen Hall
I have made two of these chinese wave bags. I keep my cell phone in one, and the other I made for a 5 year old granddaughter, who keeps squishy-squashies in hers. Nice to play with colours. Hers is royal blue with white trim. Mine is baby blue with white trim. Great project for using up smaller amounts of wool. Thank YOU!
PATRICIA
DO YOU HALF TO USE WOOL YARN OR CAN YOU USES PEACHES AND CREAM 100 PERCENT COTTON,
moogly
Patricia the pattern calls for Peaches & Cream (or any worsted weight yarn), so that should be fine!
PATRICIA
WOULD YOU HAVE A PATTERN FOR THIS BUT BIGGERT SIZE TO HOLD THE LONG KNITTING NEEDLES IF SO COULD YOU EMAIL ME PLEASE LIKE THIS CHANGE PURSE ALSO OR WHATEVER AS YOU DO NOT HALF TO SEW A ZIPPER ON ETC THANKS
moogly
Hi Patricia! The instructions include upsizing instructions in the notes – just cast on an odd number of stitches in the size you need.
PATRICIA
THANKS ALSO HAVE YOU EVER MADE A KNITTING NEEDLE CASE OUT OF THIS DESIGN TO HOLD THE LONG KNITING NEEDLES OR DO YOU HAVE EASY DIRECTIONS FOR ONE THAT IS SIMILIAR TO THIS WITHOUT SEWING A ZIPPER AND USING ONLY STRAIGHT NEEDLES MAKING THE PUCH RIGHT NOW LIKE THE CHINESE WAVE PATTERN
moogly
Patricia I have not, but it sounds like a good idea! 🙂
Believer
There is so much to say (or ask) especially when you’re a newbie like me. I only just started to really knit projects and learning to crochet a bit too. This project stumped me because i couldn’t figure out what the dropped stitches were going to do or why one would ever DROP a STITCH! 😉 Other bits of info given in the description hinted at the end result but i didn’t get it till finished. This is a heavy fabric. I love it! I would like to show you a pic of my first attempt at this but don’t know how. P.S. I didn’t crochet the edge. That was just too difficult for me at this stage. 😉 So, i turned it inside out to whip stitch the very outside edges of the two sides. The button closure doo-hickey was then made separately by chaining some strands of yarn and whip stitching it into the flap to hang down the face and then slip around the button (fixed to the bottom face of the pouch). I used size 6 needles and Red Heart ZEBRA yarn. The effect was pretty interesting, especially for a pouch, rather than for a garment. In fact I prefer this ‘zebra’ yarn for projects like this rather than apparel. I would love to see you make one that fits a check book and let me know of any/all pattern changes etc. I tried but… hmmm. Anyway. Thank you for the cool little project… planning to make many more.
Read more at http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Clutch/chinese-wave-bag/ml/1#yiPvzl6JOWrwjS9v.99
moogly
Believer I’m so glad you were able to make the pattern work for you! Making a check book sized pouch would be a good idea! And I’ll have to look into this zebra yarn for sure, I haven’t seen that one!
Believer
Would you like to see a picture? If so, please remind me how to send you the attachment or to upload it to your blog page. Thanks so much for this lively, highly responsive blog page, it’s a lot of fun and so rewarding too.
moogly
I’d love to! There’s not really a good way to upload pics to the blog, but if you are on Facebook you can post it on the Moogly Facebook page! 🙂
MaraB
I don’t know how to crochet… Can I still make this sweet little pouch?
