This hanging toilet paper holder has four round lavender baskets set in a 2 x 2 grid. Three cream straps loop over a wooden dowel, and a cream cord hangs the whole thing from a single wall hook. Each basket holds one standard roll, so you can keep spares close by without using floor space.
The basket walls are a textured star pattern. Puffy five-double-crochet shells sit in rounds that alternate with five-stitch clusters, and the two together form rows of interlocking stars. Each basket has a cream round at the base and a three-round cream rim at the top, which tie it visually to the straps.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. One basket measures 5 in (12.7 cm) across and 4 in (10.2 cm) tall. The assembled organizer is 11.4 in (29.0 cm) wide and hangs 11.5 in (29.2 cm) below a 14 in (35.6 cm) dowel.
Construction overview: Each basket starts with a flat round base in double crochet. A cream back-loop round turns the edge upward, then the star walls and cream rim are worked in joined rounds. The straps are worked flat, the baskets are whipstitched to them, and the straps loop over the dowel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 11.4 in (29.0 cm) wide x 11.5 in (29.2 cm) tall below the dowel
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 4 baskets, 3 straps, 1 hanging cord (8 crocheted pieces)
- Layout: 2 baskets across x 2 baskets down
- Piece size (one basket): 5 in (12.7 cm) diameter x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Size before border: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wall height
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) cream rim
Materials
Cotton or a cotton blend keeps the baskets firm and stops them sagging under the weight of the rolls. Acrylic works too, but the walls will be softer. The quantities below assume roughly 180 m per 100 g.
- Lavender: 170 g (306 m), for the bases and the star-pattern walls
- Cream: 100 g (180 m), for the base rounds, rims, straps, and cord
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Wooden dowel, 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) in diameter
- Tapestry needle
- 8 locking stitch markers
- Scissors and measuring tape
- Rustproof pins
Both quantities include a margin of about 20% to cover gauge differences and swatching.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- MR – magic ring
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special stitch – dc5tog (cluster): Yarn over, insert hook in the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * to * four more times (6 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw through all 6 loops. A cluster counts as 1 st.
Shell: 5 dc in the same st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Double crochet: 15 dc and 8 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Single crochet: 14 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Make one complete basket before you start the others. It is your real gauge swatch.
Checkpoints:
- After base Rnd 2: 2 in (5.1 cm) across
- After base Rnd 5: 5 in (12.7 cm) across, lying flat with no ruffling
- After wall Rnd 8: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) of wall above the base edge
- After wall Rnd 12: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) of wall height
- After rim Rnd 15: 4 in (10.2 cm) of total wall height
- Strap: 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide, and 4 in (10.2 cm) long after 16 rows
If the basket is too big: Go down to a 4.5 mm hook. A base that is too wide makes the basket loose around the roll.
If the basket is too small: Go up to a 5.5 mm hook. A standard roll is about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across, so a base under 4.75 in (12.1 cm) will be a tight fit.
Fix the base before anything else, because every wall round depends on its 60 stitches.
Basket (Make 4)
Work in joined rounds without turning. The beginning ch-3 counts as a dc throughout.
Base (Lavender)
Rnd 1: In a MR, ch 3, 11 dc. Join with sl st to the top of ch-3. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in the same st, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in the same st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st around. Join. (36 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in the same st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts around. Join. (48 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in the same st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts around. Join. (60 sts)
Check that the base measures 5 in (12.7 cm). Fasten off lavender.
Turning Round (Cream)
Rnd 6: Join cream in any st. Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join to the first sc. (60 sc)
The unworked front loops make a crisp fold, so the wall rises straight up from the base. This round is the cream line at the bottom of the basket. Fasten off cream.
Star-Pattern Walls (Lavender)
Rnd 7 (shell round): Join lavender in any sc. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same st (half shell), skip 2 sts, sc in next st, skip 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next st, skip 2 sts 9 times, 2 dc in the first st (at the base of the ch-3). Join to the top of ch-3. (60 sts: 10 shells and 10 sc)
The round starts and ends at the centre of a shell, so the cluster round can begin cleanly.
Rnd 8 (cluster round): Ch 1, sc in the same st (shell centre), ch 2, dc5tog over the next 5 sts (2 dc, sc, 2 dc), ch 2, sc in next st (shell centre) 9 times, ch 2, dc5tog over the next 5 sts, ch 2. Join to the first sc. (60 sts: 10 sc, 10 clusters, and 20 ch-2 sps)
Each repeat uses 6 sts: 1 shell centre and 5 cluster sts. 10 repeats x 6 = 60. The ch-2 sps each count as 2 sts, so the total is 10 + 10 + 40 = 60.
Rnd 9 (shell round): Sl st in the next ch-2 sp, then sl st in the top of the next cluster. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same cluster, skip the ch-2 sp, sc in the next sc, skip the ch-2 sp, 5 dc in the top of the next cluster, skip the ch-2 sp, sc in the next sc, skip the ch-2 sp 9 times, 2 dc in the first cluster. Join to the top of ch-3. (60 sts: 10 shells and 10 sc)
The new shells sit above the clusters, so the stars are offset by half a repeat from Rnd 7.
Rnd 10: Repeat Rnd 8. (60 sts)
Rnd 11: Repeat Rnd 9. (60 sts)
Rnd 12: Repeat Rnd 8. (60 sts: 10 sc, 10 clusters, and 20 ch-2 sps)
The wall now measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm). Fasten off lavender. Before joining, complete the cream rim on each basket as described in the Border section.
Straps (Make 3, Cream)
Row 1: Ch 6, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (5 sc)
Rows 2–56: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sc)
The strap measures 1.4 in (3.6 cm) x 14 in (35.6 cm). Fasten off, leaving a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail.
