This hanging paper towel holder adds a quiet holiday glow to a kitchen wall. Two textured oatmeal straps hang from a wooden ring and hold two wooden dowels: the upper one carries a paper towel roll and the lower one a hand towel. Six small candle appliqués line the frame, and a seventh decorates the towel.
The colors are soft and warm. The candles are cream, the flames are mustard gold, the leaves are sage green and the straps are oatmeal beige. The style is calm and Scandinavian-inspired rather than bright and busy.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished hanger is about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide at the dowels and about 18 in (45.7 cm) tall from the top of the ring to the bottom dowel. Each finished candle appliqué, including its flame and leaves, measures about 2.8 in (7.1 cm) wide by 3.6 in (9.1 cm) tall.
Construction is simple. You crochet two long straps lengthwise, four small dowel cuffs and seven candles (each made of a body, a flame and three leaves). You add an edging to each candle body, then sew everything together and slide in the dowels.
Finished Size and Construction
- Hanger size: about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide x 18 in (45.7 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy / advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (category 3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 2 straps, 4 cuffs, 7 candle bodies, 7 flames, 21 leaves
- Layout: A-frame with 3 candles per strap, plus 1 candle on the towel
- Strap size: 21 in (53.3 cm) long x 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide
- Candle body before border: 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide x 2.0 in (5.1 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on every side
- Candle body after border: 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide x 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized or matte DK cotton. Cotton gives crisp stitch definition, so the appliqués stay flat and the straps stretch very little under the weight of the roll. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy acrylic for the straps.
- Oatmeal beige (straps and cuffs): 35 g, about 80 m
- Cream (candle bodies and borders): 20 g, about 46 m
- Sage green (leaves): 15 g, about 35 m
- Mustard gold (flames): 5 g, about 12 m
These quantities include a safety margin of about 20%.
Tools and supplies:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Rustproof pins
- 1 wooden ring, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) outer diameter
- 2 wooden dowels, 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 5/8 in (1.6 cm) in diameter
- 1 cream hand towel (optional, for the seventh candle)
- Measuring tape
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
Special stitch: hdc in third loop (hdc3L). Each hdc has a horizontal bar on the back, just below its top two loops. Work the hdc into that bar only. This pushes both top loops to the front as a raised braid, which creates the strap’s ridged texture.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sts x 10 dc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). That is 5 sts per inch, and 1 dc row equals 0.4 in (1.0 cm). Single crochet rows measure about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) each.
Make one complete candle first and measure it before you make all seven.
- After the body’s Row 5: 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide x 2.0 in (5.1 cm) tall
- After the border: 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide x 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall
- After Row 1 of the strap: 21 in (53.3 cm) long
If your pieces are too big, go down a hook size, to 3.25 mm (D-3). If they are too small, go up to 3.75 mm (F-5). Always change the hook rather than the stitch counts, because the border math depends on the counts.
Candle Body (make 7, cream)
Foundation: Ch 10.
Row 1 (RS): Dc in the 4th ch from the hook, then dc in each ch across. Turn. [8 dc. The skipped ch-3 does not count as a st.]
Wait—work it this way so the count matches the gauge: the skipped ch-3 counts as the first dc, which gives 8 sts. To get the 7-st width the design needs, start with ch 9 instead. Dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. [7 sts, with the turning ch counting as the first st.]
Rows 2–5: Ch 3 (counts as a dc). Skip the first st, then dc in each st across, working the last dc into the top of the turning ch. Turn. [7 sts in each row.]
Fasten off and leave the yarn attached only if you plan to border right away (see the Border section).
Checkpoint: 7 sts x 5 rows = 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide x 2.0 in (5.1 cm) tall.
Flame (make 7, mustard gold)
The flame is worked around both sides of a short chain.
Foundation: Ch 5.
Round 1:
1. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in the next ch, and dc in the next ch.
2. Work 6 dc in the last ch. This makes the rounded base.
3. Rotate the piece and work into the free loops on the other side of the chain: dc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, and sc in the next ch (the same ch as the first sc).
4. Ch 2 for the pointed tip, then sl st into the first sc.
[12 sts plus a ch-2 tip.]
Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail for sewing. Size: about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) wide x 0.9 in (2.3 cm) tall.
