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Little Nest Pouch
Like a feather-lined nest, built with care to hold what matters most, our irresistible Little Nest Pouch is a quick, joyful knit you can finish in a day! Cast on with our Little Nest Pouch Bundle, two balls of fluffy Witch Hazel and one of smooth cotton-linen Oleander, in perfectly coordinating colors you’ll love.
You start out with Witch Hazel, knitting your pouch in the round from the top down, all in stockinette except for a simple round of eyelets to thread the strap through later. Easy knitting in a very special yarn… It doesn’t get much better than that! Then you switch to Oleander held double to knit the bottom of the bag, shaped with decreases like the crown of a hat. And to finish, you knit an I-cord, again with Oleander held double, to make either a shorter over-shoulder strap or a longer cross-body one.
Toss bag and strap in the washer and dryer to make the Witch Hazel fluff up even more and to slightly increase the density of both fabrics. Then thread the strap through the eyelets, tie the ends together inside the bag, and pull two loops on opposite sides to create your handles and to cinch the top of your bag closed!
Soft and lovable as a downy little chick, Witch Hazel is a burst of feathery strands anchored by a braided thread at the core—all spun from 100% naturally beautiful Pima cotton. A bulky-weight yarn on US 9 needles, it knits up into a super lightweight and surprisingly durable fabric that you won’t be able to stop touching!
Oleander—another plant-based yarn, this one smooth and slender—is made with 50% Turkish cotton and 50% Belgian linen. You hold this fingering-weight yarn doubled for an incredibly strong fabric that won’t stretch out.
Pick from 9 delightful Little Nest Pouch Bundles and cast on for this absolute charmer of a project. But fair warning… Once your friends see your Little Nest Pouch, they’re all going to want one!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. See even more of Hiromi’s work on her Instagram!
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
Our Little Nest Pouch Bundle includes…
- Yarn A: 2 balls of Purl Soho’s Witch Hazel, 100% Pima cotton yarn. Each ball of this chunky/bulky-weight yarn is 48 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 80 total yards required.
- Yarn B: 1 ball of Purl Soho’s Oleander, 50% cotton and 50% linen. Each ball of this fingering-weight yarn is 205 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 95 (115) total yards required.
You will also need…
- US 9 (5.5 mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles
- US 6 (4 mm), 16-inch circular needles OR US 6, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
- A set of US 6 double pointed needles
- A stitch marker
We knit our samples in the following colors…
- Heirloom White + Pignoli Nut
- Chamomile Yellow + Dijon Yellow
- Pewter Gray + Gray Spruce
GAUGE
12 stitches and 14 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, with Yarn A, using larger needles, unlaundered
13 stitches and 16 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, with Yarn A, using larger needles, laundered
20 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, with Yarn B doubled, using smaller needles, unlaundered
NOTE: The Yarn B doubled gauge listed above is not the gauge of the finished project, but if you get this gauge for a square swatch, your finished bag will end up roughly the right size!
SIZES
Short Over-Shoulder Strap (Long Cross-Body Strap)
- Finished Dimensions, Unlaundered: Approximately 16 inches in circumference x 8 inches in length
- Finished Dimensions, Laundered: Approximately 14¾ inches in circumference x 7 inches in length
- Length of Strap, Unlaundered: 90 (119) inches, with instructions to adjust
- Length of Strap, Laundered: 82 (107) inches, with instructions to adjust
Samples: Our bags have a Short Over-Shoulder Strap, except the Chamomile Yellow + Dijon Yellow one, which has a Long Cross-Body Strap.
NOTES
CONSTRUCTION
You will work the Body in the round with Yarn A, beginning at the top, then working a round of holes for the Straps, and continuing to work down towards the base. You will work the Base with Yarn B held double, working in the round and decreasing towards the center to finish. To finish, you will make an I-cord Strap, still with Yarn B held double, then weave it through the holes in the Body to assemble.
YARN DOUBLED
You will double Yarn B throughout this pattern, knitting with two strands held together when working the Base and Strap. To do this, we recommend pulling one strand from the inside of the ball and one strand from the outside at the same time.
ADJUSTING STRAP LENGTH
Before binding off your I-cord Strap, weave it through the bag and try it on over your shoulder or as a crossbody bag to consider your desired length. If you’re unsure, it’s best to knit it a little longer so you can adjust the length later by tying the ends of the strap together inside the bag. Keep in mind that the Strap will shrink by approximately 10% when laundered and that approximately 14 inches will be required for weaving through the eyelets.
PATTERN
BODY
With Yarn A, cast 48 stitches onto larger circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place a unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Knit 7 rounds, until piece measures 2 inches from cast-on edge.
Next Round (Holes for Straps): [K4, knit 2 together (k2tog), yarn over] 8 times.
Knit every round until piece measures 8 inches from cast-on edge.
Cut Yarn A.
BASE
NOTE: If you are using shorter circular needles, change to double pointed needles when necessary.
Change to smaller circular needles and join Yarn B held double (see Notes).
Increase Round: *K1, knit front and back (kfb), repeat from * to end of round. [72 stitches]
Knit 5 rounds.