Count strap rows from the bottom (Row 1):
- Rows 1–16: bottom basket
- Rows 17–20: 1 in (2.5 cm) gap
- Rows 21–36: top basket
- Rows 37–46: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) of exposed strap
- Rows 47–56: loop that wraps the dowel
Place markers at Rows 16, 21, 36, and 46. (16 + 4 + 16 + 10 + 10 = 56 rows)
Hanging Cord (Make 1, Cream)
Ch 78, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (77 sc, about 22 in / 55.9 cm) Fasten off, leaving 4 in (10.2 cm) tails.
Make All Pieces
- Baskets: 4, each with a lavender base and walls, a cream Rnd 6, and a cream rim
- Straps: 3 in cream
- Cord: 1 in cream
Layout grid (front view, S = strap, B = basket):
S1 S2 S3
| [B1] | [B2] | top row (strap rows 21-36)
| | | gap (strap rows 17-20)
| [B3] | [B4] | bottom row (strap rows 1-16)
The strap centres are 5 in (12.7 cm) apart, which matches one basket diameter.
Joining
Method: Whipstitch with the cream tail, sewing the side of each basket to the front face of a strap.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Flatten each basket with its join seam at the back centre. The two side folds are 30 sts apart. Each fold runs as a vertical line from rim Rnd 15 down to cream Rnd 6, which is 4 in (10.2 cm) and matches 16 strap rows.
- Lay the three straps right side up, 5 in (12.7 cm) apart centre to centre.
- Bottom baskets: Place B3 between S1 and S2, with the top of Rnd 15 level with strap Row 16 and Rnd 6 level with Row 1. Pin its left fold to the centre st (st 3) of S1 and its right fold to st 2 of S2. Place B4 the same way, pinning its left fold to st 4 of S2 and its right fold to st 3 of S3. The two baskets meet over S2.
- Top baskets: Repeat with B1 and B2, aligning Rnd 15 with Row 36 and Rnd 6 with Row 21.
- Whipstitch each fold line to its strap, 1 stitch per strap row (16 per seam). Pass through both loops of the basket sts, easing the taller dc rounds across the shorter sc rows.
Tension: Sew firmly enough to hold the weight of a roll, but don’t pull so hard that the strap puckers. The strap should stay flat behind the seam.
Dowel: Fold Rows 47–56 back over the dowel and sew Row 56 to Row 46 across all 5 sts. This makes a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) loop that fits the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) dowel snugly. Centre the straps on the dowel so that 1.3 in (3.3 cm) sticks out on each side.
Cord: Tie one end of the cord around each end of the dowel, outside the outer straps, and double-knot.
Size checkpoint: The organizer should measure 11.4 in (29.0 cm) from the outer edge of S1 to the outer edge of S3 (two 5 in baskets plus two half straps of 0.7 in / 1.8 cm). It should measure 11.5 in (29.2 cm) from the dowel to the bottom of the lower baskets.
Border: Cream Basket Rim
Work the rim on each basket after Rnd 12 and before joining.
Border gauge: About 15 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) around the rim, and 3 rnds = 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Each “side” is half of the basket (front or back), so 30 sts per side.
Rnd 13 (conversion round): Join cream in any sc of Rnd 12. Ch 1, sc in each sc and each cluster, and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp. Join. (20 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 40 sc worked into the ch-2 sps = 60 sc; 30 per side)
Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (60 sc; 30 per side)
Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (60 sc; 30 per side) Fasten off, leaving a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for joining.
Why the math works: Each ch-2 sp counts as 2 sts in Rnd 12, so 2 sc per sp keeps the count at 60. That equals the base’s 60 sts, so the rim stays the same width as the base. It does not flare or pull in, and the basket stays a straight-sided cylinder.
Final Blocking
- Before joining, mist each basket lightly with water.
- Slip a toilet roll inside each basket to shape the walls.
- Press the base flat and push each shell outward so the stars open up.
- Let the baskets dry on the rolls.
- Pin each strap flat to 1.4 in x 14 in (3.6 cm x 35.6 cm), mist it, and let it dry.
- After joining, hang the organizer with rolls in place for a day to settle the seams.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every base measures 5 in (12.7 cm) and lies flat.
- Every wall round counts 60 sts.
- The stars alternate evenly, with no shell directly above another shell.
- The cream rims are 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep and level.
- All three straps have 56 rows.
- The top and bottom baskets line up across the grid.
- The seams are firm and the straps are flat.
- The dowel hangs level.
- All tails are woven in.
Troubleshooting
The base ruffles: Your tension is loose. Use a smaller hook or redo Rnd 5.
The walls flare out: Check that each shell skips 2 sts on both sides.
The cluster count is off: Check that Rnd 7 or Rnd 9 started with a half shell and ended with 2 dc in the first st.
The basket is too tight for the roll: Go up a hook size for the whole basket.
The organizer tilts: Re-centre the strap loops on the dowel, and check that each Row 56 is sewn straight to Row 46.
The baskets droop forward: Add a few extra whipstitches through Rnd 6 at each strap.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the excess, and dry flat with a roll inside each basket. Remove the dowel before washing.
Final Notes
Everything here follows one measurement chain:
- 60 base sts give a 5 in (12.7 cm) basket.
- The same 60 sts carry through every wall and rim round.
- 16 strap rows match the 4 in (10.2 cm) basket height.
- Strap centres 5 in (12.7 cm) apart give the 11.4 in (29.0 cm) width.
- 56 strap rows set the 11.5 in (29.2 cm) drop below the dowel.
Check each link as you go, and the four lavender stars will hang straight and hold their rolls neatly.
Happy crocheting!