Blue-trimmed and natural crocheted basket set with one oblong and two round baskets, plus handles and wooden rods.

Bluebell Shells Hanging Bathroom Organizer Crochet Pattern

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This hanging organizer has three baskets on two wooden dowels. A wide oval basket on the upper level holds two spare toilet rolls, and two small round baskets on the lower dowel hold one roll each. It clears the counter and looks tidy on a tiled wall.

All the baskets use the same two colors. The bases, bottom bands and rims are cornflower blue, and the walls are a cream shell stitch with hints of blue showing through the openwork. The blue cords match the rims, so the pieces read as one set.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. Assembled, the organizer is about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide and 28 in (71.1 cm) tall. The oval basket base is 11.25 x 5.25 in (28.6 x 13.3 cm), each round basket is 5.25 in (13.3 cm) across, and all three are 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.

Each basket starts with a flat single crochet base in joined rounds. A back-loop round turns up the wall. Then you work five shell rounds, a leveling round and a three-round blue rim. One long hanger cord and two short straps are made in slip stitch. To finish, slide everything onto two dowels and tack it in place.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size (assembled): about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide x 28 in (71.1 cm) tall
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: Worsted weight (#4) cotton
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
  • Number of pieces: 6 crocheted pieces (1 oval basket, 2 round baskets, 1 hanger cord, 2 straps), plus 2 dowels
  • Layout: Oval basket on the upper level, two round baskets side by side below
  • Piece sizes: Oval basket base 11.25 x 5.25 in (28.6 x 13.3 cm); round basket base 5.25 in (13.3 cm) diameter; all 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
  • Wall height before border: 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
  • Border (rim) depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)

Materials

Use a smooth worsted weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape, doesn’t stretch much under the weight of the rolls and copes with bathroom humidity.

  • Color A (cornflower blue): 150 g / 240 m (bases, bands, rims, cords)
  • Color B (cream): 100 g / 160 m (shell walls)

Tools:

  • 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
  • 4 stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle and scissors
  • 2 wooden dowels, 14 in (35.6 cm) long, 3/8 in (1.0 cm) diameter
  • Fine sandpaper
  • Wall hook or knob

The quantities include a margin of about 15 percent for swatching and tension differences.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • BLO: back loop only
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • sk: skip
  • rep: repeat
  • rnd(s): round(s)

Special stitches

  • Shell: 5 dc in the same st.
  • Reverse sc (crab stitch): Working from left to right (right-handed), insert the hook into the next st to the right, pull up a loop, then yarn over and draw through both loops.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Sc gauge: 16 sts x 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Shell gauge: 1 shell repeat (6 sts) = 1.5 in (3.8 cm); 4 shell rnds = 2 in (5.1 cm)

Make one round basket first as your test piece. It’s small and uses every technique in the pattern.

Checkpoints:

  1. Round base after Rnd 11: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) across, lying flat.
  2. Wall after Rnd 19: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall from the BLO ridge.
  3. Basket after Rnd 22: 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
  4. Oval base after Rnd 11: 11.25 x 5.25 in (28.6 x 13.3 cm).

Too big or ruffled? Go down to a 4 mm (US G-6) hook. Too small or cupping? Go up to a 5 mm (US H-8) hook. If only the shell rounds are off, change hooks just for Rnds 14–18.

Crocheted fabric with alternating blue and cream horizontal stripes featuring repeating scallop stitch pattern in close detail.

Round Basket (make 2)

The rounds are joined with a sl st to the first st. Ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.

Base (Color A)

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnds 4–11: (Sc in next X sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times, where X is the round number minus 2. Move the increases along a few stitches in alternate rounds so the base stays round.

Round totals: Rnd 4 = 24, Rnd 5 = 30, Rnd 6 = 36, Rnd 7 = 42, Rnd 8 = 48, Rnd 9 = 54, Rnd 10 = 60, Rnd 11 = 66 sts.

Checkpoint: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) across, with a circumference of 66 / 4 = 16.5 in (41.9 cm).

