Free Pattern: Crayon Pouch

When my three-year-old #1 girl colors, she sometimes finishes by throwing on the floor whichever crayons she hadn't dropped.  I wanted a crayon holder to keep the crayons together, giving her options without letting her make a mess.

There are so many ways to make crayon holders - I have seen great ideas all over the place!  I decided on a small, non folding or rolling one, so that she can access them easily all by herself.  I attached each crayon to the pouch with a string.  When the crayon breaks or runs out, I can untie the string and replace it with a new one.



Supplies:
Any worsted weight yarn.  (I used Red Heart acrylic, veriegated)
5mm hook
Tapestry Needle
Hot Glue

Instructions:
Ch 16 (or more if you want the pouch to be taller.)
Rows 1-12*: Hdc in each st across.  Finish of, weave in ends.

*I used fat crayons, so I did 3 rows for each crayon.  If you have skinny crayons, do 2 rows per crayon.  Choose however many crayons you want in your pouch, then multiply by the rows per crayon.  So for me, 4 crayons, by 3 rows, came to 12.

Assembly:
Fold pouch with rows 1 and 12 on the sides, the sides of the square on the top, one side lower than the other.  Mine was about 2 stitches lower.  Sew the sides shut (sewing down then back up again) using tapestry needle and length of yarn, tying ends and cutting them short.  The variegated yarn hid the knots nicely.  (You could weave in ends, but for sure knot them first, since this is made to be used my a kid.)

Every 3 rows (or 2 for skinny crayons) sew the sides together to form a pouch.  Again, sew down and back up, tying ends and trimming them short (or weaving in).

At the top of each pouch, tie a length of yarn and trim end short.  On the other end, using a hot glue gun, glue the yarn down as you wrap it around the crayon paper a few times.  (The glue will melt the crayon, so be sure to start far enough down on the paper.)  I also did a layer of glue over the yarn, for extra security.

Tuck the crayons in the pouches.

Let the kid color!  I plan on tucking one in my purse for restaurant trips.  (Am I the only mom who spends way too much time collecting crayons that have fallen or been tossed under the table?)

I find that  it takes much less effort to untangle the strings than it does to pick up all the broken crayons off the floor.

©2012 Alli Hyer, all rights reserved.  You may sell items you make with this crochet pattern, but if you sell them online, you must link to this crochet pattern.  You may not sell this crochet pattern or claim it as your own.  You may publish or post a link to this crochet pattern, but you may not publish or post this crochet pattern in whole or in part.