The Sage Slant holder stacks three cozy baskets in a single column and hangs them from a wooden ring. It gives spare toilet rolls a tidy, decorative home on a bathroom wall. Each basket is worked in firm oatmeal single crochet, and a raised sage-green band slants across the front.
The palette is two calm, natural colors: warm oatmeal for the baskets and soft sage for the straps and diagonal stripes. With the light wood ring, it suits a modern farmhouse or spa-style bathroom.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide and about 20 in (50.8 cm) long, ring included. Each basket measures 5.3 in (13.5 cm) across and 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall, so a standard roll about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across fits inside.
Here’s how it’s built. You work each basket from the bottom up in joined rounds, then add the diagonal band with surface slip stitch. Next you crochet two straps lengthwise, sew them to the basket sides, and loop them over the ring. A crab-stitch rim finishes each basket and locks the top of each strap in place.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide x 20 in (50.8 cm) long
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Bulky (#5) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 5 (3 baskets, 2 straps), plus 1 wooden ring
- Layout: 1 column of 3 baskets, with 2 straps running down the sides
- Piece size: each basket 5.3 in (13.5 cm) across x 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall; each strap 0.6 in (1.5 cm) x 20.9 in (53.1 cm)
- Basket size before border: 3.4 in (8.6 cm) of side height above the base
- Border depth: 0.3 in (0.8 cm) crab-stitch rim
Materials
Choose a smooth, firm bulky cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton holds its shape and stands up to bathroom humidity better than acrylic. The amounts below assume about 127 m per 100 g.
- Oatmeal (MC): 150 g / 190 m, for the baskets
- Sage (CC): 50 g / 63 m, for the straps, stripes and sewing
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- 1 wooden ring, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) outer diameter
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
All quantities include a safety margin of roughly 40%.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- sl st – slip stitch
- MR – magic ring
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- Rnd – round
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Surface slip stitch (surf sl st): Hold the yarn inside the basket. Insert the hook from the outside through a gap between stitches. Yarn over, then pull a loop through the fabric and through the loop on your hook.
Reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work from left to right (or right to left if you crochet left-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 13 sc x 13 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in the round.
Make one complete basket before you start the others. It works as your gauge swatch, and you’ll want all three to match.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 8, the flat base measures 4.7 in (11.9 cm) across.
- After Rnd 10, the circumference is 16.6 in (42.2 cm).
- After Rnd 19, the side height measured from the base edge is 3.4 in (8.6 cm).
- Each finished strap is 20.9 in (53.1 cm) long.
If your base is too big, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to 5.5 mm. A base that ruffles means your gauge is too loose. A base that cups before Rnd 8 means it’s too tight.
Basket (Make 3)
With MC, join each round with a sl st to the first sc and ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch. Keep the joins lined up, because the left strap will hide them.
Base
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
- Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)
- Rnd 5: (Sc 3, inc) 6 times. (30)
- Rnd 6: (Sc 4, inc) 6 times. (36)
- Rnd 7: (Sc 5, inc) 6 times. (42)
- Rnd 8: (Sc 6, inc) 6 times. (48)
Checkpoint: the base lies flat and measures 4.7 in (11.9 cm) across.
Sides
- Rnd 9: Sc in each st around. (48) The fabric starts to curve upward here.
- Rnd 10: (Sc 7, inc) 6 times. (54)
From Rnd 10 on, number the stitches 1 to 54, with the join at stitch 1. Put a marker in st 1 for the left strap and in st 28 for the right strap. That splits the round into a front half (sts 1–27, 27 sts) and a back half (sts 28–54, 27 sts).
- Rnds 11–19: Sc in each st around. (54 per round, 9 rounds)
Checkpoint: the side measures 3.4 in (8.6 cm) up from the base edge. Fasten off MC and leave a short tail. You’ll work Rnd 20 (the rim) later, in the Border section.
Diagonal Sage Band
The band is two parallel lines of surface slip stitch on the front half. One “step” is two stitches:
- Surf sl st into the next gap to the right in the same round.
- Surf sl st into the gap one round up and one stitch to the right.
Each step moves the line 2 sts to the right and 1 round up.
- Line A: With CC, pull up a loop in Rnd 10 in the gap between sts 8 and 9. Work 9 steps (18 surf sl sts). You end in Rnd 19 in the gap between sts 26 and 27.
- Line B: Pull up a loop in Rnd 10 in the gap between sts 6 and 7. Work 9 steps (18 surf sl sts). You end in Rnd 19 in the gap between sts 24 and 25.
The two lines run 2 stitches apart and form a raised band about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) wide. It rises from the lower left of the front to the upper right, just short of the right strap. Pull both CC tails to the inside and weave them in.
Strap (Make 2)
With CC, ch 69.
- Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (68)
- Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (68)
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Checkpoint: the strap is 20.9 in (53.1 cm) long and 0.6 in (1.5 cm) wide. Two rows of sc give a firm, flat strip that doesn’t twist.
