Being a bag-obsessed girl, I’ve always wanted to try crocheting a bag with hemp yarn.  It’s not only a durable fiber but it comes in way cute colors. On a recent trip to a not-so-local yarn store I found some hemp yarn that was half hemp and half wool. It looked perfect for playing with. I tried to conceive of a brilliant design on which I could test the yarn, but I had nothing.

One day, the zipper on my wallet broke. I needed a replacement quick. With Valentine’s Day looming ahead I worked up a heart design and grabbed the hemp. You could say that for all my grand intentions the conception of this pouch was a little half-hearted.

• Hemp Yarn, (55% Hemp, 45% Wool, 200 yds/skein) 1 skein Black, 1 skein Red
• Size F/3.75 mm hook
• Small yarn needle
• Zipper

5" wide x 3.5" high

3.5 stitches and 4 rows = 1 inch

When changing colors, always change the yarn when there are still two loops of the last single crochet stitch on the hook. Finish the last yarn over with the new color.

Always pick up the new color and drop the old color on the wrong side of the fabric.

Use one turning chain at the end of each row. The turning chain does not count as a stitch.

Pattern

To begin, clip off about 18 inches of each color to be used when you work the heart in contrasting color.

With black, ch 19.

Row 1:  Right side.  Sc in second st from hook and each st across until there are only three sts left.  Begin sc in next st and change colors where there are two loops left on the hook.  With new color sc in last two sts.

Continue following chart working all sts in sc.  When you get to Row 11 and begin to work the main color on the inside of the heart, simply use the length of yarn you set aside.  You can drop this yarn as you work across the heart pattern again and pick it up on your way back.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Work the second side by reversing the color pattern and working the heart on the left side, instead of the right.  For instance, you will begin by working the first two stitches of the heart at the beginning of Row 1 (instead of at the end) then work the remainder of the row in the second color.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Finishing

With the same color as the heart, slip stitch around the edge of the heart on each side.  With wrong sides together, whipstitch the sides and bottom together.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew the zipper into the opening. I used the Hemp yarn and a small yarn needle to attach the zipper to the inside of the stitches.  If you like the look of contrast stitching, feel free to pass it all the way through to the outside of the pouch and back in again.