Shark Crochet Sunglass Pouch Pattern

In this post, I’ll walk you through what the Shark Sunglass Pouch is, why you’ll love making it, fun ways to customize yours, and tips for success. I’ll also share gift ideas, craft fair selling angles, frequently asked questions, and suggestions for styling & photographing your finished pouch for social media. No step-by-step instructions or material lists here – you’ll find those in the pattern – but this post will help you get inspired, stay motivated, and get the most out of your make!

What is the Shark Crochet Sunglass Pouch?

The Shark Sunglass Pouch is a soft, lightly structured crochet case shaped like a plump little shark. The opening runs along the top of the body (think dorsal seam), so you can slide in a pair of sunglasses, readers, or even small craft tools. The shark’s smiling face, embroidered gills, safety eye (or stitched eye), and top/bottom fins bring the whole design to life. It’s part novelty, part practical storage – and all summer fun.

Because it’s crocheted in yarn instead of being a hard-eyeglass case, it’s lightweight and flexible. Toss it in your beach tote, backpack, or car console. Add a clip and attach it to a pool bag. It’s cushy enough to help keep lenses from getting scratched by keys or loose change, but still soft enough to squish into tight spaces.

Why You’ll Love the Shark Pouch

If you’ve hung out here very long, you already know I love designing crochet patterns that balance whimsy with function – and this shark pouch checks both boxes. Here’s why it’s a keeper:

Perfect for Summer Makes: Sharks + sunshine + sunglasses = seasonal crochet win.

Kid-Approved Gift: Kids love grabbing their own “shark bag” before outings.

Fast Finish: Great between-big-projects palate cleanser.

Scrap Friendly: Use partial skeins for the body, belly, and face details.

Customizable Personality: Sweet, fierce, sleepy, goofy – your shark, your vibe.

Great for Themed Events: Shark Week parties, ocean classroom themes, beach weddings (yes, really – as favor pouches!).

Market Seller Friendly: Small, eye-catching, and easy to batch-make for craft fairs.

Skill Level Breakdown

I’m calling the Shark Sunglass Pouch an easy skill level project. If you can single crochet, increase, decrease, sew simple seams, and do basic embroidery/finishing, you’re in great shape. The shaping is more about simple increases in the right spots than complicated stitch patterns. The fins and tail are small, so you’ll get good practice with mini pieces without committing to hours of work.

You should be comfortable with:

• Working flat

• Simple color changes (for the white belly section).

• Attaching small appliqué-style pieces (fins, tail, facial features).

• Installing a zipper or working an alternative closure like a button flap, snap, or drawstring ribbon (closures are totally optional).

Not there yet? No worries. Scroll to the Tips section for beginner-friendly hacks that make assembly less intimidating.

Customization Ideas

Want your shark to stand out in a sea of gray? Try these ideas.

Color Play

Classic Gray + White: Great white energy! (Pictured.)

Blue Reef Shark: Use tonal blues for body + pale belly.

Rainbow Shark: Self-striping yarn makes a psychedelic “coral reef party” shark.

Team Spirit Shark: School or sports team colors for summer camps.

Glow Shark: Pair glow-in-the-dark thread in the teeth or gill embroidery.

Texture Tweaks

Use a lightly speckled cotton blend for a freckled skin look.

Add a strand of silver thread for a wet, shimmery “fresh out of the water” vibe.

Try a boucle or fuzzy yarn just for the dorsal fin for silly cartoon texture.

Facial Personality Swaps

Friendly Smile: Soft curve with embroidered teeth.

Fierce Chomp: Zig-zag teeth + angled brow stitches.

Sleepy Shark: Closed eyelid line + blush cheeks.

Goofy Shark: Tongue stitch in pink yarn peeking out between teeth.

Fin Drama

Make the dorsal fin oversized (cartoon style) for photo props.

Add tiny back fin ridges down the spine for a “prehistoric” look.

Attach a mini loop tag to the tail fin for clipping onto bags.

Other Uses

Want to turn your Shark Sunglass Pouch into a fully featured travel buddy? Try one (or several) of these upgrades.

