This hanging toilet paper holder is practical and still looks festive enough for holiday decorating. It has three snug burgundy baskets, each with a cream granny triangle on the front and a raised cream star in the middle. A cream scalloped rim finishes the top of each basket.
There are only two colors: a deep wine burgundy and a warm cream. The look is cozy and traditional, a bit like a Nordic Christmas, without being busy. All instructions use US crochet terms.
The finished holder is about 12 in (30.5 cm) wide and 17 in (43.2 cm) tall from the top of the ring to the bottom of the lower baskets. Each basket is about 5 in (12.7 cm) across and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall.
Each basket is worked from the bottom up: first a flat round base, then straight sides in the round, then the cream rim. The triangle and star are made separately and sewn on. Two straps and four tabs attach everything to a wooden ring and a dowel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished holder: 12 in (30.5 cm) wide x 17 in (43.2 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 3 baskets, 3 triangles, 3 stars, 2 straps, 4 tabs
- Layout: 1 basket hangs between the straps, with 2 baskets side by side on the dowel below it
- Basket size: 5 in (12.7 cm) across x 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall
- Size before rim: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) of side height
- Rim depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight yarn. Cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend works best because it holds its shape. Fuzzy yarn hides the cluster texture, so avoid it. The quantities below assume about 180 m per 100 g.
- Burgundy: 150 g / 270 m (baskets, triangle centers, straps, tabs)
- Cream: 60 g / 108 m (rims, triangle clusters, stars)
These amounts include a margin of about 20%, so dye-lot matching won’t be a problem.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Wooden ring, 3 in (7.6 cm) across
– Wooden dowel, 12 in (30.5 cm) long and 3/8 in (1.0 cm) thick
– Stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Wall hook
– Pins and a tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- BLO – back loop only
- MR – magic ring
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
Special stitch – Shell: work 5 dc in the same stitch.
Special stitch – Cluster group: work 3 dc into the same space. In this pattern, a “group” means three separate dc sitting together. They are not joined at the top.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 14 sc and 16 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc. That works out to 3.5 sts per inch and 4 rounds per inch.
Make one complete basket first, then check it against these measurements:
- After Round 3 of the base: about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) across
- After Round 6: about 3.3 in (8.4 cm) across
- After Round 9: about 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across (54 sts)
- After Round 28: sides are 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall from the base fold
- After Round 30: total basket height is 5.5 in (14.0 cm)
- Triangle after Round 5: each side is about 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
If the base comes out too big, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it’s too small, or the roll won’t slide in, go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Don’t add stitches to fix the size: the rim needs exactly 54 stitches.
Basket (Make 3)
Use burgundy. Work in continuous rounds without joining, and move the stitch marker up each round.
Base
Round 1: Work 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] 6 times. (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] 6 times. (24 sts)
Round 5: [Sc 3, inc] 6 times. (30 sts)
Round 6: [Sc 4, inc] 6 times. (36 sts)
Round 7: [Sc 5, inc] 6 times. (42 sts)
Round 8: [Sc 6, inc] 6 times. (48 sts)
Round 9: [Sc 7, inc] 6 times. (54 sts)
The base should lie flat and measure about 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across. If it ruffles, your tension is loose. If it cups, your tension is tight.
Sides
Round 10 (turning round): Sc in BLO of each st around. This is 54 sts worked 1 per existing st, with 0 added, for 54 sts. The unused front loops form a neat ridge where the base turns up into the sides.
Rounds 11–28: Sc in each st around. (54 sts each round)
That gives 19 side rounds (Rounds 10–28). At 4 rounds per inch, the sides are 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall. Sl st into the next st and fasten off the burgundy.
Rim (Border)
The rim is the border on each basket. Because a basket is a cylinder, it has no corners. All the math depends on the stitch count around.
Border gauge: each shell repeat uses 6 sts and spans about 1.7 in (4.3 cm). The rim adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of height.
Round 29 (cream): Join cream in any st at the center back of the basket. Ch 1, then sc in each st around and sl st to the first sc. This is 54 sts worked 1 per existing st, with 0 added, for 54 sts. This plain round makes the solid cream band under the scallops.
Round 30 (cream): Ch 1, sc in the first st, skip 2 sts, shell in the next st, skip 2 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * around. On the last repeat, end with “skip 2 sts” and sl st to the first sc instead of working a final sc. You’ll have 9 shells and 9 sc: 45 dc + 9 sc = 54 sts.
Why the math works: each repeat uses exactly 6 stitches (1 sc + 2 skipped + 1 shell stitch + 2 skipped). Since 54 ÷ 6 = 9 with nothing left over, the scallops meet evenly at the join and you don’t need a partial repeat. The front half of the basket (27 sts) shows 4.5 scallops above the triangle. Because you joined at center back, the seam stays out of sight.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Triangle Motif (Make 3)
The triangle is worked in joined rounds without turning. There are no chains between the side groups.
Round 1 (burgundy): Into a MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc, ch 3, [3 dc, ch 3] twice. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. You’ll have 9 dc and 3 ch-3 corner spaces.
Round 2 (burgundy): Sl st across to the first ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the same sp. Work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in each of the next 2 corner sps. Sl st to join. You’ll have 18 dc in 6 groups, which is 2 groups per side counting each corner half. Fasten off.
Round 3 (cream): Join cream in any corner sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the same sp. Work 3 dc in the gap between the next 2 groups, then (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next corner sp. Repeat from * once more, then work 3 dc in the last gap and sl st to join. You’ll have 27 dc in 9 groups, which is 3 groups per side.
