Rosa Matryoshka Bag Holder Crochet Pattern

Rosa is a nesting-doll plastic bag holder that hangs from a single hook and keeps grocery bags tidy behind a cheerful face. She has a round red hood, a cream face with brown hair, a red bow under the chin, a row of cream scallops at the shoulders, and a navy body covered in folk-style flowers. A red band closes the base. A cream-trimmed oval opening at the lower front lets you pull out one bag at a time.

The colors are deep navy, berry red, and warm cream, with green leaves, yellow flower centers, and small embroidered face details. The style is classic Russian folk art: bold, symmetrical, and cozy in a kitchen or mudroom.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. Measured flat, the finished holder is 14 in (35.6 cm) tall without the hanging loop and 9 in (22.9 cm) wide at the widest point of the body. The head is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide.

The body is one hollow piece. You work it top-down in joined rounds of single crochet, starting at the crown. You form the bag opening by working 8 rows back and forth, then decrease the base and seam it flat. The face, flowers, leaves, bow, and loop are made separately and sewn on.

Finished Size and Construction

• Finished size: 14 in (35.6 cm) tall x 9 in (22.9 cm) wide, laid flat
• Skill level: Intermediate
• Terminology: US
• Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
• Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
• Number of pieces: 1 main body plus sewn-on appliqués
• Layout: single hollow piece, flattened with the face centered on the front
• Piece size: head 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide; body 9 in (22.9 cm) wide; base seam 7.5 in (19.1 cm)
• Size before border: 14 in x 9 in (35.6 cm x 22.9 cm); opening 4.5 in x 1.8 in (11.4 cm x 4.6 cm)
• Border depth: 0.3 in (0.8 cm) on every edge of the opening; the outer size does not change

Materials

Use a smooth worsted yarn with good stitch definition. Cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend gives a firm fabric that holds its shape on the wall. The amounts below assume about 180 m per 100 g.

• Navy (main body): 40 g, 72 m
• Berry red (hood, base, bow, loop, flower): 35 g, 63 m
• Cream (face, scallops, daisies, edging, hood flowers): 15 g, 27 m
• Green (leaves, stems): 10 g, 18 m
• Yellow (flower centers): 5 g, 9 m
• Brown (hair): 5 g, 9 m
• Small lengths of black and pink yarn or embroidery floss for the face

These quantities include a margin of about 20 percent.

Tools: 4.0 mm (US G-6) hook, stitch markers, tapestry needle, embroidery needle, scissors, pins, and a tape measure.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
• sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
• BLO / FLO: back loop only / front loop only
• MR: magic ring
• st(s): stitch(es)

Special stitch: reverse sc (crab stitch). Work from left to right (for right-handed crocheters). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Then yarn over and pull through both loops.

Joined rounds: unless stated otherwise, end each round with a sl st in the first sc, then ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch. Keep the join at the center back.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in single crochet. Every 4 sc equal 1 in (2.5 cm), and every 4.5 rounds equal 1 in (2.5 cm).

Test your gauge first: work Rounds 1–9 of the head. The flat circle should measure about 4.25 in (10.8 cm) across.

Checkpoints:

• After Round 20: the head, flattened, is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide and about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall from the crown.
• After Round 25: the piece is about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) long, and the circumference is 15 in (38.1 cm).
• After Round 47: the piece is about 10.5 in (26.7 cm) long, and the body, flattened, is 9 in (22.9 cm) wide.
• Finished: 14 in (35.6 cm) tall.

If your circle is too large, go down 0.5 mm. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. The fabric needs to be firm. If light shows through, go down a hook size even if your width is close.

Main Body

Start with red.

Head (red)

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st. (12)
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6. (18)
• Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) x 6. (24)
• Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) x 6. (30)
• Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) x 6. (36)
• Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) x 6. (42)
• Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) x 6. (48)
• Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) x 6. (54)
• Rnds 10–20: sc in each st. (54)

The head is now a deep dome, 13.5 in (34.3 cm) around.

