This crochet Minion pencil case is a fun character-inspired twist on my Crochet Pencil Case Pattern. The case is crocheted around a cardboard tube to give it structure, with a hinged top, button closure, and a crocheted eye that doubles as the buttonhole.
Made with small amounts of worsted-weight yarn, it’s a fun back-to-school project and a great way to use up yarn scraps. The finished case is approximately 8 in. (20 cm) tall and is perfectly sized for holding pencils, pens, and other small school supplies.
Crochet Minion Pencil Case
Pattern Details
Skill level: Intermediate
Yarn: Worsted-weight yarn
Hook: 4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
Finished size: Approximately 8 in. (20 cm) tall
Construction: Worked in joined rounds around two sections of a cardboard tube, then assembled with a hinged top and button closure.
Materials
- Cardboard paper towel tube
- Small amounts of worsted-weight yarn in black, blue, yellow, white, and gray
- 4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- ½ in. (13 mm) black button
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Crochet Abbreviations
ch – chain
rep – repeat
sc – single crochet
st(s) – stitch(es)
This free crochet pattern is written in U.S. crochet terms and abbreviations. Stitch counts are provided throughout the pattern to help you keep on track.
New to crochet abbreviations? Visit my Crochet Abbreviations reference for help. You can also see my Magic Ring tutorial and U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart for additional help with this pattern.
Special Technique: Changing Colors
Changing Colors: In the stitch before the color change, insert your hook as usual and pull up a loop. Yarn over with the new color and pull through both loops on the hook. Continue crocheting with the new color. Carry the unused color behind your stitches unless directed to fasten off.
Pattern Instructions
Cut the cardboard paper towel tube into two pieces: one 6 in. (15 cm) long and one 2 in. (5 cm) long. Discard the remaining section.
Bottom
With black, make a magic ring. Alternatively, ch 4 and join with a sl st in the first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as st here and throughout), work 6 sc in ring, join — 6 sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 12 sts.
Round 3: Ch 1, work 2 sc in same st as join, 1 sc in next, *2 sc in next, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, join — 18 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, working in back loops only, work 1 sc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 18 sts.
Round 5: Join blue, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and each st around, join — 18 sts.
Using the long length of the cardboard tube, check your fit. I prefer to keep the tube in place and continue crocheting around it from here on.
Rounds 6 through 15: Repeat Round 5 — 18 sts.
Round 16: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join, 1 sc in next st, changing to yellow on last yarn over, work 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, changing to blue on last yarn over of fifth st, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, changing to yellow on last yarn over of fourth st, work 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, changing to blue on last yarn over of fifth st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, join — 18 sts.
Rounds 17 and 18: Repeat Round 16 — 18 sts.
Round 19: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in each of the next 6 sts, changing to yellow on last yarn over of sixth st, work 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, changing to blue on last yarn over of fourth st, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, join — 18 sts.
Round 20: Join yellow, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and each st around, join — 18 sts.
Rounds 21 through 26: Repeat Round 20 — 18 sts.
Fasten off, leaving a tail approximately 6 in. (15 cm) long.
Top
Using the smaller tube length and yellow yarn, repeat Rounds 1 through 10 of the bottom.
Round 11: Join black, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and each st around, join — 18 sts.
Fasten off, leaving a tail approximately 6 in. (15 cm) long.
Eye
With white, make a magic ring, but do not close it completely.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 12 sc in ring, join — 12 sts.
Round 2: Join gray, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 12 sts.
The center of the eye (the magic ring) is also the buttonhole. Test the size with your button. The button should go through easily but without slipping through. Use the tail of your yarn to adjust the ring size for your button. Once you get the correct size, use a tapestry needle to weave the tail back and forth through the backs of your stitches to secure it.
Finishing
Line up the joining seams and yarn tails of both pieces. Using a tapestry needle and the long tails, sew the top and bottom together across 5 sts to create a hinge. Find the center front and sew the button to Round 11 of the top piece. Line up the buttonhole (the eye) with the button and sew the bottom of the eye to the bottom piece. Weave in ends.
To make arms, join yellow to the center yellow stitch of Round 17 of the bottom, chain 17, and join to the center yellow stitch at the other side of Round 17. Using a tapestry needle and black yarn, make a few overlay stitches to secure the arms to the front of the case.
Ready for another pencil case crochet pattern? Check out the free pattern for this striped pencil case.

More Crochet Patterns for School & Office
- Crochet Pencil Case Pattern – Back to School Crochet
- Adorable Apple Cozies
- Pretty Flower Paper Clips
- Crochet Lace Bookmark
- Flower Push Pins
- Colorful Pencil Cozies




I love this minion pencil case it is so so cute. I am going to crochet this cutie for my grandson. He loves “Despicable Me” and so do I. My grandson has seen the second movie but I haven’t.
Thank you very much for sharing your pattern.
Was wondering what to do with the leftover yarn from the large stuffed minion I made last month!
I love this! If nobody has pointed you to Day by Day Crochet (she’s on FB) then I’m going to. She makes custom clay handle crochet hooks and has just made a TON of minion hooks. I can see your pencil holder doubling as a crochet hook case. (Especially if it’s filled with minion crochet hooks!) 😀
I have to check that out. Thanks, Micki!
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern! We also have a family of Despicable Me minion fans! I’m finishing it up now. My paper towel tube ended up collapsing on the ends, so I got some plastic canvas and cut it to the same size as the paper towel tube pieces. I sewed it together into tube shapes, then used it instead of the paper towel tube. At both of the open tube ends I sewed the minion body to the plastic canvas openings to anchor it. It is much sturdier than the paper towel tubes, it is cheap – one sheet was $.59 and will make several – and I think it will last longer. Hope this will help someone! And now my daughter wants a Hello Kitty one….any patterns for that?? Lol.
That’s a great idea!! Thanks so much for sharing. And I’ll have to mull that Hello Kitty idea around 🙂
You did a great job, and a nice idea for the kids, I’m going to try one and see how it comes out. Thanks for sharing.
Hi to do the eye do you change to the grey on round 2 as it does not say so. Many thanks
You are correct, the second round of the eye is done in gray. I will update the pattern now. Thanks for the catch!
This is awesome, Kara! It’s genius that they button is the pupil of the eye! My daughter also LOVES minions!
Thanks so much, Marilyn!
This is so nice too, especially the way you created the little arms and hand:)
Thanks, Elisabeth 🙂
That is so cool! You’re so creative. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hope you like it 🙂
Your little minion is just so cute! Thanks for sharing your pattern with us. 🙂
Love it Kara! Featured on Moogly! 😀
Thanks so much for the feature, Tamara!!
My pleasure, Debi 🙂
Wow!! That looks cool !! 🙂 I also liked the way you added a button to make the eye:) thanks for sharing!!
So glad you like it, Preeti 🙂