This hanging paper towel holder turns a plain kitchen roll into a bit of decor. A dusty-rose bow sits at the top. Two pink straps run down from behind it, and two wooden dowels slide through slots in the straps. The upper dowel holds the paper towel roll. The lower dowel holds a matching cream dish towel with a pink border.
The style is cozy cottage kitchen: warm pink against cream. Every piece is worked in plain single crochet rows. This makes firm straps and a thick, absorbent towel with neat V-column texture.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide at the dowels and 24 in (61.0 cm) from the top of the bow to the strap ends. The finished towel is 11 in x 17 in (27.9 cm x 43.2 cm).
You’ll crochet two slotted straps, a bow band, a center wrap, two tails, a hanging tab and a towel with a three-round border. Then you sew the bow together, attach the straps and slide in the dowels.
Finished Size and Construction
- Holder size: about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide x 24 in (61.0 cm) tall
- Towel size: 11 in x 17 in (27.9 cm x 43.2 cm)
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: worsted (#4) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 8 (2 straps, 1 bow band, 1 center wrap, 2 bow tails, 1 hanging tab, 1 towel)
- Layout: bow at top center, with straps angling down to two parallel dowels
- Strap size: 1.5 in x 24 in (3.8 cm x 61.0 cm)
- Towel size before border: 10 in x 16 in (25.4 cm x 40.6 cm)
- Border depth: about 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape under the weight of the roll and absorbs water well. Stretchy acrylics can sag on the straps.
- Color A, dusty rose pink: 140 g / 240 m (straps, bow, tails, tab, towel border)
- Color B, cream: 130 g / 220 m (towel body)
Both amounts include about 20 percent extra for the gauge swatch and in case you need to rip back and redo rows.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle and scissors
- 4 stitch markers
- 2 wooden dowels, 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter, 14 in (35.6 cm) long
- Sturdy wall hook
- Pins, blocking mat and measuring tape
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together: (insert hook in next st, pull up a loop) twice, yarn over, draw through all 3 loops (1 st decreased)
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
The ch 1 at the start of each row does not count as a stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). That is 4 sts and 4.5 rows per inch (2.5 cm).
Test one piece first. Make the center wrap (6 sts x 14 rows) as your swatch. It should measure 1.5 in x 3.1 in (3.8 cm x 7.9 cm). If it does, use it in the project.
Checkpoints:
- Strap after Row 63: 14 in (35.6 cm) long, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide
- Each slot: about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) long
- Finished strap: 24 in (61.0 cm)
- Bow band: 3 in x 12 in (7.6 cm x 30.5 cm)
- Towel before border: 10 in x 16 in (25.4 cm x 40.6 cm)
- Towel after border: 11 in x 17 in (27.9 cm x 43.2 cm)
Too big? Go down to a 4.5 mm hook. Too small? Go up to a 5.5 mm hook. On the straps, row gauge matters most because it sets where the slots fall.
Straps (make 2)
With Color A, ch 7.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (6 sts)
Rows 2–63: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sts)
Checkpoint: 14 in (35.6 cm).
Upper Dowel Slot
The slot runs lengthwise, so it opens wide enough for a 3/4 in (1.9 cm) dowel.
Rows 64–70, first side: Ch 1, sc in first 3 sts only, turn. Work 6 more rows on these 3 sts. (3 sts, 7 rows) Fasten off.
Rows 64–70, second side: Join Color A in the 4th st of Row 63. Ch 1, sc in same st and next 2 sts, turn. Work 6 more rows on these 3 sts. (3 sts, 7 rows) Do not fasten off.
Row 71: Ch 1, sc in the 3 sts of the second side, then in the 3 sts of the first side, turn. (6 sts)
Lower Section
Rows 72–97: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sts)
Rows 71–97 are 27 rows, or 6 in (15.2 cm). This sets the space between the dowels.
Lower Dowel Slot
Rows 98–104: Work as Rows 64–70.
Row 105: Work as Row 71. (6 sts)
Rows 106–108: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sts)
Rows 105–108 make a 0.9 in (2.3 cm) tab below the lower dowel. Fasten off. Total: 108 rows, 24 in (61.0 cm).
Bow Band
With Color A, ch 13.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (12 sts)
Rows 2–54: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (12 sts)
Checkpoint: 3 in x 12 in (7.6 cm x 30.5 cm). Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Center Wrap
With Color A, ch 7.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (6 sts)
Rows 2–14: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sts)
Checkpoint: 1.5 in x 3.1 in (3.8 cm x 7.9 cm). Leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Bow Tails (make 2)
With Color A, ch 7.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (6 sts)
Rows 2–14: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sts)
Row 15: Ch 1, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (5 sts)
Row 16: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc to end, turn. (4 sts)
Row 17: Ch 1, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (3 sts)
Row 18: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in last st. (2 sts)
All the decreases are on one edge, so the tail ends in a slanted point. Checkpoint: 1.5 in x 4 in (3.8 cm x 10.2 cm). Flip the second tail over before you attach it so both points slant outward.
Hanging Tab
With Color A, ch 5.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (4 sts)
Rows 2–9: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (4 sts)
Checkpoint: 1 in x 2 in (2.5 cm x 5.1 cm). Leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Towel Body
With Color B, ch 41.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (40 sts)
Rows 2–72: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (40 sts)
Checkpoint: 10 in x 16 in (25.4 cm x 40.6 cm). Fasten off.
