Shark Pencil Bag

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It is time for another monthly collaboration with Team Creative Crafts. This month, being the month that the majority of students head back to school the theme is, you guessed it- Back to School. I haven't really done a lot of back to school crafting this year, but I knew exactly what I wanted to do because it has been on my to-do list for a couple of years. 

One of my favorite back to school crafts to make is crocheted pencil pouches. I have several of them on my blog, most made using the same basic pattern. But a few years ago I made a mermaid tail pencil bag that was a different shape than the others that I had made. It opens on one of the short ends instead of the long side, and the other end is pointed with a fin to make the mermaid tail. 

Ever since I made that one I have wanted to use that same idea to make a shark version. I thought the same basic shape in gray, with a few small adjustments, and add a fin to turn it into a shark. So that is what I did.

The pouch is worked from the bottom (tail 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. Most of it is made just like the mermaid pouch but this shark version has an additional fin that is made separately and sewn on to the middle of the pencil pouch.

Be Sure to Check Out All of the Back to School Crafts Being Shared Today!

How to Bake Rainbow Stack Cakes from Laura at Me and My INKlings

 

Back to School Color By Number Free Printable from Lindsay at Artsy Fartsy Mama

 

Clay Pot Apple for Teacher Craft from Beth at Creatively Beth

 

Free Printable Back to School I-Spy Game by Laura from Laura’s Crafty Life

 

How to Make a Cover for a Spiral Notebook from Smitha at Smiling Colors

 

DIY Custom Composition Books for Back to School from Justine at Little Dove

 

Crocheted Shark Pencil Bag from Erica at Five Little Monsters

 

Back to School DIY Barbie Bag from Debra at Debra Quartermain Designs

How to Crochet a Shark Pencil Pouch

You will need:

• medium weight yarn in gray, red, and white (Sample made with Red Heart Super Saver in Dusty Gray, Cherry Red, and White)
• H crochet hook
• button
• yarn needle
• scissors
• needle and thread in color matching button

Instructions: 

You will start by making the tail 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

Begin with gray yarn

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 4 stitches, hdc2tog (5 hdc, 2 sc)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc in next 3 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 tail 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 

Flap

Lay your shark tail flat (make sure that the fin lays nicely) and decide which side you want to add your flap, count 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)

change to red yarn

Row 8: 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 across the top, sl st to first sc to join

change to white yarn

Row 9: sc around the opening until you get back to 3 sc along the top edge 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. 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

Fin

make 1 with gray yarn beginning with a magic ring

Round 1: in mr ch 1, 4 sc (4 sc)

Round 2: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next] repeat (6 sc)

Round 3: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 sts] repeat (8 sc)

Round 4: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 sts] repeat (10 sc)

Round 5: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 4 sts] repeat (12 sc)

Round 6: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 5 sts] repeat (14 sc)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Flatten into a triangle and sew to the center of the pouch on the side with the flap