Gray skies and cold wind got you down? Crochet some sunshine! The Rainbow Happy Fun Pouch will come to your rescue!
The Rainbow Happy Fun Pouch is insanely cheerful. But in a good way! It’s a great stash buster, and it works up fast. I wanted a simple pattern with which to try out the Sharp Hook but that could be done without the Sharp Hook too. I utilized a stitch pattern I used before, so there’s already a video tutorial for the stitches if you need help there.
I also managed to use some leftover yarn from the Moroccan Market Tote – stashbuster! You can use any weight yarn you have, just use a hook one size smaller than that recommended on the label. As written, the pouch is 6.5″ tall and 9.5″ wide, but the great thing about pouches is they’re useful at any size!
For the appliques I used a free pattern from Fiber Flux: One Round Cloud. They took hardly any yarn at all! And I gave one a little smiley face with some scrap yarn. As you do when making a Rainbow Happy Fun Pouch.
Rainbow Happy Fun Pouch
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue and Favorites
- US – G, 4.00mm hook, or hook one size smaller than recommended on label
- 190 yds DK/Sport weight (Lion Brand LB Collection Cotton Bamboo shown), or yarn in weight of your choice
- Zipper
- Sharp Hook or sewing needle
- Thread to match zipper
- Crochet thread, mercerized (if using Sharp Hook)
- Video Tutorial for the Stitch Pattern HERE
Row 1: With Color A, ch 40. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch to end. Turn. (39 sts)
Row/Round 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st to end of row. Turning to work in the side, hdc in the side of the first st of Row 1. Turning again, hdc in the each ch of the starting ch, opposite the first row of hdc sts. With one more clockwise turn, hdc in the side of the last st of Row 1 and join to the first st of Row 2 with a sl st, to begin working in the round. Do not turn. (80 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2 (does not count as first st), dc in each st around. Join with a sl st to first dc. (80 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (80 sts)
Round 5: Ch 2, fptrc around dc below the first st. Dc into the next st. *Fptrc around the st below the next st, dc in the next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to first fptrc. (80 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (80 sts)
Round 7: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, fptrc around st below next st. *Dc in the next st, fptrc around the st below the next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a sl st to first dc. (80 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc, using the Next Color. (80 sts)
Round 9-12: With Color B, repeat Rounds 5-8.
Round 13-16: With Color C, repeat Rounds 5-8.
Round 17-20: With Color D, repeat Rounds 5-8.
Round 21-24: With Color E, repeat Rounds 5-8. Add more stripes in pattern for a taller bag if desired.
Round 25: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join to first sc with sl st. (80 sts)
Round 26: Sl st in each st around. Break yarn and seamless join.
Add Zipper:
Measure the length of zipper needed. If the zipper is too long, sew a new stopper with matching thread, by sewing around the zipper repeatedly so it cannot open.
Working into Round 26, attach the zipper. If you’re using a needle and thread, sew it on with the back stitch (tutorial HERE). If you are using the Sharp Hook and crochet thread, use the Surface Crochet method (tutorial HERE).
And that’s all there is to it! The Rainbow Happy Fun Pouch is a quick and easy pattern that’s great for using up odd balls of yarn. Make it in one color or as many as you like – and then fill it with something fun!
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2013 – share this pattern via links only please! You can use the green Print Friendly button below to print a copy for personal use. Seller’s policy is detailed on the About page. Get Moogly on your favorite social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest and Tumblr, and sign up for the Newsletter so you don’t miss a thing!
♥
stitches'n'scraps
November 1, 2013 at 10:27 amI think you just solved one of my “what on earth can I make for HER?” dilemmas for this year! thank you! 🙂
Tamara Kelly
November 1, 2013 at 5:19 pm😀 You’re very welcome!
namis
November 3, 2013 at 2:50 pmThanks
Daisy
November 9, 2013 at 6:19 amThanks for this free Pattern,I love it ,its soo beautiful.I will make this to my Granddaughters !!!! <3
Jackie
June 25, 2014 at 11:23 amDid you line the pouch or just add the zipper?
Tamara Kelly
June 25, 2014 at 11:36 amI just added the zipper, but I know others lined it. 🙂
Jackie
June 25, 2014 at 11:44 amIf I line it. Do you recommend any special fabric?
Tamara Kelly
June 25, 2014 at 11:58 amAny fabric should work! Fleece is nice because you don’t have to worry about raveling. But other than that, it’s up to you!
