Problem Solved!

My children collect treasures.  Rocks, acorn caps (OK, that might be me), sticks they like, "cool things", rocks, rocks, and rocks.  Whenever we go on one of our "adventures", even when we just go for a walk, someone has something in his pockets when we get home.  One of his twelve thousand pockets.

Enter, stage left, the treasure collecting pouch:

First, the story, then the pattern.

About three years ago, I thought I had solved this problem:

I told them that on our family vacation, they could each bring home whatever treasures fit in their container.  I drilled holes in the lid, hammered in two grommets, and threaded this awesome slipper trim (that I bought in a roll of 100s of meters for 50 cents) through the holes.  It worked perfectly well the first day...and then I realized their plan was to fill it with rocks.  So they had to carry it from the bottom instead of using the strap (incidentally, this does work very well if you are carting around, say, snacks).

So, this week after threatening to sew all of a certain little boy's pockets shut I got to work making this pouch, because it is much much stronger.

So I present you with the 

Treasure Collecting Pouch:

This will fit a standard 1kg peanut butter jar (Brand name or Store Brand)

Gauge:  18 sts, 26 rows = 4"

Needles:  4.5 mm straight needles

Yarn:  Bernat Cotton (I had a jumbo ball so I am not sure how much I used, I really do think a 100g ball would do it...I will test and let you know) - sorry...but it would also be a great way to use up all kinds of odds and ends

Mine has a small pocket on the back (about the size to fit a house key or a car key).  If you do not want the pocket, follow the instructions in brackets for the tube.

Tube Portion:

Cast on 62 stitches (52 stitches).

Knit in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 18 rows.  Bind off 10 stitches at the beginning of the next row, and then continue knitting in stockinette stitch for 7" (Knit in stockinette stitch for 7").

Bind off.

Bottom:

Cast on 8 stitches.

Row 1:  purl

Row 2: Knit into the back and front of the first stitch to add a stitch, knit to last stitch, knit into the back and front of the last stitch.

Rows 3 - 10: Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 18 stitches.

Row 11: purl

Row 12: knit

Row 13-14: Repeat rows 1 and 2 (20 stitches)

Row 15: purl

Row 16: knit

Row 17: purl 2 together, purl to second last stitch, purl 2 together

Rows 18-27: Repeat rows 16 and 17 until you have 8 stitches

Bind off

Strap:  Crochet a chain until you have a chain 44" long.  Single crochet back and forth along the row until your strap is 2" thick.  (You could also cast on 10 stitches and knit back and forth until you have a strap that is 44" long).

Weave in all of your ends.  Right sides together, sew up the seam for the tube portion of the body.  If you have knit the pocket portion, make sure that it is overlapping so that it will be on the side you want when you turn it right side out again (ie/ are you trying to hide your pocket on the inside or have it easily accessible on the outside?). Turn the tube right side out.  Sew the side of the pocket to the tube.

Sew the bottom seam along the bottom of the pocket and the bottom of the tube.

Turn it inside out again and sew the bottom circle to the bottom of the tube (the end that does not have a pocket)

Turn it right side out again to add the strap.  Line up one end of the strap so that it hides your seam and overlaps the tube portion 4".  This puts the strap right next to the pocket opening.

Sew the strap to the tube up one side, across the top, down the other side, and across the bottom.

Do the same for the other end of the strap, lining up the strap and making sure that it is not twisted.

Weave in your ends.

Insert your peanut butter jar.  Fill with snacks, take it on your adventure, eat your snack, and fill it up with "treasures".

Enjoy

Friday I will be linking up with Natural Suburbia for Creative Friday and

Wisdom Begins in Wonder for Fiber Arts Friday.

Also linking up with: The Backyard Farming Connection permanent link up

                                Eat Make Grow at Pocket Pause