The Sage Sprig Hanging Toilet Paper Holder is a three-tier organizer that hangs from a simple wooden ring. Three cream baskets, each sized for one standard roll, stack in a neat column on two sage green straps.
Each basket has a knit-look body in waistcoat stitch, a round of shell scallops at the rim, and a crisp corded edge in reverse single crochet. A small appliqué sprig sits centered on the front of every basket: three sage leaves on a stem with two cream berries. The colors are calm and natural: cream, sage and light wood.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished basket measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across the base and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall including the scallops. The whole holder is about 24 in (61.0 cm) long from the top of the ring to the bottom of the lowest basket.
Construction is simple. You crochet a flat circle for the base, turn the walls up with a back-loop round, then work the walls in a spiral. The scalloped border finishes each basket. You make two flat straps lengthwise, wrap them around the ring, and sew them to the sides of the baskets. The appliqués are sewn on last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide x 24 in (61.0 cm) long overall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: worsted weight (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) for baskets and straps; 4.0 mm (G-6) for appliqués
- Number of pieces: 3 baskets, 2 straps, 9 leaves, 3 stems, 6 berries, 1 ring
- Layout: 1 column of 3 baskets, with straps on the left and right sides
- Piece size: each basket 4.75 in (12.1 cm) diameter x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall
- Size before border: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) diameter x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape, survives washing, and shows the waistcoat stitch columns clearly. Acrylic works, but the baskets will be softer.
- Cream: 150 g, about 240 m (262 yd), for the baskets, borders and berries
- Sage green: 40 g, about 64 m (70 yd), for the straps, leaves and stems
- 1 wooden ring, 3 in (7.6 cm) outer diameter
- 5.0 mm (H-8) and 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hooks
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Scissors and a measuring tape
- Pins for placing appliqués
Quantities include a margin of roughly 25 percent for swatching and differences between brands.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- BLO: back loop only
- sk: skip
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd: round
- rev sc: reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- wst: waistcoat stitch
Special stitch: waistcoat stitch (wst). Look at the sc below. It forms a V on the front with two vertical legs. Insert the hook through the center of the V, between the two legs, all the way to the back. Yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops. Worked in a spiral, it creates knit-look columns.
Special stitch: reverse single crochet (rev sc). Working from left to right (if you crochet right-handed), insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sts and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in waistcoat stitch worked in the round with a 5.0 mm hook.
Waistcoat stitch is dense, so test one piece first. Make Basket 1 and measure at each checkpoint before starting the others.
- After Rnd 10: base diameter 4.75 in (12.1 cm), 60 sts.
- After Rnd 19: wall height 2 in (5.1 cm) above the base ridge.
- After Rnd 27: wall height 3.75 in (9.5 cm); circumference 15 in (38.1 cm).
- After Rnd 29: total height 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
If too big: go down 0.5 mm in hook size and restart the base.
If too small: go up 0.5 mm. A roll is about 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide, so the base must be at least 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Waistcoat stitch tightens when loops are short. Pull each loop up to the height of the previous round.
Basket (Make 3)
Use cream and the 5.0 mm hook.
Base
Work in a continuous spiral. Place a marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go.
- Rnd 1: Magic ring, 6 sc in ring. (6 sts)
- Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
- Rnd 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
- Rnd 4: Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
- Rnd 5: Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
- Rnd 6: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (36 sts)
- Rnd 7: Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (42 sts)
- Rnd 8: Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (48 sts)
- Rnd 9: Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (54 sts)
- Rnd 10: Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times. (60 sts)
The base should lie flat. If it ruffles, your tension is loose. If it cups, your tension is tight.
Walls
- Rnd 11: Sc in BLO of each st around. (60 sts) This makes a crisp ridge so the walls stand straight up.
- Rnds 12–27: Wst in each st around. (60 sts in each round, 16 rounds)
At the end of Rnd 27, sl st in the next st to smooth the step where the spiral rounds meet. This st is now st 1. Place marker A in st 1 and marker B in st 31. These markers sit on opposite sides of the basket and mark where the straps go. The front center is st 16.
Border
Work the border directly on each basket, using cream and the 5.0 mm hook.
Border gauge: One scallop repeat uses 6 wall sts, which is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) at 16 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm). The border is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep.
- Rnd 28 (scallops): Ch 1, sc in st 1, sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 8 more times, then sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st to first sc. (10 scallops: 10 sc + 70 dc = 80 sts)
- Rnd 29 (corded edge): Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, sl st to first rev sc. (80 sts worked 1 per existing st + 0 added = 80 sts)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Counts per side. Split the basket at the markers into a front half and a back half. Each half starts with 30 wall sts. Rnd 28 turns those 30 sts into 5 scallops, so each side has 5 sc + 35 dc = 40 sts. Rnd 29 keeps 40 sts per side, for 80 sts in total.
Why the math works. Each repeat uses exactly 6 sts: 1 sc, 2 skipped, 1 shell st and 2 skipped. Since 60 ÷ 6 = 10, the round closes with no partial repeat. The sc anchors land on sts 1, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31 and so on, so both markers sit in a scallop valley. The shell centers land on sts 4, 10, 16 and so on, which puts a full scallop directly above the front center. The corded round adds no stitches, so the rim does not ruffle.
Straps (Make 2)
Use sage green and the 5.0 mm hook.
