The Rosewood Leaf Bag Holder is a tall, tube-shaped grocery-bag dispenser covered in overlapping, pointed leaf scales. You stuff used plastic bags in through the wide top and pull them out one at a time through a small round opening at the bottom. A short tab at the top wraps around a wooden ring so the holder can hang from a hook or peg.
The colors are soft and farmhouse-friendly: a dusty rose main color and a light heather gray contrast. The leaf rounds alternate gray and rose. Each round of leaves sits half a leaf over from the one below, so the finished tube shows vertical columns of gray and rose leaves. A sage and cream version works just as well.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide laid flat and 18 in (45.7 cm) tall from the bottom opening to the top rim. The hanging tab adds about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the rim.
The holder is one seamless piece. You start at the bottom opening and work a flat base that increases each round. Then you build the body in pairs of rounds, a mesh round followed by a leaf round, 20 times. A single crochet rim band and the hanging tab are worked straight off the last round.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide flat x 18 in (45.7 cm) tall, plus the tab
- Skill level: Intermediate (crocodile-style scales, working around posts)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1, worked in joined rounds
- Layout: Vertical tube, 9 leaves per round, 20 leaf rounds
- Body circumference: 54 sts, about 14.4 in (36.6 cm)
- Size before the rim band: 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
- Rim band depth: about 2 in (5.1 cm), including the final mesh round
- Hardware: 1 wooden ring, 2 in (5.1 cm) outer diameter
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted yarn that shows stitches clearly. A cotton-acrylic blend is ideal: it holds the leaf shape, takes steam well and stands up to kitchen use. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns, because you will work many stitches around posts.
- Main color (MC), dusty rose: 200 g, about 370 m (405 yd)
- Contrast color (CC), light gray: 100 g, about 185 m (202 yd)
Crocodile-style leaves use a lot of yarn. These amounts include a margin of about 10 percent, so you should not run short at normal tension.
Tools:
– 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Wooden ring, 2 in (5.1 cm)
– Stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Steamer or steam iron, plus a towel for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- MC / CC – main color / contrast color
Special stitches
Pair: 2 dc worked into the same stitch or space. At the start of a round, ch 3 counts as the first dc of the pair.
Leaf: Worked over one pair.
1. Turn the work so the pair lies sideways.
2. Working around the post of the first dc (or ch-3) from top to bottom, work 1 hdc, 1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc (5 sts).
3. Ch 2 for the leaf tip.
4. Turn the work again. Working around the post of the second dc from bottom to top, work 1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc (5 sts).
Each leaf has 10 sts plus a ch-2 tip. The short stitches at each end and the tall trebles in the middle make the pointed oval shape. The line where the two halves meet forms the center vein.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Single crochet: 15 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Mesh round: 5 pairs with their ch-1 sps = 4 in (10.2 cm), so one pair plus its ch-1 sp = 0.8 in (2.0 cm)
- One tier (a mesh round plus a leaf round) = 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of height
- One leaf: about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide
Make the base first and use it as your gauge swatch.
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 5, the flat base measures 4.6 in (11.7 cm) across, with a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) opening in the center.
– After Rnd 15 (tier 4), the leaf section measures 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 23 (tier 8), the leaf section measures 6 in (15.2 cm).
– After Rnd 47, the holder measures 16 in (40.6 cm) from the bottom.
If your base is larger than 4.6 in (11.7 cm), go down half a hook size. If it is smaller, go up half a size. If the leaves curl outward, your stitches around the posts are probably too tight. Relax your tension, or use a hook 0.5 mm larger for the leaf rounds only.
Base
With MC, ch 18 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Don’t twist the chain. This ring becomes the opening the bags come out of.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (18 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in next st, inc; rep from * 8 more times. Join. (27 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, inc; rep from * 8 more times. Join. (36 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, inc; rep from * 8 more times. Join. (45 sc)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, inc; rep from * 8 more times. Join. (54 sc)
Check now: the base should measure 4.6 in (11.7 cm) across.
Rnds 6–7: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (54 sc)
These two plain rounds turn the edge upward to start the side wall.
Body: Leaf Tiers
Each tier is one mesh round in MC followed by one leaf round. Leaf rounds in odd tiers (1, 3, 5 … 19) use CC (gray). Leaf rounds in even tiers (2, 4, 6 … 20) use MC (rose).
Carry the color you aren’t using loosely up the inside of the tube, and catch it under the ch-3 at the start of each mesh round. The bags hide the inside, so short floats are fine.
Rnd 8 (first mesh round, MC): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, ch 1, sk 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, ch 1, sk 2 sts; rep from * 16 more times. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (18 pairs and 18 ch-1 sps: 36 dc + 18 ch = 54 sts)
Rnd 9 (first leaf round, CC): Join CC with a sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. *Leaf over the next pair, sl st in the next ch-1 sp, sl st between the 2 dc of the next pair, sl st in the next ch-1 sp; rep from * 8 more times. On the final repeat, stop after the sl st between the 2 dc of the last pair. (9 leaves over pairs 1, 3, 5 … 17; pairs 2, 4, 6 … 18 stay free)
Rnd 10 (mesh round, MC): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same sp, ch 1, *2 dc between the 2 dc of the next pair (fold any leaf there forward to reach the pair), ch 1; rep from * 16 more times. Join to the top of the ch-3. (18 pairs, 54 sts)
The first pair of this round sits above a free pair from the round below. That puts the next leaves between the leaves below, and this half-leaf shift is what creates the vertical columns.
