This hanging toilet paper holder has a sturdy cream single crochet back panel and two round pockets, each holding one roll. A band of soft blue fan lace circles each pocket. Cream single crochet frames the lace below, and a ridged crab-stitch rim finishes it above.
A vine of small blue five-petal flowers with yellow centers and green leaves climbs the right edge of the panel. At the top, the panel tapers into a strap that wraps around a natural wooden ring, so the holder hangs from a hook or towel knob.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 7 in (17.8 cm) wide and 21.75 in (55.2 cm) tall without the ring, or about 24 in (61.0 cm) tall with the ring.
You work the panel flat in rows. Then you make two pockets in joined rounds from the base up, plus flowers, leaves and a chain stem. Sew the pockets and vine to the panel, then finish with a two-row crab-stitch border.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7 in x 21.75 in (17.8 cm x 55.2 cm), plus ring
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 17 (1 panel, 2 pockets, 5 flowers, 8 leaves, 1 stem)
- Layout: Pockets stacked and centered; vine along the right margin
- Pocket size: Base 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across; wall about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall
- Panel size before border: 6.5 in x 21.5 in (16.5 cm x 54.6 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton. Cotton keeps its shape under the weight of the rolls and handles bathroom humidity well. Acrylic also works, but the pockets will be softer.
- Cream: 240 g / 370 m
- Light blue: 45 g / 70 m
- Green: 16 g / 25 m
- Yellow: 3 g / 5 m
These amounts include about a 20% margin for swatching and sewing tails.
Tools:
- 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- Wooden ring, 2.75 in (7.0 cm) outer diameter
- Tapestry needle
- 6 locking stitch markers
- Measuring tape, scissors, rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
- blo: back loop only
- mr: magic ring
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd: round
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
- rev sc: reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Fan: (dc, ch 1) 5 times, then dc, all in the same st. Each Fan has 6 dc and 5 ch-1 sps, for 11 sts total. The 3rd ch-1 sp is the center of the Fan.
Reverse sc: Working from left to right, insert the hook into the next st to the right, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked flat.
Make one pocket first. It’s quick, and it tests your tension on both solid and lace stitches. Check these measurements as you go:
- Base after Rnd 10: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across, lying flat
- Wall after Rnd 13: about 0.7 in (1.8 cm) tall
- Wall after Rnd 17: about 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall
- Wall after Rnd 19: about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall
- Panel after Row 1: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide
- Panel after Row 81: 18 in (45.7 cm) tall
If your piece is too big, go down a hook size. If it’s too small, go up one. A base that ruffles means your tension is loose. A base that cups before Rnd 11 means your tension is tight.
Back Panel
Use cream and work flat in rows. The ch 1 at the start of each row does not count as a st.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 27, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (26 sc)
Rows 2–81: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (26 sc)
The panel measures 6.5 in x 18 in (16.5 cm x 45.7 cm).
Tapered Top
Row 82: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each st to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (24 sc)
Row 83: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (24 sc)
Rows 84–97: Repeat Rows 82–83 seven more times. Each decrease row has its own total: Row 84 has 22 sc, Row 86 has 20, Row 88 has 18, Row 90 has 16, Row 92 has 14, Row 94 has 12 and Row 96 has 10. Each odd row keeps the count of the row before it.
After Row 97 you have 10 sc. The panel is about 21.5 in (54.6 cm) tall. The taper is about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and narrows to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide.
Ring Strap
Rows 98–109: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (10 sc)
The strap is about 2.7 in (6.9 cm) long. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Pass the strap through the ring from front to back and fold it to the WS. Whipstitch Row 109 to the back of Row 97, matching 10 sts to 10 sts.
Pocket (Make 2)
Work in joined rounds with the RS facing, without turning. The ch 1 at the start of each round does not count as a st. The joins line up at the back center of the pocket.
Base
With cream, make a mr.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat around, join. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat around, join. (24 sc)
Rnds 5–10: Keep increasing 6 sts evenly in each round, working 1 more sc between increases each time. Each round’s own total: Rnd 5 has 30 sc, Rnd 6 has 36, Rnd 7 has 42, Rnd 8 has 48, Rnd 9 has 54 and Rnd 10 has 60.
