This hanging bag holder turns a jumble of plastic grocery bags into something you’re happy to leave on the kitchen wall. You stuff bags in through the wide top opening and pull them out one at a time through the small ring at the bottom.
The body is soft lavender lace. Solid double-crochet bands alternate with rows of oval openings, and the rounded shape bends each row of openings into a gentle arch. Deep plum frames the top opening, the dispensing ring, and the hanging strap, so the edges look tidy and the stress points stay firm.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 10 in (25.4 cm) wide and 10.1 in (25.7 cm) tall, not counting the strap. Hanging from its strap, it is about 16 in (40.6 cm) tall overall.
It is made in one seamless piece from the bottom up. You start with the plum dispensing ring, increase through the lavender lace to shape the rounded bottom, and work straight up the sides. Then you pull the top in with a plum single-crochet rim and work the strap directly off that rim. You won’t need to sew any seams.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide laid flat × 10.1 in (25.7 cm) tall
- Height with strap: about 16 in (40.6 cm)
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (body, rim, and strap worked continuously)
- Layout: Single piece; no assembly
- Dispensing ring: about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) outside diameter, with an opening of about 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- Size before border (after Round 18): 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide × 9.2 in (23.4 cm) tall
- Border (top rim) depth: 4 rounds, about 0.9 in (2.3 cm)
Materials
Cotton or a cotton blend works best. It holds its shape, doesn’t fuzz when bags rub against it, and stands up to kitchen humidity. Choose a smooth worsted yarn so the openings stay crisp.
- Lavender (main color, MC): 90 g, about 153 m
- Plum (contrast color, CC): 45 g, about 77 m
These amounts assume a yarn of about 170 m per 100 g. The quantities already include a safety margin of roughly 15%.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 2 stitch markers
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– A rolled towel or inflated balloon, for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together: insert hook in the next st and pull up a loop, insert hook in the following st and pull up a loop, then yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MC / CC – main color / contrast color
Special note: At the start of every dc round, ch 3 counts as the first dc. When you join with a sl st, work it into the top of that ch-3.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
– Double crochet: 14 dc and 7 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Single crochet: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Test first: Work Rounds 1–8 and measure before you go any further. Those rounds take about 30 minutes, and they tell you whether the finished holder will come out the right size.
Checkpoints:
– After Round 3: The plum ring measures about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) across the outside and is about 0.7 in (1.8 cm) deep.
– After Round 8: Lay the piece flat with the ring at the bottom. It should be about 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide (72 dc, or about 20.6 in / 52.3 cm around) and about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
– After Round 18: About 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide and 9.2 in (23.4 cm) tall.
– After Round 22: About 10.1 in (25.7 cm) tall. The top opening lies about 8 in (20.3 cm) wide.
If your piece is too big, change to a 4.5 mm hook. If it’s too small, change to a 5.5 mm hook. A 0.5 in (1.3 cm) difference in width at Round 8 is acceptable. The bag will still work, but the yarn amounts may change slightly.
Pattern
Dispensing Ring (Plum)
Round 1: With CC, ch 36. Without twisting the chain, sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, then sc in each ch around. Join with sl st to the first sc. (36 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (36 sc)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (36 sc) Fasten off CC.
Checkpoint: The ring should be firm and flat, about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) across. If the chain twisted, the ring will roll; start again rather than living with it.
Rounded Bottom (Lavender)
Round 4 (growth): Join MC in any sc. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next st, 2 dc in next st. Dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (48 dc)
Round 5 (lace): Ch 3, dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2. Dc in next 2 sts, ch 2, sk 2; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (24 dc + 12 ch-2 sps = 48 sts)
Round 6 (growth): Ch 3, dc in next dc, 3 dc in ch-2 sp. Dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in ch-2 sp; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (60 dc)
Round 7 (lace): Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, ch 2, sk 2. Dc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sk 2; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (36 dc + 12 ch-2 sps = 60 sts)
Round 8 (growth): Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in ch-2 sp. Dc in next 3 dc, 3 dc in ch-2 sp; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (72 dc)
Checkpoint: You should have 72 dc. Flattened, the piece is about 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, and it already curves into a shallow bowl.
Body (Lavender)
Round 9 (lace): Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sk 2. Dc in next 4 sts, ch 2, sk 2; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (48 dc + 12 ch-2 sps = 72 sts)
Round 10 (solid): Ch 3, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in ch-2 sp. Dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in ch-2 sp; repeat from * 10 more times. Join. (72 dc)
Rounds 11–18: Repeat Rounds 9 and 10 four more times. Round 18 is a solid round. (72 dc) Fasten off MC.
