This hanging toilet paper holder has three open pockets stacked one above the other. Each pocket holds one standard roll. Two long straps run up both sides and loop over a towel rod. Each pocket has a cream base, alternating peach and cream shell-stitch stripes, a peach scalloped rim, and a six-petal cream daisy with a mustard center sewn on the front.
The colors are soft peach, warm cream and mustard yellow, which gives a calm cottage look in a bathroom. This pattern uses US crochet terms throughout.
Each pocket measures 6 in wide x 4.5 in deep x 4 in tall (15.2 x 11.4 x 10.2 cm). The finished holder is about 8.6 in (21.8 cm) wide. It hangs about 19 in (48.3 cm) from the top of the rod to the bottom of the lowest pocket.
The construction is simple. You crochet a rectangular single crochet base, then work the walls in joined rounds of single crochet and shells. You work two straps lengthwise in rows and then edge them. You whipstitch the pocket bodies to the straps, then work the scalloped top border on each pocket. The daisies are crocheted separately and sewn on last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 8.6 in wide x 19 in hanging length (21.8 x 48.3 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate (easy shell stitch, color changes, seaming)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 8 (3 pockets, 2 straps, 3 daisies)
- Layout: 1 column of 3 pockets between 2 vertical straps
- Piece size (pocket): 6 x 4.5 x 4 in (15.2 x 11.4 x 10.2 cm)
- Pocket size before border: 6 x 4.5 x 3.25 in (15.2 x 11.4 x 8.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Strap size: about 22 x 1.3 in (55.9 x 3.3 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the box shape and stands up to bathroom humidity. The quantities below assume a yarn with about 85 m per 50 g.
- Peach: 150 g (about 255 m) – pocket rims, stripes, scallops, straps
- Cream: 150 g (about 255 m) – bases, stripes, daisy petals
- Mustard: 10 g (about 17 m) – daisy centers
All quantities include a margin of about 15 percent to cover gauge differences and swatching.
Tools
- 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4 stitch markers
- Measuring tape
- Sewing pins
- Scissors
- Spray bottle for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- Rnd – round
Special stitch – Shell: 5 dc worked in the same stitch. The 3rd dc of a shell is its center dc.
Color change: Work the joining sl st of each wall round in the color of the next round. Don’t cut the unused color. Carry it loosely up the inside of the pocket at the back-left corner. The strap covers this corner later.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc. In the shell pattern, one repeat (shell plus sc) = 6 sts = 1.5 in (3.8 cm), and 2 shell rounds = 1.2 in (3.0 cm).
Make one complete pocket before you start the others. It is your real gauge test.
Checkpoints:
- After the base: 6 x 4.5 in (15.2 x 11.4 cm).
- After Rnd 1: perimeter 21 in (53.3 cm), 84 sts.
- After Rnd 7: wall height 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
- After the border: pocket height 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Strap after edging: about 22 in (55.9 cm) long.
If your base is larger than stated, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it is smaller, go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Change hooks before you make the other pieces, because a roll needs about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) of inside width to slide in.
Pocket (make 3)
Base
With cream, ch 25.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (24 sc)
Rows 2–20: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (24 sc)
Check the base: it should measure 6 x 4.5 in (15.2 x 11.4 cm). Fasten off cream.
Row 20 is the back edge of the pocket. The foundation chain is the front edge.
Walls
Rnd 1 (peach, base rim): Join peach in the first st of Row 20. Ch 1, sc in same st and in each of the next 23 sts (24 sc across the back). Working across the row ends, work 18 sc over the 20 row ends, skipping the 7th and 14th row ends. Working along the foundation chain, sc in each of the 24 ch. Work 18 sc over the remaining 20 row ends the same way. Join with sl st to first sc. (84 sc: 24 back, 18 side, 24 front, 18 side)
Place a marker at each corner. There are no corner increases, so the walls turn upward.
