This watermelon plastic bag holder is a bright, useful piece for a kitchen wall. It is one long tube in coral-pink griddle stitch, with light green “rind” bands and a dark green top rim. The bottom is a rounded dark green cap with light green vertical stripes. Black teardrop seeds are embroidered in staggered rows all the way around.
You stuff bags in through the wide top and pull them out one at a time through the small round hole at the bottom. A dark green strap arches over the top so you can hang the holder from a hook or cabinet knob.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 8 in (20.3 cm) wide when laid flat, 16 in (40.6 cm) around, and 19 in (48.3 cm) tall, not counting the strap. The bottom opening is about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
The whole holder is worked in one piece from the bottom up in joined rounds. You start at the bottom opening, increase to full width, then work the striped cap, the rind, the pink body and the top bands. The rim round and the strap come last, and the seeds are embroidered at the end.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat, 16 in (40.6 cm) around, 19 in (48.3 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate (simple colorwork, basic embroidery)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (the strap is worked straight off the rim)
- Layout: One tube in joined rounds without turning; only the strap is worked in rows
- Piece size: 56 stitches around
- Size before border: 18.75 in (47.6 cm) tall
- Border depth: The top rim round adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm). The bottom opening edging adds no height.
Materials
Use a smooth cotton or cotton-acrylic worsted yarn. Cotton holds its shape well and shows the stitch texture clearly, so the griddle bumps and the seeds stand out. The amounts below assume a yarn of about 180 m per 100 g.
- Color A, Coral Pink (body): 130 g / 240 m
- Color B, Dark Green (cap, top band, rim, strap): 50 g / 90 m
- Color C, Light Green (rind bands, stripes, opening edging): 25 g / 45 m
- Color D, Black (seeds): 5 g / 10 m
All amounts include a small extra allowance for your gauge swatch and for weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 1 or 2 stitch markers
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and a spray bottle for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd(s): round(s)
- rep: repeat
- inc: 2 sc in the same st
- BLO: back loop only
Griddle stitch (special stitch): A texture made by alternating sc and dc. On each new round, work a sc into every dc and a dc into every sc. The short and tall stitches stack in a checkerboard and make the bumpy, star-like surface on the pink body.
Tapestry color change: Work the last yarn-over of the stitch before the color change with the new color. Carry the unused color along the top of the round and work over it, so no loose strands are left inside.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge in sc: 14 sts and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Gauge in griddle stitch: 14 sts and 14 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Make a swatch before you start. With Color A, ch 20 and work griddle stitch in rows for 20 rows. Measure 4 in (10.2 cm) across the middle. If you count more than 14 sts, go up a hook size. If you count fewer, go down a hook size. The count around is always 56, so your gauge alone sets the width.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 3: 56 sts. The piece is a flat, slightly wavy ring with a center hole about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
- After Rnd 13: a short tube, 16 in (40.6 cm) around and about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall measured up the side.
- After Rnd 62: about 17.25 in (43.8 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 68: 18.75 in (47.6 cm) tall.
- After the top rim: 19 in (48.3 cm) tall.
At Checkpoint 2, if the tube measures more than 16.5 in (41.9 cm) around, pull out the work and go down a hook size. If it measures less than 15.5 in (39.4 cm), go up a hook size. Change the hook, not the stitch count.
Pattern
Join every round with a sl st to the first st. The ch 1 or ch 2 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch. Do not turn. Put a marker in the first st of each round so the seam stays in a straight line at the back.
Bottom Cap (Colors B and C)
Foundation: With Color B, ch 28. Join with a sl st to the first ch to make a ring, taking care not to twist it.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join. (28 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, [sc in next st, inc in next st] 14 times, join. (42 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, [sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st] 14 times, join. (56 sts)
The cap now flares out from the small opening to full width. The stitch count stays at 56 from here on.
Rnds 4–10 (stripes): Join Color C and carry it. With Color B, ch 1, then [sc in next 3 sts with Color B, sc in next st with Color C] 14 times, join. (56 sts: 42 Color B, 14 Color C)
Work each Color C stitch directly on top of the Color C stitch below, so the light green lines run straight up. After 7 striped rounds you have 14 vertical stripes. At the end of Rnd 10, fasten off both colors.
Lower Rind (Color C)
Rnds 11–13: Join Color C. Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (56 sts)
Checkpoint 2: the tube is 16 in (40.6 cm) around and about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall. Fasten off Color C.
Watermelon Body (Color A, Griddle Stitch)
Rnd 14: Join Color A. Ch 1, [sc in next st, dc in next st] 28 times, join to first sc. (56 sts: 28 sc, 28 dc)
Rnd 15: Ch 2, [dc in next sc, sc in next dc] 28 times, join to first dc. (56 sts)
Rnd 16: Ch 1, [sc in next dc, dc in next sc] 28 times, join to first sc. (56 sts)
Rnds 17–62: Work Rnd 15 on every odd round and Rnd 16 on every even round. You end with Rnd 62 worked as Rnd 16. (56 sts each round)
That makes 49 pink rounds, or 14 in (35.6 cm) of body. Checkpoint 3: the piece is about 17.25 in (43.8 cm) tall. Fasten off Color A.
Upper Rind (Color C)
Rnds 63–64: Join Color C. Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (56 sts)
Fasten off Color C.
