Plastic bags pile up fast in most kitchens. This holder keeps them in one place and still looks nice on the wall. The Coral Blossom Bag Holder is a long mesh tube in warm coral. It has a soft butter-yellow rim at the top, a round yellow-trimmed opening near the bottom, and three small cream flowers on the front.
You stuff bags in through the top and pull them out one at a time through the opening at the bottom. The open V-stitch mesh lets you see the white bags inside, which gives the piece a light, airy look. The flowers add a cottage-kitchen touch.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures 7 in (17.8 cm) wide when flat and 22 in (55.9 cm) long from the rounded bottom to the top of the rim. The hanging strap adds about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the rim.
You work the holder from the bottom up in one piece. Start with a flat dc circle for the base, then work V-stitch mesh rounds. For a short section you work in turned rows to leave the dispenser opening, then close it over with a chain bridge. Finish with a yellow rim, trim around the opening, a hanging strap, and three sewn-on flowers.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat × 22 in (55.9 cm) long, plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop
- Skill level: Intermediate (turned mesh section, chain bridge)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 body (base, mesh, rim, and strap all worked in one piece) + 3 small flower appliqués
- Layout: Single vertical tube; flowers placed in a zigzag on the front
- Piece size before border: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide × 21 in (53.3 cm) long
- Border depth: Top rim 1 in (2.5 cm); opening trim 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape when the holder is stuffed full and does not stretch out much over time. The amounts below assume about 170 m per 100 g.
- Coral (body): 150 g, about 255 m
- Butter yellow (rim, trim, strap, flower centers): 25 g, about 43 m
- Cream (petals): 10 g, about 17 m
All quantities include a safety margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– 4 stitch markers
– Wooden ring, 2 in (5.1 cm) across (optional, for hanging)
– Measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins and a spray bottle for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sp(s): space(s)
- MR: magic ring
Special stitch: V-stitch (V-st): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space.
- The ch-1 inside a V-st is its V-center.
- The ch-1 you work between two V-sts is a between-V space.
- New V-sts always go into the between-V spaces. This staggers each round against the one below and creates the triangle openings.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Solid dc: 14 dc and 7 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Mesh: 4 V-st repeats = 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide; 7 mesh rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Rim sc: 14 sc and 16 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Make the base (Rounds 1–4) first as your gauge test. It should measure 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across.
- If the base is too big: go down to a 4.5 mm hook.
- If it is too small: go up to a 5.5 mm hook.
Checkpoints:
– After Round 4: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across
– After Round 14: mesh is about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall
– After Round 25: mesh is 12 in (30.5 cm) tall
– After Round 39: mesh is 20 in (50.8 cm) tall
Base
Use coral throughout this section.
Round 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in the ring, join with sl st to the top of the ch-3. (12 dc)
Size: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in the same st, 2 dc in each st around, join. (24 dc)
Size: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st around, join. (36 dc)
Size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across.
Round 4: Ch 3, dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st around, join. (48 dc)
Size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across. Its circumference, about 14 in (35.6 cm), sets the width of the tube.
Mesh Body
Round 5 (setup round): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the same st (first V-st made). Ch 1, skip 2 sts, V-st in the next st, ch 1, skip 2 sts 15 times. Join with sl st in the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (16 V-sts)
Each repeat uses 3 base stitches, and 16 × 3 = 48, so the round fits the base exactly.
Rounds 6–7: Sl st into the V-center, sl st in the next dc, sl st into the next between-V sp. Ch 4, dc in the same sp. Ch 1, V-st in the next between-V sp, ch 1 15 times. Join. (16 V-sts each round)
The mesh will start to cup upward, which forms the rounded bottom. Each round has 32 dc and 32 chains.
Dispenser Opening Section (Turned Rows)
Look at Round 7’s between-V spaces. Place markers in 4 neighboring spaces on the side opposite your joins; these 4 spaces will stay open. Number the other 12 spaces B1–B12 in working order.
Round 8 (Row 1): Sl st over to B1. Ch 4, dc in the same sp. Ch 1, V-st in the next between-V sp 11 times, ending at B12. Do not join. Turn. (12 V-sts)
Row 2 (Round 9): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). V-st in the next between-V sp, ch 1 11 times. Dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch-4. Turn. (11 V-sts + 2 edge dc)
Row 3 (Round 10): Sl st into the first ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in the same sp. Ch 1, V-st in the next ch-1 sp 11 times; the last V-st goes into the turning ch-4 sp. Turn. (12 V-sts)
Rounds 11–14: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 twice more.
– Round 11: 11 V-sts + 2 edge dc
– Round 12: 12 V-sts
– Round 13: 11 V-sts + 2 edge dc
– Round 14: 12 V-sts
Do not turn after Round 14.
The gap is now 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide (4 repeats) and 4 in (10.2 cm) tall (7 rows). The mesh measures about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall.
