Crochet Crocodile Stitch Pouch Free Pattern

When I first saw the crocodile scarf, I was amazed by how stunning the pattern was. I couldn't understand, though, why they named it crocodile stitch* when it is uber soft and dainty compared to crocodile scales. They should have thought of something more appropriate for this beautiful pattern.like mermaid scales stitch or something...

I am just so eager to use it in my crochet projects. Using plarn** and a hook a bit too big for my plarn, I set off to make me a small pouch. The loose tension of my crochet gave my pouch its delicate look. I super love it! This pouch was to be my flagship product in the very first bazaar I will join.

* I wrote an in-depth discussion of how to crochet the CROCODILE CROCHET STITCH PATTERN, which includes free written and charted pattern too for the basic crocodile stitch. Please read it to make crocheting this pouch easy. Most of the terms I used here were defined in that article.

**Click here to learn the methods of making plarn and how to condition it for crochet.

• The resulting purse is shorter than the foundation chain because for every 6 chains, there is only an equivalent of 5 stitches worked on round 1. To remedy this, make your foundation chain longer than your desired finished width.
• This purse is crocheted without turning. Therefore, don't be afraid if the beginning of each odd row slowly moves from the side towards the center.
• This pattern is written in a very generic form. You can adapt it to any size you like.
• All my patterns are free. Check them all out here.

Materials:

• a lot of yarn of your choice (I used flesh 1/4-in single strand plarn from 2 extra large shopping bags)
• zipper of similar color to your yarn (I used YKK 7-in zipper)
• small piece of cloth for lining (I used scrap cloth from my father's shirt that I murdered a year ago when I got interested in t-shirt surgery)

Tools

• crochet hook suitable for your yarn (I used #5 hook because I wanted loose tension for my purse)
• sewing thread, needle and pins for applying zipper and lining

• ch - chain
• dc - double crochet
• sl st - slip stitch
• sp - space
• sk - skip

Foundation Chain: Ch 40 (or a multiple of 6 + 4)

Round 1: Ch 3, dc in the 4th ch from hook [ch 1, sk 2 ch, dc* in next ch, ch 1, sk 2 ch, 2 dc** in next ch], repeat till 3 ch left, ch 1, sk 2 ch, 1 dc in last ch. Continue work on the other side of the chain. [Ch 1, 2dc** where lone-dc was anchored, ch 1, dc* where twin-dc was anchored] repeat till last lone dc, ch 1, dc where the first dc of the row was anchored, ch 1, sl st to ch before 1st dc of the row.

Round 2: Ch 1, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, 5 dc along the post of next dc worked from base to top, sl st to next dc, [5 dc along the post of next dc worked from top to base, 5 dc along the post of next dc worked from base to top, sl st to next dc] repeat till last lone dc, sl st to first dc made for the round, sl st to top of lone dc.

Round 3: Ch 3, dc in last lone dc, ch 1 [dc* in between twin dc, ch 1, 2 dc** in lone dc, ch 1] repeat till throughout the round, sl st to top of ch-3.

Repeat Round 2&3 alternately ending with a Round2-repeat.

Finish the purse by working sc's on all the stitches of last odd round.

My purse has a total of 17 rounds including the finishing sc-round.

* This single dc in odd rounds will be referred to as lone dc.

** This 2dc-group in odd rounds will be referred to as twin dc.

After crocheting the purse, its time to add the zipper and lining. I followed this tutorial by Carrie Wolf because it has clear instructions and lots of photos to get you through.

I first used this tutorial when I finished my Ripple Purse and I've made significant progress in my sewing. Check out the photos for evidence!