Pip is a hanging plastic bag holder shaped like a little gray mouse. You stuff used grocery bags in the top and pull them out one at a time from the bottom. The body is an open lattice mesh, so you can see how many bags are left.
The main color is a soft light gray. A cranberry-red scarf wraps around the neck with one tail hanging down the side. Black eyes, a pink heart-shaped nose, and pink embroidered whiskers finish the face, and two round ears sit on top of the rim. It is a cozy, farmhouse-style piece for a kitchen or pantry door.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tube measures 9 in (22.9 cm) around, which is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide when flat, and 16 in (40.6 cm) tall without the ears and hanging strap.
You work the tube in joined rounds from the bottom up: a solid single crochet band, then a chain-loop diamond mesh, then a solid band for the face. The ears, eyes, nose, scarf, and strap are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 9 in (22.9 cm) circumference, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) flat width, 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 main tube, plus small attached parts (2 ears, 2 eyes, 1 nose, 1 scarf band, 1 scarf tail, 1 strap)
- Layout: Single item, not assembled from motifs
- Piece size: Bottom band 1 in (2.5 cm), mesh 12 in (30.5 cm), top band 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Size before border: 4.5 in x 16 in (11.4 cm x 40.6 cm) flat
- Border depth: Under 1/8 in (0.3 cm); one slip-stitch round on each open edge, no added length
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight acrylic or cotton blend. Acrylic is light, easy to wash, and holds the mesh shape well. Avoid fuzzy yarn, because it hides the diamond pattern.
- Light gray (main color): 70 g, about 133 m
- Cranberry red (scarf): 15 g, about 29 m
- Pink (nose and whiskers): 5 g, about 10 m
- Black (eyes): 3 g, about 6 m
These amounts assume a yarn with about 190 m per 100 g. They include a safety margin.
Tools:
- 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and a towel for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- ch-5 loop – the loop formed by 5 chains
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special technique, mesh loop: Chain 5, then work a single crochet into the center of the next loop (or into the next stitch, where stated). When you stack these loops so each round is offset from the one below, they form the diamond lattice.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in the round.
Mesh gauge: 4 mesh rnds = 3 in (7.6 cm), so each mesh rnd is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Make the bottom band first and use it as your swatch. Lay it flat and measure.
- Checkpoint 1 (after the bottom band): 4.5 in (11.4 cm) flat width, 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
- Checkpoint 2 (after mesh rnd 4): Total height 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Checkpoint 3 (after mesh rnd 16): Total height 13 in (33.0 cm).
- Checkpoint 4 (after the top band): Total height 16 in (40.6 cm), flat width still 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
If your band is wider than 4.5 in (11.4 cm), go down half a hook size. If it is narrower, go up half a size. If only the mesh is too long, use ch 4 instead of ch 5 for the loops; if it is too short, use ch 6. Keep the stitch count at 36 either way.
Main Tube
Bottom Band
With light gray, ch 36. 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, join with sl st to first sc. (36 sc)
Rnds 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (36 sc each rnd)
The band is now 1 in (2.5 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide flat.
Mesh Section
Mesh Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 5, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 7 more times, ch 5, sk last 3 sts, join with sl st to first sc. (9 sc, 9 ch-5 loops)
Each repeat uses 4 sts (1 sc + 3 skipped). Since 9 x 4 = 36, the loops spread evenly around the band.
Mesh Rnd 2: Sl st in next 3 ch (you are now at the center of the first loop), ch 1, sc in same loop, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop; repeat from * 7 more times, ch 5, join with sl st to first sc. (9 ch-5 loops)
Mesh Rnds 3–16: Repeat Mesh Rnd 2. (9 ch-5 loops each rnd)
In each round, the sc lands in the center of the loop below. This shifts the loops by half a repeat and creates the diamond grid. The mesh section measures 12 in (30.5 cm).
Top Band (Face)
Rnd 1 (conversion round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, 3 sc in next ch-5 loop, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next ch-5 loop; repeat from * 7 more times, join. (9 sc worked into existing sc + 27 sc worked into loops = 36 sc)
Rnds 2–12: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (36 sc each rnd)
Fasten off and weave in the end. The top band has 12 rnds and is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall. The tube now measures 16 in (40.6 cm).
Ears (Make 2)
With light gray, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times, join. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat 6 times, join. (24 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Each ear is a flat circle about 2 in (5.1 cm) across.
Eyes (Make 2)
With black, make a magic ring. Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull the ring tight, join. (6 sc) Fasten off with a long tail. Each eye is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
Nose
With pink, make a magic ring. Into the ring work: ch 2, 3 dc, 2 hdc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, 2 hdc, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st in ring. Pull the ring tight to form a small heart with the point downward. Fasten off with a long tail. The nose is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide.