On every lace round, the skipped stitches are the 2 dc that were worked into the space below. That stacks the openings in 12 neat columns. Because the body is rounded, each band of openings bows into the arch shape you see in the photo. In total there are 7 lace bands: Rounds 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17.
Checkpoint: About 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide and 9.2 in (23.4 cm) tall.
Border: Top Rim and Strap
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Top Rim (Plum)
Before you start, flatten the body so the columns of openings sit evenly on the front and back. Join CC at the right-hand fold.
Round 19 (trim): Ch 1. Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * 7 more times. Join. (56 sc worked 1 per stitch + 8 sc2tog = 64 sts)
Rounds 20–22: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (64 sc)
Place a marker in the joining sc (st 1). Count around and place a second marker in st 33, which sits directly opposite. That leaves 32 sc on each flat side: sts 1–32 on one side and sts 33–64 on the other, with the 2 markers sitting at the side folds.
Why the math works: At 3.5 dc per inch, 72 dc measure about 20.6 in (52.3 cm) around. At 4 sc per inch, 64 sc measure 16 in (40.6 cm) around. The rim therefore draws the opening in by about 4.6 in (11.7 cm) of circumference. When the holder lies flat, that’s 8 in (20.3 cm) across, which is snug enough to hold the bags in but wide enough for your hand to reach in.
Strap (Plum)
Don’t fasten off after Round 22.
Foundation: Ch 56. Sl st in st 33, then sl st in st 32. Turn. The chain should measure about 14 in (35.6 cm).
Row 1: Sc in each ch across, then sl st in st 2 and in st 3. Turn. (56 sc)
Row 2: Sc in each sc across, then sl st in st 31. (56 sc) Fasten off.
The strap is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide. It is anchored over 3 rim stitches at each side fold (sts 1–3 and sts 31–33). Folded in half, it forms a peak about 6 in (15.2 cm) above the rim.
Weave in all ends securely, going in at least 2 directions. Bags will tug on the ring and the rim, so this matters more than usual.
Final Blocking
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes. Gently press the water out; don’t wring it.
- Roll it in a towel to remove more moisture.
- Stuff it with a rolled towel, or slip it over an inflated balloon about 10 in (25.4 cm) across.
- Shape the bottom into a smooth curve and center the plum ring.
- Use your fingertips to open each oval opening so the arches line up evenly.
- Lay the strap out straight and flatten it.
- Leave it to dry completely, about 24 hours.
- Measure again: the holder should be about 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide and 10.1 in (25.7 cm) tall.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] The ring has 36 sc, isn’t twisted, and has an opening about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
- [ ] Rounds 8–18 each total 72 sts.
- [ ] All 7 lace bands have 12 openings each, stacked in straight columns.
- [ ] The rim has 64 sc, 32 on each flat side.
- [ ] The strap has 56 sc per row and is anchored over 3 sts at each fold.
- [ ] The holder measures about 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide × 10.1 in (25.7 cm) tall.
- [ ] All ends are woven in securely, with none showing on the outside.
Troubleshooting
The bottom ring is too loose and bags fall out. Redo Rounds 1–3 with a hook one size smaller, or add a fourth round of sc2tog every 6th st (30 sc) to tighten it.
The bottom is flat instead of rounded. Your dc gauge is probably loose. Go down a hook size and check Round 8 against the 10.3 in (26.2 cm) checkpoint.
The openings drift into a spiral. You probably started a lace round in the wrong place. Begin each lace round directly above the join, and skip only the 2 dc that were worked into the space below.
The rim ruffles. Your sc tension is too loose. Redo Round 19 with a smaller hook.
The strap stretches. Cotton relaxes over time. Add a third row of sc, or work the strap with a hook one size smaller.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, then reshape and dry flat or over a towel. Don’t tumble dry. Heat can shrink the cotton and distort the openings.
Final Notes
To recap the measurement chain:
– Round 3: a 36-sc ring about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) across
– Round 8: 72 dc, about 10.3 in (26.2 cm) wide
– Round 18: the body reaches 9.2 in (23.4 cm) tall
– Round 19: the rim draws the top in to 64 sc, or 8 in (20.3 cm) across
– Round 22: the rim adds 0.9 in (2.3 cm), for a total of 10.1 in (25.7 cm)
– Strap: 56 stitches, about 14 in (35.6 cm) long
If you check the size at each of these points, the finished holder will hang neatly. Fill it, hang it up, and pull out one bag at a time.
Happy crocheting!