Make All Pieces
- Color A: 2 straps, 1 bow band, 1 center wrap, 2 bow tails, 1 hanging tab
- Color B (Color A border): 1 towel
Hanger layout:
[tab]
[ BOW + wrap ]
[tail] [tail]
strap strap
/ \
==O=== upper dowel ===O==
| |
==O=== lower dowel ===O==
tab tab
Each O is a slot. The straps sit 2 in (5.1 cm) apart under the bow and 13 in (33.0 cm) apart at the dowels. This leaves 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of dowel sticking out past each strap.
Joining
Bow ring: Fold the bow band with RS out and bring Row 54 up to the foundation chain. Whipstitch the 12 sts of Row 54 to the 12 foundation loops, one stitch to one stitch. Turn the ring so the seam is at the center back, then flatten it.
Pinch and wrap: Pinch the flattened ring at its center to form two loops, each about 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. Set the tails behind the pinch, Row 1 up, with the points slanting outward. Wrap the center wrap around the pinch and the tails. Then whipstitch its 6 Row 14 sts to its 6 foundation loops at the back. The bow measures about 6 in (15.2 cm) wide x 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
Straps: Lay the bow face down. Overlap the Row 1 end of each strap 1 in (2.5 cm) behind the wrap, with the straps 2 in (5.1 cm) apart. Sew through all layers twice, because these seams carry the weight.
Hanging tab: Fold the tab so Row 1 meets Row 9. Sew both ends behind the wrap, leaving a 1 in (2.5 cm) loop above the bow.
Tension: Keep seams snug, not tight. Pulled seams pucker the bow and twist the straps.
Size checkpoint: Hang the holder by the tab. The straps should hang without twisting, and slots at the same level should line up. If they don’t, recheck the row counts.
Dowels: Push one end of the upper dowel through one upper slot. Slide on the paper towel roll, then push the other end through the opposite slot. Slide the lower dowel through both lower slots.
Towel Border
Border gauge: 4 sts per inch (2.5 cm). Each corner is 3 sc worked into one stitch, and the middle sc of those 3 is the corner stitch. The per-side counts include both corner stitches.
Round 1: With RS facing, join Color A in the first st of Row 72. Ch 1, 3 sc in first st (place a marker in the middle sc), sc in next 38 sts, 3 sc in last st (marker). Down the side: (sc in next 6 row-ends, skip 1 row-end) 10 times, sc in last 2 row-ends (62 sc). Along the foundation loops: 3 sc in first loop (marker), sc in next 38 loops, 3 sc in last loop (marker). Work up the second side the same way (62 sc). Sl st to first sc to join.
Count: 76 sc worked 1-per-stitch along the top and bottom + 12 corner sc + 124 row-end sc = 212 sts. Top and bottom: 42 sts per side. Long sides: 66 sts per side. Check: 2 x 42 + 2 x 66 − 4 shared corners = 212.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Work 3 sc in each marked corner st and move the marker up to the middle sc. Join.
Count: 212 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 8 extra corner sc = 220 sts. Top and bottom: 44 sts per side. Long sides: 68 sts per side.
Round 3: Ch 1, sl st loosely in each st around. Join and fasten off.
Count: 220 sl sts worked 1-per-stitch + 0 extra = 220 sts.
Why the math works: At 4 sts per inch, 44 sts = 11 in (27.9 cm) and 68 sts = 17 in (43.2 cm). The two sc rounds add about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to each edge of the 10 in x 16 in (25.4 cm x 40.6 cm) body, which gives the same 11 in x 17 in. There are 4.5 row-ends per inch but only 4 stitches per inch. Skipping 1 of every 7 row-ends turns 72 row-ends into 62 sc, so the sides lie flat.
Final Blocking
- Soak all pieces in cool water, then roll them in a dry towel to remove excess water.
- Square the towel’s corners and pin it to 11 in x 17 in (27.9 cm x 43.2 cm).
- Pin each strap straight to 1.5 in x 24 in (3.8 cm x 61.0 cm). Put a pencil through each slot so it dries open.
- Stuff the bow loops lightly with tissue so they dry rounded.
- Let everything dry completely, about 24 hours.
- Unpin, then assemble or rehang.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Both straps have 108 rows and measure 24 in (61.0 cm).
- The slots are at Rows 64–70 and 98–104 on both straps.
- The bow loops match, about 3 in (7.6 cm) on each side.
- The tail points slant outward.
- The tab and strap seams are secure.
- The towel border lies flat and has sharp corners.
- All ends are woven in at least 2 in (5.1 cm).
Troubleshooting
Straps twist. Block them flat, and check that both are sewn on with the same side facing out.
The dowel won’t fit through a slot. Your rows are too short. Add 1 row to each side of the slot.
The holder tilts. One strap is longer than the other. Compare row counts and adjust the bottom tab.
The bow looks flat. Pinch it tighter and pull the wrap snug.
The border ruffles. It has too many stitches. Work (sc 5, skip 1) along the sides instead.
The border cups. It has too few stitches. Work (sc 7, skip 1) along the sides instead.
Care
Machine wash the towel on gentle and lay it flat to dry. Hand wash the hanger with the dowels removed, and reshape the bow while it is damp.
Final Notes
Everything starts from a gauge of 16 sc and 18 rows per 4 in (10.2 cm). At that gauge, each 6-st strap is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide. The first slot comes at 14 in (35.6 cm), the slots are 6 in (15.2 cm) apart, and each strap is 24 in (61.0 cm) long. The 12-st bow band folds into a 6 in (15.2 cm) bow. The towel starts at 10 in x 16 in (25.4 cm x 40.6 cm) and finishes at 11 in x 17 in (27.9 cm x 43.2 cm) with its border.
Happy crocheting!