Bring a little sunshine into the bathroom with the Sunny Trio, a hanging holder with three pockets that keeps spare rolls tidy, visible, and off the floor. Each cream pocket holds one standard roll on its side. Two slim straps link the pockets and loop over a wooden dowel.
Three colors finish the look. Each pocket front has a golden-yellow sunflower with a chocolate-brown center and two olive-green leaves. The cream body uses griddle stitch, an easy alternating pattern of single crochet and double crochet that makes a firm, bumpy grid texture and stands up on its own.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide and 21 in (53.3 cm) long, measured from the top of the hanging loop to the bottom of the lowest pocket.
Construction is simple. You work each pocket as a flat single crochet base, then work the walls in joined rounds, and finish with a rolled rim. Next you make two long straps, three sunflowers, and six leaves, then sew everything together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 21 in (53.3 cm) long, hanging
- Skill level: Confident beginner / easy intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 14 (3 pockets, 2 straps, 3 sunflowers, 6 leaves)
- Layout: 1 column of 3 pockets, stacked vertically with 2 in (5.1 cm) gaps
- Pocket size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) deep x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Pocket wall height before border: 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
- Border (rim) depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm), 3 rounds
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape well, handles bathroom humidity, and shows the griddle texture clearly. Acrylic also works, but the pockets will be a bit softer.
- Cream: 150 g / approx. 255 m (pockets and straps)
- Golden yellow: 25 g / approx. 43 m (petals)
- Dark brown: 10 g / approx. 17 m (flower centers)
- Olive green: 10 g / approx. 17 m (leaves)
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– 4 stitch markers
– Wooden dowel, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) diameter, 12 in (30.5 cm) long
– Two small wall hooks or a towel bar to hang the dowel from
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
All quantities include a margin of about 20% for gauge differences and swatching.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Special stitch – Reverse single crochet (rev sc): Working from left to right (right-handed), insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and draw through both loops. This makes a twisted, rope-like edge.
Griddle stitch: Alternate sc and dc. On every round, work sc into the dc below and dc into the sc below.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sts and 16 rows/rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm), in sc and in griddle stitch.
Make one full pocket before you start the rest. It’s your real gauge swatch, so check it at each stage:
- After base Row 18: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) x 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
- After Rnd 1: 80 sts. Laid flat, the outline should still measure 5.5 in x 4.5 in (14.0 cm x 11.4 cm).
- After Rnd 14: wall height 3.25 in (8.3 cm), and the pocket should measure 20 in (50.8 cm) around.
- After Rnd 17: wall height 4 in (10.2 cm).
If your pocket is too big, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Don’t change stitch counts, because the straps are planned at 1 strap stitch per pocket round.
Pocket (make 3, cream)
Base
Ch 23.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (22 sc)
Rows 2–18: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in each st across, turn. (22 sc per row)
The base measures 5.5 in x 4.5 in (14.0 cm x 11.4 cm). Do not fasten off.
Walls
Each side count below includes its corner stitches. There are no separate corner stitches.
Rnd 1 (base edging): Do not turn. Ch 1. Work 22 sc across the stitches of Row 18. Work 18 sc down the row ends (1 per row). Work 22 sc across the underside of the foundation chain. Work 18 sc up the remaining row ends. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (80 sc: 22 + 18 + 22 + 18)
Place a marker in the first st of each side: front, right, back, and left. Move the markers up as you go.
Rnd 2 (fold round): Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, join. (80 sc)
The unused front loops make a crisp ridge, and the walls turn upward here.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, dc in next st, repeat from * 40 times total, join to first sc. (80 sts: 40 sc + 40 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, dc in next st (the sc), sc in next st (the dc), repeat from * 40 times total, join to first dc. (80 sts: 40 dc + 40 sc)
Rnds 5–14: Repeat Rnds 3 and 4 five more times. (80 sts each rnd)
You now have 12 griddle rounds (Rnds 3–14). Wall height is 3.25 in (8.3 cm). Continue with the Border section.
Straps (make 2, cream)
Ch 105.
Row 1: Sc in back bump of 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (104 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (104 sc) Fasten off and leave a 30 in (76.2 cm) tail for sewing.
Each strap is 26 in (66.0 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide. Number the stitches from the starting end:
- Sts 1–16: bottom pocket wall
- Sts 17–24: gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Sts 25–40: middle pocket wall
- Sts 41–48: gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Sts 49–64: top pocket wall
- Sts 65–104: hanging loop, 10 in (25.4 cm)
Sunflower (make 3)
Rnd 1 (brown): Make a magic ring, ch 1, 10 sc in ring, join. (10 sc)
Rnd 2 (brown): Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, join. (20 sc) Fasten off brown.
Rnd 3 (yellow): Join yellow in any st. Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * 10 times total, join. (30 sc)
Rnd 4 (yellow petals): Sl st in next st, (hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st, repeat from * 10 times total, join. (10 petals over 30 sts)
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The flower measures about 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
Leaf (make 6, green)
Ch 8.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate and work along the underside of the chain: sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Sl st to first sc. (15 sts: 6 + 3 + 6)
Fasten off and leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Each leaf is about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long, with a pointed tip.