Rnd 2 (peach): Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join. (84 sc)
The unused front loops form a neat ridge along the bottom edge. Change to cream on the join.
Rnd 3 (cream, Shell Rnd A): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 12 more times, sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, join with sl st to first sc. (14 shells and 14 sc = 84 sts)
Rnd 4 (peach, Shell Rnd B): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st, *sc in center dc of next shell, shell in next sc; repeat from * 12 more times, sc in center dc of last shell, 2 dc in first st (same st as beginning), join with sl st to top of ch-3. (14 shells and 14 sc = 84 sts)
The first shell is split across the start of the round. Its center dc is the ch-3.
Rnd 5 (cream): Repeat Rnd 3, making the first sc in the top of the ch-3. (84 sts)
Rnd 6 (peach): Repeat Rnd 4. (84 sts)
Rnd 7 (cream): Repeat Rnd 3. (84 sts)
Fasten off cream. If you plan to join right away, leave peach attached. Otherwise fasten off peach and rejoin it later at the back-left corner.
Checkpoint: the wall should be 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall from the base. The shells should sit 4 across the front, 3 across each side and 4 across the back.
Strap (make 2)
With peach, ch 87.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (86 sc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (86 sc)
Checkpoint: 21.5 x 0.9 in (54.6 x 2.3 cm).
Edging Rnd: Ch 1, 3 sc in first st, sc in next 84 sts, 3 sc in last st; sc in each of the 2 middle row ends; working along the foundation chain, 3 sc in first ch, sc in next 84 ch, 3 sc in last ch; sc in each of the 2 middle row ends. Join. (184 sc)
The center sc of each 3-sc group is a corner st. Between corner sts there are 86 sc on each long side and 4 sc on each short side: 86 + 4 + 86 + 4 + 4 corners = 184.
Fasten off. The strap now measures about 22 x 1.3 in (55.9 x 3.3 cm).
Daisy (make 3)
Rnd 1 (mustard): Make a magic ring, 6 sc in ring. Join. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Join. (12 sc)
Fasten off mustard. The center should measure 1 in (2.5 cm).
Rnd 3 (cream, petals): Join cream with sl st in any st. *Ch 3, tr in same st, 2 tr in next st, ch 3, sl st in same st, sl st in next st; repeat from * 5 more times, ending with the last sl st in the first st. (6 petals, each 3 tr wide over 2 sts)
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing. The daisy measures about 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Qty | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Cream base, peach Rnds 1–2, alternating cream and peach shell rounds | |
| Strap | 2 | Peach |
| Daisy | 3 | Mustard center, cream petals |
Layout, viewed from the front:
Rod ======================
[Strap] [Pocket 1 + daisy] [Strap]
[Strap] [Pocket 2 + daisy] [Strap]
[Strap] [Pocket 3 + daisy] [Strap]
Pocket 1 is the top pocket.
Joining
Method: Whipstitch with peach and a tapestry needle.
Sew each strap’s inner long edge to one back corner of each pocket, where the 24-st back wall meets the 18-st side wall. The strap lies flat, level with the back wall, so the holder is 6 in + 1.3 in + 1.3 in = 8.6 in (21.8 cm) wide.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Number the 86 sts along the strap’s inner long edge, starting at the bottom corner. The pocket wall before the border is 3.25 in (8.3 cm), which equals 13 strap sts at 4 sts per inch.
- Pocket 3 (bottom): strap sts 1–13
- Gap: sts 14–20
- Pocket 2: strap sts 21–33
- Gap: sts 34–40
- Pocket 1 (top): strap sts 41–53
- Clearance to rod: sts 54–76
- Rod loop: sts 77–86
For each pocket, sew the first strap st to Rnd 1 and the second to Rnd 2. Then sew 2 strap sts to each shell round (Rnds 3–7). That makes 1 + 1 + 10 = 12 sts. Sew the 13th strap st into the top of Rnd 7 at the corner.