- Foundation: Ch 93.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (92 sts)
- Rows 2–3: Ch 1, turn, sc in BLO of each st across. (92 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for sewing. Each strap is 23 in (58.4 cm) long and about 0.625 in (1.6 cm) wide.
Mark the strap sections, counting from one short end:
- Sts 1–8: ring wrap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Sts 9–28: top drop, 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Sts 29–44: Basket 1 attachment, 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Sts 45–52: gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Sts 53–68: Basket 2 attachment, 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Sts 69–76: gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Sts 77–92: Basket 3 attachment, 4 in (10.2 cm)
Check: 8 + 20 + 16 + 8 + 16 + 8 + 16 = 92 sts.
Appliqué Sprig (Make 3 Sets)
Use the 4.0 mm hook. Each set has 3 leaves, 1 stem and 2 berries.
Leaf (make 9, sage): Ch 7. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. (6 sts) Ch 2 for the tip. Working in the free loops on the other side of the chain: sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in last ch. (6 sts) That makes 12 sts plus the ch-2 tip. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Each leaf is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long. Use the tail to backstitch a center vein from the base to the tip.
Stem (make 3, sage): Ch 9. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (8 sl sts) The stem is about 2 in (5.1 cm) long.
Berry (make 6, cream): Magic ring, 6 sc in ring, do not join. (6 sts) Cut the yarn and thread it through the front loops of all 6 sts. Tuck the starting tail inside as stuffing and cinch the berry closed. Each berry is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
Assembly: Pin the stem vertically under the front scallop at st 16, from Rnd 13 up to about Rnd 22. Sew one leaf to the top of the stem, pointing up. Sew one leaf to each side of the stem about halfway up, angled upward. Stack the 2 berries at the base of the stem, one slightly above and beside the other. The finished sprig is about 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall.
Make All Pieces
Check that you have all the pieces before assembly:
- Cream: 3 baskets with borders, 6 berries
- Sage green: 2 straps, 9 leaves, 3 stems
- Wood: 1 ring
Layout, seen from the front:
( RING )
/ \
Strap L Strap R
| Basket 1 |
| Basket 2 |
| Basket 3 |
Basket 1 goes at the top. On each basket, marker A faces left, marker B faces right, and the sprig faces forward.
Joining
Ring wrap. Fold sts 1–8 of each strap around the ring from front to back. Whipstitch the short end to the back of the strap at st 9, sewing through both layers. Set the two straps side by side on the ring.
Attaching baskets. Lay Basket 1 face up. Place sts 29–44 of the strap along the side wall at marker A. St 29 lines up with the sc valley of Rnd 28, and st 44 lines up with the BLO ridge of Rnd 11. Whipstitch both long edges of the strap to the wst column at the marker. The wall is about 4 in (10.2 cm) from Rnd 11 to the scallop valley, and the 16 strap sts also measure 4 in (10.2 cm). Each strap st therefore meets the wall evenly, with no stretching.
Repeat on the opposite side with the second strap at marker B. Then attach Basket 2 to sts 53–68 and Basket 3 to sts 77–92 the same way. Sts 45–52 and sts 69–76 hang free as the gaps between baskets.
Tension. Sew snugly, but don’t pull. Tight sewing puckers the wall and shortens the holder. Check that both straps still match in length after each basket.
Size checkpoint. Hang the holder from the ring. The visible straps below the ring measure 21 in (53.3 cm). With the 3 in (7.6 cm) ring, the total length is 24 in (61.0 cm). Each 2 in (5.1 cm) gap lets the scallops below clear the base of the basket above.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist each basket with water until it is damp but not soaked.
- Slide a toilet roll or similar cylinder into each basket to straighten the walls.
- Shape each scallop with your fingers, opening the shells evenly.
- Press the leaves flat and smooth the veins.
- Lay the straps flat and straighten them along their length.
- Let everything dry completely, about 12 to 24 hours.
- Remove the forms and hang the holder.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each base measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) and lies flat.
- Each wall has 60 sts and is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall before the border.
- Each border has 10 even scallops and 80 sts.
- The straps are centered on the scallop valleys at the markers.
- A scallop sits directly above each sprig.
- Each sprig has 3 veined leaves, 1 stem and 2 berries.
- Both straps have 92 sts and match in length.
- The total length is 24 in (61.0 cm).
- All ends are woven in.
Troubleshooting
Waistcoat stitch is too stiff to work. Pull up taller loops, or go up 0.5 mm in hook size for the walls only.
The spiral step shows at the rim. Use the sl st at the end of Rnd 27 and start Rnd 28 from it.
The rim ruffles. Check that Rnd 28 skips exactly 2 sts on each side of every shell.
A basket tilts forward. Make sure both straps are sewn all the way down to the Rnd 11 ridge.
The roll won’t fit. The base is too small. Remake it with a larger hook until it reaches 4.75 in (12.1 cm).
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press the water out in a towel, and dry flat with a roll inside each basket. Remove the wooden ring before washing if you can.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain. A 60-st base of 4.75 in (12.1 cm) becomes a 60-st wall of 3.75 in (9.5 cm). A 6-st scallop repeat turns that into an 80-st border 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep, for a 4.5 in (11.4 cm) basket. Two 92-st straps of 23 in (58.4 cm) carry three baskets with 2 in (5.1 cm) gaps, for a 24 in (61.0 cm) holder.
Happy crocheting!