Jackie
June 25, 2014 at 12:02 pmThank you. Will try the fleece. Also, can you attach material plus zipper onto bag at same time?
Tamara Kelly
June 25, 2014 at 2:27 pmFor that many layers I’d recommend sewing a quick edge around the fleece, and crocheting into that rather than the fleece itself – unless you an punch holes in the fleece!
Martha Thatcher
December 17, 2015 at 8:10 pmI love this stitch pattern I am using it to make a sleeping bag for my grandkids dolls. Can’t wait to use it for making a blanket. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Tamara Kelly
December 18, 2015 at 9:31 am😀 Thank you Martha!
Tasha
November 1, 2013 at 10:54 amToo cute!
Tamara Kelly
November 1, 2013 at 5:19 pmThank you Tasha!
Des Maunz
November 1, 2013 at 11:28 amI love this! Actually I love pouches of all kinds and this looks fantastic and fun!!! Thank you so much for the wonderful pattern. ♥
Tamara Kelly
November 1, 2013 at 5:18 pmThank you Des!
Maria Halberstadt
November 1, 2013 at 4:36 pmTo this date, I have never heard of a “sharp hook”, and thought this might be an opportunity to at least find out more about it and possible enter to win said hook. For whatever reason, the link fore this contest and any reference to it is not loading. The clutch-like pouch does seem interesting enough and will help reduce the “clutter” of left-over yarn that keeps building up. Thank you for the pattern.
Tamara Kelly
November 1, 2013 at 5:22 pmOh dear the link was broken! Sorry about that Maria, thank you for bringing it to my attention! All fixed now. Here’s the link: https://www.mooglyblog.com/sharp-crochet-hook-review-giveaway/
Joyce
November 1, 2013 at 4:50 pmThanks Tamara – i’m going to make this, haven’t tried this stitch yet, so will be fun to give it a go!!!
Jacki
November 2, 2013 at 2:25 amThis looks gorgeous – and I have quite a few ends of balls to use up. Wouldn’t mind winning one of the Sharp crochet hooks either!
Tamara Kelly
November 2, 2013 at 11:18 am😀 Thank you Jacki!
Pauline Brechlin
November 2, 2013 at 10:15 amThank you for this fun rainbow of the day! Love this and shared it like crazy! 🙂 But then again I love Moogly!
Tamara Kelly
November 2, 2013 at 11:17 am😀 Thank you so much Pauline!!
Shawna
November 2, 2013 at 10:46 amSo adorable. I have never thought about about combining these techniques! You sure are amazing! ♥
Tamara Kelly
November 2, 2013 at 11:17 am😀 Thank you Shawna!
Gudrun Schindler
November 3, 2013 at 5:16 amamazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…amazing!!!!…
Marrie
November 3, 2013 at 5:17 amAGREED!!!!!!!!!.:P
sorry for the interference!..but its my RED SIGNAL..LOL!!!
fiorella
November 3, 2013 at 12:01 pmbellissimo
Sara
November 3, 2013 at 9:11 pmSuper fun Tamara! Linking up tomorrow at Tangled Happy. 🙂
Tamara Kelly
November 4, 2013 at 9:05 am😀 Thank you so much Sara!<3
Marrie
November 4, 2013 at 8:21 amI hope this is one of the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in the history of moogly!..actually history of crochet..no,no,no..history of my LIFE!..: )
Tamara Kelly
November 4, 2013 at 9:02 am😀 Thank you Marrie!
Marrie
November 5, 2013 at 9:07 amWelcome!..<3
Heather
November 4, 2013 at 3:35 pmHi Tamara! I’m in love with this pattern and working on one now! Is it possible to get the final measurements on the one you made? Mine looks big to me!
Tamara Kelly
November 4, 2013 at 7:55 pmAs written, the pouch is 6.5″ tall and 9.5″ wide. 🙂
Heather
November 4, 2013 at 9:44 pmHmm I’m doing the stitch wrong. Mine is that big and I’m only on the second color. I knew it looked wrong!
Heather
November 4, 2013 at 11:09 pmI apologize.I just saw the dimensions listed up there. That’s what I get for skipping the intro paragraph and diving right into the pattern! Lol
Tamara Kelly
November 5, 2013 at 8:51 am😀 No worries! It was easy to miss!
eileen
January 9, 2014 at 2:06 pmI would like to make this pattern, but what is a fptrc stitch. Never saw this abbreviation before.
