Orbital Bobble Pouch Free Crochet Pattern

Orbital Bobble Pouch Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

Meet the Orbital Bobble Pouch, a space-age little clutch that starts life as one flat crochet circle and folds into a half-moon bag. It's written for beginners: if you can single crochet and make a basic increase, you can make this pouch. The raised bobble rings in cotton candy pink and baby blue sit like little planets orbiting across the surface, and the t-shirt yarn gives it a soft, squishy, sturdy feel. It works up in an evening or two and looks far more complicated than it is.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Super bulky (6) cotton t-shirt yarn. Color A (cotton candy pink): approx 90 yd (82 m). Color B (baby blue): approx 60 yd (55 m).
• Hook: 8 mm (US L-11).
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, 1 large snap or 1 in (2.5 cm) button, matching sewing thread and needle.
• Finished size: Approx 9 in (23 cm) wide x 5.5 in (14 cm) tall when folded; base circle 9 in (23 cm) in diameter.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain: make a loop of yarn and pull through.
• sc – single crochet: insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• inc – increase: work 2 sc in the same stitch.
• dc – double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops twice.
• bo – bobble: a 5-dc cluster worked in one stitch (see Step-by-Step).
• yo – yarn over: wrap yarn around the hook.
• MR – magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into.
• sl st – slip stitch: insert hook, pull up a loop and pull it through the loop on the hook.
• RS / WS – right side (outside) / wrong side (inside).
• st(s) – stitch(es).

Gauge

8 sc x 9 rounds = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet; each bobble is approx 0.75 in (2 cm) wide. Work a small swatch in the round and measure the center of it; if you get more stitches than 8 per 4 in, go up a hook size, and if you get fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Mark your first stitch. The base circle is worked in a continuous spiral with no joining, so a stitch marker at the start of each round keeps you on track.
• Practice one bobble first. The bobble is a 5-dc cluster; work it loosely so the hook slides through all 6 loops at the end, then push it to the right side.
• Carry colors loosely. Leave the unused color resting on the wrong side with a little slack so the circle doesn't pucker when you change colors.
• Keep your tension even. T-shirt yarn is stretchy; consistent, slightly firm single crochet keeps the finished pouch from sagging.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes: Work the base circle in continuous spirals; do not join rounds. Mark the first stitch of each round. Bobble (bo) = 5-dc cluster: [yo, insert hook, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] x5, yo, pull through all 6 loops on the hook; push the bobble to the RS. Carry the unused color loosely on the WS.

Base Circle (Color A)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).
Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).
Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).
Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48 sts).
Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54 sts).
Rnd 10: [8 sc, inc] x6 (60 sts).
Rnd 11: [9 sc, inc] x6 (66 sts).
Rnd 12: [10 sc, inc] x6 (72 sts). Circle measures approx 9 in (23 cm) in diameter. Sl st to next st, fasten off A.

Bobble Ring 1 (Color B)

Rnd 13: Join B in any st, [bo, 5 sc] x12 (12 bo, 60 sc; 72 sts total).
Rnd 14: sc in each st around (72 sts). Change to A.
Rnd 15: sc in each st around (72 sts).

Bobble Ring 2 (Color A)

Rnd 16: [2 sc, bo, 3 sc] x12 (12 bo, 60 sc; 72 sts total).
Rnd 17: sc in each st around (72 sts). Change to B.
Rnd 18: sc in each st around (72 sts).

Bobble Ring 3 (Color B)

Rnd 19: [4 sc, bo, 1 sc] x12 (12 bo, 60 sc; 72 sts total).
Rnd 20: sc in each st around (72 sts). Change to A.
Rnd 21: sc in each st around (72 sts). Sl st to next st, fasten off, and weave in ends.

Fold and Side Seams (Color A)

Fold the circle in half with the bobbles facing out and align the edges. With A, work sc through both layers from the fold edge to the opening edge, 1 sc per st, approx 36 sts along each side. Fasten off.

Edging (Color A)

Join A at one side seam at the opening.
Rnd 1: sc evenly around the opening (approx 36 sc), sl st to first sc.
Rnd 2: ch 1, sc in each st around (36 sts), sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Closure

Sew 1 large snap or 1 in (2.5 cm) button at the center front opening, 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the edge. Optional: ch 8 and sl st back to the starting point to make a loop at the back opening edge, opposite the button.

Assembly and Finishing

The side seams are the only seaming: they are worked directly in sc through both layers as described above, so no separate sewing is needed. Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side, tucking them behind the bobbles so they don't show. Steam block lightly, holding the iron just above the fabric, and do not flatten the bobbles. Let the pouch dry flat before using it.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: Use a neutral base with two bright bobble colors for a bolder orbit effect, or make all three rings the same color for a subtle texture-only look.
• Bigger bag: Add two more increase rounds to the base circle (Rnd 22: [11 sc, inc] x6 = 78 sts; Rnd 23: [12 sc, inc] x6 = 84 sts) and add one extra plain sc round between bobble rings.
• Sturdier closure: Add a small magnetic snap behind the button, or use a ch 10 loop instead of ch 8 for chunkier buttons.