This teardrop-shaped plastic bag holder brings soft lace texture to a kitchen wall. Rows of open fans sit between airy chain arches, so every fan is staggered against the round below. You get a pinecone-style pattern that lets the stored bags show through.
The holder is worked in one sage green worsted cotton. It has a small, solid single-crochet base, a wide lacy belly, a gentle taper toward the top, and a firm single-crochet collar. A short ring cuff covers the bottom opening, where you pull out one bag at a time, and a flat strap loops over a wall hook.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished body is 10.75 in (27.3 cm) tall and 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide laid flat at its widest point. With the cuff attached it measures 11.25 in (28.6 cm) tall. The hanging loop rises 4 in (10.2 cm) above the rim.
You work the body in joined rounds from the bottom opening up to the collar. The fans grow from 5 to 9 double crochets and then shrink back to 5. The neck closes in with one conversion round. Then you make the cuff and the hanging loop as separate small pieces and sew them on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide flat × 11.25 in (28.6 cm) tall including cuff; loop adds 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 3 (body, bottom cuff, hanging loop)
- Layout: Cuff sewn to the bottom of the body; loop sewn inside the back of the collar
- Piece sizes: body 8.5 in (21.6 cm) × 10.75 in (27.3 cm); cuff 6 in (15.2 cm) around × 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall; loop strip 10 in (25.4 cm) × 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
- Size before border (collar): 9.75 in (24.8 cm) tall
- Border (collar) depth: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton keeps the fans crisp and holds the teardrop shape when the holder is full. Avoid very soft acrylic, because the lace will stretch long under the weight of the bags.
- Sage Green: 100 g / 170 m (186 yd)
These quantities include a margin. The finished holder uses about 85 g / 145 m (159 yd): roughly 75 g for the body, 5 g for the cuff, and 5 g for the loop.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- 1 stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Rustproof pins and a towel for blocking
- Optional: a small plastic bag or tissue to stuff the body while it dries
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rnd – round
Special stitch – Fan: Work the stated number of dc (5, 7, or 9) into the same stitch or chain space. The center dc of a 5-dc fan is the 3rd dc, of a 7-dc fan the 4th, and of a 9-dc fan the 5th.
Note on fan rounds: When a fan round starts with ch 3, that ch 3 counts as the first dc of the first fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Single crochet in the round: 16 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Lace: 1 fan round + 1 arch round = 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall
- Widest repeat: 1 nine-dc fan plus its sc = 2.125 in (5.4 cm) wide
Your test piece is the body itself. Work Rnds 1–9, then measure before you go on. If your measurements are right, the rest of the holder will match.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 3: tube is 4 in (10.2 cm) wide flat, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall
- After Rnd 9: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide flat, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall
- After Rnd 17: 9.5 in (24.1 cm) tall
- After Rnd 18: 9.75 in (24.8 cm) tall, neck 3 in (7.6 cm) wide flat
- After the collar: 10.75 in (27.3 cm) tall
If your piece is too big: go down to a 4.5 mm hook and start again. If only the fans are too wide, crochet the arch chains more tightly.
If your piece is too small: go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Do not add fans or stitches, because the 8-repeat structure sets every count that follows.
Body
Work in joined rounds with the right side facing you. Do not turn. Put a marker in the first stitch of each sc round.
Rnd 1: Ch 24 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist. Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc)
The ring should be about 6 in (15.2 cm) around, which is wide enough for bags to pull through.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * 8 times, sl st to first sc. (32 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (32 sc)
Checkpoint: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide flat, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Rnd 4 (Fan Round 1): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 1, 5 dc in next st, sk 1, sc in next st, sk 1, 5 dc in next st, sk 1, repeat from * 7 more times, sl st to first sc. (8 fans of 5 dc + 8 sc = 48 sts)
Each repeat uses 4 stitches of Rnd 3, so 8 repeats × 4 = 32 sts are used exactly.
Rnd 5 (Arch Round): Sl st in next 3 sts so you are in the center dc of the first fan. Ch 1, sc in the same st, ch 5, sc in center dc of next fan, repeat from * 7 more times. On the last repeat, work ch 5 and sl st to first sc instead of the final sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-5 sps)
Each arch now sits over one sc from the round below. That is what staggers the next row of fans.
Rnd 6 (Fan Round 2): Sl st in first ch-5 sp, ch 3, 6 dc in same sp, sc in next sc, 7 dc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc, repeat from * 7 more times, sl st to top of beginning ch 3. (8 fans of 7 dc + 8 sc = 64 sts)
Rnd 7: Sl st in next 3 dc (center dc of the first fan), ch 1, sc in same st, ch 6, sc in center dc of next fan, repeat from * around, ending ch 6 and sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-6 sps)
Rnd 8 (Fan Round 3): Sl st in first ch-6 sp, ch 3, 8 dc in same sp, sc in next sc, 9 dc in next ch-6 sp, sc in next sc, repeat from * around, sl st to top of ch 3. (8 fans of 9 dc + 8 sc = 80 sts)
Rnd 9: Sl st in next 4 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 6, sc in center dc of next fan, repeat from * around, ending ch 6 and sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-6 sps)
Checkpoint: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide flat (17 in / 43.2 cm around) and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall. This is the widest part of the teardrop.