Decrease Round 1: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [48 stitches remain]
Knit 3 rounds.
Decrease Round 2: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [half of stitches remain]
Repeat last 4 rounds 2 more times [6 stitches remain]
Cut yarns and thread tails onto a tapestry needle. Draw the needle through remaining stitches, pull taut and bring tails to inside of bag. Set aside.
STRAP
With Yarn B held double, cast 3 stitches onto double pointed needle. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Work an I-cord for 90 (119) inches, or to preferred length (see Notes).
Bind Off Row: K1, k2tog, pass first stitch over second stitch and off right needle. [1 stitch remains]
Cut yarns and pull through remaining stitch.
FINISHING
WEAVE IN ENDS + BLOCK
Weave in all ends.
Thread a single strand of Yarn B or any machine washable scrap yarn through the eight holes at top of bag and tie ends in a knot. Later, when you’re ready to attach your Strap, this will make it easier to find the holes.
Gently wet block, or machine launder for a denser, fluffier fabric (our sample is gently machine washed and dried).
ATTACH STRAP
Starting from inside of bag, weave Strap through all eight holes, in one hole and out the next, until both ends of Strap are inside bag. Tie ends together to secure, with knot hidden inside bag.
Find two Strap loops opposite one another on outside of bag. Gently tug loops upward to pull up Straps to their full length.
Remove scrap yarn and enjoy!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About This Yarn Bundle + All Our Beautiful Yarns
We knit this project with two beautiful plant-based yarns that couldn’t be more different from each other: our soft and fluffy Witch Hazel, a bulky-weight yarn made from 100% Pima cotton, plus Oleander, our fingering-weight 50/50 cotton and linen yarn. Witch Hazel brings a joyful whimsy and lightweight loft, which contrasts beautifully with the smooth, matte finish of Oleander. Together, they make a soft, sturdy bag with true natural beauty! Pick up a Little Nest Pouch Bundle to cast on for this free pattern.
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Witch Hazel knitting patterns and Oleander knitting patterns and cast on!
More Yarns In Similar Weights
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns (What does fingering-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to fingering-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
- Shop our entire collection of chunky/bulky-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cotton yarn (What helps cotton keep its cool? Learn all about this soft, natural fiber in our guide to cotton yarn!)
- Shop linen yarn
- Shop plant-based yarn
- Shop machine-washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Can the round-size of the bag easily added/adjusted…for a bigger bag?
Hi Marinda,
I’m so glad you’re considering the Little Nest Pouch for your next project! I’m really happy to explore resizing options with you. What a fun project!
The base of the bag would be adjusted by adjusting the cast-on. You would also need to adjust the decreases until you reach a small enough circumference to bind off and seam the circle together. I would try to cast on an even number that can be divided evenly in half 4 times. For instance, 96 can be divided by 2 into 48, 24, and 12 in your decreases. I would decrease one more time to get to a 6 and finish the bottom there. You could also try casting on 72 (36,18,9) and see if your bottom can be cinched shut at 9 stitches… (you could also add an extra row of k1, k2tog to get you down to the 6 stitches in the original pattern).
I hope this helps, but please reach back out with any other questions you might have!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Sweet project! It looks like it would be extraordinarily easy to crochet. I’d try myself to come up with a version as fluffy as the picture but I’m limited on funds to test the listed yarns with.
Please let me know if you come up with a satisfactory crochet version! <3
Hi Speedwell,
Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m really glad you’re loving the Little Nest Pouch, and I’ll definitely pass along your interest in a crochet version to our team. Thank you so much for sharing your suggestion!
Happy crocheting,
Hills
I love Purl Solo and have been a delighted customer for years!
I am ordering Little Nest. Pouch Bag and would like to make it for a 10 yr old little girl.
How do you suggest I knit it in an appropriate size.
Thanks for your advice!
Hi Donna,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad you’ve loved our patterns and yarn so far, and I’m really glad the new Little Nest Pouch caught your eye. This would make such a lovely gift, and I’m sure she’ll adore it!
I would keep the first part of the instructions regarding knitting for 2 inches for the strap holes the same… that way, you don’t have to adjust the width of your straps.
I updated the instructions below to accommodate for a cast-on of 40 stitches instead of 48. You could also go smaller and do something like 20 stitches (the end of round stitch counts would be updated to: 20, 40, 20, 10, 5 (respectively), in this case. The number you choose to cast on needs to be an even number that can be halved 2 times at the end of the pattern.
*Please note, I did not update the number of rows repeated between each decreae. For proportions, you may considered decreasing the number of rounds repeated between each decrease round (ie, increase, knit 4 rows, decrease, knit 2 rows, repeat the last three rounds)
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach back out with any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Hills
You guys are terrific!
I am never disappointed!
Many thanks,
Donna
Ohhh thank you so much for your kindness, Donna! We’re always happy to help!
Happy knitting!
Hills
I also would love crochet version and may just try doing my own thing to make one probably starting at bottom working in rounds with increases till I get to size close to the knit one. then start crocheting onto the round to do the sides like making a basket.