Wrist or Crossbody Strap

Sew (or crochet) a small D-ring tab into the side seam and clip on a wrist strap. For kids at water parks, add a long I-cord or macramé strap and wear crossbody.

Key Clip or Carabiner

Add a lobster clasp to the tail fin or dorsal tab so you can snap the pouch to a beach bag, stroller, or life-jacket loop.

Fabric Lining (Optional but Nice)

A simple fabric lining helps block sand, keeps the inside smooth for lenses, and adds structure. Pick a fun ocean print fabric for extra personality. If you’re sewing in a zipper anyway, lining is easy to add at the same time.

Personalized Labels

Stitch in a faux leather tag (“Handmade”, “Shark Squad”, child’s name, boat name, etc.) for gifting or selling.

Other Uses

Yes, it’s called a Sunglass Pouch – but don’t stop there! Makers are so creative with storage. Here are other things that fit nicely inside:

Reading glasses or blue-light glasses.

Crochet hooks & small scissors (travel tool kit!).

Mini sunscreen tubes or lip balm bundles.

Spare car key + cash for the beach.

Small first-aid items (bandages, wipes, motion tabs).

Earbuds (in case), charging cables, and a small power adapter.

Snacks. (Okay, maybe not melty ones. But your secret gummy stash? Safe with Sharky.)

Care and Washing Tips

Fiber care depends on the yarn you choose (see the pattern for fiber suggestions), but here are general rules of thumb:

• Remove sunglasses first (ha!).

• Spot clean mild dirt with a damp cloth.

• Hand wash cool water + gentle soap if heavily soiled.

• Reshape the fins while damp and lay flat to dry.

• Avoid tossing into a hot dryer if using cotton yarn.

If you’ve added a zipper and lining, wash gently and avoid soaking metal pieces for long.

About the Materials

The Shark Crochet Sunglass Pouch was made with 100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn, specifically I Love this Cotton. Good substitutes for this yarn are Knit Picks Dishie, Paintbox Cotton Aran, and Lily Sugar ‘n Cream. Acrylic yarns can also be used for this project and are a great option, because they are more stain resistant than cottons.

You will also need an G/6/4.00mm crochet hook, yarn needles for stitching on details and hiding loose tails.

The Crochet Pattern

Keep reading for a list of what you need to make the Shark Crochet Sunglass Case, including the stitch pattern instructions!

Materials

100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (#4)

• Gray [2oz/105yds]
• White [1oz/55yds]
• Black [Scraps]

G/6/4.00mm Crochet Hook

½” Black Shank Button

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Optional Materials

6” Gray Zipper

Water Resistant Glue & Sealer

Gauge

16 sts x 18 rows = 4”

Gauge is not critical for this project

Finished Measurements

8.25″W x 4.25″H before fins

10.25”W x 6.75”H with fins

Stitch Guide

arnd = around

ch = chain

dec = single crochet decrease

sc = single crochet

sl st(s) = slip stitch(es)

Skill Level

Easy

Instructions

SHARK BODY (Make 2)

With Gray,

R1. Ch 3, sc in the back bump of the 2nd ch and across, turn (2)

R2. Ch 1, 2 sc x 2, turn (4)

R3. Ch 1, 2 sc, sc x 2, 2 sc, turn (6)

R4. Ch 1, sc across, turn (6)

R5. Ch 1, 2 sc, sc x 4, 2 sc, turn (8)

R6. Ch 1, sc across, turn (8)

R7. Ch 1, 2 sc, sc x 6, 2 sc, turn (10)

R8. Ch 1, sc across, turn (10)

R9. Ch 1, 2 sc, sc x 8, 2 sc, turn (12)

R10. Ch 1, sc across, turn (12)

R11. Ch 1, 2 sc, sc x 10, 2 sc, turn (14)

R12. Ch 1, sc across, turn (14)

R13. Ch 1, 2 sc, sc x 12, 2 sc, turn (16)

R14-25. Ch 1, sc across, turn (16)

R26. With White: ch 1, sc x 7, With Gray: sc x 9, turn 

R27. With Gray: ch 1, sc x 9, With White: sc x 7, turn

R28. Repeat R26

R29. With Gray: ch 1, dec, sc x 7, With White: dec, sc x 5, turn (14)