Round 4 (cream): Sl st across to the corner sp. Ch 3, then work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the same sp. On each side, work 3 dc in each of the 2 gaps between groups. Work each corner as before and sl st to join. You’ll have 36 dc in 12 groups, which is 4 groups (12 dc) per side.
Round 5 (cream): Ch 1. Sc in each dc around, and work 3 sc in each corner ch-3 sp. Sl st to join. This is 36 sts worked 1 per existing dc, plus 9 corner sc added, for 45 sts. Counted from one corner center to the next corner center, inclusive, each side has 16 sc. That gives 3 sides x 16, minus 3 shared corner centers, for 45 sts.
Fasten off and leave a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for sewing. Each side should measure about 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and the triangle should be about 3.9 in (9.9 cm) tall.
Star Appliqué (Make 3)
Use cream.
Round 1: Work 5 sc into a MR and sl st to the first sc. (5 sts)
Round 2: Ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work sl st, sc, hdc and dc in the next 4 chs. Sl st in the next sc of Round 1. Repeat from * 5 times in total. You’ll have 5 points, each made of 4 sts.
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The star measures about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) from tip to tip.
Straps (Make 2) and Tabs (Make 4)
Strap (burgundy): Ch 50.
- Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Ch 1 and turn. (49 sts)
- Rows 2–3: Sc in each st across. Ch 1 and turn. (49 sts each row)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Each strap is 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide.
Tab (burgundy): Ch 5.
- Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Ch 1 and turn. (4 sts)
- Rows 2–12: Sc in each st across. (4 sts each row)
Each tab is 3 in (7.6 cm) long and 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide.
Make All Pieces
Burgundy:
– 3 baskets (Rounds 1–28)
– 3 triangle centers (Rounds 1–2)
– 2 straps
– 4 tabs
Cream:
– 3 basket rims (Rounds 29–30)
– 3 triangle outer rounds (Rounds 3–5)
– 3 stars
Layout grid (front view):
[ RING ]
/ \
strap [B1] strap
/ \
[===========DOWEL==========]
[B2] [B3]
Joining
Appliqués: Sew the star to the center of the triangle with whipstitch, catching the burgundy center but not the cream rounds. Then pin the triangle to the basket front with the point down. Its top edge should sit directly under Round 29, centered opposite the rim join. The point should reach about Round 13.
Whipstitch around the triangle using its 45 edge sc. Work one stitch through each sc and into the basket stitch behind it. Keep the stitches firm but not tight: the basket should still measure 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across when you finish. If it puckers, take the stitches out and sew more loosely.
Ring: Fold 1.25 in (3.2 cm) of one end of each strap over the ring and whipstitch it in place. Sew the row ends together, stitch to stitch. Put the two straps next to each other at the bottom of the ring.
Dowel: Fold 1 in (2.5 cm) of the other end of each strap around the dowel, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) in from the end, and sew it down.
Basket 1 (B1): Hold B1 between the straps, with its rim about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) below the ring. Sew each side wall to the inner edge of its strap over 2 in (5.1 cm), which is about 8 rows, matching 1 basket round to 1 sc of the strap.
Baskets 2 and 3: Fold each tab over the dowel. Sew both 4-st ends to the inside back wall of a basket at Round 27, stitch for stitch, so that 4 tab sts meet 4 basket sts. Space each basket’s two tabs 2.5 in (6.4 cm) apart and center them on the back. Leave about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) between the two baskets.
Size checkpoint: Hang the holder and measure. It should be 12 in (30.5 cm) wide and about 17 in (43.2 cm) tall overall. Each lower basket should hang about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) below the dowel.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist each basket and triangle with water.
- Put a roll inside each basket to give it its shape.
- Pin each triangle edge flat, so each side measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
- Shape each scallop with your fingers so the shells fan out evenly.
- Press the star points flat and spread them evenly.
- Lay the straps flat and pin them straight to 14 in (35.6 cm).
- Let everything dry completely before you hang the holder.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each base has 54 sts and measures 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across.
- Each basket’s sides are 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall before the rim.
- Each rim has 9 even shells with no partial repeat.
- Each triangle has 45 edge sc and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) sides.
- The stars are centered and all points lie flat.
- The rim joins face the wall.
- The straps are equal in length and the dowel hangs level.
- All ends are woven in at least 2 in (5.1 cm).
Troubleshooting
The base cups: your tension is tight. Go up half a hook size or relax your grip.
The base ruffles: you have too many stitches or loose tension. Check that the round counts end in 6s.
The roll won’t fit: your gauge is tight. Remake the basket with a 5.5 mm hook.
The scallops don’t meet evenly: the count isn’t 54. Count Round 29 again.
The triangle curls: your corners are tight. Work the ch-3 corners more loosely, then block.
The dowel tilts: the straps aren’t sewn at the same distance from the dowel ends. Move one strap end.
The baskets sag forward: sew the tabs lower, at Round 26.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, then reshape and lay flat to dry. Take off the wooden ring and dowel before washing.
Final Notes
The measurements all build on each other:
- A gauge of 14 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 54-st base that is 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across.
- 19 side rounds give 4.75 in (12.1 cm) of height.
- 54 sts divide exactly into 9 shells, which add a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) rim for a 5.5 in (14.0 cm) basket.
- Each 45-st triangle measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) per side and fits neatly below the rim.
- Three baskets, two 14 in (35.6 cm) straps and a 12 in (30.5 cm) dowel make a 17 in (43.2 cm) holder.
If your gauge matches at the start, everything else will fit.
Happy crocheting!