Round 15 (bridge round):
1. Ch 1 (junction sp B), then ch 12 (the bridge).
2. Sl st in the 3rd ch of Round 14’s turning ch-4, across the gap.
3. Ch 1 (junction sp A).
4. V-st in the next between-V sp, ch 1 10 times.
5. V-st in the last between-V sp.
6. Sl st in the junction-B ch.
(11 V-sts + 12-ch bridge)
Round 16:
1. Sl st into the first 2 bridge chains. Ch 4, dc in the same ch (first V-st, in bridge ch 2). Ch 1.
2. Skip 2 ch, V-st in the next ch, ch 1 3 times. This places V-sts in bridge ch 5, 8, and 11. Skip ch 12.
3. V-st in sp A, ch 1.
4. V-st in the next between-V sp, ch 1 10 times.
5. V-st in sp B, ch 1.
6. Join.
(16 V-sts)
Check: 4 on the bridge + 1 + 10 + 1 = 16.
Rounds 17–39: Repeat Round 6. (16 V-sts each round)
The mesh measures 12 in (30.5 cm) after Round 25 and 20 in (50.8 cm) after Round 39. Fasten off coral.
Border: Top Rim, Opening Trim, and Strap
Both borders use the rim gauge: 14 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 4 rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Top Rim
Round 40 (conversion round): Join yellow in any dc. Ch 1. Sc in each dc and in each between-V ch-1 sp; skip the V-centers. Join.
(32 sc in the dc + 16 sc in the spaces = 48 sc)
Rounds 41–43: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (48 sc)
Do not fasten off.
Why the math works: The rim has 48 sc, the same as the 48 base dc and the 16 mesh repeats × 3 stitches. At 14 sc per 4 in, 48 sc is about 13.7 in, which matches the tube’s roughly 14 in (35.6 cm) circumference. The rim will not flare or pinch in.
Hanging Strap
Row 1: Sl st along to the center back (directly above the opening’s center). Sc in the next 4 sts. Turn. (4 sc)
Rows 2–12: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (4 sc)
The strap is about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide and 3 in (7.6 cm) long.
Pass the strap through the wooden ring and fold it to the inside. Sew Row 12 to the inside of Rounds 41–42. This leaves a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
Opening Trim
Round 1: Join yellow at a bottom corner of the opening. Ch 1.
– Bottom edge: 3 sc in each of the 4 skipped spaces (12 sc)
– First side: 2 sc in each row-end (14 sc)
– Top edge: 1 sc in each bridge chain, worked into the underside (12 sc)
– Second side: 2 sc in each row-end (14 sc)
– Join. (52 sc)
Why the math works: The raw opening’s perimeter is 3.5 + 4 + 3.5 + 4 = 15 in. At 14 sc per 4 in, that needs about 52 sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc around, working sc2tog at each of the 4 corners. Join.
(52 sc − 4 = 48 sc)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in the next 6 sts, sc2tog 6 times. Join.
(48 sc − 6 = 42 sc)
The decreases round off the corners and pull the band into a firm ring. Fasten off. The finished opening is about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across.
Flower Appliqués (Make 3)
Round 1: With yellow, MR, ch 1, 10 sc in the ring, join. Fasten off. (10 sc)
Round 2: Join cream in any sc. Sl st in the next st, (hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in the next st 5 times. Join. (5 petals)
Each flower is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across. Leave a long cream tail for sewing.
Placement: Sew the flowers to the front, above the opening:
– Flower 1: upper right, 3 in (7.6 cm) below the rim
– Flower 2: middle left, 7 in (17.8 cm) below the rim
– Flower 3: lower right, 3 in (7.6 cm) above the opening trim
Stitch through the mesh dc only, not the open spaces.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along solid dc or sc stitches.
- Lay the holder flat with the opening centered on the front.
- Mist it until it is evenly damp.
- Pat it to 7 in (17.8 cm) wide and 22 in (55.9 cm) long.
- Pin the opening trim into a smooth circle 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across.
- Ease the triangles open so the rows look even.
- Let it dry completely before removing the pins.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Base is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across with 48 dc
- Every full mesh round has 16 V-sts
- Mesh is 20 in (50.8 cm) tall
- Rim has 48 sc and is 1 in (2.5 cm) deep
- Opening trim ends with 42 sc and lies flat
- Opening is centered on the front; strap is centered at the back
- All three flowers are secure
- No ends show on the right side
Troubleshooting
- Mesh spirals around the tube: Make sure every V-st goes into a between-V space, never into a V-center.
- Opening is lopsided: Recount the rows. You need 7 turned rows ending with a 12-V row.
- Bridge sags: Chain more tightly, or go down to a 4.5 mm hook for the bridge only.
- Rim flares: Work Round 40 with a 4.5 mm hook.
- Opening trim ripples: Add 2 extra sc2tog to Round 3.
- Opening trim cups: Leave out 2 of the decreases in Round 3.
- Holder too short: Add mesh rounds. Each round adds about 0.57 in (1.4 cm).
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Reshape the opening while the piece is damp.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain:
1. A 48-dc base, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across, sets a 14 in (35.6 cm) circumference.
2. That becomes 16 V-sts in every mesh round.
3. A 4-repeat gap, 7 rows tall, makes the 3.5 in × 4 in (8.9 cm × 10.2 cm) opening.
4. The 12-chain bridge brings the round back to 16 V-sts.
5. 35 mesh rounds reach 20 in (50.8 cm).
6. A 48-sc rim matches the base count and finishes the 22 in (55.9 cm) holder.
Check each stage as you go, and the holder will come out straight and hang neatly. Happy crocheting!