Crocheted Gelt Bags For Chanukah!

Crocheted Chanukah Gift pouch pink

Phew, I did it, Chanukah is tonight and I did get around to crocheting little gelt (coins) bags for my young ones. Truthfully giving gelt is really the Chanukah tradition of yore, the idea of giving presents only really snuck in on account of the Dec. 25th holiday, so I realized that the first night of Chanukah would not be complete without these little bags to hold the chocolate coins we traditionally give every Chanukah. (The rest of the year my kids are somewhat chocolate deprived, so they really look forward to this one!)

Crocheted Chanukah Gelt Bags

Given that I was a little pressed for time, I made some chunky, scrap buster versions of my crocheted pouches from last year. You can follow the instructions from last year, (with another example here) or to make bags like these, grab a size K hook, two strands of yarn (in my case the blue versions were a variegated strand and an aqua strand crocheted together, the pink version uses combos of solid colors) and crochet as follows:

Crochet a chain of 4 and join with a slip stitch.

  • Round 1: Chain 2 (serves as the first double crochet) and then crochet 12 double crochet stitches into the circle.
  • Round 2: Chain 1, Single crochet 2 stitches into every double crochet from the previous round.
  • Round 3: Chain 1, working in the back loop only, single crochet one stitch into every stitch from the previous round.
  • Round 4: Working in both loops single crochet around and join with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the previous round.
  • Rounds 5-16:  
  • Round 17: Chain 2, double crochet in each stitch from the previous round, this is the row to insert the drawstring.
  • Round 18-20:
  • Round 21: Slip stitch around for a really nice finish, as seen in the pink pouch.
  •  To finish, weave a ribbon or chord through the stitched on round 17 and tie with a bow. I used some yarn called “ruffles” which I happened to have on hand. More about that later.

  Crocheted Chanukah Gift pouches

Fill your little handmade pouches with some chocolate coins and some small prizes, and there will be smiles all around, promise! Wishing you all a joyous Chanukah, and not to worry if you don’t have time today to crochet some little pouches, well you’ve got a whole week to think about it!

And by the way, a reader with an educational site called school sparks wrote to me to tell me about her educational Chanukah work sheets, which you can find here……maybe a great way to keep the little ones busy as you sneak off to do some crocheting? 

 

 

Comments

16 responses to “Crocheted Gelt Bags For Chanukah!”

  1. decemberbaby Avatar

    I love these! Too bad I don’t have the patience to crochet. I’ve tried to learn several times and somehow just can’t stick with it long enough to do anything but one long row.
    I might make some pretty fabric pouches, though. They’ll go over so much better than the mesh bags the gelt comes in. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. Daisey Avatar
    Daisey

    Just want to wish you a Happy Hanukkah filled with many Blessings!

  3. ifat Avatar

    איזה יופי, רק עכשיו גיליתי את הבלוג הנפלא שלך, המון תודה על כל הרעיונות הנפלאים. חג שמח!

  4. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much! Please do tell your friends, I know there are so many who would enjoy the blog, and do hope to do it in Hebrew some time too…..Chanukah Sameach!

  5. Judy Fergusen Avatar

    Please: what stitches are used rounds 5-16 and 18-20?

  6. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Sorry about that, its single crochet. all the best!

  7. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much! Would love to see you on my linky party Craft Schooling Sunday when it resumes the second sunday in January!

  8. Delz Avatar

    Your crafts are beautiful. Love the little spoons with the faces. A great idea for children and story time. Your crochet pouches are wonderful. Nice idea. Just goes to show that you can do just about anything with crochet and a creative imagination. Best wishes for the new year from http://www.howtocrochetabeanie.com

  9. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so very much! I was just thinking given your comment that the crocheted bags would be great holders for the spoon puppets! All the best in 2012!

  10. Catherine Jamieson Avatar
    Catherine Jamieson

    The instructions are blank for Rounds 5-16 – please clarify for me! Thanks!

  11. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Whoops, that is strange thanks for pointing that out. Just repeat row 4. all the best!

  12. kari Avatar
    kari

    are these done in continuous rounds? Or slip stitch to join? and if so where into? Thank you

  13. Sara Rivka Avatar

    hi kari, all were done in rounds with slip stitch to first stitch of round. (not first chain of round, that for me usually creates a visible hole) happy crocheting!

  14. joan Avatar
    joan

    Thank you so much for sharing. I belong to a bingo group and this will make nice little handouts. Thank you again.

  15. Vivian Brown Avatar
    Vivian Brown

    Thank you for sharing this pattern. This will be perfect for Birthday gifts such as jewelry for girls and money for boys. Keep sake bags are a great idea as well.

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