Scarf
Band: With red, ch 41.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (40 sc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (40 sc each row)
Fasten off. The band is 10 in (25.4 cm) long and 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
Tail: With red, ch 4.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (3 sc)
Rows 2–12: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (3 sc each row)
Fasten off. The tail is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide and 3 in (7.6 cm) long.
Strap
With light gray, ch 31.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (30 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The strap is 7.5 in (19.1 cm) long.
Assembly
- Scarf: Wrap the band around the tube over top band Rnds 1–4. The band is 10 in (25.4 cm) long and the tube is 9 in (22.9 cm) around, so the ends overlap by 1 in (2.5 cm). Place the overlap at the right side and sew it down. Sew the top 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of the tail under the overlap so the tail hangs straight down.
- Eyes: Center the eyes on top band Rnds 9–10, 6 sts apart, which is 1.5 in (3.8 cm). Sew around the edge of each eye.
- Nose: Sew the heart centered between the eyes on Rnds 6–7, point down.
- Whiskers: With pink, embroider 3 straight stitches on each side of the nose. Make each about 1 in (2.5 cm) long, fanning slightly outward.
- Ears: Flatten the tube so the face is centered on the front. Sew the bottom third of each ear to the top rim at the left and right sides. Each ear should stand about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the rim.
- Strap: Sew both strap ends inside the back of the top rim, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) apart at the center back. The strap forms a loop about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) high.
Border
The border is one slip-stitch round on each open edge. It firms the rims so they don’t stretch when you push bags through.
Border gauge: 16 sl st = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the sc gauge.
Top Border Rnd: Join light gray in any st at the back of the top rim, working behind the strap. Sl st loosely in each st around, join. (36 sl st: 18 across the front and 18 across the back when flat)
Bottom Border Rnd: Turn the tube upside down. Join light gray in the free loop of the foundation chain at the back. Sl st loosely in each free loop around, join. (36 sl st: 18 per flattened side)
Why the math works: Every solid round of the tube has 36 sts, which splits evenly into 18 per flattened side. The border works exactly 1 sl st into each existing st with no increases, so the rims neither flare nor pull in. The flat width stays 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and the length stays 16 in (40.6 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends on the inside of the solid bands.
- Lightly spray the tube with water until it is damp, not soaked.
- Slide a rolled towel or a piece of cardboard 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide inside the tube.
- Gently pull the mesh lengthwise so the diamonds open evenly.
- Pin the ears so they lie flat and round. Pin the scarf tail straight.
- Check that the flat width is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and the length is 16 in (40.6 cm).
- Let it dry completely before you remove the form.
For acrylic, you can steam lightly from above instead. Don’t let the iron touch the yarn.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Every solid round has 36 sts.
- [ ] Every mesh round has 9 ch-5 loops.
- [ ] The diamonds line up straight up the tube, with no spiral.
- [ ] Flat width is 4.5 in (11.4 cm); length is 16 in (40.6 cm).
- [ ] The scarf sits over top band Rnds 1–4, and the tail hangs straight.
- [ ] The eyes are level and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) apart.
- [ ] The nose is centered, point down.
- [ ] Both ears are the same height and securely sewn.
- [ ] The strap holds the filled holder without stretching the rim.
- [ ] All ends are woven in.
Troubleshooting
The mesh slants or spirals. You may be skipping the sl sts at the start of a round, or joining in the wrong stitch. Always join in the first sc of the round.
The conversion round ruffles. Work the 3 sc in each loop more loosely, or use a hook half a size smaller for that round only. Keep the total at 36 sc.
The tube is too narrow for full bags. Go up a hook size and remake the tube. The stitch counts stay the same.
The ears curl. Your tension is too tight on Rnd 4. Block the ears flat, or remake Rnd 4 more loosely.
Bags fall out of the bottom. Work the bottom border in sc instead of sl st, decreasing 4 sts evenly (32 sts). This narrows the opening slightly.
The strap stretches. Work a second row of sc along the strap to make it firmer.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Reshape the mesh and ears while they are damp.
Final Notes
The whole pattern is built on one number: 36 stitches. The bottom band sets 36 sts at 4.5 in (11.4 cm) flat. The mesh divides those 36 sts into 9 loops and brings the height to 13 in (33.0 cm). The conversion round returns to 36 sts, and the top band brings the tube to 16 in (40.6 cm). The border works 36 sl sts on each edge without changing the size.
Check your gauge at each checkpoint, and Pip will hang neatly and hold a full supply of bags.
Happy crocheting!