Wall

Rnd 12 (A): Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. (66 sts) This round makes the ridge where the wall turns up.

Rnd 13 (A): Ch 1, sc in each st around. (66 sts) Fasten off A.

Rnd 14 (B), Shell Rnd A: Join B in any st. Ch 1, sc in the same st, sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around, leaving out the final sc. Join. (11 shells + 11 sc = 66 sts)

Rnd 15 (B), Shell Rnd B: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same st, sc in center dc of next shell, shell in next sc; rep from * around, ending with sc in center dc of last shell. Work 2 dc in the first st and join to the top of ch-3. (10 full shells + 2 half shells + 11 sc = 66 sts)

Rnd 16 (B), Shell Rnd A: Ch 1, sc in top of beginning ch-3 (the center of the split shell), shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * around, leaving out the final sc. Join. (11 shells + 11 sc = 66 sts)

Rnd 17 (B): Repeat Rnd 15. (66 sts)

Rnd 18 (B): Repeat Rnd 16. (66 sts)

Rnd 19 (B), Leveling Rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc) in the first sc, hdc in next dc, sc in next 3 dc, hdc in next dc, dc in next sc; rep from * around, leaving out the final dc. Join to the top of ch-3. Count: 66 worked 1-per-existing-stitch + 0 added = 66 sts. Fasten off B.

Checkpoint: the wall is 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall and the top edge is level. Work the rim from the Border section.

Oval Basket (make 1)

Base (Color A)

Rnd 1: Ch 27. Work 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 24 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate and work along the opposite side of the chain: sc in next 24 ch. Join. (3 + 24 + 3 + 24 = 54 sts)

Mark the first and last st of each 24-st side. The sides stay at 24 sts, and all the increases go into the curved ends.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 24 sts; rep once more. (6 + 24 + 6 + 24 = 60 sts)

Rnds 3–11: (Sc in next X sts, 2 sc in next st) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts; rep once more. X is the round number minus 2, and each end grows by 3 sts per round.

Round totals: Rnd 3 = 66, Rnd 4 = 72, Rnd 5 = 78, Rnd 6 = 84, Rnd 7 = 90, Rnd 8 = 96, Rnd 9 = 102, Rnd 10 = 108, Rnd 11 = 114 sts (24 per side + 33 per end).

Checkpoint: 11.25 x 5.25 in (28.6 x 13.3 cm), with a perimeter of 114 / 4 = 28.5 in (72.4 cm).

Wall: Work Rnds 12–19 as for the round basket, with 114 sts in every round. Each Shell Rnd A has 19 shells, and each Shell Rnd B has 18 full shells + 2 half shells.

Hanger Cord and Straps (Color A)

Chain gauge: 4 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).

Hanger cord (make 1): Ch 12 and sl st in the first ch to form a loop. Ch 200. Ch 12, then sl st in the 12th ch from the hook to form a second loop. Sl st in the back bump of each of the 200 chains, back to the first loop. Fasten off. The cord is 50 in (127.0 cm) long plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop at each end.

Straps (make 2): Work as for the hanger cord, but ch 40 instead of 200. Each strap is 10 in (25.4 cm) plus its loops.

Make All Pieces

  • Color A: 3 bases, bands and rims; 1 hanger cord; 2 straps
  • Color B: shell walls for all 3 baskets
            /\          <- cord center over wall hook
           /  \
   ===[ TOP DOWEL ]===
         |      |
     [ OVAL BASKET ]
         |      |
   ==[ LOWER DOWEL ]==
       |          |
    [ROUND]    [ROUND]

Joining (Assembly)

Finish the rims (see Border) before you assemble. Tack the cords with Color A and a tapestry needle, using small whipstitches.

