Skills:
Beginner.  Basic knit/purl and stitching ability with the hardest thing being a single yarnover. 

Materials:
~25 yards of Moda Dea Ticker Tape (much less than one skein at 67 yards) in color #9256 (suede), a baskety color if ever there were one
*Size 10.5 straight needles (gauge is more or less irrelevant, but should be wide enough to showcase the tickertapey shape without stuff falling through)
*Tapestry needle
*Button to fit the yarnover hole



Pattern:
BOD
CO 14 sts in your favorite method
Row 1: k4, p3, k3, p4
Rep row 1 5x more
Row 7: p4, k3, p3, k4
Rep row 7 5x more

This is your basic basketweave for this pouch.  Rep rows 1-12 2x more (36 rows), then k one row.

FLAPPER
Row 1 and odd rows: k1, k2tog, k to end
Row 2 and even rows: k to last 3, k2tog, k1
Rep these two rows until 4 sts remain
Row "3": k2tog, yo, k2tog
Row "4": k1, drop yo, k1
Final row: k last 2 sts tog, weave in end

FINISH HIM
Fold the body in half (what will be the inside out), making sure to line up edges for a clean look.  Using the same yarn, sew up both sides.  Remember that the way you fold it will determine which side the flap is on, if you care about that sort of thing. 
Flip right-side-out, line up the buttonhole made by the yarnover to where you want the flap to close, and sew on the button.  Be careful ahead of time that the button not only fits but won't catch on the delicate nylon strings of the yarn.  It's kind of fussy that way.  I used a pearl (not my usual thing, but I know that the recipient will like it), which isn't exciting but slides through super easily. 
A single strand of Ticker Tape makes a nice but rather superfluous handle embellishment.  I'm still considering whether or not to add one.



The most important part, the story:
My yarn-buying habits may fool you in the future, but don't let them--I'm pretty poor.  Not "Sorry guys, I can't afford to go out to dinner tonight" poor, but "Sorry guys, you'll have to keep your coats on because I can't afford to use heat in January" poor.  My boyfriend of three years and his family are a lot better off, so his mom is always doing nice stuff for me and has bought me gifts too expensive to reciprocate.  The only thing I can really afford to do is make her something original and slap her name on it for all the internet to see.  It may not be up to her calibre (she was a famous artist once), but I only had a tenth of my stash on hand when I wanted to make it, and who doesn't like basketweave?  If the pouch doesn't do it for her, maybe the recycled silk crocheted bracelet or the note inside will...


Anyway, I hope someone will enjoy this pattern.  It's extra fast, extra cheap, and cute enough knit up whether it's your first pattern or one in a thousand.  I've been knitting for a couple of years now, and doing mostly original work, but this is the first pattern I've felt compelled to document.  That's probably because it means a lot to me, so don't be an asshead and (like the fine print on most patterns) don't try and make a profit off of it.  It's for gifting and selfish purposes only.  Feel more than welcome to spread the site link around, though.