The base measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across.
Lower Wall
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in blo of each st, join. (60 sc) This makes a ridge where the wall turns upward.
Rnds 12–13: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (60 sc) Change to blue on the last pull-through of Rnd 13.
Fan Lace Band
Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in first st, skip 5 sts, Fan in next st, skip 5 sts, sc in next st. Repeat from * 4 more times. On the last repeat, sl st to the first sc instead of working the final sc. (5 Fans, 5 sc)
Each repeat uses 12 sts: 1 sc plus the 11 sts of the Fan. 5 repeats x 12 sts = 60 sts.
Rnd 15: Ch 3 (counts as dc), then (ch 1, dc) twice in the same st. This is the first half of a split Fan. Sc in the center ch-1 sp of the next Fan. Fan in next sc, sc in center ch-1 sp of next Fan; repeat from * 3 more times. Work (dc, ch 1) 3 times in the first st, then sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (4 Fans + 1 split Fan, 5 sc)
The split Fan has 6 dc and 5 ch-1 sps. Its center is the last ch-1 sp, just before the join.
Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in the ch-1 sp just before the join. Fan in next sc, sc in center ch-1 sp of next Fan; repeat around, ending with a Fan in the last sc. Sl st to the first sc. (5 Fans, 5 sc)
The Fans in this round sit directly above the Fans of Rnd 14. Change to cream on the last pull-through.
Top Rim
Rnd 17 (leveling): Ch 4 (counts as tr). Across the next Fan, work: dc in first dc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next dc, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next dc, dc in last dc. Then tr in next sc. Repeat from * around, leaving out the final tr. Join to the top of the beginning ch-4.
Count: 60 sts worked one per existing st, with 0 extra = 60 sts (5 tr, 10 dc, 20 hdc, 25 sc). The tall stitches fill the dips between Fans, so the top edge comes out level.
Rnd 18: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (60 sc)
Rnd 19: Ch 1, rev sc in each st, join. (60 rev sc)
Fasten off and leave a 36 in (91.4 cm) tail.
Mark the back: Place markers in st 10 and st 51 of Rnd 19. Sts 51–60 and 1–10 make up the 20-st back section, which is 5 in (12.7 cm) wide. The 40-st front shows the three full Fans worked into sts 19, 31 and 43, with their stacked Fans above.
Flowers, Leaves and Stem
Flower (make 5): With yellow, make a mr. Ch 1, 5 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. (5 sc) Fasten off. Join blue in any sc. In the same st, work (sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st), then move to the next st. Repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals) Each flower is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
Leaf (make 8): With green, ch 7. Working in the back bumps, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, then sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc in the next 5 ch. (6 sts) Ch 1 and rotate. Along the other side of the chain, work sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, then sl st in the last ch. (6 sts) Each leaf is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
Stem (make 1): With green, ch 66. Sl st in the back bump of each ch, starting in the 2nd ch from hook. (65 sl sts) The stem should be 15.5 in (39.4 cm) long. Add or remove chains to match this length.
Make All Pieces
- Back panel with strap: 1, cream
- Pockets: 2, cream and blue
- Flowers: 5, yellow and blue
- Leaves: 8, green
- Stem: 1, green
[ ring ]
[ strap ]
/ taper \
| panel | F |
| [UPPER ]| L |
| [POCKET ]| F |
| panel | L |
| [LOWER ]| F |
| [POCKET ]| L |
|____________|_F_|
F = flower, L = leaf pair, | = stem
Joining
Lay the panel RS up. All measurements are from the panel’s bottom edge, before the border.
Lower pocket: Place the Rnd 11 ridge 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the bottom edge. Center the 20-st back section so 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of panel shows on each side.
Upper pocket: Place its Rnd 11 ridge 9.5 in (24.1 cm) above the bottom edge, centered the same way. Its rim sits at 12.75 in (32.4 cm).