Hi Elaine,
This sounds wonderful! What a lovely idea… we would so love to see the results! Please feel free to show us your work on our homepage, where it says “upload your photos,” or email us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Happy crafting!
Hills
I got the bundle in the mail this weekend. I’d like to know if I can use both skeins of Oleander at once or if I use more than the length of one for something. I was thinking I would do the icord first if that was the case. I don’t want to have to join yarn on the icord. I was planning on using a lucet to make the icord. Will that be too small?
Hi Katie,
I’m so excited to see your interest in making the Little Nest Pouch…I’d love to help you out!
Looks like you’ll need two skeins of Witch Hazel and just one skein of Oleander for both sizes. When working with Oleander doubled, I suggest pulling from both the inside and outside of the ball to keep everything nice and even.
Oleander will be used for the base and the strap. For the strap, you’ll need about 95 yards if you’re making the small size, and around 115 yards for the larger one. Since Oleander has 205 yards, if you go for the bigger size, you’ll have roughly 90 yards left over (or about 45 yards when doubled). That should give you enough room to start on the I-cord first.
It looks like most lucets are two-pronged. I would suggest using a 3-pronged i-cord maker to speed things up. Having a 3-stitch i-cord rather than a 2-stitch i-cord will provide you with more structural integrity for your strap, and won’t dig in quite as much as a thinner cord might.
I hope that helps! Happy knitting!
Hills
Loved the washcloths in this yarn.
Just to clarify in my mind the final decrease instructions read: Repeat last 4 rounds 2 more times [6 stitches remain]
Does this mean three rows of stocking net then a decrease round?
Hi Cheryl,
This is such a great question! Thanks so much for taking the time to reach out with it. I’m so glad to hear you loved the washcloths in Witch Hazel!
You’re exactly right! This instruction means you will knit 3 rounds in stockinette, and then one decrease round. Then you’ll do that same 4-row repeat once more. This will bring you down to a stitch count that can be comfortably cinched shut at the bottom without leaving a hole in the center.
I so hope this helps, and we can’t wait to see your finished Little Nest Pouch!
Happy knitting!
Hills
Working on the Little Nest Pouch. I will need to join the witch hazel end of ball one to the beginning of witch hazel ball two to complete the body. What is your suggestion for joining yarns — overlapping yarn one and yarn two for several stitches and then working in ends; dropping yarn one end and just beginning knitting with yarn two, working in ends later with maybe a little knot? I thought a Russian Join would be great but the lashes would complicate the weaving into the chain. Your best solution, please.
Hi Noreen,
Thank you so much for this great question! I’m so glad to see you’re working on the Little Nest Pouch…what a fun project!
These are both great options! You may find working with both tails creates a bit of a bump in your work. I would suggest first trying the alternative method you mentioned… dropping the old yarn to pick up the new yarn and start knitting with it. About three stitches later, you can weave the ends in as you go. It’s a bit like trapping a float, if you’re familiar with that technique. The tension should even out over time and after blocking. You can also weave in the ends at the end of the project, if you prefer, using duplicate stitch.
Please don’t hesitate to reach back out with any other questions you might have!
Happy knitting,
Hills
I’m nearly done with this bag, and it came together in no time. This is a good pattern for beginners friendly. I bought the yarn kit, and there is enough of the main color to make two bags; you’d just need to use a similar color or add yarn to color B for the straps.
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your comment! We’re so glad to hear this was a quick and fun project for you. We’re also thrilled to hear that you would recommend the project for beginners, as well. That feedback can be so helpful for the community. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Happy crafting, and we can’t wait to see what you knit next!
Hills
I’m finished with the bag and am now working on the cord — is it REALLY 119 inches?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for your question! I’m so glad to see you have finished most of your Little Nest Pouch…great work so far!
If you’re looking to make the crossbody length strap, then that would be 119 inches of I-cord (before laundering), yes! For the shorter shoulder strap, you could work an I-cord 90 inches long (before laundering).
If you’re looking to help this step move faster, I would suggest searching for a 3-pronged I-cord tool in your preferred search engine.
Happy knitting!
Hills
Hi Guys,
I am in love with this project but have difficulties in knitting the Witch Hazel because of the feathery strands. Is there a video tutorial by any chance?
Thank you,
Daniela
Hi Daniela,
I’m sorry to read you’re having trouble with Witch Hazel!
Sadly, we don’t have a video for this pattern yet… but I love the idea and will be sure to pass it along to our team. Thank you so much for the great suggestion.
We do offer 1-on-1 Help sessions if you would like to work through this together. We’d be very glad to help you get back on track!
Happy knitting,
Hills
I am so excited to try this pattern. I bought 5 skeins of the witch hazel and I’ve been cotemplating about what to make with it. Then I found this email. How exciting. I just ordered the cotton linen skein to make it.
It will be a great project once I get everything gathered to make it. Thank you for such great inspiration!
Hi Laura,
Thanks so much for reaching out! I’m thrilled to see you’re gathering all your tools for the Little Nest Pouch! It is such a fun project, and I hope you end up loving it as much as we do…
Happy knitting!
Hills