Each 7-st gap is 1.75 in (4.4 cm). That leaves room for the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) border plus a visible 1 in (2.5 cm) space between pockets.
Tension: Pull each whipstitch snug but not tight. The seam should lie flat without puckering. Pin all three pockets before you sew so they sit level across both straps.
Size checkpoint: Lay the joined piece flat. The inner edges of the straps should be 6 in (15.2 cm) apart at every pocket, and the straps should hang straight and parallel.
Rod loop: Fold sts 77–86 (2.5 in, 6.4 cm) to the back over the rod. Sew the strap end across the back of the strap at the level of st 67. The loop is 20 sts, or 5 in (12.7 cm), around. It fits rods up to about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter. If your rod can’t be removed, sew the loops while they are wrapped around it.
Border
The border is the peach scalloped rim. Work it on each pocket after joining, so the scallops sit freely above the seams.
Border gauge: one scallop = 6 sts = 1.5 in (3.8 cm). The border adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of height.
Rnd 8 (peach, Shell Rnd B): If needed, join peach at the back-left corner. Repeat Rnd 4. (84 sts: 24 back, 18 side, 24 front, 18 side)
Work only into the pocket stitches, not into the strap.
Rnd 9 (peach): Sl st loosely in each st around. Join. (84 sl sts: 24 back, 18 side, 24 front, 18 side)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Why the math works: 84 divides evenly by 6, so the round holds exactly 14 scallops. The front and back each have 24 sts, or 4 full scallops. Each side has 18 sts, or 3 full scallops: 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 14. Shell Rnds A and B never change the stitch count, so the rim stays 21 in (53.3 cm) around, the same as the base rim, and the walls rise straight.
Pocket height after the border: 3.25 in + 0.75 in = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Daisies: Center one daisy on the front wall of each pocket, over Rnds 4–6. Using the cream tail, sew around the center and tack down the tip of each petal.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the whole holder with water until it is damp, not soaked.
- Fill each pocket with a toilet roll or a rolled towel to square the walls.
- Lay the holder flat on a towel and pin the straps straight.
- Pinch each scallop into an even curve with your fingers.
- Flatten each daisy and gently shape the petals.
- Let it dry completely, for at least 12 hours, before hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each base measures 6 x 4.5 in (15.2 x 11.4 cm).
- Each wall round has 84 sts and 14 shells.
- The stripes alternate cream and peach and end with a peach scalloped rim.
- All three pockets are 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
- The pockets sit level across both straps.
- The gaps between pockets are even.
- The daisies are centered and every petal is tacked down.
- The rod loops are the same size on both straps.
- All ends are woven in on the inside.
Troubleshooting
Walls flare outward: Your shells are too loose. Go down half a hook size for the shell rounds only.
Walls cave inward: Your sc rounds are too tight. Work Rnd 2 more loosely or go up half a hook size.
Shell count is off: Count shells, not stitches. You need 14 shells per round. Check that you skip exactly 2 sts on each side of every shell.
Visible jog at the color change: This is normal for joined rounds. Keep all joins at the back-left corner, where the strap hides them.
Holder tilts: One strap is sewn higher than the other. Pin again using the stitch numbers and resew.
Roll does not fit: The base is too small. Make it again with a larger hook until it reaches 6 x 4.5 in (15.2 x 11.4 cm).
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the pockets while they are damp. Do not tumble dry.
Final Notes
Each measurement leads to the next. A gauge of 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 6 x 4.5 in (15.2 x 11.4 cm) base and an 84-st rim of 21 in (53.3 cm). The 84 sts hold 14 scallops of 1.5 in (3.8 cm) each. The walls rise 3.25 in (8.3 cm), and the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) border brings each pocket to 4 in (10.2 cm). On the strap, the three pockets and two 7-st gaps use sts 1–53. The clearance runs to st 76, and the 10-st loop finishes the 86-st strap.
Measure at each checkpoint and the holder will hang straight with room for a roll in every pocket.
Happy crocheting!