Chinese Zodiac Critter Pouch

This pencil case consists of the head, the body, ears, facial features, hands, and a piece of cheese.

Note: Hand-measured, with a possible error of 1–2 cm. Due to differences in individual tension, the sample size is for reference only.

Materials: Cloudlet, 4-Ply Combed Cotton. 

Tools: 2.00 mm crochet hook, 3.00 mm crochet hook.

Note:
① Double strand crochet means using two strands of yarn held together as one; all parts not specified in the table are worked with single strand.
② Use a 2.00 mm crochet hook for 4-Ply Combed Cotton, and a 3.00 mm hook for Cloudlet yarn.

Note:
1. This pattern is making in Chinese crochet pattern terms, and the stitch name is written using American terminology. All measurements in charts are in cm. 
2. When crocheting in rounds without further guidance, working in closed rounds, start each round with a set number of beginning chains and close with a slip stitch. The beginning chain preceding a single crochet and the slip stitch used for joining rounds are not included in the total stitches.

PART 1 Head + Body

Head+ Body (Two strands)
Round/Row	Stitch Instructions	Total Stitches	Color
Cast on, R 1	8CH, Dao 2, 6X, W, 5X, V	16	Cloudlet 23#Neutral Gray
R 2	V, 5X, 3V, 5X, 2V	22
R 3	(X, V), 5X, (X, V)×3, 5X, (X, V)×2	28
R 4	(X, V, X), 5X, (X, V, X)×3, 5X, (X, V, X)×2	34
R 5	even 34X	34
Note: Break the yarn, skip 7 stitches, and start picking up stitches from the 8th stitch in the middle to crochet back and forth, leaving space for the zipper.
H 6	1CH, 7X, 3W, 14X, 3W, 7X	46
H 7-H 10	Turn, 1CH, 46X	46
H 11	Turn, 1CH, 7X, 3M, 14X, 3M, 7X	34
H 12	Turn, 1CH, 7X, M.14X, M, 7X	30
H 13	Turn, 1CH, 7X, V, 14X, V, 7X	32
H 14	Turn, 1CH, 6X, V, 2X, V, 12X, V, 2X, V, 6X	36
H 15-H 16	Turn, 1CH, 36X	36
H 17	Turn, 1CH, 8X, 2V, 16X, 2V, 8X	40
H 18-H 21	Turn, 1CH.40X	40
H 22	Turn, 1CH, 8X, V, 2X, V, 16X, V, 2X, V, 8X	44
H 23-H 26	Turn, 1CH, 44X	44
H 27	Turn, 1CH, 9X, V, 2X, V, 18X, V, 2X, V, 9X	48
H 28-H 29	Turn, 1CH, 48X	48
H 30	Turn, 1CH, 11X, A, 22X, A, 11X	46
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 10 centimeters to break the yarn for weaving in ends. Sew on the zipper, lay flat and mark 15 stitches on each side, crochet two feet.
R 1	even 15X	15
R 2	(3X, A)×3	12
R 3	6A	6
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 30 centimeters to break the yarn. Sew the middle of the feet together with the yarn tail using whip stitch.

PART 2 Ears

Ear×2
Row	Stitch Instructions	Total Stitches	Color
Cast on, H 1	MR, 6X, do not join with a slip stitch, begin flat crochet.	6	Cloudlet 07#Crystal Pink
H 2	X, 4V, X	10
H 3	2X, (X, V)×3, 2X	13	Cloudlet 23#Neutral Gray
H 4	2X, (X, V, X)×3, 2X	16
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 30 centimeters to break the yarn.  Sew onto both sides of the main part head, occupying the position of R 2-H 6.

PART 3 Facial features

Facial features
Part	Round	Stitch Instructions	Total Stitches	Color
Nose		Use 8mm safety eyes as the nose, attach at main part H 8, centered below both eyes.	/	/
Eyes		Glue the 10mm eyes onto the main part at H 6, with about 4 stitches between the two eyes.
Blush×2	R 1	MR, 6X	6	4-Ply Combed Cotton 02#Quartz Pink
	R 2	6V	12
	R 3	(X, V)×6	18
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 30 centimeters. Sew the wrong side as the right side on both sides of the nose, covering H 7-H 10 of the main part, about 3-4 stitches away from the nose.

PART 4 Hands

Hand×2
Round	Stitch Instructions	Total Stitches	Color
Cast on, R 1	MR, 6X	6	Cloudlet 23#Neutral Gray
R 2	6V	12
R 3	(X, V, X)×4	16
R 4-R 7	even 16X	16
R 8	8X, leave the remaining stitches unworked.	8
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 30 centimeters to break the yarn. Place the last 8 stitches of the hands on the right side, sew them onto both sides of the main part, covering H 14-H 18 of the main part, with the front edge of the hands embracing the cheese.

PART 5 Cheese

Cheese
Part	Round	Stitch Instructions	Total Stitches	Color
Cheese piece×1	Cast on, R 1	MR, 6X	6	Cloudlet 05#Spectra Yellow
	R 2	(X, W)×3	12
	R 3	2X, W(3X, W)×2, X	18
	R 4	3X, W(5X, W)×2, 2X	24
	R 5	4X, W(7X, W)×2, 3X	30
	R 6	BLO, 30X	30
	R 7	even 30X	30
Second piece		Repeat R 1-R 5
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 40 centimeters to break the yarn. Stuff with compressed cotton, whip stitch the two pieces together, and finally sew them between the two hands.
Circular pattern×3	Cast on, R 1	MR, 6X	6	4-Ply Combed Cotton 70#Samoan Sun
Note: Leave a yarn tail of about 30 centimeters to break the yarn. Sew the circular patterns onto the front side of the cheese.