Make All Pieces
Before you assemble, check that you have:
- Cream: 3 pockets and 2 straps
- Yellow and brown: 3 sunflowers
- Green: 6 leaves
Layout (front view):
[ dowel ============ ]
|| ||
loop loop
|| ||
+--||----------------||--+
| || leaf FLOWER leaf|| | Pocket 1 (top)
+--||----------------||--+
|| 2 in gap ||
+--||----------------||--+
| || leaf FLOWER leaf|| | Pocket 2 (middle)
+--||----------------||--+
|| 2 in gap ||
+--||----------------||--+
| || leaf FLOWER leaf|| | Pocket 3 (bottom)
+--||----------------||--+
Joining
Method: Whipstitch with the cream yarn tails through the strap edges and the pocket wall.
Flowers first: Put 2 leaves behind each sunflower, one on each side, with the tips pointing outward. Together the flower and leaves span about 5 in (12.7 cm). Center this on the front wall over Rnds 4–14, between sts 11 and 12 of the 22 front stitches. Sew the leaves in place first, then sew around Rnd 3 of the flower. Leave the petals free so they stand up a little.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The strap gauge matches the pocket gauge, so 1 strap stitch lines up with 1 pocket round.
- Lay the left side wall of the bottom pocket flat. That wall is 18 sts wide, so the 0.5 in (1.3 cm) strap covers the center 2 sts, sts 9–10.
- Line up strap st 1 with Rnd 2 and strap st 16 with Rnd 17. Whipstitch both long edges of the strap to the wall.
- Skip strap sts 17–24 to leave the gap. Attach sts 25–40 to the middle pocket and sts 49–64 to the top pocket in the same way.
- Repeat steps 1–3 on the right side walls with the second strap. Check that the pocket fronts all face the same way.
- Fold strap sts 65–104 over the dowel. Lay sts 101–104 flat on top of sts 65–68 and whipstitch them together securely. The loop that’s left (sts 69–100) is 8 in (20.3 cm) around.
Tension: Sew firmly but don’t pull, because tight stitches will pucker the wall. Every strap stitch should sit flat against its pocket round.
Size checkpoint: Hang the holder from the dowel. The length from the top of the loop to the bottom of the lowest pocket should be 21 in (53.3 cm): three 4 in (10.2 cm) pockets, two 2 in (5.1 cm) gaps, and a 5 in (12.7 cm) hanger.
Border (Pocket Rim)
Work the rim on each pocket right after Rnd 14.
Border gauge: 4 sc and 4 rnds = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (80 sc: front 22, side 18, back 22, side 18)
Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (80 sc: 22 / 18 / 22 / 18)
Rnd 17: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, join. (80 rev sc: 22 / 18 / 22 / 18) Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: The base is 22 sts by 18 rows. Rnd 1 picks up exactly 1 stitch per base stitch and 1 stitch per row end, which gives 22 + 18 + 22 + 18 = 80. Every round after that keeps 80 stitches, so the rim matches the base exactly and the pocket walls stay straight. At 16 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm), 80 stitches make 20 in (50.8 cm) around, which equals 2 x (5.5 in + 4.5 in). The 3 rim rounds add 0.75 in (1.9 cm), bringing the wall from 3.25 in to 4 in (8.3 cm to 10.2 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist each pocket with water.
- Put a rolled towel or a spare roll inside each pocket so it holds a 5.5 in x 4.5 in (14.0 cm x 11.4 cm) box shape.
- Pinch the four vertical corners into crisp edges.
- Pin the straps flat and straight on the mat. Check that the gaps are 2 in (5.1 cm).
- Steam the sunflowers lightly from above, without pressing, so the petals keep their height.
- Let everything dry completely before you hang it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every pocket round has 80 sts: 22 / 18 / 22 / 18.
- Each pocket is 4 in (10.2 cm) tall with an even rope rim.
- The BLO ridge forms a clean base edge on all three pockets.
- Each sunflower has 10 petals and is centered between its two leaves.
- The straps sit centered on the side walls and line up from pocket to pocket.
- Both gaps are 2 in (5.1 cm).
- Both hanging loops are the same size and the dowel sits level.
- All ends are woven in and secured.
Troubleshooting
- Pocket leans or twists: Join every round in the same corner and keep your markers in place.
- Walls flare outward: Your dc may be too loose. Use a smaller hook for the griddle rounds only.
- Rim ruffles: Your rev sc is too loose. Keep it tight, or work the round with a hook one size smaller.
- Straps too long: The foundation chain was looser than the sc. Rework it with a smaller hook, or work 1 fewer gap st and keep the counts on the pockets the same.
- Petals curl backward: Block them flat from the front, and tug the tr gently into shape while they’re damp.
- Roll won’t fit: Check the base against the gauge. A base smaller than 4.5 in (11.4 cm) deep means you need a larger hook.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping each pocket around a roll. Don’t tumble dry, because heat can shrink cotton and flatten the sunflowers.
Final Notes
Each measurement depends on the one before it. The 16-stitch gauge gives you a 5.5 in x 4.5 in (14.0 cm x 11.4 cm) base. That becomes an 80-stitch wall 20 in (50.8 cm) around, 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall before the rim and 4 in (10.2 cm) after it. Each strap matches the pocket rounds stitch for stitch, so three pockets, two gaps, and the hanger add up to a 21 in (53.3 cm) holder. Check the numbers at each stage and the pieces will line up when you sew them together.
Happy crocheting!