Leaf (make 21, sage green)
Foundation: Ch 7.
Round 1:
1. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in the next ch, dc in each of the next 2 ch, and hdc in the next ch.
2. Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the last ch. This makes the tip.
3. Working in the free loops on the other side of the chain: hdc in the next ch, dc in each of the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, and sc in the next ch.
4. Sl st into the first sc.
[12 sts plus a ch-2 tip.]
Fasten off and leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Size: about 1.2 in (3.0 cm) long x 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide.
Strap (make 2, oatmeal beige)
The strap is worked lengthwise.
Foundation: Ch 107.
Row 1: Hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. [105 hdc. The skipped ch-2 does not count.]
Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count). Hdc3L in each st across. Turn. [105 sts.]
Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in each st across. [105 sc.]
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail at each end.
Checkpoint: The strap measures 105 sts ÷ 5 = 21 in (53.3 cm) long by about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide.
Dowel Cuff (make 4, oatmeal beige)
Foundation: Ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. [5 sc.]
Rows 2–12: Ch 1. Sc in each st across. Turn. [5 sc in each row.]
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Checkpoint: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 2.4 in (6.1 cm) long. That length wraps around the 5/8 in (1.6 cm) dowel, whose circumference is about 2.0 in (5.1 cm), and also covers the thickness of the strap.
Make All Pieces
| Color | Pieces |
|---|---|
| Oatmeal beige | 2 straps, 4 cuffs |
| Cream | 7 candle bodies, each with a border |
| Mustard gold | 7 flames |
| Sage green | 21 leaves (3 per candle) |
Layout grid:
( RING )
/ \
[C1] / \ [C1]
/ \
[C2] CUFF==TOP DOWEL==CUFF [C2]
| paper towel |
[C3] CUFF==LOW DOWEL==CUFF [C3]
[ towel C ]
The labels C1, C2 and C3 mark the candle positions on each strap.
Joining
Order matters: Add the border to every candle body (see the Border section) before you join anything.
1. Assemble each candle.
– Flame: Center the flame on the body’s top border with the tip pointing up. The flame’s rounded base should overlap the top border by 0.2 in (0.5 cm). Whipstitch through the 6-dc base and the 3 center border sts underneath it.
– Side leaves: Pin one leaf behind each bottom corner. Each leaf’s stem end goes under the corner, and its tip angles outward about 45 degrees.
– Center leaf: Pin the third leaf in front, centered on the bottom border, with the tip pointing straight down.
– Sew the leaves: Stitch each leaf with small running stitches along its center chain, which forms a natural vein line. Catch the border sts underneath it.
2. Attach the straps to the ring.
– Fold 1 in (2.5 cm) of one strap end over the ring, so that the folded section uses 2 in (5.1 cm) of the strap’s length.
– Whipstitch the end to the back of the strap. Match stitch to stitch along the end: 3 row-ends to 3 row-ends.
– Repeat with the second strap. Butt the two straps side by side on the ring.
3. Mark the strap measurements. Measure down from each ring fold and mark:
– 9.5 in (24.1 cm) for the top dowel position
– 17 in (43.2 cm) for the bottom dowel position
The remaining 2 in (5.1 cm) at the end will fold around the bottom dowel.
4. Attach the cuffs.
– Wrap one cuff around a dowel 0.75 in (1.9 cm) from the end.
– Lay the strap behind the dowel at its marker.
– Whipstitch the cuff’s two short ends together through the back of the strap. Work stitch to stitch: 5 sc to 5 foundation loops.
– Repeat at all four dowel ends. The centers of the two straps should be 12.5 in (31.8 cm) apart on each dowel.
– Fold the bottom 2 in (5.1 cm) of each strap up around the bottom dowel and stitch it to the back of the strap.
5. Place the candles.
– C1: centered 3.5 in (8.9 cm) below the ring fold
– C2: directly above the top cuff
– C3: directly above the bottom cuff
– Seventh candle: centered on the towel’s woven band
Sew around each candle’s outer border with the cream tail.
Tension: Keep the whipstitches snug but not tight. The straps should lie flat, without puckering behind the appliqués.
Size checkpoint: Hang the frame. Both diagonals should be equal, each about 9.5 in (24.1 cm). The dowels should hang level, with about 7.5 in (19.1 cm) of strap between them.