Top Band (Color B)
Rnds 65–68: Join Color B. Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (56 sts)
Checkpoint 4: 18.75 in (47.6 cm) tall. Do not fasten off. Go on to the border.
Border (Top Rim and Bottom Opening)
Border gauge: Same as the sc gauge, 14 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 1 rnd = 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Top Rim
Rnd 69: With Color B, ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, join. (56 sts)
Working in the back loop leaves a small ridge on the outside and turns the rim in slightly, so it holds a round shape when you push bags in. A tube has no corners, so no corner stitches are added. All 56 sts are worked one into each stitch, and the rim stays at exactly 16 in (40.6 cm) around, because 56 ÷ 14 × 4 = 16.
Checkpoint 5: 19 in (48.3 cm) tall.
Strap
Do not fasten off. Sts 1–6 of Rnd 69 sit just beside the round seam.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join and in each of the next 5 sts, turn. (6 sts)
Rows 2–48: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (6 sts each row)
The strap is 1.7 in (4.4 cm) wide and 12 in (30.5 cm) long, because 48 rows ÷ 16 × 4 = 12.
Bring the strap over the top opening and line it up with sts 29–34 of Rnd 69. These are exactly 28 sts from the start, straight across the rim. Sl st the last strap row to those 6 sts, working through both layers. Fasten off. The strap now makes an arch over the opening for hanging.
Bottom Opening Edging
Turn the tube upside down. Join Color C in any foundation chain, working into the unused loops on the other side of the starting chain.
Edging Rnd: Ch 1, sc in each foundation ch around, join. (28 sts)
This works 1 sc into each of the 28 foundation chains with no extra stitches. The opening stays at 8 in (20.3 cm) around, which makes a hole about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across. That is snug enough to hold the bags in but loose enough to pull one out easily. Fasten off.
Seeds (Color D)
Thread a tapestry needle with Color D. Each seed is a small teardrop about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall that covers 2 pink rounds.
To make one seed, bring the needle up at the center of the seed’s base. Work 3 straight stitches that all meet at one point at the top: one straight up the middle and one angled up from each side of the base. Work a second stitch over the center line to fill it in. This gives a pointed top and a rounded base.
Placement: The bases of the seed rows sit on Rnds 17, 22, 27, 32, 37, 42, 47, 52 and 57, which makes 9 rows.
- Seed rows 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 (Rnds 17, 27, 37, 47, 57): one seed above sts 1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 41 and 49 (7 seeds).
- Seed rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 (Rnds 22, 32, 42, 52): one seed above sts 5, 13, 21, 29, 37, 45 and 53 (7 seeds).
Seeds are 2.3 in (5.8 cm) apart around the tube, and each row is offset from the rows above and below. That makes 63 seeds in total. Keep the stitches relaxed so the fabric does not pucker.
Weave in all ends on the inside of the tube.
Final Blocking
- Fill a spray bottle with cool water.
- Slide the holder over a form about 5 in (12.7 cm) across, such as a rolled towel, a large bottle or a cardboard tube.
- Mist the whole piece until it is damp, not soaked.
- Pat the tube to 19 in (48.3 cm) tall and make sure the rind bands sit level.
- Shape the bottom cap so it curves evenly around the opening, and straighten the stripes so they run straight up.
- Lay the strap flat and pin it to 12 in (30.5 cm).
- Let it dry completely, then take it off the form.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 56 sts in every round from Rnd 3 to Rnd 69
- 14 straight light green stripes on the bottom cap
- Pink body is 49 rounds, or 14 in (35.6 cm), tall
- Tube is 16 in (40.6 cm) around and 8 in (20.3 cm) wide when flat
- Total height is 19 in (48.3 cm) without the strap
- Bottom opening has 28 sts and is about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across
- Strap is attached straight across from where it starts
- 63 evenly staggered seeds with no puckering
- All ends woven in on the inside
Troubleshooting
The stripes lean to one side. Joined rounds drift slightly. Check every round that each Color C sc sits directly above the one below.
There is a visible jog at the seam. Use an invisible join on color-change rounds, and keep the seam at the back under the strap.
The griddle texture turns into columns. You worked dc into dc. Check that every sc sits on a dc and every dc sits on a sc.
The body flares out. Your dc rounds are too loose. Go down one hook size for the pink body only.
The bottom opening is too tight. Work the edging round more loosely, or use a round of sl sts in its place.
Bags fall out of the bottom. Work one more Color C sc round around the opening, spacing 4 decreases evenly (24 sts).
The seeds pucker the fabric. Unpick them and stitch again more loosely, letting the yarn rest on top of the fabric.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then dry flat, shaped over a rolled towel. Keep it out of the dryer, which can shrink cotton and twist the stripes.
Final Notes
Every measurement in this pattern comes from the gauge. At 14 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm), 56 sts gives 16 in (40.6 cm) around and 8 in (20.3 cm) flat, and the 28-st foundation ring gives a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) opening. Ten sc rounds of cap make 2.5 in (6.4 cm), three rind rounds make 0.75 in (1.9 cm), 49 griddle rounds make 14 in (35.6 cm), two rind rounds make 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and four band rounds make 1 in (2.5 cm). That adds up to 18.75 in (47.6 cm). The rim round adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) for a finished height of 19 in (48.3 cm).
Check these numbers as you work, and your watermelon will hang straight and tidy in the kitchen. Happy crocheting!