Plastic bags pile up fast. A crocheted holder keeps them tidy and adds a little color to the kitchen. The Foxglove Garden Bag Holder is a simple sage-green tube with a hanging strap and a spray of foxgloves stitched to the front.
The flowers are dusty rose with cream, scalloped lips and tiny deep-rose speckles, like real foxgloves. They hang from an olive-green stem in alternating pairs, smallest at the top and largest at the bottom, with two pointed leaves at the base. The style is cottage garden: soft, textured, and practical.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures 6 in (15.2 cm) wide when flattened and 15 in (38.1 cm) tall, not counting the strap. The strap makes a hanging loop of 8 in (20.3 cm).
The body is one tube of single crochet, worked in joined rounds from the bottom up. A two-round rolled border finishes each opening. Then you make a separate strap and the small appliqué parts and sew them in place.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6 in (15.2 cm) flat width x 15 in (38.1 cm) tall; 12 in (30.5 cm) around
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hooks: 5 mm (H-8) for body and strap; 4 mm (G-6) for appliqué
- Number of pieces: 1 finished holder, made from 1 tube body, 1 strap, and 12 appliqué parts (1 stem, 6 bells, 3 buds, 2 leaves)
- Layout: Single vertical tube with the foxglove spray centered on the front face
- Piece size: 6 x 15 in (15.2 x 38.1 cm) flat
- Size before border: 6 x 14 in (15.2 x 35.6 cm)
- Border depth: about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at the top and at the bottom
Materials
Use a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend, about 100 g / 170 m per ball. Cotton holds its shape, shows the stitch texture clearly, and stands up to daily use. Acrylic also works, but the tube will be a bit softer.
- Color A, sage green (body, strap, border): 110 g / 187 m
- Color B, olive green (stem, leaves, top bud): 15 g / 26 m
- Color C, dusty rose (bells, pink buds): 20 g / 34 m
- Color D, cream (bell lips): 10 g / 17 m
- Color E, deep rose (speckle embroidery): 2 g / 3 m
These quantities include a margin of about 15 to 20 percent for your swatch and any tension differences.
Tools: 5 mm (H-8) and 4 mm (G-6) hooks, stitch marker, tapestry needle, sewing pins, scissors, measuring tape, and blocking mat with rustproof pins (optional).
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- rev sc: reverse single crochet
- MR: magic ring
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd(s): round(s)
- rep: repeat
Reverse single crochet (crab stitch): Working from left to right (right-handers), insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops. This makes the firm, rolled ridge.
French knot: Bring the needle up, wrap the yarn twice around the needle, and insert it back down right next to where it came up.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in joined sc rounds with a 5 mm hook.
Work the first 18 rounds of the body as your test piece before you commit to the whole tube. Lay it flat and measure without stretching.
Checkpoints:
- Rnd 1: 48 sts, 12 in (30.5 cm) around; 6 in (15.2 cm) wide when flattened
- After Rnd 18: 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- After Rnd 36: 8 in (20.3 cm) tall
- After Rnd 54: 12 in (30.5 cm) tall
- After Rnd 63: 14 in (35.6 cm) tall (size before border)
- After both borders: 15 in (38.1 cm) tall
If the tube is too big: You have fewer than 16 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm). Going from 16 to 15 sts adds about 0.8 in (2.0 cm) around the tube. Go down to a 4.5 mm hook.
If the tube is too small: Go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Keep the stitch count the same, because the border math depends on 48 sts.
If only the height is off, add or remove body rounds and keep 48 sts.
Body
With Color A and a 5 mm hook:
Foundation: Ch 48 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Make sure the chain isn’t twisted.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc to join. (48 sts)
Place a marker in the first st and move it up each round.
Rnds 2–63: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with a sl st to first sc. (48 sts in each round)
Don’t turn between rounds. Joined, unturned rounds give the even, slightly bumpy texture. Keep each join in the same column, because this line becomes one side fold.
Check that the tube measures 14 in (35.6 cm) tall and 6 in (15.2 cm) flat. Fasten off.
Strap
With Color A and a 5 mm hook:
Foundation: Ch 41.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (40 sts)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (40 sts in each row)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.
Strap checkpoint: 10 in (25.4 cm) long and about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide.
Foxglove Bells (Make 6)
Use a 4 mm hook. Make 2 small, 2 medium, and 2 large bells. All sizes have the same stitch counts. Only the number of plain rounds changes the length.
With Color C:
Rnd 1: 5 sc in MR. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (10 sts)
Plain rounds: Sc in each st around. (10 sts in each round)
- Small: 1 plain round (Rnd 3)
- Medium: 2 plain rounds (Rnds 3–4)
- Large: 3 plain rounds (Rnds 3–5)
Flare round: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 5 times. (15 sts)
Next round: Sc in each st around. (15 sts)
Change to Color D.
