The Merlot Braid holder is three cabled baskets stacked one above the other. Each basket holds one standard roll standing upright, and the whole holder hangs from a wooden ring, so spare rolls stay in reach without using floor space.
It is made in one deep burgundy bulky yarn. A thick rope cable runs up the front of each basket, and the half-double-crochet ground around it is firm and textured. A rolled reverse-single-crochet rim finishes each top edge, so it looks good next to wood, linen and plants.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 5.7 in (14.5 cm) wide and about 19 in (48.3 cm) from the bottom basket to the top of the ring. Each basket stands 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall.
Construction is simple. You work a flat single-crochet base and then the walls in joined rounds, adding the cable on the front. A two-round border finishes the rim. Four short straps connect the baskets, and a tapered tab attaches the top basket to the ring.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.7 in (14.5 cm) wide x 5.7 in (14.5 cm) deep; about 19 in (48.3 cm) tall including the ring
- Skill level: Intermediate (front post stitches, simple cable cross)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Bulky (#5)
- Hook: 6 mm (US J-10)
- Number of pieces: 8 (3 baskets, 4 straps, 1 hanger tab)
- Layout: 1 column x 3 baskets, stacked vertically
- Piece size (one basket): 5.7 in (14.5 cm) wide x 5.7 in (14.5 cm) deep x 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall
- Wall height before border: 3.1 in (7.9 cm)
- Border depth: 0.6 in (1.5 cm)
- Gap between baskets: 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth bulky (#5) yarn. Acrylic or a cotton-acrylic blend works best because it holds its shape and shows the cable clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very loosely plied yarns, since post stitches catch on them and the rope loses its definition.
- Burgundy (wine): about 155 g / 200 m (based on a yarn of about 130 m per 100 g)
The quantity includes a margin of about 25% for your gauge swatch and sewing tails.
Tools:
- 6 mm (US J-10) crochet hook
- One 3 in (7.6 cm) wooden ring
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- A small box or a toilet roll wrapped in a plastic bag, for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- BLO – back loop only
- FPdc – front post double crochet
- FPtr – front post treble crochet
- rsc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- Rnd – round
Special stitch – 6-st Rope Cross: Skip the next 3 post sts. FPtr around each of the following 3 post sts. Then, working in front of the 3 sts you just made, FPtr around each of the 3 skipped sts. The cable stays at 6 sts.
Note: Every post stitch replaces the stitch behind it. Always skip the top of the stitch you worked around, so the counts stay the same.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
– Single crochet in rows: 12 sts x 12 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Half double crochet in joined rounds: 12 sts x 10 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Make one complete basket before starting the others and measure it at each checkpoint below.
- After the base (Row 16): 5.3 in x 5.3 in (13.5 cm x 13.5 cm)
- After Rnd 1: about 5.7 in (14.5 cm) per side, with a circumference of about 22.7 in (57.7 cm)
- After Rnd 9: the wall stands 3.1 in (7.9 cm) tall from the fold line
- After the border: the wall stands 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall
If the base comes out more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too large, go down half a hook size. If it is too small, go up half a size. If the rows match but the walls are short, your hdc is tight, so try loosening only the yarn-over before you pull through. A standard roll is about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across, so check that it drops into the basket easily.
Basket (Make 3)
Base
Ch 17.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (16 sc)
Rows 2–16: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (16 sc)
The base measures 5.3 in x 5.3 in (13.5 cm x 13.5 cm). Do not fasten off.
Edging and Fold
Rnd 1: Ch 1, then work around the base. Sc in each of the 16 sts of Row 16 (back side), and 1 sc into the corner point. Sc in each of the 16 row ends (right side), and 1 sc in the corner. Sc in each of the 16 foundation chains (front side), and 1 sc in the corner. Sc in each of the 16 row ends (left side), and 1 sc in the corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (68 sc: 4 sides x 16 sts + 4 corner sts)
Every round from here has the same layout:
– Sts 1–16: back
– St 17: corner
– Sts 18–33: right side
– St 34: corner
– Sts 35–50: front
– St 51: corner
– Sts 52–67: left side
– St 68: corner
Place markers in the four corner sts and move them up as you work.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, join. (68 sc)
The unworked front loops make a crisp fold line, and the wall starts to rise from here.
Walls with Rope Cable
Begin each hdc round with ch 2, which does not count as a st. Work the first hdc into the same st as the join. On the front wall, the cable sits on sts 40–45, with 5 plain sts on each side of it (sts 35–39 and 46–50).
Rnd 3: Hdc in each st around, join. (68 hdc)
Rnd 4: Hdc in each of the first 39 sts, FPdc around each of the next 6 sts, hdc in each of the last 23 sts, join. (62 hdc + 6 FPdc = 68 sts)
Rnd 5 (cross): Hdc in each of the first 39 sts, work the 6-st Rope Cross, hdc in each of the last 23 sts, join. (62 hdc + 6 FPtr = 68 sts)
Rnd 6: Hdc in each of the first 39 sts, FPdc around each of the next 6 post sts, hdc in each of the last 23 sts, join. (68 sts)
Rnd 7 (cross): Repeat Rnd 5. (68 sts)
Rnd 8: Repeat Rnd 6. (68 sts)
Rnd 9 (cross): Repeat Rnd 5. (68 sts)
The basket has three twists stacked up the front. The rope twists in the same direction every time, which gives it the braided look.
Checkpoint: The wall measures 3.1 in (7.9 cm) from the fold line. That is Rnd 2 at about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) plus 7 hdc rnds at 2.8 in (7.1 cm).
