Create a charming crochet Cardinal gift pocket with this free crochet pattern! Perfect for holding small gifts, this adorable design makes a thoughtful handmade present and a great product to sell at markets and craft fairs.
This past Easter the Cardinal Gift Pocket was the most requested gift pocket design. It’s great for Easter because it’s egg-shaped, but it makes an excellent small gift holder year round! I am so excited to get it written up for you so you can start crocheting them and adding them to your shops!
All of my crochet gift pocket designs are perfect for holding small gifts like
- Gift cards and cash
- Essential Oils
- Small toy
- Lip gloss and Chapstick
- Mini manicure sets
- Trading Cards
- Sweet notes
These are just a few examples! If you market gift pockets to your audience be sure to use a gift example that’s most relevant to them.
Here are some of the other free crochet gift pocket patterns I have available on my blog.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.
If you prefer an ad-free experience you can purchase the inexpensive PDF instructions for this pattern in my shop.
Wanna save a little money? Who doesn’t?! You can purchase the gift pocket bundle and get all my crochet gift pocket designs at a discount.
I also have a gift I want to share with you all- Gift Pocket Tags! These tags are a great way to level up your market game.
The tags tell your customer what the product is and the price. You can use these gift pocket tags with any of my gift pocket patterns.
All you have to do is signup to the A Crafty Concept e-mail list below and you’ll receive the gift pocket tags and some other awesome resources straight to your inbox!
Let’s dive in and see what you need to make your own crochet Cardinal Gift Pocket.
Materials
–Worsted weight size 4 yarn (Red yarn for the body of the Cardinal, White for the egg, Scrap Yarn in Yellow for the Beak, and Black for the face.)
– G 4.0mm Crochet Hook
– Tapestry Needle
– Scissors
– Optional: Black and Yellow puff paint for the eyes, face and beak
Stitch Key (US Terms)
SC = Single Crochet
CH = Chain
INC= Increase -Put two stitches in the same space. (In this case, it will be two SC stitches.)
DEC= Decrease
SL ST= Slip Stitch
FSC= Foundation Single Crochet
SP= Space
Gauge
There is no gauge with this project because the finished gift pocket doesn’t have to be a specific size. My gift pockets are about 4.25″ by 3″.
The Cardinal pattern is based on my Refillable Chick Egg pattern, so for those who prefer to follow along to a video, you can follow the video tutorial below!
The only difference is colors, so use the grid below to make the correct color changes for the Cardinal Gift Pocket pattern.
Cardinal Gift Pocket Pattern
Front Piece (Cardinal and Egg)
Using White Yarn:
Foundation Single Crochet 10. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: INC in first st. SC in the next 8 sts. INC in the last st. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 3: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 4: INC in first st. SC in the next 10 sts. INC in the last st. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 5: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 6: INC in first st. SC in the next 12 sts. INC in the last st. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC)
Row 7: Attach Red Yarn, SC in first st. Using White yarn, SC in the next 3 sts. *Using Red, SC in next st. Using White, SC in the next 3 sts. * Repeat * * across ending with 3 SC in White. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC. 4 Red, 12 White)
Row 8: Using Red, SC in first st. Using White SC in next st. *Using Red, SC in the next 3 sts. Using White, SC in next st.* Repeat * * across ending with a Red SC in the last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC. Red. 4 White)
Rows 9-10: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC)
Row 11: SC 7, using Black SC 2, using Red SC 7. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC)
Row 12: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC 5, using Black SC 2, using Red SC 5. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 13: SC 4, using Black SC 6, using Red SC 4. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 14: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC 2, using Black SC 6, using Red SC 2. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 15: SC 3, using Black SC 6, using Red SC 3. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 16: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC 2, using Black SC 4, using Red SC 2. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (10 SC)
Row 17: SC 4, using Black SC 2, using Red SC 4. Ch 1, turn. (10 SC)
Row 18: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 6 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (8 SC)
Row 19: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 4 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (6 SC)
Row 20: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 2 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (4 SC)
Cut yarn, and tie off.