Whipstitch each pocket with its cream tail:
- Sew the 20 back sts of Rnd 19 to the panel, 1 rim st per panel st.
- Sew both marker lines from Rnd 19 down to Rnd 11, catching 1 panel row for each pocket round.
- Sew the 20 back sts of the Rnd 11 ridge, easing the curve flat.
Keep the tension firm but not puckered. The panel behind the pocket should lie flat. The 40 front sts stay free and bow outward around the roll.
Vine: Pin the stem in a gentle wave down the right margin, from 16.5 in (41.9 cm) down to 1 in (2.5 cm) above the bottom edge. Sew it on with green running stitches. Space the flowers about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart and add the leaves in pairs. Sew the flower centers and leaf bases first, then tack down the tips.
Size checkpoint: The panel should still measure 6.5 in x 21.5 in (16.5 cm x 54.6 cm).
Border
The border goes around the panel only. Gauge: 4 sc per in (4 sc per 2.5 cm).
Row 1: With RS facing, join cream at the top of the left taper, next to the strap.
- Left taper: 1 sc in each row-end. (16 sc)
- Left side (Rows 81–1): Sc in next 8 row-ends, skip 1; repeat 9 times. (72 sc)
- Bottom: Work 1 sc in each of the 26 foundation ch, adding 2 extra sc in the first and last ch for corners. (26 + 4 extra = 30 sc, including both corner groups)
- Right side: Same as left side. (72 sc)
- Right taper: 1 sc in each row-end. (16 sc)
Total: 16 + 72 + 30 + 72 + 16 = 206 sc.
Row 2: Do not turn. Ch 1, rev sc in each st back to the start. (206 rev sc) Fasten off and weave the ends into the strap fold.
Why the math works: At 4.5 rows per in, every 9 rows measure 2 in (5.1 cm), and 8 sc fill 2 in at border gauge. Over 81 rows that gives 9 groups x 8 = 72 sc, which matches 18 in (45.7 cm) x 4. Each diagonal taper edge is about 4 in (10.2 cm) long, so 16 sc fit at 1 per row. The 4 extra sts let the corners turn flat. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) to each side and the bottom, for a finished size of 7 in x 21.75 in (17.8 cm x 55.2 cm).
Final Blocking
- Soak the holder in cool water, then press out the water without wringing.
- Roll it in a towel to remove more moisture.
- Pin the panel flat to 7 in x 21.75 in (17.8 cm x 55.2 cm), keeping the taper edges straight.
- Fill each pocket with a plastic-wrapped roll so the lace opens evenly.
- Pin the petals and leaves flat.
- Let it dry for 24 hours before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The panel measures 7 in x 21.75 in (17.8 cm x 55.2 cm).
- Border Row 1 has 206 sts, and the corners lie flat.
- Each pocket has 60 sts in each of Rnds 11–19, and each Fan has 6 dc.
- Three full Fans face forward on each pocket.
- Both pockets are centered, with the joins hidden at the back.
- The strap is sewn across all 10 sts, and the ring is secure.
- All petal and leaf tips are tacked down.
- All ends are woven in.
Troubleshooting
- Base cups early: Go up a hook size for Rnds 1–10.
- Lace flares wider than the cream rows: Use a smaller hook for Rnds 14–16.
- Rim is wavy: Recheck Rnd 17. You need 11 sts per Fan and 1 tr per sc.
- Border ripples: Keep to 8 sc per 9 row-ends.
- Panel sags when filled: Remake it with a smaller hook, or back it with felt.
- Roll is tight: Block the pocket stretched over a roll.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and dry flat. If you can, remove the wooden ring before washing.
Final Notes
Each measurement builds on the one before it. A gauge of 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 26-st panel 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide. The panel is 18 in (45.7 cm) tall at Row 81 and 21.5 in (54.6 cm) after the taper. Each pocket holds 60 sts from Rnd 10 to Rnd 19, worked as 5 Fan repeats of 12 sts. The 206-st border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm), for a finished size of 7 in x 21.75 in (17.8 cm x 55.2 cm). Check each measurement as you go, and the pieces will fit together.
Happy crocheting!