Navy Sunflower Drawstring Pouch: A Free Crochet Pattern You’ll Love to Make and Gift
There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating a small, functional item that looks like it came straight from a boutique. The Navy Sunflower Drawstring Pouch is exactly that kind of project — a cheerful, practical little bag that combines the boldness of navy blue with the warmth of a hand-stitched sunflower motif. Whether you’re making it as a gift bag, a coin purse, a jewelry pouch, or a travel accessory, this free crochet pattern delivers big on charm without demanding a lot of your time or yarn stash.
This pattern is beginner-friendly with one intermediate technique — the sunflower appliqué — and the whole project can be finished in an evening or two. If you’ve been looking for a crochet pouch pattern that feels a little more elevated than the average drawstring bag, you’ve found it. Let’s dig into everything you need to know, from materials to finishing touches.
Why Navy and Sunflower Work So Well Together
Before we get into the pattern itself, it’s worth pausing for a moment on the color story, because color choice is honestly half the magic of a crochet project like this.
Navy blue is a classic. It reads as sophisticated and intentional, and it photographs beautifully against almost any background. It’s the kind of color that makes a handmade item look professional rather than casual, which matters when you’re giving something as a gift or selling at a craft market.
Sunflowers bring warmth, optimism, and a bit of rustic charm. When you stitch a golden sunflower onto a deep navy background, the contrast is striking — the yellow practically glows. It’s a combination that feels both timeless and fresh, which is why you see it in home decor, fashion accessories, and now, happily, in crochet.
Together, navy and sunflower yellow create a pouch that doesn’t look like a beginner project. It looks like something you chose carefully and made with intention.
Materials You’ll Need
One of the best things about this pattern is that it doesn’t require a large investment in materials. If you’re a regular crocheter, you may already have most of what you need in your stash.
For yarn, you’ll need a medium weight (category 4) cotton or cotton-blend yarn in navy blue as your main color. Cotton is the best choice for this project because it holds its shape well, gives the pouch a bit of structure, and is easy to care for. You’ll need approximately 100 to 120 yards of the navy. For the sunflower, you’ll want a small amount of golden yellow (around 20 to 25 yards) and a small amount of dark brown or black for the center (about 10 yards).
For tools and notions, gather a 4.0mm or 4.5mm crochet hook (adjust as needed to achieve the right tension), a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, a stitch marker, straight pins for blocking or positioning the appliqué, and approximately 30 to 36 inches of coordinating ribbon or twisted cord for the drawstring. A narrow ribbon in cream, gold, or a complementary pattern looks especially pretty.
If you want to line the pouch for a more finished interior, a small rectangle of cotton fabric — roughly 9 by 12 inches — and basic sewing supplies will do the trick. The lining is entirely optional but adds a lovely touch if you’re gifting the pouch with jewelry or small treasures inside.
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge: 16 stitches and 18 rows in single crochet equals approximately 4 by 4 inches using a 4.0mm hook with medium weight cotton yarn.
Finished dimensions: Approximately 5 inches wide and 6 inches tall (before the drawstring casing), with the drawstring adding another inch or so when cinched.
Don’t stress too much about hitting gauge exactly on this pattern. Because the pouch is a simple container and not a garment, slight variations in tension will just result in a slightly smaller or slightly larger pouch — both of which are perfectly usable. If you want a very small coin-sized pouch, crochet tighter or use lighter yarn and a smaller hook. For a larger bag, go up in yarn weight and hook size.
Abbreviations and Stitches Used
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology throughout.
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
st = stitch
sts = stitches
BLO = back loop only
sp = space
rep = repeat
MR = magic ring (also called magic circle)
If you’re not comfortable with the magic ring technique, you can substitute a ch 4 joined with a sl st into a ring instead. The magic ring gives a cleaner center on the sunflower, but either method works.
The Pattern: Navy Pouch Body
Foundation and Body
Chain 33. Being careful not to twist your chain, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each chain around. Join with sl st to first sc. (32 sts)
Rounds 2 through 20: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc.
Continue working in the round in this manner. The pouch will naturally form a tube as you work. Maintain even tension throughout — cotton yarn has less stretch than acrylic, so your tube will be fairly firm and hold its shape beautifully.
Base of the Pouch
After completing Round 20, you’ll close the bottom of the pouch. Flatten the tube so the two sides align evenly, with 16 stitches on each side. Using your yarn needle or hook, work a slip stitch seam across the bottom, working through both layers of stitches simultaneously. This creates a neat, flat base. Alternatively, you can use a mattress stitch seam with your yarn needle for an even flatter finish.
Weave in the tail from your starting chain on the inside of the pouch.
Drawstring Casing
Turn the pouch right side up with the open end at the top. Join navy yarn to any stitch at the top edge.
Round 21: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. (32 sts)
Round 22: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join with sl st to first sc.
Round 23: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
The channel formed between Rounds 21 and 22 (where the double crochet row creates a small gap) is where your drawstring will pass through. To create the opening for the drawstring, leave two small gaps on opposite sides when working Round 21 by skipping the joining slip stitch and instead creating your gaps as follows: on Round 21, when you reach the 8th stitch and the 24th stitch, simply skip the slip stitch connection and allow the natural looseness of the dc row to create a passage for the ribbon. You can also use a seam ripper or yarn needle to gently open up a gap between two double crochet stitches after the fact — this is often the easiest approach for beginners.
The Pattern: Sunflower Appliqué
The sunflower is worked separately and then sewn onto the front of the finished pouch. It’s made in three layers: the center circle, the inner ring of petals, and the outer ring of petals.
Center Circle (Dark Brown or Black)
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, 6 sc into the ring. Pull ring closed. Join with sl st to first sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around. Join with sl st. (18 sts)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Inner Petals (Golden Yellow)
Join golden yellow yarn to any st of the center circle.