  1. Lightly sand the dowel ends.
  2. From the center of the hanger cord, measure 9 in (22.9 cm) out to each side. Wrap the cord once around the top dowel there, 1 in (2.5 cm) in from each end, and tack the wrap closed.
  3. Bring each strand 5 in (12.7 cm) down to the center of one short end of the oval basket, which is st 17 of that end’s 33 sts.
  4. Sew the cord down that stitch column, making one tack per round from Rnd 22 down to Rnd 12 (11 tacks). Working stitch to stitch keeps the cord vertical.
  5. Below the basket, leave 4 in (10.2 cm) of cord. Slide each end loop onto the lower dowel, 1 in (2.5 cm) in from the end.
  6. Fold each strap over the lower dowel, 3.5 in (8.9 cm) in from each end. Sew both strap loops to the back rim of a round basket, 1 in (2.5 cm) apart.

Tension: Tack firmly but don’t pull, or the wall will pucker. The cord should lie flat.

Checkpoint: Hang the organizer. Both dowels should sit level at 14 in (35.6 cm) wide. If one tilts, adjust the wrap at the top dowel.

Border (Rim, Color A)

Work the rim on each basket after Rnd 19. Rim gauge is the same as the sc gauge, 4 sts per inch.

Rnd 20: Join A in any st. Ch 1, sc in each st around. (66 / 114 sts)

Rnd 21: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (66 / 114 sts)

Rnd 22: Ch 1, reverse sc in each st around. (66 / 114 sts) Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Counts per side: The round basket has 66 sts all the way around (6 sections of 11). The oval has 24 sts on each long side and 33 sts on each curved end: 24 + 33 + 24 + 33 = 114.

Why the math works: Every wall and rim round has the same count as the last base round, and each 6-st shell repeat is 1.5 in (3.8 cm), the same width as 6 sc. So the rim matches the base perimeter: 16.5 in (41.9 cm) for the round baskets and 28.5 in (72.4 cm) for the oval. The walls rise straight without flaring or pulling in. The rim adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm), so 3.25 + 0.75 = 4 in (10.2 cm) total.

Final Blocking

  1. Mist each basket until it is damp, not soaked.
  2. Stuff it with toilet rolls or a rolled towel.
  3. Smooth the shells with your fingers so each fan opens evenly.
  4. Press the base flat on a towel.
  5. Check the measurements: 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, and 5.25 in (13.3 cm) across for the round baskets.
  6. Let everything dry completely before you remove the stuffing.
  7. Hang the cords with a light weight attached to straighten them.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Bases lie flat, with no ruffling or cupping
  • Round bases have 66 sts and the oval base has 114 sts
  • Every shell round has 11 or 19 repeats
  • The leveling round gives a flat top edge
  • All three rim rounds are complete and smooth
  • The cords are tacked into every round from Rnd 22 to Rnd 12
  • Both dowels hang level
  • All ends are woven in securely

Troubleshooting

  • Base cups: Use a larger hook, or check for missed increases.
  • Base ruffles: Use a smaller hook, or check for extra increases.
  • Walls flare: The shells are too loose. Go down 0.5 mm for Rnds 14–18.
  • Walls pull in: The dc are too tight. Go up 0.5 mm.
  • Oval seam drifts: That’s normal with joined rounds. Keep the markers on the 24-st sides.
  • Round basket tips forward: Move the strap loops closer to the center of the back rim.
  • Cord stretches: Chain more tightly, or work a second pass of sl sts.

Care

Spot clean or hand wash in cool water. Reshape the baskets over rolls and let them dry away from direct heat.

Crocheted toilet paper organizer in blue and cream with wooden dowels, hanging from brass hook on white subway tile wall.

Final Notes

Each measurement depends on the one before it. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives bases of 5.25 in (13.3 cm) and 11.25 x 5.25 in (28.6 x 13.3 cm). The wall and rim rounds hold the base counts of 66 and 114 sts. The walls reach 3.25 in (8.3 cm), and the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) rim brings them to 4 in (10.2 cm). The cords and dowels then make an organizer of about 14 x 28 in (35.6 x 71.1 cm). Check each measurement as you go, and the finished piece will hang straight.

Happy crocheting!

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