This hanging holder has three round pockets sewn side by side. Each pocket holds one standard toilet roll. The walls are a soft pink V-stitch mesh between deep burgundy bands, and each pocket has a chunky burgundy bow on the front. Four burgundy straps loop over a towel bar or wooden dowel, so the whole set hangs neatly above the tank.
The colors are a classic pairing of burgundy and blush pink. The style is cozy and a little festive, so it suits Christmas décor but works all year. The pattern uses US crochet terms throughout.
Each pocket is about 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across and 5.85 in (14.9 cm) tall, including the rim. Joined, the three pockets measure about 14.7 in (37.3 cm) wide. Each strap rises about 3 in (7.6 cm) above the rim.
Each pocket is worked in the round from the bottom up: a flat single crochet base, a turning round, a burgundy band, pink V-stitch rounds, a conversion round and a burgundy top band. After that you sew the pockets together, add the reverse single crochet rim, then attach the straps and bows.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 14.7 in (37.3 cm) wide x 5.85 in (14.9 cm) tall, plus 3 in (7.6 cm) strap loops
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 3 pockets, 4 straps, 3 bows (each bow has 4 small parts), plus an optional button tab
- Layout: 3 pockets in one row, joined side to side
- Pocket size: 4.9 in (12.4 cm) diameter, 54 stitches around
- Size before border: 5.6 in (14.2 cm) wall height
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm), 1 round of reverse single crochet
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton-acrylic blend. Cotton gives firm walls that keep their shape when a roll goes in or comes out. The quantities below assume about 180 m per 100 g.
- Color A, Burgundy: 100 g (about 180 m) for bases, bands, rims, straps and bows
- Color B, Blush Pink: 50 g (about 90 m) for the V-stitch mesh
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- 6 locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Wooden dowel or towel bar, at least 0.75 in (1.9 cm) thick and 16 in (40.6 cm) long
- Optional: one 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wooden button
Both quantities include a margin of about 25% for swatching and seaming.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- BLO – back loop only
- MR – magic ring
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Special stitch: V-stitch (V) – (dc, ch 1, dc) worked into the same stitch or space.
Beginning V – ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the same stitch or space.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Sc gauge: 14 sc x 16 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- V-stitch gauge: 5 V-stitch rounds = 3 in (7.6 cm), and 18 V-stitches fit around a 54-stitch round
Make one complete pocket before starting the others. It works as your gauge swatch.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 3: base diameter 1.6 in (4.1 cm)
- After Rnd 6: base diameter 3.3 in (8.4 cm)
- After Rnd 9: base diameter 4.9 in (12.4 cm), circumference 15.4 in (39.1 cm)
- After Rnd 13: wall height 1 in (2.5 cm)
- After Rnd 19: wall height 4.6 in (11.7 cm)
- After Rnd 23: wall height 5.6 in (14.2 cm)
If your base comes out bigger than 4.9 in (12.4 cm), go down half a hook size. If it comes out smaller, go up half a size. Get the base right before you start the walls, because the wall stitch count depends on it. A standard roll is about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across, so a pocket that is too small will be a tight fit.
Pocket (Make 3)
Base
Use Color A. Join each round with a sl st to the first sc. Ch 1 at the start of each round; it does not count as a stitch.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)
Rnd 5: (Sc 3, inc) 6 times. (30)
Rnd 6: (Sc 4, inc) 6 times. (36)
Rnd 7: (Sc 5, inc) 6 times. (42)
Rnd 8: (Sc 6, inc) 6 times. (48)
Rnd 9: (Sc 7, inc) 6 times. (54)
Lay the base flat. It should measure 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across and not curl or ripple.
Bottom Band
Rnd 10: Sc in BLO of each st around. (54)
This round makes the turn from the flat base to the upright wall.
Rnds 11–13: Sc in each st around. (54)
Before you join Rnd 13, switch to Color B for the last pull-through of the sl st. Fasten off Color A.
V-Stitch Mesh
Rnd 14 (setup): Beginning V in the first st, sk 2 sts, V in next st; repeat from * 16 more times, sk 2 sts, sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (18 V)
Check: 18 V x (1 worked stitch + 2 skipped stitches) = 54 stitches used.
Rnds 15–19: Sl st into the first ch-1 sp, beginning V in the same sp, V in the ch-1 sp of each V around, sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (18 V)
Because each V sits directly on top of the V below, you get 18 straight columns with triangle-shaped openings between them. That is the airy pink mesh in the photo.
Before you join Rnd 19, switch to Color A for the last pull-through. Fasten off Color B.
Top Band
Rnd 20 (conversion): Ch 1. In each V: sc in the first dc, sc in the ch-1 sp, sc in the second dc. Join. (36 sc worked one per dc + 18 sc added in the ch-1 spaces = 54)
The 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4 counts as a dc.
Rnds 21–23: Sc in each st around. (54)
Fasten off and leave a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for seaming.
Marking the Sides
Flatten the pocket so the round joins sit at the left fold. Put a marker in st 1 (left fold) and another in st 28 (right fold) of Rnd 23. Sts 1–27 are the front half and sts 28–54 are the back half.
Bow (Make 3)
Use Color A.
Bow loops: Ch 22 and join into a ring without twisting it.
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch. (22)
- Rnds 2–6: Sc in each st. (22)
Fasten off. Flatten the tube with the join at the center back. It measures about 3.1 in (7.9 cm) wide x 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
Tails (make 2): Ch 9, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (8) Each tail is about 2.3 in (5.8 cm) long.
