Author: Talha
I am a crochet designer, macramé maker and a crafter who also loves doing MATH.
Contributor: Mary of Amigurumi Fairyland
She is a Ukrainian crocheter who crochet incredibly cute crochet plushies. She has been one of our latest contributor via mycraftybasket.
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Prepare for back-to-school this fall by learning how to crochet this oh-so-cute turtle drawstring pouch with a replaceable satin ribbon handle + free pattern to crochet a buttoned shoulder strap as well. This 2-in-1 turtle plushie is a smiling turtle plush whose shell is a spacious pouch for girls! The idea is to crochet the turtle parts around a wide drawstring pouch. You will also learn how to crochet a strap.
When not in use, this turtle bag also makes a SATISFYING table buddy. We shall also crochet the knotted bow cord as the drawstrings using the double strand.
You can also turn this crochet pouch into a dumpling shell turtle pouch by crocheting the shell in off-white. You can also embroider the strawberry onto the shell to turn it into the strawberry turtle plushie. I have loads more ideas, but this is the time to show you how to crochet this turtle plushie + pouch in detail. So, continue reading for the full turtle plush pattern.
Similar Project(s)
Pattern to Crochet Turtle Pouch with Ribbon Handle
Let’s crochet a small, cute drawstring bag shaped like a tiny turtle! Crocheted with super soft, plush chenille yarn, the finished bag is about 15 cm wide (including the head and tail) and 12 cm tall, making it a perfect little accessory for carrying small treasures.
Here is the design: a round base where the head, four little flippers, and tail are directly crocheted into the body – which means less sewing for you!
The top gathers neatly with a drawstring that you can decorate with wooden beads. Finally, a long, crocheted strap is sewn onto the sides (embellished with cute buttons) so it can be worn as a shoulder bag or crossbody. It’s an easy, charming, and practical make!
Full Crochet Pattern
US Terminology
Materials Needed:
Plush/Chenille Yarn (100g/120m): Apricot/Yellow color (for head, flippers, and tail) and Pale Pink (for the main bag/shell and strap).
Thinner Cotton/Acrylic Yarn (like YarnArt Jeans): Dark Pink (for the drawstring) and Black (for embroidering the mouth).
Crochet Hook: 4.0 mm.
Extras: 8mm safety eyes or half-beads (glued on), 2 wooden beads for the drawstring (optional), 2 buttons for attaching the strap, hot glue gun (if using half-beads), stitch markers, needle, and stuffing (for the head).
1. Flippers (Make 4)
Use Apricot/Yellow yarn.
Round 1: Ch 2. In the 2nd ch from the hook, work 8 sc. (8)
Rounds 2-5: 8 sc. (4 rounds total)
Do not stuff. Fold the opening flat and crochet 4 sc across both layers to close. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Are you a Beginner? Learn Crocheting Easily!
You can also learn to crochet this drawstring turtle pouch as a beginner by following this tutorial:
2. Head
Use Apricot/Yellow yarn.
Round 1: Ch 2. In the 2nd ch from the hook, work 6 sc. (6)
Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
Round 3: (1 sc, inc) 6 times. (18)
Rounds 4-5: 18 sc. (2 rounds)
Round 6: (1 sc, dec) 6 times. (12)
Rounds 7-9: 12 sc. (3 rounds)
Stuff the head firmly with fiberfill. Fold the opening flat and crochet 6 sc across both layers to close. Fasten off and weave in ends.
3. Main Bag Base (Shell Bottom)
Use Pale Pink yarn.
Round 1: Ch 3. In the 3rd ch from the hook, work 10 hdc. Sl st to join. (10)
Round 2: Ch 2. 10 hdc inc. Sl st to join. (20)
Round 3: Ch 2. (1 hdc, hdc inc) 10 times. Sl st. (30)
Round 4: Ch 2. (2 hdc, hdc inc) 10 times. Sl st. (40)
Round 5: Ch 2. (3 hdc, hdc inc) 10 times. Sl st. (50)
Round 6: Ch 2. (4 hdc, hdc inc) 10 times. Sl st. (60)
Round 7 (Attaching the body parts): This round is worked in single crochet (sc).
Ch 1, 6 sc.
Tail: On the 7th sc, change to Apricot yarn. Ch 5. Starting in the 3rd ch from hook, 3 hdc. Change back to Pink yarn, and sc into the next stitch on the base to anchor the tail.
6 sc. Hold a flipper against the base, and crochet 4 sc through both the flipper and base.
6 sc. Hold the second flipper, crochet 4 sc through both flipper and base.
6 sc. Hold the head, crochet 6 sc through both head and base.
6 sc. Hold the third flipper, crochet 4 sc through both flipper and base.
6 sc. Hold the fourth flipper, crochet 4 sc through both flipper and base.
You should have 60 stitches around. Sl st to join.(Melt or tie off and hide all loose ends from color changes).
4. Main Bag Body (Walls)
Continue with Pale Pink yarn.
Round 8: Ch 1, 60 sc around. Sl st to join. (60)
Rounds 9-17: Ch 2, 60 dc around. Sl st to join. (9 rounds total)
Round 18: Ch 1, 60 sc around. Sl st to join. Fasten off and weave in ends.
5. Strap
Use Pale Pink yarn.
Foundation: Chain 160 (approx. 1 meter long).
Row 1: In the 3rd ch from hook, work 3 hdc into the same chain.
Work 156 hdc along the chain until the last chain.
In the very last chain, work 6 hdc.
Turn and work 156 hdc along the opposite side of the foundation chain.
In the final stitch (where you made the first 3 hdc), work 3 more hdc. Sl st to the first hdc to join. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
6. Drawstring
Use Dark Pink Cotton Yarn (double stranded).
Chain 100 with the double strand of yarn. Fasten off.
Weave the string in and out of the posts of Round 15 of the bag (weave it skipping every 3 stitches), starting from the side.
Thread wooden beads onto the ends of the drawstring, knot the ends securely, and secure the knots with a drop of hot glue. Trim excess yarn.
7. Assembly and Details
Attach the Strap: Pin the strap to the outer sides of the bag (centered above the gap between the front and back flippers). Using needle and thread, sew the strap securely. For extra decoration, sew a button on top of where the strap attaches to the bag.
Secure the Head: Use needle and thread to tack the back of the turtle’s head to the side of the bag so it stands upright and doesn’t flop down.
Face:
Glue the 8mm eyes (or sew safety eyes/buttons) on the sides of the head between rounds 3 and 4.
Take a strand of black yarn and embroider a small “V” shaped mouth on the front of the head. Tie the ends securely and hide the knots inside the head.
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