R30. With White: ch 1, sc x 6, With Gray: sc x 8, turn (14)

R31. With Gray: ch 1, dec, sc x 6, With White: dec, sc x 4, turn (12)

R32. With White: ch 1, sc x 5, With Gray: sc x 7, turn (12)

R33. With Gray: ch 1, dec, sc x 5, With White: dec, sc x 3, turn (10)

R34. With White: ch 1, sc x 4, With Gray: sc x 6, turn (10)

R35. With Gray: ch 1, dec, sc x 4, With White: dec, sc x 2, turn (8)

R36. With White: ch 1, dec, sc, With Gray: dec, sc x 3, turn (6)

R37. With Gray: ch 1, dec, sc x 2, With White: dec, turn (4)

With Gray,

R38. Ch 1, dec x 2; Fasten. (2)

R39. Hold both panels together, so white “jaw” is on the bottom and nose is pointing to the left Attach yarn to the topside end of R30 and working through both panels: Ch 1, sc in same space and in the end of each row and in each st around to the topside end of R11.

R40. Ch 1, sc across the ends R12-R29 of front panel, turn and work sc across the end of R29-R12 of back panel, sl st to join in 1st sc; Fasten.

DORSAL FIN

With Gray,

R1. Attach yarn to end of R15 on topside and work towards R19: Ch 1, sc in same space as join and in the end of the next 4 rows, turn (5)

R2-3. Ch 1, sc across, turn (5)

R4. Ch 1, sc x 3, dec, turn (4)

R5. Ch 1, dec, sc x 2, turn (3)

R6. Ch 1, sc, dec, turn (2)

R7. Ch 1, dec; Fasten. (1)

TOP CAUDAL FIN

With Gray,

R1. Attach yarn to end of R1 on topside and work towards R5: Ch 1, sc in same space as join and in the end of the next 4 rows, turn (5)

R2-6. Ch 1, sc across, turn (5)

R7. Ch 1, sc x 3, dec, turn (4)

R8. Ch 1, dec, sc x 2, turn (3)

R9. Ch 1, sc, dec, turn (2)

R10. Ch 1, dec; Fasten. (1)

BOTTOM CAUDAL FIN

With Gray,

R1. Attach yarn to end of R1 on bottomside and work towards R4: Ch 1, sc in same space as join and in the end of the next 3 rows, turn (4)

R2-4. Ch 1, sc across, turn (4)

R5. Ch 1, dec, sc x 2, turn (3)

R6. Ch 1, sc, dec, turn (2)

R7. Ch 1, dec; Fasten. (1)

PECTORAL FIN

With Gray,

R1. Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, turn (5)

R2-7. Ch 1, sc across, turn (5)

R8. Ch 1, dec, sc, dec, turn (3)

R9. Ch 1, sc3tog; Fasten. (2)

Finishing

• Finish Shark:
• Hide all strings.
• Optional:Attach zipper to the opening (PHOTOS BELOW).
  • Open zipper, bring top stop all the way to the front of the opening, and sew one side of the fabric portion of the zipper to the inside of front panel by weaving in and out of the stitches, making sure the zipper teeth stay above the top of the stitches. 
  • Then sew the other side of the zipper to the inside of back panel (make sure top stops line up!). 
  • Close zipper and cut excess zipper from the end, leaving ½” excess. 
  • Tuck the ½” excess inside the pouch, then sew from the outside of the pouch, over the top of the zipper excess, through the crochet stitches and the zipper fabric at the same time. Make a few passes to secure and create a new zipper stop. Repeat on other end of zipper.
  • Secure yarn tails.
• Optional: Use glue sealer and paint the backside of the fins to stiffen them, so they keep their shape.
  
  
  

Don’t forget to share!

If you make this Shark Sunglass Pouch, I’d love to see it! Be sure to tag your photos with #BlackstoneDesigns and #SharkSunglassPouch on Instagram and Facebook, or share it in the Blackstone Designs Crochet Community group. I love seeing all the creative twists you come up with!