Thanks,E
Tamara Kelly
January 9, 2014 at 4:28 pmHi Eileen! Fptrc is front post treble crochet. 🙂 There’s a video tutorial for the stitch pattern linked in the bullet points with the hooks and yarn.
BrendaL
January 12, 2014 at 12:07 amTamara, your genius is showing! Every time I come to Moogly I learn something new, creative and usable. It will be awhile before I can start the clutch, but I will FOR SURE use your Surface Crochet method many times over. (I used your link to the tutorial.) Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your designs and your genius.
Tamara Kelly
January 12, 2014 at 9:06 pm😀 Thank you so much Brenda!
Doris
January 28, 2014 at 5:21 pmI am trying to print out then pattern and when I do there are advertisements printed over the instructions, What am I doing wrong, I love this little purse, trying to make them for a cruise.
Tamara Kelly
January 29, 2014 at 8:41 amAre you using the green Print Friendly button? If so, you can click on the parts you don’t want to print and they’ll be “deleted” from the print copy. The ads shouldn’t be overlapping, but even so I’m sure you don’t want to print them. 🙂
kreshel
March 25, 2014 at 9:02 pmIt’s very nice I think I want to make one.
Tamara Kelly
March 26, 2014 at 9:24 amThank you kreshel!
Rosalee Anderson
March 26, 2014 at 1:49 pmDo you show how to do row 2.. I’m kind of stuck when you say to crochet in the side stitch.
Rosalee
Tamara Kelly
March 26, 2014 at 3:43 pmHi Rosalee – it’s not crochet in the side stitch, but crochet in the side of the stitch. If you look at the row, there’s the tops of the stitches, the bottoms of the stitches, and the sides on the left and right. So you crochet across the top, and then you spin the work clockwise and crochet into the side of the stitch you last worked into, then spin again and work across the bottoms, then spin one more time and work in the side of the first stitch you worked into. Does that help?
colleen
April 16, 2014 at 10:20 pmWould love to see step 2 in a video.. hint hint 🙂
I’m a bit confused here myself.
This looks beautiful though!
Tamara Kelly
April 17, 2014 at 11:02 amHi Colleen! It’s essentially the same as if you were making a border around a (tiny!) blanket – you turn and work all the way around. Does that help? I can add a video to the list too, but I hope maybe the blanket description helps?
Rosalee Anderson
April 17, 2014 at 8:27 pmPlease do a video
Joan
March 26, 2014 at 11:07 pmI have questions about joining. In round three when you say the ch 2 doesn’t count as a stitch, do you put your first stitch in the same stitch as the join? Some patterns are different. So joining always gives me a problem. I understand that the chain 1 or 2 is to maintain the height of the stitch. I just get confused about where to put the first and last stitch for the row following a join, and sometimes end up with too many stitches (or too few.)
Joan
March 27, 2014 at 7:54 amIn row three, do you make the first stitch in the same stitch as the chain 2? Some patterns vary o this. Also the chains do not count as stitches throughout the pattern, right?
Tamara Kelly
March 27, 2014 at 11:09 amHi Joan! Yes, in Row 3 the first stitch is made in the same stitch as the ch 2. The chs at the beginning of a round in this pattern never counts as a stitch. 🙂
Janet
March 29, 2014 at 10:39 amHi I made this in thread crochet and would like to line it. Any duggestions
Janet
March 29, 2014 at 10:41 amSuggestions sorry
Tamara Kelly
March 31, 2014 at 9:15 amHi Janet! Futurgirl has a great lining tutorial that I’d recommend!
farzan
March 30, 2014 at 5:07 amwhat are meaning “st” “ch” “hdc” ” and other abbreviations used in text ??
Thank you for nice assistance
Tamara Kelly
March 30, 2014 at 11:46 amHi farzan! Here’s a list of standard crochet abbreviations: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/crochet.html
Robin
April 30, 2014 at 5:48 pmI made the morroccan market tote from your pattern and love it! I also love the bamboo cotton yarn! I saw this and just had to try it. I’m not quite finished yet but I absolutely love the pattern and texture of this little bag. I’m toying with the idea of creating a little flap closure instead of a zipper. I’ve also added some daisy motifs for my daughter.