Neck and shoulders (red)

• Rnd 21: (sc 7, sc2tog) x 6. (48)
• Rnds 22–23: sc in each st. (48)
• Rnd 24: (sc 7, inc) x 6. (54)
• Rnd 25: (sc 8, inc) x 6. (60)

Change to navy at the join of Round 25, then fasten off red.

Body (navy)

• Rnd 26: sc in BLO of each st. (60) This leaves the front loops of Round 25 free for the scallop collar.
• Rnds 27–30: sc in each st. (60)
• Rnd 31: (sc 9, inc) x 6. (66)
• Rnds 32–36: sc in each st. (66)
• Rnd 37: (sc 10, inc) x 6. (72)
• Rnds 38–47: sc in each st. (72)

Fasten off navy.

Opening (navy, worked in rows)

Number the stitches of Round 47 starting from the join, so stitch 1 is at the center back. Place markers in stitches 28 and 45. Stitches 28–45 (18 sts) are the center front and stay unworked. That leaves 27 stitches on each side (27 + 18 + 27 = 72).

• Row 48: join navy in stitch 46, ch 1, sc in stitches 46–72 and 1–27, turn. (54)
• Rows 49–55: ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (54)

At the end of Row 55, you are on the stitch-46 side.

• Closing chain: ch 18, sl st in the first sc of Row 55 (on the stitch-27 side).
• Rnd 56: ch 1, turn, sc in each of the 18 ch, sc in each of the 54 sts, join. (18 + 54 = 72)

Turning puts the right side back on the outside. You now have a rectangular opening 18 sts wide and 8 rows tall, which is 4.5 in x 1.8 in (11.4 cm x 4.6 cm). The round join now sits at a corner of the opening, where the edging will hide it. Change to red.

Base (red)

• Rnds 57–60: sc in each st. (72)
• Rnd 61: (sc 10, sc2tog) x 6. (66)
• Rnd 62: (sc 9, sc2tog) x 6. (60)

Flatten the piece with the opening centered on the front. If your yarn isn’t at a side fold, sl st along to one. Working through both layers, sc 30 across, then fasten off. The base seam measures 7.5 in (19.1 cm).

Scallop collar (cream)

Hold the piece upside down with the front facing you. Join cream in any free front loop of Round 25.

• Rnd 1: (sl st in next st, skip 1, 5 hdc in next st, skip 1) x 15, sl st in first sl st. (15 scallops; 15 x 4 = 60 sts used)

Appliqués

Face (cream): work Rnds 1–6 as for the head. (36) Sl st to join and leave a long tail. The face measures about 3 in (7.6 cm) across.

Hair and features: with brown, work long straight stitches from a center part outward over the top third of the face, curving down to each side. Embroider closed, lashed eyes in black, small pink circles for cheeks, and a red curved smile.

Large red flower (make 1):

• Rnd 1 (yellow): MR, 6 sc, join. Fasten off. (6)
• Rnd 2 (red): 2 sc in each st. (12)
• Rnd 3: [(hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st] x 6. (6 petals)

The flower measures about 2.75 in (7.0 cm).

Cream daisy (make 4):

• Rnd 1 (yellow): MR, 5 sc, join. Fasten off. (5)
• Rnd 2 (cream): [(sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st) in next st] x 5. (5 petals)

Each daisy measures about 1.75 in (4.4 cm).

Leaf (green, make 10): ch 7. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. Ch 1, then work along the other side of the chain: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Each leaf is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.

Berries (red, make 5): MR, 6 sc, pull the ring closed, fasten off.

Bow (red): ch 21, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, turn. (20) Row 2: ch 1, sc across. (20) Fold both ends to the center and wrap the middle tightly with red yarn. The bow measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide. For the tails, make 2 strips: ch 11, sc in 2nd ch and across. (10) Each tail is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) long.

Hanging loop (red): ch 31, sc in 2nd ch and across. (30) The strip is 7.5 in (19.1 cm) long. Sew both ends to the crown, 1 in (2.5 cm) apart, to make a loop about 3 in (7.6 cm) high.

