Crocheted Mermaid Tail Pencil Pouch

 -This post may contain affiliate links-

School starts in less than 2 weeks for us so I have had school supplies on my mind. One of my favorite back to school crochet projects is pen or pencil pouches. I have made quite a few different styles that I have shared here, but todays pencil pouch is a little different than the others I have made. It was inspired by my daughter who loves mermaids.

This Mermaid Tail Pencil Pouch is made to look like a mermaid tail, with a fin at the bottom and the closure on the opposite end. It closes with a button flap.

I used self striping yarn that had blues, greens, and purples because I wanted something that had mermaid-y colors, but didn't really want a solid color, although I'm sure that would look good too.

I ended up using Red Heart Super Saver Stripes in Parrot. I made 2 pouches out of the same yarn but because they started at different places in the color change they ended up looking very different. One was more green and blue while the other was more purple and blue.

The pouch is worked from the bottom (fin) up and is mostly half double crochet. The main part of the pouch is worked in the round, everything except the fin and the flap. I made it long enough to to hold new pencils. You could make it to hold something like crochet hooks, and in that case you may want to shorten it slightly. To do this just do fewer of the straight rounds before adding the flap.

How to Crochet a Mermaid Tail Pencil Pouch

You will need:

• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Stripes in Parrot, or medium weight yarn in color of your choice (1 skein is enough for at least 3 pouches)
• H crochet hook
• button
• yarn needle
• scissors
• needle and thread in color matching button

Instructions: 

You will start by making the fin, which is worked flat, then you will crochet across the top of the fin and begin working the pouch which is worked in the round, last you will make the flap which is worked flat along the top edge of the pouch

Turning chains do not count as a stitch

ch 10

Row 1: hdc in 3rd chain from hook, hdc in next 5 ch, sc in next 2 ch (6 hdc, 2 sc)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc in first 2 stitches, hdc in next 5 stitches, last stitch will be left unworked (5 hdc, 2 sc)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, sl st in first stitch, hdc in next 4 stitches, sc in last 2 stitches (4 hdc, 2 sc)

Row 4: ch 8

Row 5: turn, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in next 3 ch, sc in next 2 ch (4 hdc, 2 sc)

Row 6: ch 1, sc in first 2 stitches, hdc in next 3 stitches, 2 hdc in last stitch (5 hdc, 2 sc)

Row 7: ch 2, 2 hdc in first stitch, hdc in next 5 stitches, sc in last 2 stitches (6 hdc, 2 sc)

The fin is now finished and to continue you will work across the top of the fin (the sc side)

Row 8: ch 1, turn your fin so that you can work into the sides of the sc at the end of each row, there are 6 rows total each ending in a sc so you will be working into each of those 6 stitches, sc2tog 3 times (3 sc)

Round 9: ch 2, working in front loops only hdc in each stitch, turn so that you can work into the back loops of those same stitches and hdc in each unworked loop, sl st to first hdc to join (6 hdc)

Round 10: ch 2, 2 hdc in each stitch around, sl st to first hdc to join (12 hdc)

Round 11: ch 2, hdc in each stitch, sl st to first hdc to join (12 hdc)

Round 12: ch 2, [2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in next] repeat around, sl st to first hdc to join (18 hdc)

Round 13: ch 2, hdc in each stitch, sl st to first hdc to join (18 hdc)

Round 14: ch 2, [2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in next 2] repeat around, sl st to first hdc to join (24 hdc)

Round 15: ch 2, hdc in each stitch, sl st to first hdc to join (24 hdc)

Round 16: ch 2, [2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in next 3] repeat around, sl st to first hdc to join (30 hdc)

Round 17-31: ch 2, hdc in each stitch, sl st to first hdc to join (30 hdc)

Finish off and cut yarn (or you can figure out where you will start the next step and sl st to that point)

Flap:

Lay your mermaid tail flat (make sure that the fin lays nicely) and decide which side you want to add your flap, round 15 stitches from edge to edge and mark those as the stitches you will be working your flap into. 

Row 1: attach yarn and sc each of the 15 stitches you marked for the placement of the flap (15 sc)

Row 2: ch 1 turn, sc2tog, sc in next 11 stitches, sc 2tog (13 sc)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 9 stitches, sc2tog (11 sc)

Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 7 stitches, sc2tog (9 sc)

Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 5 stitches, sc2tog, (7 sc)

Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 3 stitches, sc2tog (5 sc)

Row 7: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next stitch, sc2tog (3 sc)

ch 1, working in the side of the flap rows sc evenly down the angled side, sc in each stitch around the pouch opening, sc evenly up the other angled side of the flap, sc in the first of the 3 sc from the last flap row, ch 4 (or more if you have a larger button than I used), skip middle sc from row 7, sc in last sc, finish off, weave in ends 

Fold the flap down to determine button placement, stitch button in place using needle and thread