Count each strap from the tail end and mark it into sections:
- Sts 1–10: ring loop, 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Sts 11–26: V leg, about 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Sts 27–36: top basket, 3.1 in (7.9 cm)
- Sts 37–41: gap, 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Sts 42–51: middle basket
- Sts 52–56: gap
- Sts 57–66: bottom basket
- Sts 67–68: tail under the base, 0.6 in (1.5 cm)
Check: 10 + 16 + 10 + 5 + 10 + 5 + 10 + 2 = 68.
Make All Pieces
- MC: 3 baskets, Rnds 1–19 each
- CC: 3 diagonal bands (2 lines each), 2 straps
Layout grid, top to bottom:
[ RING ]
/ \
Strap L Strap R
[ BASKET 1 (top) ]
| |
[ BASKET 2 (middle) ]
| |
[ BASKET 3 (bottom) ]
Make sure every band slants the same way, rising from the strap at st 1 toward the strap at st 28.
Joining
Method: Whipstitch with the CC strap tail, sewing each strap flat against the outside of the baskets.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The strap and the basket have the same gauge (13 sts = 4 in, 13 rnds = 4 in). So 1 strap stitch matches exactly 1 basket round.
- Lay the left strap over basket st 1, centered on the join line. Line up strap st 27 with Rnd 19 and strap st 36 with Rnd 10. Whipstitch both long edges of the strap down, 1 strap st per round. That’s 10 strap sts on 10 rounds (Rnds 10–19).
- Leave strap sts 37–41 free for the gap. Sew sts 42–51 to the middle basket the same way, then leave sts 52–56 free.
- Sew sts 57–66 to the bottom basket. Tuck sts 67–68 under the base and tack them to Rnd 8.
- Repeat steps 1–3 with the right strap on st 28 of each basket.
- Pass strap sts 1–10 over the ring from front to back. Sew sts 1–4 flat against sts 7–10 so that sts 5–6 wrap the ring. Place the two straps side by side on the ring.
Tension: Sew snugly but don’t pucker. The strap should lie flat and the basket rounds shouldn’t bunch.
Checkpoint: Hang the holder. Each free gap measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm), and the overall length is about 20 in (50.8 cm).
Border (Basket Rim)
Border gauge: Rev sc goes 1 per stitch, so the rim keeps the same 13 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm) as the body. It adds 0.3 in (0.8 cm) of height.
Rnd 20: Join MC in st 1 of a basket. Ch 1 and rev sc in each st around. At st 1 and st 28, insert the hook through both the basket stitch and the top edge of the strap.
- Front half (sts 1–27): 27 rev sc
- Back half (sts 28–54): 27 rev sc
- Total: 54
Join and fasten off. Repeat on all three baskets.
Why the math works: Rnd 20 has exactly as many stitches as Rnd 19, which is 54 with 27 per half. The rim keeps the 16.6 in (42.2 cm) circumference and won’t flare or tighten. Working through the strap at sts 1 and 28 locks the top of each strap without extra sewing. The finished basket is 3.4 + 0.3 = 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist each basket with water until it’s damp but not wet.
- Stuff each basket firmly with a toilet roll wrapped in a towel to round out the sides.
- Pinch the rims into an even circle 5.3 in (13.5 cm) across.
- Lay the straps flat and pat them straight.
- Let everything dry completely, ideally for 24 hours.
- Take out the forms and hang the holder.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All three bases measure 4.7 in (11.9 cm) across.
- Every basket has 54 sts in Rnds 10–20.
- Both lines of each band have 18 surf sl sts, and all bands slant the same way.
- The straps sit over sts 1 and 28, sewn 1 st per round on Rnds 10–19.
- Both gaps measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
- The rim is caught through each strap top.
- All ends are woven in on the inside.
- The ring loops are sewn securely.
Troubleshooting
- The base cups: Your gauge is too tight. Go up a hook size, or add a round of sc before Rnd 9.
- The base ruffles: Go down a hook size.
- The band looks loose or gappy: Snug each surface slip stitch gently as you go and keep the yarn tension even behind the work.
- The basket tilts forward: The straps aren’t centered on sts 1 and 28. Re-sew them.
- The rim ripples: You worked more than 54 rev sc. Recount.
- The strap twists: The foundation chain was twisted. Re-chain, keeping the V’s facing up.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out excess moisture in a towel and dry flat in shape. Re-block if the baskets soften over time.
Final Notes
Here’s the measurement chain, start to finish. Gauge of 13 sts and 13 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 4.7 in (11.9 cm) base. The 54-st sides measure 16.6 in (42.2 cm) around. Rnds 10–19 give 3.4 in (8.6 cm) of side height, and the rim adds 0.3 in (0.8 cm) for a 3.7 in (9.4 cm) basket. A 68-st strap spends 10 sts on each basket, 5 sts on each gap and 10 sts on the ring loop, for a holder about 20 in (50.8 cm) long. If each checkpoint matches, the finished piece will too. Happy crocheting!