Rnd 11 (leaf round, MC): Starting at the ch-3, *Leaf over the next pair, sl st in the next ch-1 sp, sl st between the 2 dc of the next pair, sl st in the next ch-1 sp; rep from * 8 more times. On the final repeat, stop after the sl st between the 2 dc of the last pair. (9 leaves)
Rnds 12–47: Repeat Rnds 10 and 11 another 18 times, for 20 tiers in total. Use CC for the leaf round on odd tiers and MC on even tiers. Every mesh round has 18 pairs (54 sts), and every leaf round has 9 leaves.
Tier map, from the bottom:
– Tier 1: Rnds 8–9, gray leaves
– Tier 2: Rnds 10–11, rose leaves
– Tier 3: Rnds 12–13, gray leaves
– …keep alternating…
– Tier 19: Rnds 44–45, gray leaves
– Tier 20: Rnds 46–47, rose leaves
Checkpoint: 20 tiers x 0.75 in (1.9 cm) = 15 in (38.1 cm) of leaves. Add the 1 in (2.5 cm) base, and the piece should measure 16 in (40.6 cm). Cut CC and weave in the end on the inside.
Border: Top Rim Band and Hanging Tab
Border gauge: 15 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 4 rnds = 1 in (2.5 cm). Lay the tube flat with the start of the round at one side fold. The front and back each hold exactly half the stitches.
Rnd 48 (final mesh round, MC): Work as Rnd 10. (18 pairs, 54 sts; 27 sts per side) This round anchors the top tier of leaves.
Rnd 49 (conversion round): Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp around. Join. (36 sc worked 1 per dc + 18 sc worked 1 per ch-1 sp = 54 sc; 27 per side)
Rnd 50 (decrease round): Ch 1, *sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog; rep from * 5 more times. Join. (6 repeats x 8 sts = 48 sc; 24 per side)
Rnds 51–54: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (48 sc; 24 per side)
Rnd 55: Sl st loosely in each st around. (48 sl sts) Fasten off.
Why the math works:
– The mesh round has 54 sts. Rnd 49 works one sc into each of them, so it stays at 54 sts and the top won’t ruffle or pucker.
– 54 sts at 15 sts per 4 in is 14.4 in (36.6 cm) around, or 7.2 in (18.3 cm) laid flat. The raised leaves bring the flat width to 7.25 in (18.4 cm).
– Rnd 50 removes 6 sts, leaving 48 sc. That is 12.8 in (32.5 cm) around, or 6.4 in (16.3 cm) flat. The slightly narrower rim helps keep the bags inside.
– The band adds about 2 in (5.1 cm), bringing the total height to 18 in (45.7 cm).
Hanging tab: Lay the tube flat and find the center of the back. With MC, join in the front loop of the Rnd 54 st that is 3 sts to the right of center.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the same st and the next 5 sts. Turn. (6 sc)
Rows 2–16: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sc)
The tab measures 1.6 in (4.1 cm) wide and 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Pass it through the wooden ring and fold it to the inside. Whipstitch Row 16 to the inside of Rnds 51–53. About 1.5 in (3.8 cm) stays visible above the rim.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the inside, and catch any long CC floats.
- Roll a towel to about 4 in (10.2 cm) thick and slide it into the tube.
- Gently push each leaf down so it overlaps the leaf below, with the tip pointing straight down.
- Hold the steamer 1 in (2.5 cm) above the fabric and steam the leaves without pressing.
- While the fabric is warm, pinch each leaf tip into a point.
- Shape the bottom into a gentle dome around the opening.
- Let it dry completely, at least 2 hours, before removing the towel.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The bottom opening is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across and smooth.
- Every mesh round has 18 pairs (54 sts).
- Every leaf round has 9 leaves, each with 10 sts and a pointed ch-2 tip.
- Leaf colors alternate gray and rose by round, forming neat vertical columns.
- There are 20 tiers, with rose leaves on the top tier.
- The rim band has 48 sc and lies flat without flaring.
- The tab is centered on the back and sewn securely.
- The finished size is about 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide x 18 in (45.7 cm) tall.
Troubleshooting
Leaves flare or curl outward: Your stitches around the posts are too tight. Use a 5.5 mm hook for the leaf rounds.
Leaves stack directly on top of each other instead of shifting half a leaf: A mesh round started in the wrong place. Each mesh round must start in the center of the last free pair.
Wrong number of leaves: Count the pairs in the mesh round first. You need 18 pairs to make 9 leaves.
Tube is getting narrower: You skipped a pair or a ch-1 sp. Recount to 54 sts.
Rim flares: Use a hook one size smaller for Rnds 49–55.
Bags pull out in clumps: Make the opening smaller with a round of sl sts around Rnd 1.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, or machine wash on a gentle cycle inside a laundry bag. Reshape while damp, dry flat or hanging, and do not tumble dry.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain:
– The 18-st opening grows to a 54-st base 4.6 in (11.7 cm) across.
– The base becomes 18 mesh pairs carrying 9 leaves per round.
– 20 tiers of 0.75 in (1.9 cm) each give 15 in (38.1 cm) of leaves.
– The 54 sts convert one-for-one to sc, then decrease to a 48-st rim.
The finished holder is 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide and 18 in (45.7 cm) tall. Check your base and count your pairs each round, and the leaves will fall into place.
Happy crocheting!