Straps (Make 4)
Ch 4.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (3 sc)
Rows 2–12: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (3 sc)
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Each strap measures 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Rows 1–4 attach to one basket, Rows 5–8 form the 1.3 in (3.3 cm) gap, and Rows 9–12 attach to the next basket.
Hanger Tab (Make 1)
Ch 13.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (12 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog, turn. (10 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (10 sc)
Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, turn. (8 sc)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (8 sc)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, turn. (6 sc)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sc)
Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (4 sc)
Rows 9–16: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (4 sc)
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The tab is 4 in (10.2 cm) wide at Row 1, narrows to 1.3 in (3.3 cm), and is 5.3 in (13.5 cm) long.
Make All Pieces
Everything is in burgundy:
– 3 baskets (about 50 g / 64 m each)
– 4 straps (about 3 g / 4 m each)
– 1 hanger tab (about 5 g / 6 m)
Layout, top to bottom:
( RING )
|| <- hanger tab
+---------------+
| BASKET 1 |
+---------------+
| | <- 2 straps
+---------------+
| BASKET 2 |
+---------------+
| | <- 2 straps
+---------------+
| BASKET 3 |
+---------------+
Border (Each Basket)
Add the border to each basket before you assemble the holder. It is two rounds deep and adds 0.6 in (1.5 cm).
Border gauge: 12 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the walls, so the rim neither flares nor pulls in.
Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in each st around, including the top of each post st, join. (68 sc: back 16, right side 16, front 16, left side 16, plus 4 corner sts)
Rnd 11: Ch 1, rsc in each st around, working left to right, join. (68 rsc) Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: The walls rise straight up with 68 sts in every round. Each side keeps its own 16 sts, and the 4 corner sts stay in their positions. The border works 1 st into each st, so it matches the wall exactly and you need no increases. The cable already sits inside the count as 6 of the front’s 16 sts, so it does not change the rim either.
Checkpoint: The basket stands 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall: 3.1 in (7.9 cm) of wall plus 0.6 in (1.5 cm) of border.
Joining
You join the pieces by whipstitching each strap flat against the outside of the side walls. Place the straps right next to the back corners so the back of the holder lies flat against the wall.
- Position: Lay Basket 1 above Basket 2, with the backs lined up.
- Right strap: Place Rows 1–4 of a strap on the outside of Basket 1’s right wall, over sts 18–20 (the 3 sts next to the back corner). Line up the strap’s edge with the bottom fold line. Whipstitch around all four edges of the overlap. Each strap st matches one wall st across the width, and each strap row matches one wall row up the length.
- Lower end: Place Rows 9–12 on the outside of Basket 2’s right wall over the same sts 18–20, with Row 12 level with the top of the rim. Whipstitch as before.
- Left strap: Repeat on the left wall over sts 65–67.
- Repeat steps 2–4 to join Basket 2 to Basket 3.
- Hanger tab: Center Rows 1–4 of the tab on the inside of Basket 1’s back wall, over back sts 3–14, with Row 4 at the top of the rim. Whipstitch it down.
- Ring: Pass Rows 13–16 through the wooden ring, fold them back behind the tab, and sew them to Rows 9–12.
Tension: Keep your sewing stitches snug but not tight, about one stitch per crochet stitch or row. If you pull too hard, the walls pucker under the straps.
Size checkpoint: The stacked baskets and gaps measure 13.7 in (34.8 cm): 3 x 3.7 in plus 2 x 1.3 in. Adding the 2.7 in (6.9 cm) of tab showing above the top rim plus the ring brings the total to about 19 in (48.3 cm).
Final Blocking
- Wrap a toilet roll or a small box of about 5.3 in (13.5 cm) in a plastic bag.
- Mist each basket lightly with water, or steam it from above without touching the yarn with the iron.
- Put the form inside, square up the corners and straighten the cable.
- Press the fold line flat and roll the rim outward evenly.
- Lay the straps and tab flat and pat them to an even 1 in (2.5 cm) and 1.3 in (3.3 cm) wide.
- Leave everything to dry completely, then remove the forms.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each basket has 68 sts in every round.
- The cable is centered with 5 sts on each side and has three crosses that all twist the same way.
- Each base measures 5.3 in (13.5 cm) square.
- Each wall measures 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall, including the border.
- All four straps are attached at the back corners and the gaps match.
- The tab is centered and firmly sewn, and the fold around the ring is secure.
- The holder hangs straight and its back lies flat against the wall.
- All ends are woven in on the inside.
Troubleshooting
- The cable puckers the front: Your post stitches are tight. Pull up a longer loop on each FPdc and FPtr.
- The seam drifts: Always start each round in the same st as the join and keep the ch 2 loose.
- The walls flare: The hdc is too loose. Go down half a hook size for Rnds 3–9.
- The basket tilts forward: The straps are not level. Unpick them and line them up again with the back corners.
- The roll is too snug: Your gauge is tight. Remake the base with a larger hook so it measures 5.3 in (13.5 cm).
- The rim waves: Count Rnd 10 again. It should be exactly 68.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping each basket over its form. Don’t wring the baskets or put them in the dryer, because that can stretch the straps.
Final Notes
The sizes all follow from one another. A 16-st base gives a 5.3 in (13.5 cm) square, and Rnd 1 brings it to 68 sts and 5.7 in (14.5 cm) per side. Seven cabled hdc rounds give a 3.1 in (7.9 cm) wall, and the border brings it to 3.7 in (9.4 cm). Three baskets with 1.3 in (3.3 cm) gaps make a 13.7 in (34.8 cm) stack, and the tab and ring bring it to about 19 in (48.3 cm). If your first basket hits every checkpoint, the other two will match.
Happy crocheting!