This little corn cob pouch has plump bobble kernels and two leafy green husks. The kernels are a speckled mix of golden yellow, bright lemon and soft cream. They sit on a bright yellow background, so the cob reads as ripe sweet corn from across the room.
A yellow zipper runs straight down the front, and a cotton lining keeps pens, hooks and stitch markers from poking through the bobbles. A small teardrop loop at the bottom lets you clip the pouch to a bag or hang it on a hook.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished pouch measures about 8 in (20.3 cm) long and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide when flat. The bottom loop adds about 1¼ in (3.2 cm).
Construction overview: you work the cob body flat in rows as one rectangle that tapers at the top. Its long edges become the zipper edges, and the top and bottom are gathered closed. Next you make two husk leaves in plain single crochet and a small loop. Then you add the zipper and lining and sew everything together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 8 in (20.3 cm) long × 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, flat
- Skill level: Intermediate (bobbles, color changes, zipper sewing)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 4 crocheted pieces (1 body, 2 husk leaves, 1 loop), plus zipper and lining
- Layout: body in the center, one husk on each side, loop at the bottom point
- Body panel size (flat, before assembly): 8¼ in (21.0 cm) wide × about 8½ in (21.6 cm) long
- Husk leaf size: 3½ in (8.9 cm) wide at the base × about 6¼ in (15.9 cm) long
- Size before border: the body panel’s long edges are about 8½ in (21.6 cm)
- Border depth: 1 row of single crochet, about ¼ in (0.6 cm), on each zipper edge
Materials
Smooth cotton or cotton-blend worsted yarn gives the clearest, roundest bobbles. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns, because the bobbles will lose their shape. The amounts below assume about 183 m per 100 g.
- Color Y – Bright Lemon Yellow (background, some kernels, loop, edging): 35 g / 64 m
- Color G – Golden Yellow (kernels): 20 g / 37 m
- Color C – Cream (kernels): 20 g / 37 m
- Color H – Sage Green (husks): 30 g / 55 m
Tools and notions:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- 7 in (17.8 cm) yellow zipper
- Cotton lining fabric, 9¼ × 9½ in (23.5 × 24.1 cm)
- Sewing needle and yellow sewing thread
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Straight pins
- Scissors and a measuring tape
The quantities include a margin of about 15% for your gauge swatch and color changes.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Bobble (bob): (yo, insert hook in the next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops) 5 times, leaving 6 loops on the hook. Yo and draw through all 6 loops. Bobbles are worked on WS rows so they pop out toward the RS.
Color changes: work the last yo of the stitch before a color change with the new color. Lay the colors you aren’t using along the top of the row and work your sc over them so they stay hidden.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Plain sc: 16 sts and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Bobble pattern: 16 sts and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Test one piece first. Make one husk leaf before you start the body. It’s quick, uses plain sc, and shows you right away whether your gauge is on target. Then make a bobble swatch of 17 sts by 8 rows, using the pattern rows below.
Checkpoints:
- Leaf after Row 10: 3½ in (8.9 cm) wide and about 2¼ in (5.7 cm) tall
- Body after Row 1: 8¼ in (21.0 cm) wide
- Body after Row 15: 3¾ in (9.5 cm) long
- Body after Row 31: 7¾ in (19.7 cm) long
If your piece is too big, go down one hook size, to 3.75 mm. If it’s too small, go up to 4.5 mm. Don’t change stitch counts, because the zipper length depends on them.
Cob Body
The body is worked flat in rows. Rows 1 and all odd rows are RS rows. Even rows 2–30 are bobble rows. Start with Color Y.
Foundation: With Y, ch 34.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (33 sts)
Row 2 (WS, Bobble Row A): Ch 1, sc in the first st, bob in the next st, sc in the next st, rep from * to * across, turn. (16 bobbles + 17 sc = 33 sts)
Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (33 sts)
Row 4 (WS, Bobble Row B): Ch 1, sc in the first 2 sts, bob in the next st, sc in the next st 15 times, sc in the last st, turn. (15 bobbles + 18 sc = 33 sts)
Row A bobbles fall on stitches 2, 4, 6 … 32. Row B bobbles fall on stitches 3, 5, 7 … 31. This staggers each row’s kernels between the kernels of the row below.