Round 1: (Ch 4, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sl st into next st of center circle) around, working one petal into each st. (18 petals)
These will be slightly tight and overlapping, which is exactly what you want — they form the inner layer of the sunflower and give it a full, dimensional look.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Outer Petals (Golden Yellow)
Using a new length of golden yellow yarn, join to any stitch on the back side of the center circle, working between the inner petals to place the outer petal layer.
Round 1: (Ch 6, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 chs, dc in next ch, sl st into center circle between petals) around, placing one outer petal in each gap between inner petals.
These longer outer petals frame the flower beautifully and give the sunflower that classic full-bloom shape.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Give the sunflower a gentle press under a damp cloth to flatten and open up the petals. This blocking step makes a big difference in how the final appliqué looks.
Assembling the Pouch
Position the sunflower on the front of the pouch, centering it vertically between the base and the drawstring casing. It looks best placed slightly to the left or right of center rather than dead center, but this is entirely a matter of personal preference.
Pin the sunflower in place using straight pins. Thread a yarn needle with the long sewing tail from the center circle. Using small, tight whipstitches around the outer edge of the center circle, sew the sunflower firmly to the pouch body. Work your needle through the back loops of the outer petals to catch and secure the petal layer as well.
Once secured, weave in all remaining ends neatly on the inside of the pouch.
Threading the Drawstring
Cut two lengths of ribbon or twisted cord, each approximately 30 inches long. Using a safety pin attached to one end of the first ribbon, thread it all the way around the drawstring casing, entering and exiting through the same opening. Knot the two ends of this ribbon together. Repeat with the second ribbon, but thread it through the opposite opening so that when you pull the two knotted ends, they cinch the bag from opposite sides. This creates the classic drawstring closure where pulling both knots draws the bag shut evenly.
Trim the ribbon ends if needed, and if you’re using a fraying ribbon rather than a woven cord, add a small drop of fabric glue or clear nail polish to the cut ends to prevent unraveling.
Optional: Adding a Fabric Lining
If you want to add a lining, cut a rectangle of cotton fabric that measures the same width as the pouch plus a half inch seam allowance on each side, and twice the height plus a half inch on top. Fold the fabric in half with right sides together and stitch the two side seams. Press the seams open. Fold the top edge down by a half inch and press. Drop the lining inside the pouch (wrong sides together), and using a needle and matching thread, whipstitch the folded top edge of the lining to the inside of the pouch just below the drawstring casing. The lining will conceal the wrong side of your crochet work and prevent small items from slipping through any gaps in the stitching.
Caring for Your Pouch
Cotton yarn is wonderfully easy to care for. Hand wash your finished pouch in cool water with a gentle soap, reshape it while damp, and lay it flat to dry. Avoid wringing or twisting, which can distort the shape. If your particular yarn is machine washable (check the label), a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag works fine. Store the pouch stuffed lightly with tissue paper if you want to preserve the shape during storage.
Ideas for Customization
This pattern is a lovely starting point, but don’t feel locked in to navy and yellow. A few variations that work beautifully with this same structure:
A forest green pouch with a white daisy appliqué has a vintage botanical feel. Dusty rose with a cream sunflower reads as soft and romantic. Black with a bright tangerine or coral sunflower is graphic and modern. Natural undyed cotton with a muted marigold sunflower has a wonderful organic, earthy quality.
You can also adjust the size easily. Increase your foundation chain in multiples of 2 or 4 to make the pouch wider, or add more rounds to the body to make it taller. A larger version — say, 50 to 60 stitches around and 30 rounds tall — makes a great project bag or gift wrap for a bottle of wine or a candle.
For texture, consider working the body of the pouch in a simple textured stitch like the linen stitch (alternating single crochet and chain stitches) or moss stitch instead of plain single crochet. The texture adds visual interest without requiring changes to the basic construction.
Making It a Gift
This pouch is one of those crochet projects that photographs beautifully and wraps up even better. Fill it with a few chocolates, a lip balm and hand cream, a set of stitch markers for a fellow crocheter, or a piece of folded jewelry. Tuck a handwritten note inside before cinching the drawstring, and you have a gift that feels both thoughtful and personal without requiring hours of wrapping and fuss.
At craft fairs and markets, small crochet pouches like this tend to sell quickly, especially when displayed with a few different colorways grouped together. The navy sunflower version is a consistent crowd-pleaser because the color combination is recognizable and appealing even to people who don’t crochet and can’t appreciate the technique behind it.
A Few Tips for Success
If you find the foundation chain a bit stiff, try going up half a hook size for the chain only, then switching back to your regular hook for Round 1. This loosens the foundation row and makes it easier to work into.
When sewing the sunflower appliqué, take your time and use plenty of stitches. A securely sewn appliqué will survive washing and regular use. A loosely sewn one will shift and look messy after a few uses.
If you’re new to the magic ring technique and finding it frustrating, watch a short video tutorial — it’s one of those things that clicks instantly once you see it done in real time.
Block your sunflower before sewing it on. Even a quick press under a damp cloth makes the petals lie flat and neat, and the whole appliqué looks more polished.
Final Thoughts
The Navy Sunflower Drawstring Pouch is everything a great crochet project should be: fast to make, beautiful to look at, practical to use, and generous to give. It uses materials that are easy to find and affordable, requires only basic techniques that are well within reach of anyone who has crocheted for even a short time, and produces a finished object that genuinely delights people.
Whether this is your first crochet pouch or your fiftieth, the navy and sunflower color combination gives it a freshness that keeps the project feeling exciting from cast on to final knot. Make one for yourself, make a batch for holiday gifts, or make one in a different colorway every time you need a quick and satisfying creative win.
Happy crocheting — and enjoy every stitch.