Now we’re going to add the face.
Beak
Add your beak to the right side of your Front Piece.
Grabbing your orange scarp yarn and a tapestry needle.
Insert your needle from the back side going through the front in the stitch where you want the bottom point of your beak to be.
We want to create a V or triangle shape.
Going up a row or two, insert your needle to the right side to create the first part of the V.
Threading your needle behind your work, pop it back out a few stitches over in that same row and go down to the middle point of your V.
Fill in your V by creating straight lines going from the top to the bottom point.
Tie off.
Pro Tip: Puff paint the beak on using orange puff paint.
Eyes
Add your eyes to the right side of your Front Piece.
I like to use safety eyes, but you could also puff paint your eyes on with black puff paint.
Bottom Back Piece
Using White Yarn:
Foundation Single Crochet 10. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: INC in first st. SC in the next 8 sts. INC in the last st. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 3: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 4: INC in first st. SC in the next 10 sts. INC in the last st. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 5: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 6: INC in first st. SC in the next 12 sts. INC in the last st. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC)
Pro tip: Do not cut your white yarn. Leave it attached for easy assembly!
Change to Red Yarn:
Rows 7-11: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC)
Cut yarn, and tie off.
Top Back Piece
Using Red Yarn:
Foundation Single Crochet 16. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 2-4: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (16 SC)
Row 5: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 12 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 6: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (14 SC)
Row 7: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 10 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 8: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (12 SC)
Row 9: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 8 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (10 SC)
Row 10: SC in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (10 SC)
Row 11: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 6 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (8 SC)
Row 12: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 4 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (6 SC)
Row 13: DEC over the first 2 sts. SC in the next 2 sts. DEC over the last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (4 SC)
DO NOT CUT YARN.
Assembly- Time Stamp 27:23
If you need help refer to the video that goes with this pattern
Place your front piece on top of your top-back piece where your working yarn is on the left-hand side of your work. Make sure your front piece is facing wrong side out. (we’ll flip the piece inside out when we’re done)
Lining up your top four stitches of each piece.
Using the yarn still attached to your top back piece, insert your hook through the first single crochet st of the front piece, going through the same stitch on the top back piece. Create a Chain 1 to attach the pieces together.
Working downward along the left-hand side, create 9 SC evenly going through both pieces.
Once you have your 9 SC, you will grab your bottom back piece.
Have your bottom back piece right side facing away from you. (This should make it so the white yarn you left attached, is on the left-hand side.)
Your bottom back piece will sandwich between the top back piece and the front piece so that you you’re working through all three layers at once.
Place a SC through all three layers.
Going through all 3 pieces, going downward on the left side, evenly place 3 more SC. (The 3rd SC should be in the last sp of your top back piece.)
Switch to the white yarn you left attached on the bottom back piece.
Keep working downward on that left side going through the front piece and the bottom back piece.
Evenly place 7 SC. Now you are at the bottom of your egg.
Continue with the white yarn, and place an INC in the first st. SC in the next 8 sts, and an INC in the last st along the bottom going through both pieces. (12 SC total)
Now working upward on the right hand side, with your white yarn evenly place 7 SC.
Switch to the Red yarn you left attached on the top back piece.
Going through all three pieces, evenly place 4 SC.
With the Red yarn finish the seaming.
Continuing upward on the right hand side, now going through just the front and top back pieces: evenly place 9 SC.
Now you are back at the top.
Going through both pieces, INC in the first st. SC in the next 3 sts. INC in the last st. Sl ST to the beginning SC.
Tie off.
Weave in your ends.
Now you have a super cute, eco-friendly crochet Cardinal Gift Pocket!
I hope you enjoyed this pattern, I had a lot of fun writing it.
Tag me on social media @ACraftyConcept so I can see all your fabulous creations.
Happy Crocheting,
Ashley 🩷
