Yuletide Ember Coal Sack Gift Card Holder: A Free Knitting Pattern

Looking for a unique, handmade touch for your holiday gift-giving? This charming knitted coal sack gift card holder is the perfect quick project for the festive season. It adds a playful, rustic twist to the classic gift card, making it feel like a special, cozy present. This pattern is beginner-friendly, works up in an evening, and uses simple knit and purl stitches to create a textured, homespun pouch. Let's get started on this delightful holiday knitting pattern!

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. This project is wonderfully portable and requires minimal materials.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors:
  • Main Color (MC): Charcoal gray (approximately 50-75 yards)
  • Contrast Color (CC): Burnt orange or gold for the drawstring tie (small amount)
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles
• Notions: Yarn needle for sewing seams and weaving in ends, scissors

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. (Gauge is not critical for this project, but matching it ensures the correct size.)
• Finished Size: Approximately 4 inches wide by 6 inches tall, perfectly sized to fit a standard gift card.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern is worked flat in one piece, then seamed. Follow these detailed instructions carefully to create your coal sack.

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease)
• P2tog: Purl two stitches together (decrease)
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• RS: Right Side
• WS: Wrong Side

Part 1: Knitting the Bottom of the Sack

We'll start by creating the flat base of the pouch using a simple stockinette stitch.

1. Cast On: CO 20 sts in MC.
2. Row 1 (RS): Knit across all stitches.
3. Row 2 (WS): Purl across all stitches.
4. Repeat: Continue repeating Rows 1 and 2 (stockinette stitch) until the piece measures 4 inches from the cast-on edge. Tip: Ensure you end with a WS row (a purl row) so that your next row is a RS row.

Part 2: Knitting the Sides of the Sack

Now we will establish a garter stitch border on the sides. This creates the rustic, defined edge of the coal sack.

5. Establish Border (RS): K2, P16, K2. (This creates a 2-stitch garter stitch border on each side, as you will knit these stitches on every row.)
6. Continue Pattern: Repeat this row (K2, P16, K2) for all subsequent rows until the piece measures 5 inches from the cast-on edge. Important: You are working the center 16 stitches in stockinette (purl on WS, knit on RS) and the edge 2 stitches in garter (knit on both RS and WS). End with a WS row.

Part 3: Top Shaping (Decreases)

This section shapes the top of the sack, tapering it so it can be cinched closed. Follow the decreases carefully, maintaining the garter stitch border.

7. Decrease Row 1 (RS): K2, P2tog, P12, P2tog, K2. (18 sts)
8. Row 8 (WS): K2, P14, K2.
9. Decrease Row 2 (RS): K2, P2tog, P10, P2tog, K2. (16 sts)
10. Row 10 (WS): K2, P12, K2.
11. Decrease Row 3 (RS): K2, P2tog, P8, P2tog, K2. (14 sts)
12. Row 12 (WS): K2, P10, K2.
13. Decrease Row 4 (RS): K2, P2tog, P6, P2tog, K2. (12 sts)
14. Row 14 (WS): K2, P8, K2.
15. Decrease Row 5 (RS): K2, P2tog, P4, P2tog, K2. (10 sts)
16. Row 16 (WS): K2, P6, K2.
17. Decrease Row 6 (RS): K2, P2tog, P2, P2tog, K2. (8 sts)
18. Row 18 (WS): K2, P4, K2.
19. Decrease Row 7 (RS): K2, P2tog, P2tog, K2. (6 sts)
20. Row 20 (WS): K2, P2, K2.
21. Decrease Row 8 (RS): K2, P2tog, K2. (5 sts)
22. Row 22 (WS): K2, P1, K2.
23. Decrease Row 9 (RS): K2tog, K1, K2tog. (3 sts)
24. Final Row (RS): K3tog. (1 st)
25. Fasten Off: Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail (at least 12 inches) for sewing. Pull the tail through the last loop to secure.

Part 4: Finishing and Assembly

Now we'll turn your flat piece into a three-dimensional sack.

25. Fold and Pin: Fold the piece in half with the right sides together, matching the cast-on edge. The garter stitch borders should align to form the side seams.
26. Sew Side Seams: Using the yarn needle and the long tail, sew the side seams using the mattress stitch or a simple whip stitch. Important: Leave the top (the shaped end) open.
27. Turn Right Side Out: Carefully turn the sack right side out, gently pushing out the corners of the bottom.
28. Create the Drawstring: With your CC yarn, create a twisted cord or an I-cord that is approximately 12 inches long. (To make a simple twisted cord: cut 3 strands of CC yarn about 36 inches long, hold them together, twist them tightly in one direction, then fold in half and let them twist together.)
29. Thread the Drawstring: Thread the drawstring through the top garter stitch border. Use a yarn needle to weave it in and out of the stitches around the opening, starting and ending at the front center.
30. Final Assembly: Insert your gift card into the sack. Pull the drawstring tight to cinch the top closed, and tie a neat bow.

Your adorable Yuletide Ember Coal Sack is complete! This handmade gift card holder is sure to bring a smile to its recipient. It's a perfect last-minute knit for the holidays, and the pattern is easily customizable with different colors to match any festive theme. Happy knitting!