Lyssie
July 7, 2014 at 2:51 amI love clutch purses, but I didn’t like the size of the pouch, so I cut the starting chain and number of pattern repeats in half to make a beautiful clutch with a cloud in the bottom left corner.
shakila
September 18, 2014 at 9:49 amLove this pouch. Thanks very much for the pattern. Made two. both were appreciated very much. Credit goes to you . thanks again.
Bj
October 8, 2014 at 7:57 amWhen I saw this picture I thought it was a headband and wanted to make it for my granddaughters. It’s such a beautiful stitch. Any idea how long you would make it for a headband? Such a cute pouch!
Tamara Kelly
October 8, 2014 at 1:05 pmSince everyone’s gauge (and heads!) are different, I’d make a small swatch with your chosen yarn and see how big it is, and go from there! The pattern has a lot of stretch to it though, so be sure to make it an inch or two smaller than the head measurement. 🙂
Chhavi
April 16, 2015 at 3:21 pmHi Tamara,
I absolutely loved this textured pattern. It is so unique! I want to make a hat for my daughter ( regular adult size) with this pattern. Can you please tell me how to do the increase using this pattern. First I thought I’ll do simple double crochet increase on top for first 5-6 rows, and then use this pattern. But I’ll really appreciate if you can suggest me a way to use this stitch through out.
Thank you so much! Chhavi
Tamara Kelly
April 16, 2015 at 10:35 pmHi Chhavi! That would basically be a whole new design – there’s not really a “standard” way, it would be designing a hat from scratch. I’ll see if I can come up with something for fall though! 🙂
Karla
May 8, 2015 at 12:47 pmThank you for posting the free pattern! It is lovely:) I have included it on my blog Karla’s Making It (linking to your pattern, of course)! You can view it here http://www.karlasmakingit.com/free-crochet-patterns/free-crochet-purse-and-bag-patterns/
Tamara Kelly
May 8, 2015 at 2:09 pm😀 Thank you so much Karla!
Mandy
May 18, 2015 at 9:34 amI have searched for days for an etrepreneurs day project for my daughter, nothing i found suited her. She had to make 30 products to sell made out of recycling. My left over wool we see as recycling and she absolutely loved your pencil case. Thank you.
Tamara Kelly
May 19, 2015 at 8:32 am😀 I’m so glad to hear it! You’re very welcome!
wala
May 25, 2015 at 2:02 pmhi
thank you for this beautiful lovely pattern.
i am medical student and i love to crochat i use it as stress reliever. and small projects are my favorite because usually i am kind of busy.
thank you and i wish if i can show you my final result for this bag.
Tamara Kelly
May 26, 2015 at 9:57 amThank you Wala! 🙂 I would love to see a photo! You can email it to me at tamarakelly at mooglyblog.com, or post it to the Moogly Facebook page!
Allison
November 5, 2015 at 11:27 amFor round 8, when you say “using the Next Color” does that mean that you change colors after round 7 and round 8 is a row of sc in the new color, or does that happen at the end of round 8? Thank you!
Tamara Kelly
November 5, 2015 at 4:26 pmRound 8 is in the first color, you just do the slip stitch at the end with the next color, which sets you up to use that color in the next round without any color bleed. 🙂
allison
November 6, 2015 at 8:59 amGot it–thank you!
vidya
December 11, 2015 at 5:17 amamazing rainbow happy fun clutch. I want to do it for my daughter. Thank you very much for sharing this amazing pattern n also for video tutorial
Tamara Kelly
December 11, 2015 at 8:56 amThank you so much! 🙂
Belinda Osborne
December 23, 2015 at 11:48 pmGreetings! I Love the Stitches for the colorful rainbow pouch and would Love to make a rectangle scarf! How would I do that without working it in the round?
Tamara Kelly
December 27, 2015 at 12:41 pmHi Belinda! That info is in the video tutorial for the stitch pattern: https://www.mooglyblog.com/overlapping-post-stitch-pattern/ 🙂
neena
December 29, 2015 at 5:39 amamazing rainbow i love this pouch. Thanks very much for the pattern
Tamara Kelly
December 29, 2015 at 12:26 pm😀 Thank you!
Julia Ong
June 3, 2019 at 12:32 pmthis is beautiful. Would like to ask how u line the bag? I can knot, crochet…but very bad at sewing…😅
Tamara Kelly
June 3, 2019 at 3:51 pmHi Julia! Here’s my favorite method: https://www.mooglyblog.com/nearly-no-sew-bag-lining-tutorial/ Thank you!