Kernel color sequence: every sc is in Y. Bobbles follow the repeat G, C, Y.
- Begin every Row A with G.
- Begin every Row B with C.
Because 16 and 15 aren’t multiples of 3, the colors shift from row to row and give the random-looking speckle in the photo.
Rows 5–30: Rep Rows 3 and 4, then Rows 3 and 2, in that order. The pattern is:
- Odd rows: plain sc
- Rows 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 and 30: Row A
- Rows 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28: Row B
That makes 15 bobble rows in total: 8 A rows and 7 B rows, for 233 bobbles. Cut G and C after Row 30.
Row 31 (RS): With Y, ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (33 sts)
Checkpoint: the panel measures 8¼ in (21.0 cm) wide × 7¾ in (19.7 cm) long.
Top taper (Y only):
- Row 32 (WS): Ch 1, (sc in the next 9 sts, sc2tog) 3 times, turn. (30 sts)
- Row 33 (RS): Ch 1, (sc in the next 8 sts, sc2tog) 3 times, turn. (27 sts)
- Row 34 (WS): Ch 1, (sc in the next 7 sts, sc2tog) 3 times. (24 sts)
These rows add about ¾ in (1.9 cm). The panel’s long edges now measure about 8½ in (21.6 cm). Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for gathering the top.
Husk Leaves (Make 2)
With H, ch 15.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (14 sts)
Rows 2–10: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (14 sts)
Shaping: a decrease row means: ch 1, sc2tog, sc to the last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. A straight row means: ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
- Row 11: Decrease. (12 sts)
- Rows 12–13: Straight. (12 sts)
- Row 14: Decrease. (10 sts)
- Rows 15–16: Straight. (10 sts)
- Row 17: Decrease. (8 sts)
- Rows 18–19: Straight. (8 sts)
- Row 20: Decrease. (6 sts)
- Rows 21–22: Straight. (6 sts)
- Row 23: Decrease. (4 sts)
- Rows 24–25: Straight. (4 sts)
- Row 26: Decrease. (2 sts)
- Row 27: Straight. (2 sts)
- Row 28: Ch 1, sc2tog. (1 st – the tip)
Leaf edging round: Don’t turn. Work evenly around the leaf:
- 27 sc down the first side (1 per row end of Rows 1–27)
- 14 sc across the base (1 in each foundation ch)
- 27 sc up the second side
- 3 sc in the tip stitch
Join with a sl st to the first sc. (27 + 14 + 27 + 3 = 71 sts) Fasten off, leaving a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for sewing.
The leaf measures 3½ in (8.9 cm) across the base and about 6¼ in (15.9 cm) long. The edging gives it the firm, slightly raised outline you see in the photo.
Hanging Loop
With Y, ch 18 and sl st into the first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 26 sc over the ring (around the chain, not into it). Join with a sl st to the first sc. (26 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Pinch the join point into a teardrop shape. The loop is about 1¼ in (3.2 cm) long.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Qty | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Cob body | 1 | Y, G, C |
| Husk leaf | 2 | H |
| Hanging loop | 1 | Y |
Layout (front view):
[ tip ]
H [ body ] H
H [ zipper ] H
H [ body ] H
[ bottom ]
(o) loop
Joining
Step 1 – Zipper edging. Work the Zipper Edging from the Border section below on both long edges. It’s grouped there so all the edge math stays in one place.
Step 2 – Gather the bottom. With a Y tail, weave through all 33 foundation loops and pull tight. Leave the long edges unjoined at this stage.
Step 3 – Seam the ends. With RS out, bring the two long edges together. Seam the bottom 3 edging sts on each side together, and the top 3 edging sts on each side together. Each seam is ¾ in (1.9 cm). This leaves 28 sts open on each side, which is exactly 7 in (17.8 cm) for the zipper.
Step 4 – Sew in the zipper. Close the zipper and pin it behind the opening so the teeth just show between the edging rows. Sew with yellow thread, catching the back loop of each edging sc. Work one stitch per crochet stitch: 28 crochet sts along each 7 in (17.8 cm) side of the tape.
Tension advice: keep your sewing snug but relaxed. If you pull too hard, the edging puckers and the zipper ripples.