Lip increase round: Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 5 times. (20 sts)
Scallop round: Sl st in next st, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next st; rep from * 10 times, then sl st to join. That makes 10 sl sts + 30 shell sts = 40 sts, forming 10 scallops.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Bell lengths: small about 1.25 in (3.2 cm), medium about 1.5 in (3.8 cm), and large about 1.75 in (4.4 cm). Each bell flares to about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across the lip.
Speckles: With Color E, work 5 to 7 small French knots on the lower half of the cream lip so they show inside the bell.
Buds (Make 3)
Use a 4 mm hook. Make 2 buds in Color C and 1 in Color B.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. (6 sts)
Fasten off. Thread the tail through the front loops of all 6 sts and pull tight to close. Each bud measures about 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Leaves (Make 2)
With Color B and a 4 mm hook, ch 9.
First side: Working in the back bumps, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. (7 sts)
Tip: (Sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch.
Second side: Working along the other side of the chain: sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in last ch. (7 sts)
Total: 7 + 2 tip sc + 7 = 16 sts, plus the ch-2 tip.
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Each leaf measures about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) long.
Stem
With Color B and a 4 mm hook, ch 46. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (45 sts)
The stem should measure 10 in (25.4 cm). Add or remove chains if needed. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Assembly
Work the Border (below) first so you can measure from the finished edges.
1. Flatten. Lay the tube flat with the join column on one side fold, so 24 sts are on the front and 24 are on the back.
2. Stem. Pin the stem down the vertical center of the front. Place the bottom end 2 in (5.1 cm) above the bottom edge and the top end 3 in (7.6 cm) below the top edge: 2 + 10 + 3 = 15 in (38.1 cm). Whipstitch it down with Color B through the front layer only.
3. Buds. Sew the green bud to the top of the stem. Sew the 2 pink buds just below it, one on each side.
4. Bells. Working down the stem, sew the bells in alternating pairs: small, then medium, then large. Sew only the closed top of each bell so the lip hangs free. To make a short stalk, wrap Color B two or three times around each joint. Space the pairs about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) apart.
5. Leaves. Sew one leaf on each side of the stem base, angled up and out.
6. Strap. On the inside of the tube, pin each strap end 1 in (2.5 cm) down a side fold, just below the border. Whipstitch around each overlapped end. That leaves 10 − 1 − 1 = 8 in (20.3 cm) of free strap.
Border
Use Color A and a 5 mm hook. The border gauge is the same as the body: 16 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Top Border
Join Color A in the last round, at the join column.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (48 sts: 24 front + 24 back)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, join. (48 sts: 24 front + 24 back)
Fasten off.
Bottom Border
Turn the tube upside down. Join Color A in a free loop of the foundation chain, at the join column.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each free loop around, join. (48 sts: 24 front + 24 back)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, join. (48 sts: 24 front + 24 back)
Fasten off.
Why the math works: Each border round has one stitch per existing stitch, with nothing added. Both openings keep 48 sts, matching the 12 in (30.5 cm) circumference of the body. Reverse sc is slightly tighter than sc, so the edge rolls into a firm ridge without flaring. Each border adds about 0.5 in (1.3 cm), so the height goes from 14 in (35.6 cm) to 15 in (38.1 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends on the inside.
- Lightly mist the holder, or hover a steam iron 1 in (2.5 cm) above it without touching the yarn.
- Lay it flat with the join column on one side fold.
- Pat it to 6 x 15 in (15.2 x 38.1 cm) and pin the side folds straight.
- Shape each bell lip so the scallops flare evenly.
- Pat the leaves flat with the tips pointed.
- Let it dry completely before hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 48 sts in every body round, with no twist
- Flat size of 6 x 15 in (15.2 x 38.1 cm)
- 48 sts in both borders, with smooth rolled edges
- Strap ends secure, with 8 in (20.3 cm) of free loop
- Stem centered, straight, and 10 in (25.4 cm) long
- Bell pairs graded small, medium, large from top to bottom
- 10 scallops and visible speckles on each bell
- No appliqué stitches showing through on the back
Troubleshooting
The tube spirals. Keep every join in the same column. Don’t count the ch 1 as a stitch.
The bottom edge flares. The foundation chain was loose. Use a hook one size smaller for bottom border Rnd 1.
The bell lips curl inward. Steam and shape them, or use a hook one size larger for the scallop round.
The bells lie flat. Sew only the closed top, not the sides.
The strap stretches. Use cotton, or add a 5th row of sc.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel to press out the water, and dry flat. Don’t tumble dry, because it can distort the appliqué.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short. 48 sts give a 12 in (30.5 cm) circumference and a 6 in (15.2 cm) flat width. 63 rounds make 14 in (35.6 cm) of body. Each 48-st border adds about 0.5 in (1.3 cm), for 15 in (38.1 cm) total. The 10 in (25.4 cm) strap leaves an 8 in (20.3 cm) loop. If each measurement checks out, the foxgloves will sit where they should.
Happy crocheting!