The Lavender Tide Bag Holder is a tall, hanging tube for storing plastic grocery bags. You push bags in at the open top and pull them out one at a time through a round opening near the bottom. The lower section is solid single crochet, the middle is an open lace of radiating fans, and a solid band with a rolled rim finishes the top.
The main color is soft lavender. Three cream sand dollar appliqués, one large and two small, sit on the front with five tan-outlined petals each. Two wavy cream cords with curled ends run between them like drifting seaweed. It’s a light coastal-cottage look that fits a kitchen, laundry room, or pantry wall.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across, about 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide laid flat, not counting the strap.
You work the body in one piece from the bottom up: a flat circle base, solid sides with a turned-row opening, 16 rounds of lace fans, then a solid top band. The strap, sand dollars, and cords are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall x 5.5 in (14.0 cm) diameter; 17.1 in (43.4 cm) around
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: #4 worsted, cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 body, 1 strap, 3 sand dollars, 2 cords
- Layout: single tube, opening at front bottom, strap across the top, appliqués on the front
- Body size before border: 16.5 in (41.9 cm) tall (base plus lace)
- Border depth: top band 2 in (5.1 cm); opening edging is 1 round of sc plus 1 round of sl st
- Dispenser opening: about 2.6 in (6.6 cm) wide x 2 in (5.1 cm) tall
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape, shows the lace clearly, and keeps the base firm. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy acrylic, which lets the tube sag when it’s full.
- Lavender: 150 g, about 255 m (body and strap)
- Cream: 25 g, about 43 m (sand dollars and cords)
- Light tan: 5 g, about 9 m (petal embroidery)
These quantities include a margin of roughly 25–30 percent.
Tools
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers (at least 4)
- Scissors
- Rust-proof pins
- Tape measure
- Spray bottle and blocking mat
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- BLO – back loop only
- MR – magic ring
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Fan (special stitch): (dc, ch 1) 5 times, dc, all in the same st. Each fan has 6 dc and 5 ch-1 sps. The 3rd ch-1 sp is the center sp.
Move to center: sl st in next dc, (sl st in next ch-1 sp, sl st in next dc) 2 times, sl st in next ch-1 sp. You are now in the center sp of the first fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 14 sc and 16 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm). In the lace, 1 repeat (sc plus fan) = 1.7 in (4.3 cm) wide, and 4 fan rounds = 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
Test one piece first. Work the base circle through Rnd 10 and measure it before you go further. It’s a full-size swatch that you keep.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 10: circle is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across.
- After Rnd 28: base is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall and 17.1 in (43.4 cm) around.
- After Rnd 32: the first 4 fan rounds measure 3 in (7.6 cm).
- After Rnd 44: body is 16.5 in (41.9 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 52: body is 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall.
If your circle is bigger than 5.5 in (14.0 cm), go down a hook size. If it’s smaller, go up a hook size. Change the hook, not the stitch counts, because the base count of 60 has to divide evenly into 10 fan repeats.
Pattern
Base (Lavender)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc. (6)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (12)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st around, join. (18)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st around, join. (24)
Rnds 5–10: Continue increasing 6 sts evenly per round, adding 1 sc between increases each round. Rnd 5 = 30, Rnd 6 = 36, Rnd 7 = 42, Rnd 8 = 48, Rnd 9 = 54, Rnd 10 = 60.
Checkpoint: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across, lying flat.
Sides and Dispenser Opening
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, join. (60) This makes a crisp ridge at the bottom edge.
Rnds 12–14: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60)
Row 15 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 49 sts. Leave the last 11 sts unworked. Turn. (49)
Rows 16–24: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (49) Row 24 is a WS row, so you finish at the beginning edge.
Rnd 25 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 49 sts, ch 11, join with sl st to first sc. (49 sc + 11 ch = 60)
This leaves a rectangular gap 11 sts wide and 10 rows tall. Its bottom edge sits 1 in (2.5 cm) above the base.
Rnd 26: Ch 1, sc in each sc and in each ch, join. (60)
Rnds 27–28: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60)
Checkpoint: the sides are 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall. The opening is centered on the front of the holder, so all the appliqués will go above it.
Lace Fan Body
Rnd 29 (setup): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 2 sts, fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st around, ending the final repeat with sk 2 sts and joining to the first sc instead of working the last sc. (10 fans + 10 sc = 60 dc, 50 ch-1 sps, 10 sc)
Each repeat uses 6 base stitches. 10 repeats x 6 = 60, so the fans fit exactly.
Rnd 30: Move to center. Ch 1, sc in same sp, fan in next sc, sc in center sp of next fan around, ending with a fan in the last sc and joining to the first sc. (10 fans + 10 sc)
Rnds 31–44: Repeat Rnd 30. (10 fans + 10 sc in every round)
Each round stacks the fans in offset rows, so the arcs read as overlapping scallops, and the ch-1 sps give the open spoke effect. That’s 16 fan rounds in total (Rnds 29–44).
Checkpoint: the lace measures 12 in (30.5 cm), and the body is 16.5 in (41.9 cm) tall.
Hanging Strap (Lavender, make 1)
Row 1: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (5)
Rows 2–36: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (5)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. The strap is 9 in (22.9 cm) long and 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide.
Large Sand Dollar (Cream, make 1)
Rnds 1–6: Work as for base Rnds 1–6. (36)
Rnd 7: Sl st loosely in each st around. (36)
Fasten off with a long tail. Diameter: 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
Small Sand Dollar (Cream, make 2)
Rnds 1–3: Work as for base Rnds 1–3. (18)
Rnd 4: Sl st loosely in each st around. (18)
Fasten off with a long tail. Diameter: 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Petals: With light tan, embroider 5 evenly spaced lazy daisy petals on each sand dollar. Each one starts at the edge of the magic ring. On the large sand dollar they reach Rnd 5. On the small ones they reach Rnd 3. Leave the magic ring slightly open so the center has a tiny hole.