Center wrap: Ch 4.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (3)
- Rows 2–6: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (3)
The wrap is about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) x 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Assembly: Wrap yarn tightly around the middle of the flattened tube 4 times to pinch it into two loops. Cross the two tails behind the pinch so they angle down and out. Wrap the center strip around the pinch and the tops of the tails, then sew its ends together at the back.
Strap (Make 4)
Use Color A. Ch 5.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (4)
Rows 2–32: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (4)
Each strap is 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide x 8 in (20.3 cm) long.
Optional button tab (make 1): Ch 5. Work Row 1 as for the strap, then work 13 more rows (14 rows total, 3.5 in, 8.9 cm). Sew one end inside the middle pocket’s front rim, fold the tab over the rim, and sew the button through both layers.
Make All Pieces
- Color A: 3 bases with bands, 4 straps, 3 bow loops, 6 tails, 3 center wraps
- Color B: 3 mesh sections, worked as part of each pocket
Layout, seen from the front:
[S1] [S2] [S3] [S4]
| Pocket A | Pocket B | Pocket C |
| (bow) | (bow) | (bow) |
S = strap. Straps 2 and 3 sit over the seams. Straps 1 and 4 sit at the outer sides.
Joining
Hold Pocket A and Pocket B side by side, with A’s st 28 marker against B’s st 1 marker. Line up the rounds: base turning round to base turning round, color change to color change, rim to rim.
Use the tail and the yarn needle to whipstitch up the line where the two pockets touch, working through the outer loops of the matching stitches:
- Bottom band (Rnds 10–13): 1 stitch per round = 4 stitches
- Mesh (Rnds 14–19): 2 stitches per round, through the outer dc of the matching Vs = 12 stitches
- Top band (Rnds 20–23): 1 stitch per round = 4 stitches
That is 20 stitches per seam. Join Pocket C to Pocket B the same way, with B’s st 28 against C’s st 1.
Pull each stitch snug, but don’t pull so hard that the walls pucker. Both pockets should still stand round. Each seam should be exactly as long as the wall: 5.6 in (14.2 cm).
Size checkpoint: the joined unit should measure 14.7 in (37.3 cm) wide, which is 3 x 4.9 in.
Border
The border is 1 round of rev sc in Color A, worked on each pocket’s rim after joining. It gives the rim a firm corded edge.
Border gauge: same as sc, 14 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Rnd 24 (each pocket): Join Color A in st 1. Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, working left to right. Join and fasten off. (54: 27 on the front half + 27 on the back half)
Counts for the joined unit:
- Front edge: 3 pockets x 27 = 81 rev sc
- Back edge: 3 pockets x 27 = 81 rev sc
- Total: 162 rev sc
Why the math works: you work exactly 1 rev sc in each of the 54 stitches of Rnd 23, with no increases. The rim stays at 15.4 in (39.1 cm) around, which matches the base, so it won’t flare or pull in. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm), bringing the wall from 5.6 in (14.2 cm) to 5.85 in (14.9 cm). No stitches are added at the seams, because each pocket’s rim is worked on its own 54 stitches.
Attaching Straps and Bows
Straps: Center each strap on its position along the back half of the rim. Straps 2 and 3 cover 2 stitches on each side of a seam, and Straps 1 and 4 cover 2 stitches on each side of an outer side marker. Lay 1 in (2.5 cm) of one end against the inside of the back wall and sew it down along Rnds 21–23. Loop the strap over the dowel and sew the other end on top of the first in the same way. The loop rises (8 – 2 x 1) ÷ 2 = 3 in (7.6 cm) above the rim.
Bows: Center each bow on its pocket’s front, over st 14. Line up the middle of the bow with Rnd 20, so the loops sit on the top band and the tails fall over the first mesh round. Sew around the center wrap, then tack down the tips of the loops so they don’t droop.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends on the inside of the pockets.
- Lightly spray the whole piece with water until it is evenly damp.
- Put a toilet roll, or a 4.5 in (11.4 cm) jar wrapped in a towel, inside each pocket.
- Smooth the mesh columns so they run straight up, and open each triangle gap evenly.
- Shape the bow loops into round puffs.
- Hang the unit on the dowel and let it dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Check that it is 14.7 in (37.3 cm) wide and 5.85 in (14.9 cm) tall.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each base has 54 sts and measures 4.9 in (12.4 cm) across
- Each mesh section has 18 V-stitches in straight columns
- Each conversion round has 54 sc
- The color changes line up across all three pockets
- Both seams have 20 stitches and are 5.6 in (14.2 cm) long
- Each rim has 54 rev sc
- All 4 straps are 32 rows long and rise evenly
- The bows are centered and level
- No ends show on the outside
Troubleshooting
- Base cups or ruffles: Your tension changed during the increases. Rework the base with even loops.
- Mesh columns spiral: You are joining in the wrong stitch. Always sl st into the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4.
- Fewer than 18 V’s: You skipped 3 sts instead of 2. Count each repeat.
- Rim flares: You worked extra sc in Rnd 20. Count 3 sc per V.
- Pockets tilt forward: The straps are sewn too far toward the front. Move them to the back half of the rim.
- Roll is too tight: Go up a hook size and make the pocket again.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press out the water in a towel, reshape each pocket around a roll, and hang the holder to dry.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other in a chain. The 54-stitch base sets the 4.9 in (12.4 cm) diameter. Eighteen V-stitches keep that 54-stitch circumference through the mesh, and the conversion round brings it back to exactly 54 sc. Four bottom-band rounds, six mesh rounds and four top-band rounds give a 5.6 in (14.2 cm) wall, and the rim brings it to 5.85 in (14.9 cm). Three pockets make the 14.7 in (37.3 cm) width, and the 8 in (20.3 cm) straps give a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop. If each checkpoint matches, the finished holder will too.
Happy crocheting!