Border (on each candle body, cream)
Border gauge: sc at 5 sts per inch and 0.2 in (0.5 cm) per row.
Each corner group below is 3 sc worked in one corner stitch or corner row-end. The per-side counts exclude these corner groups.
Round 1: With the RS facing, join the yarn in the last st of Row 5. Work 3 sc in that st (corner 1). Then work:
- Side 1: 2 sc into each of the 5 row-ends, which gives 10 sc. These sc run from the top corner to the bottom corner.
- Corner 2: 3 sc in the first foundation ch.
- Bottom: 1 sc into each of the next 5 foundation ch, which gives 5 sc.
- Corner 3: 3 sc in the last foundation ch.
- Side 2: 2 sc into each of the 5 row-ends, which gives 10 sc.
- Corner 4: 3 sc in the top of the turning ch.
- Top: 1 sc into each of the next 5 sts, which gives 5 sc.
- Sl st into the first sc.
Count by edge:
- Top and bottom edges: Each has 7 existing sts. These become 7 sc worked 1 per st, plus 4 extra sc (2 extra in each of the 2 corner groups). The 2 corners on these edges are shared with the sides.
- Round total: 10 + 10 side sc + 5 + 5 top and bottom sc + 4 corner groups x 3 sc = 42 sc.
Why the math works:
- Each dc row is 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall. Two sc at 0.2 in (0.5 cm) each fill exactly one row-end, so the side edges lie flat.
- The top and bottom edges get 1 sc per st, which matches the 5-sts-per-inch gauge.
- Each 3-sc corner group turns the 90-degree corner without cupping.
- The border adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on every side. The width becomes 1.4 + 0.4 = 1.8 in (4.6 cm), and the height becomes 2.0 + 0.4 = 2.4 in (6.1 cm).
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist all 7 candle units (body, flame and leaves already sewn) and pin them flat on a blocking mat.
- Pin each candle body to 1.8 in (4.6 cm) x 2.4 in (6.1 cm). Pin each leaf tip to a point.
- Pin each strap straight, at 21 in (53.3 cm) long and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide, before you sew the cuffs on. Mist lightly.
- Let everything dry completely, which takes about 6 to 8 hours.
- After assembly, steam the folds at the ring and dowels from 1 in (2.5 cm) away. Do not press.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every candle body has 7 sts x 5 rows and a 42-sc border.
- All bodies measure 1.8 in (4.6 cm) x 2.4 in (6.1 cm).
- The flames are centered with the tips pointing up and the rounded bases overlapping the top border.
- The side leaves angle out behind the corners, and the center leaf points down in front.
- The straps are equal in length, at 21 in (53.3 cm) each.
- The ring folds measure 2 in (5.1 cm) and are stitched securely.
- The dowels hang level, with the straps 12.5 in (31.8 cm) apart.
- All ends are woven in at least 1 in (2.5 cm) and are hidden.
Troubleshooting
- The candle body is wider at the top: You likely worked the last dc into the wrong place, adding a stitch. Count 7 sts in every row.
- The border ruffles along the sides: Your dc rows are short. Work 2 sc into only 4 of the row-ends and 1 sc into the other row-end, then adjust the count.
- The border pulls the sides in: Use a looser tension, or go up a hook size for the border only.
- The strap twists: Block it flat before assembly, and make sure the Row 2 braid faces the front.
- The dowels hang crooked: Re-measure the dowel markers from each ring fold and resew the cuffs.
- The leaf tips curl: Pin the tips while blocking and let them dry completely.
Care
Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap, then lay flat to dry. To launder the towel, carefully snip the appliqué off first, or hand wash the towel gently and reshape the appliqué while it is damp.
Final Notes
Everything in this pattern builds on one gauge: 5 sts and 2.5 dc rows per inch. Seven stitches and five rows make a 1.4 in (3.6 cm) x 2.0 in (5.1 cm) body. The 42-sc border brings it to 1.8 in (4.6 cm) x 2.4 in (6.1 cm). Each 105-st strap measures 21 in (53.3 cm) and divides into a 2 in (5.1 cm) ring fold, a 9.5 in (24.1 cm) diagonal, a 7.5 in (19.1 cm) drop and a 2 in (5.1 cm) dowel fold. Check each measurement at its stage, and the finished holder will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!