Step 5 – Lining. Fold the lining in half so it measures 9¼ in (23.5 cm) wide × 4¾ in (12.1 cm) tall, RS together.
- Stitch the short ends with a ½ in (1.3 cm) seam allowance and gather them slightly, so the lining matches the cob shape.
- Turn the top raw edge under ½ in (1.3 cm).
- Insert the lining with the WS against the crochet, and hand-stitch the folded edge to the zipper tape.
Step 6 – Gather the top. Use the 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Weave through all 24 sts of Row 34, pull tight into a rounded tip and secure.
Step 7 – Husks. Place one leaf on each side of the cob with RS out. Line up the base with the bottom gather, so each leaf’s inner edge sits about ½ in (1.3 cm) from the zipper edging.
- Whip-stitch the base and the lower 4 in (10.2 cm) of both side edges to the body.
- Leave the upper 2¼ in (5.7 cm) free so the tips curl outward.
Step 8 – Loop. Sew the pinched join of the loop firmly to the bottom gather, between the two husk bases.
Size checkpoint: the assembled pouch measures about 8 in (20.3 cm) long and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide when flat.
Border: Zipper Edging
Border gauge: 4 sc per inch (2.5 cm), the same as plain sc.
Edging row (each long edge): With RS facing and Y, join at the bottom corner. Ch 1 and work 1 sc in each row end of Rows 1–34. (34 sc) Fasten off. Repeat on the other long edge. (34 sc)
Why the math works: the body has 34 rows over about 8½ in (21.6 cm), which is 4 rows per inch. One sc per row end at 4 sc per inch gives 34 ÷ 4 = 8½ in (21.6 cm), so the edging lies flat without stretching or ruffling.
The 34 sts per side break down as 3 seamed at the bottom + 28 for the zipper + 3 seamed at the top = 34. The 28 zipper sts ÷ 4 = 7 in (17.8 cm), which matches the zipper exactly.
Final Blocking
- Before assembly, mist each husk leaf lightly with water.
- Pin each leaf flat to 3½ in (8.9 cm) × 6¼ in (15.9 cm), with the tip pointed.
- Lay the body panel RS up. Pat it to 8¼ in (21.0 cm) wide without flattening the bobbles.
- Mist the body lightly. Don’t press it or steam it hard.
- Let both pieces dry completely.
- After assembly, stuff the pouch with a rolled towel to shape the cob. Leave it overnight.
- Curl each husk tip gently outward with your fingers.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Body is 33 sts wide through Row 31, then 30, 27 and 24 sts in Rows 32–34.
- There are 15 bobble rows, and the bobbles stagger correctly.
- Kernel colors are mixed evenly, with no long runs of one color.
- Each zipper edge has 34 sc, and the zipper opening is exactly 7 in (17.8 cm).
- The zipper opens and closes smoothly without catching yarn or lining.
- Both husks are 71 sts around and match in size.
- The husks sit evenly on both sides, with the tips free.
- The loop is sewn securely to the bottom point.
- All ends are woven in on the WS.
Troubleshooting
- Bobbles sink to the back: they must be worked on WS rows. Check that Row 1 is your RS.
- Carried colors show through: work your sc snugly over the strands and keep the floats short.
- Panel is narrower at the top than the bottom: you’re losing stitches. Count 33 at the end of every row before Row 32.
- Zipper edge ripples: you have too many edging stitches. Rework the edge with exactly 1 sc per row end.
- Zipper edge puckers: your sewing is too tight. Re-sew with looser stitches, one per crochet stitch.
- Husk curls the wrong way: block it flat again and attach it with the RS facing out.
- Top tip is lumpy: weave the tail through every stitch of Row 34 before you cinch it.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and press out the water in a towel. Reshape the pouch and let it dry flat with the zipper open.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. The 33-st width gives an 8¼ in (21.0 cm) circumference. The 34 rows give long edges of about 8½ in (21.6 cm). One edging sc per row end gives 34 sts per side, and 28 of those match the 7 in (17.8 cm) zipper. The 3 sts left at each end close ¾ in (1.9 cm) seams. The husks’ 14-st base gives 3½ in (8.9 cm) of green on each side, and the finished cob lands at about 8 in (20.3 cm) × 4 in (10.2 cm). Check each step against those numbers, and your pouch will come together neatly.
Happy crocheting!