Paintbox Yarns Block Patterned Pouch Knitting Pattern

Paintbox Yarns Block Patterned Pouch

What is Being Made

The Paintbox Yarns Block Patterned Pouch is a small knitted accessory bag designed for storing everyday items. The finished pouch measures 22 cm (8½ inches) wide and 7.5 cm (3 inches) high, making it a compact and practical project suitable for holding notions, cosmetics, or small personal items. The pouch features a 20 cm (8 inch) zip closure for secure storage, combining functionality with decorative colorwork.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level project employs several essential knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The pouch is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing you to try on or check fit as you progress
• Flat knitting: Worked on straight needles in rows rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters comfortable with traditional flat construction
• Stranded colorwork: Multiple yarn colors are carried across rows to create the block pattern, a classic technique for introducing color without cutting yarn
• Stripe patterning: Color blocks are arranged in horizontal stripe sequences throughout the design
• Seaming: After knitting, the flat pieces are sewn together along the sides to form the pouch shape, requiring basic seaming skills

Stitches Used

The pouch is primarily constructed using stocking (stockinette) stitch, which creates the classic smooth V-pattern texture on the right side. This fundamental stitch is worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, providing an excellent canvas for the stranded colorwork pattern. The straightforward stitch structure makes this an ideal intermediate project for knitters developing their colorwork skills.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Paintbox Yarns Wool Worsted yarn, a 100% wool fiber in five distinct colors:

• Dark Aubergine (Color A)
• Granite Grey (Color B)
• Misty Grey (Color C)
• Marine Blue (Color D)
• Raspberry Pink (Color E)

You will need 100g balls of each contrast color, or alternatively, the Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted Mini Ball Pack in Northern Lights, which provides a coordinated color selection. The pattern requires two pairs of knitting needles: 4.5mm (UK 7 – US 7) and 5mm (UK 6 – US 8), allowing you to adjust needle size to achieve proper tension. A 20 cm (8 inch) zip is needed to complete the pouch closure.

Tension and Finishing Details

Achieving the correct tension (gauge) of 21 stitches and 27 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch using 4.5mm needles is essential before beginning this project. The pattern emphasizes that working to incorrect tension will result in a pouch that does not match the intended finished measurements and may require more or less yarn than specified. Knitters should prepare a tension swatch of at least 13 cm (5 inches) square and measure carefully before starting the main project. The pattern provides instructions in UK knitting terminology with US equivalents given in parentheses, making it accessible to knitters using either convention.