Wavy Cords (Cream)
Cord A: Ch 50, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (49) About 14 in (35.6 cm) long.
Cord B: Ch 36, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (35) About 10 in (25.4 cm) long.
Each cord is about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) wide. Leave long tails.
Border
The border has two parts: the solid top band and the edging around the opening. It uses the same gauge as the body, 14 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Top Band
Rnd 45 (conversion): Move to center. Ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 2, tr in next sc, ch 2, sc in center sp of next fan around, ending with ch 2, tr in last sc, ch 2, join to first sc. (10 sc + 10 tr + 40 ch = 60 sts)
The tr fills the dip between fans, and the sc sits on each fan’s peak, which levels the edge.
Rnd 46: Ch 1, sc in sc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in tr, 2 sc in ch-2 sp around, join. (10 x 6 = 60)
Rnds 47–51: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60)
Rnd 52: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, join. (60) Fasten off.
Why the math works: the base has 60 sts, the fans use 10 repeats of 6, and the conversion turns each repeat back into 6 sts. The band stays at 60, the same as the base, so the tube walls hang straight at 17.1 in (43.4 cm) around. The band is 2 in (5.1 cm) deep, and the body is now 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall.
Opening Edging
Rnd 1: With RS facing, join lavender at the bottom right corner of the gap. Work 1 sc in each position around: 11 unworked sts along the bottom, 10 row ends up one side, the 11 free loops of the chain across the top, and 10 row ends down the other side. That’s 42 positions. At each of the 4 corners, sc2tog over the last position of one side and the first of the next. Join. (42 – 4 = 38)
Rnd 2: Sl st in each st around. (38) Fasten off.
The corner decreases round off the rectangle into a soft oval about 2.6 in (6.6 cm) wide and 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
Attach Strap and Appliqués
Strap: Count around Rnd 51, with st 1 at the start of the round. The opening is centered under sts 50–60. Mark sts 8–12 and sts 38–42, one on each side. Lay one strap end flat against the inside of the band over sts 8–12, overlapping it by 1 in (2.5 cm). Sew it down securely through both layers. Sew the other end the same way over sts 38–42. That leaves 7 in (17.8 cm) of strap free to arch over the top.
Appliqués: Flatten the holder with the opening centered on the front. Measure each position down from the rim:
- Small sand dollar 1: center 3.5 in (8.9 cm) down and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) left of center.
- Large sand dollar: center 6.5 in (16.5 cm) down and centered.
- Small sand dollar 2: center 10 in (25.4 cm) down and 1.75 in (4.4 cm) left of center.
Pin Cord A in two gentle S-curves. Start it tucked under the left edge of small sand dollar 1, run it below the large sand dollar, and end it near the right side 9 in (22.9 cm) down, coiling the last 1 in (2.5 cm) into a curl. Pin Cord B the same way, from under small sand dollar 2 up toward the lower right of the large sand dollar, and curl its end.
Whipstitch the cords along both edges with matching yarn, catching only the solid parts of the lace. Then sew each sand dollar around its sl st edge. Weave in all ends.
Final Blocking
- Fill the holder loosely with a rolled towel so it holds a 5.5 in (14.0 cm) diameter.
- Lightly mist the lace section with water.
- Pat the fans upward and outward so each arc opens evenly.
- Shape the opening into a smooth oval.
- Lay the strap flat and pin each sand dollar flat against the tube.
- Leave it to dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Remove the towel and check that it measures 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall.
Steam carefully if you prefer, but don’t press the appliqués flat. The raised texture is part of the look.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rnds 10–14 and 25–28 have 60 sts, Rows 15–24 have 49, every fan round has 10 complete repeats, and Rnds 45–52 have 60.
- The base sits flat with a clean ridge at Rnd 11.
- The opening edging has 38 sts and lies flat without ruffling.
- The fans line up in offset scallops with no doubled or missing fans.
- The top band is level and the rev sc rim is even.
- Both strap ends are secure, and they’re opposite each other.
- The sand dollars and cords are sewn flat, with no loose loops that could snag bags.
- All ends are woven in on the inside.
Troubleshooting
Base cups or ruffles: check your counts. If they’re correct and the base still cups, go up a hook size. If they’re correct and it still ruffles, go down a hook size.
Fans lean or drift: a slight diagonal jog is normal. If the fans drift by a full repeat, you’ve missed the center sp. Count to the 3rd ch-1 sp every time.
Lace too long: work 14 fan rounds instead of 16 and expect a height of 17 in (43.2 cm).
Opening too tight: work Rnd 1 of the edging without the corner decreases. (42)
Opening gapes or stretches: keep the edging tension firm and use the sl st round.
Tube sags when full: use cotton and a tighter gauge, and don’t overfill it.
Appliqués pucker: pin them on the blocked, stuffed tube, and sew with relaxed tension.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat over a rolled towel. Don’t tumble dry. Heat can warp the fans.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check:
- 14 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
- The 60-stitch base measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across and 17.1 in (43.4 cm) around.
- The solid sides add 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
- 16 fan rounds add 12 in (30.5 cm), making the body 16.5 in (41.9 cm).
- The top band adds 2 in (5.1 cm), for a finished height of 18.5 in (47.0 cm).
If you check the base circle and the first 4 fan rounds, everything after them will fall into place.
Happy crocheting!