Assembly:

1. Center the face on the front of the head, with its top edge about 1 in (2.5 cm) below the crown, and sew it on.
2. Sew the bow and tails under the chin.
3. With cream and yellow, embroider 8 small lazy-daisy flowers with French-knot centers around the hood edge.
4. On the navy body, sew the red flower at the center, a daisy on each side of it, and 2 daisies lower down.
5. Add leaves in pairs, chain-stitch green stems between them, and sew the berries below the red flower.

Stitch through the front layer only.

Border: Opening Edging

Border gauge: along the top and bottom, work 1 sc per stitch (4 sc per in). Along the sides, work 1 sc per row end (4.5 sc per in). Add 1 extra sc at each corner.

Join cream at the top-right corner of the opening, right side facing.

• Rnd 1:
• Sc in each of the 18 unworked sts of Round 47 (top), then 1 extra sc in the corner.
• Work 8 sc down the side (1 per row end), then 1 extra sc in the corner.
• Work 18 sc in the free chain loops of the closing chain (bottom), then 1 extra sc in the corner.
• Work 8 sc up the other side, then 1 extra sc in the last corner. Join. (18 + 18 + 8 + 8 + 4 = 56)
• Rnd 2: reverse sc in each st around, join. (56) Fasten off.

Why the math works:

• The top and bottom edges each have exactly 18 stitches, so 1 sc per stitch matches them exactly.
• The sides are 8 rows tall. Sc rows measure 4.5 per inch, so 8 sc fill 1.8 in (4.6 cm) without puckering.
• The 4 corner stitches round the edge smoothly into an oval.

Each round adds about 0.15 in (0.4 cm) inward. The finished opening is about 3.9 in x 1.2 in (9.9 cm x 3.0 cm) and stretches easily to release a bag.

Final Blocking

1. Weave in all ends on the inside.
2. Lightly mist the holder with water.
3. Stuff it loosely with plastic bags or a towel to shape the head and body.
4. Lay it flat with the face centered and the base seam straight.
5. Pat it to 14 in x 9 in (35.6 cm x 22.9 cm), keeping the head 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide.
6. Smooth the scallops and flower petals with your fingers.
7. Let it dry fully before hanging.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

• Height is 14 in (35.6 cm), and body width is 9 in (22.9 cm).
• Head is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide, and the base seam is 7.5 in (19.1 cm).
• 15 even scallops circle the shoulders.
• The opening is centered under the face and edged with 56 stitches.
• The face, bow, and flowers are sewn through the front layer only.
• The hanging loop is secure and centered on the crown.
• No ends show on the outside.

Troubleshooting

• Head looks flat on top: your increase rounds are loose. Go down a hook size for Rounds 1–9.
• Body is wider than 9 in (22.9 cm): check your gauge and crochet with firmer tension.
• Opening corners gap: work each corner sc into the same spot as the last stitch of that edge, not beside it.
• Edging ruffles: you have extra stitches along the sides. Keep it to 8 per side.
• Edging pulls tight: work the reverse sc more loosely, or use a hook 0.5 mm larger for Round 2 only.
• Scallops lean: make sure each 5-hdc cluster sits in the center stitch of its 4-stitch repeat.
• Appliqués pucker: sew with small, relaxed stitches, and don’t pull the thread snug.

Care

Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Reshape it while damp, and keep it out of the dryer, which can distort the appliqués.

Final Notes

The measurements build on each other:

• Gauge is 16 sc and 18 rounds to 4 in (10.2 cm).
• The 54-stitch head is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide.
• The 72-stitch body is 9 in (22.9 cm) wide.
• Leaving 18 stitches unworked for 8 rows makes a 4.5 in x 1.8 in (11.4 cm x 4.6 cm) opening.
• 62 rounds and rows plus the base seam bring the height to 14 in (35.6 cm).

Check each stage, and Rosa will hang straight and hold plenty of bags.

Happy crocheting!