moogly
MaraB as long as you can knit, you can make it. To close up the sides use a whip stitch, and for the button loop you could just make a bit of i-cord. 🙂
PATRICIA
I JUST FINISHED THE CHINESE WAVE POUCH AND BINDED IT OFF. ONE QUESTION PLEASE AFTER YA BIND OFF DO YOU FASTEN OFF AFTER YOU BIND OFF BEFORE CROCHETING UP SIDES ETC. THANKS
AND LOVE THIS PATTERN
PATRICIA
JUST FINISHED THE CHINESE WAVE POUCH. ONE QUESTION AFTER YOU BIND OFF DO YOU FASTEN YARN OFF BEFORE STARTING CROCHETING EDGES ETC OR DO YOU JUST CONTINUE FORM THE SAME YARN WHERE YOU CINDED OFF HOPE TO HEAR FORM YOU SOON FOR A I DONT MESS IT UP LOOKS GOOD SO FAR
PATRICIA
ONE MORE QUESTION PROBALY A STUPID ONE BUT ANYAYS AFTER YOU GET THE SIDES CROCHETED ETC AND THE OART THAT SAYS FLIP IT OVER ARE YOU STILL USING THE SAME THREAD
AS IF YOU GO UP THE RIGHT SIDE THEN ACROSS AND THEN DOWN LEFT SIDE THEN IT SAYS FLIP OVER THE YARN WOULD BE ON THE BOTTOM OR DO YOU MEAN TO USE ANOTHER PIECE OF YARN OR WHATEVER HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON
moogly
After binding off I used the same yarn to crochet around the edges, but you should do whatever is easiest for you! I think the flip you’re referring to means to work from the right side of the flap so that the RS of the sts are facing out.
PATRICIA
ALSO DID YOU EVER FELT THIS CHINESE WAVE POUCH?
AND WHAT KIND OF YARN SHOULD YOUU USE FOR FELTING THANKS AGAIN
moogly
I haven’t, but you certainly could! You’d need to use a 100% wool yarn that isn’t superwash. Several yarns at the big box craft stores are labeled as good for felting.
PATRICIA
HI AGAIN WHAT I MEANT AFTET I BINDED OFF I OINCTINUED TO USE THE SAME YARN AND WENT UP THE RIGHT SIDE ACROSS AND THEN DOWN THE LEFT SIDE USING SAME YARN BUT THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU MEANT USING THAT SAME PIECE OF YARN FLIP IT OVER I TRIED THAT BUT YARN WOULD BE ON BOTTOM SO YOU CNAT USE THE SAME PIECE OF YARN YOU ARE CORCHETING WITH PLEASE ELT ME KNOW THANKS AGAIN
moogly
You can slip stitch back up the side or you can break the yarn and re-join it for the flap, it’s up to you!
anonymous
Hi, I absolutely LOVE the look of this bag and simply can’t wait to try it! But I have just one question, do you have to use Peaches & Creme wool or can you use plain double knitting wool?
Tamara Kelly
Any yarn should work! 😀 And thank you!
Anonymous
Ok, thank you very much! I’ve been looking forward to making this!
trang
It’s very lovely. Thank you so much!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you trang!
Laraine
MORROCAN midnight cowl? TUNISIAN pebbles dishcloth? CHINESE waves pouch? Some people might take offense to them, wouldn’t they? Especially when the projects have nothing to do with Morrocan/Tunisian/Chinese culture.
Tamara Kelly
Tunisian crochet is a decades old crochet technique used in that pattern, Chinese Waves is the name of that knit stitch pattern. I didn’t name either of those. I did name the Moroccan tile stitch that because the shape reminded of the beautiful Moroccan tiles I’ve seen. I certainly hope they don’t offend anyone.
Erika
can u pls explain row 4. I am new at knitting and I don’t quite understand what it means. Thank you
Tamara Kelly
Hi Erika! It means to slip 1, then knit 1 – here’s a video on how to slip a stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csPNxxPw84I
Terri
I don’t knit, only crochet, but I just learned how to Tunisian crochet. I might have to try it and see how it comes out. 😉
Kat
any chance of a tutorial on how to do this with crochet? I don’t know how to knit but would love to make a cute crochet pouch like this
Tamara Kelly
Hi Kat! Thank you! I’ll add it to my ideas list! 😀
Azeezat
Hello, thank you so much for sharing. You gave me some inspiration for a pattern, and i love the idea of using a crochet hook for the finishing, though in my case i used dpns to pick up stitches that hold the seams together on one side, go all the way around to the top flap, cast on 5 stitches on the needles rather then, pick up stitches all the way down the other side. Then the last row i cast off all the newly picked stitches.
Really great, and thank you for sharing.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I have to admit, as a crocheter first, it’s always my first instinct! Thank you for sharing a great knitting method for finishing!