Rnd 10 (Fan Round 4): Work as Rnd 8. (8 fans of 9 dc + 8 sc = 80 sts)
Rnd 11: Sl st in next 4 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 5, sc in center dc of next fan, repeat from * around, ending ch 5 and sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-5 sps)
Rnd 12 (Fan Round 5): Work as Rnd 6. (8 fans of 7 dc + 8 sc = 64 sts)
Rnd 13: Work as Rnd 7, but ch 5 instead of ch 6. (8 sc + 8 ch-5 sps)
Rnd 14 (Fan Round 6): Work as Rnd 6. (64 sts)
Rnd 15: Sl st in next 3 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 4, sc in center dc of next fan, repeat from * around, ending ch 4 and sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-4 sps)
Rnd 16 (Fan Round 7): Sl st in first ch-4 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in same sp, sc in next sc, 5 dc in next ch-4 sp, sc in next sc, repeat from * around, sl st to top of ch 3. (8 fans of 5 dc + 8 sc = 48 sts)
Rnd 17: Sl st in next 2 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, sc in center dc of next fan, repeat from * around, ending ch 3 and sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-3 sps)
Checkpoint: 9.5 in (24.1 cm) tall. The top should be clearly narrower than the belly.
Rnd 18 (Neck Conversion Round): Ch 1, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp, repeat from * 8 times, sl st to first sc. (8 sc worked 1-per-existing-sc + 16 sc worked into the 8 spaces = 24 sc)
Checkpoint: 9.75 in (24.8 cm) tall, neck 3 in (7.6 cm) wide flat. Do not fasten off; continue with the collar.
Bottom Cuff
Rnd 1: Ch 24 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist. Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * 4 times, sl st to first sc. (28 sc)
The cuff is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall, and its last round flares slightly. Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Hanging Loop
Row 1: Ch 41, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (40 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (40 sc)
The strip is 10 in (25.4 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide. Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Border: Collar
The collar is the border of this piece. It is solid single crochet worked directly onto Rnd 18.
Border gauge: 16 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the base.
Rnd 19: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc: 12 across the front + 12 across the back)
Working in the back loop leaves a small ridge where the lace ends and the collar starts.
Rnds 20–22: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc: 12 front + 12 back)
Fasten off with an invisible join.
Why the math works: Rnd 17 has 8 sc and 8 ch-3 spaces. Rnd 18 keeps 1 sc per existing sc (8) and adds 2 sc per space (16), giving 24. That equals 8 repeats × 3 sts. At 4 sc per inch, 24 sc make a 6 in (15.2 cm) circumference, which lies flat as 3 in (7.6 cm), or 12 sts per side. Four rounds at 4 rnds per inch add exactly 1 in (2.5 cm), so the body grows from 9.75 in (24.8 cm) to 10.75 in (27.3 cm).
Assembly
Cuff: Slip the cuff over the bottom of the body with its foundation edge facing up and Rnd 3 flaring down. Line the foundation edge up with the top of body Rnd 1, so the cuff covers Rnd 1 on the outside. Both edges have 24 sts. Whipstitch them together 1 stitch to 1 stitch, using the cuff tail. About 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of the cuff extends below the body, which brings the total height to 11.25 in (28.6 cm).
Loop: Fold the strip in half. Overlap 1 in (2.5 cm) of both ends inside the center back of the collar, covering Rnds 19–22. Sew through all layers twice with the tail. The loop then stands 4 in (10.2 cm) above the rim.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the wrong side of solid sc rounds, not through the lace.
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes, then press out the water without wringing.
- Roll it in a towel to remove extra moisture.
- Stuff the body lightly with a plastic bag or tissue to round out the teardrop.
- Lay it flat and shape it to 8.5 in (21.6 cm) wide at Rnds 8–11 and 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at the collar.
- Pin the tip of each 9-dc fan so the fans open evenly. Pull the arches straight but do not overstretch them.
- Let it dry completely, then turn it over and let the back dry.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Body has 8 fans in every fan round, staggered against the round below
- Fan sizes go 5, 7, 9, 9, 7, 7, 5 from bottom to top
- Rnd 18 and every collar round count 24 sc
- Width is 8.5 in (21.6 cm) flat at the widest point and 3 in (7.6 cm) at the collar
- Body is 10.75 in (27.3 cm) tall, or 11.25 in (28.6 cm) with the cuff
- Cuff is sewn evenly with no puckering, and the bottom opening fits two fingers
- Loop is centered at the back, sewn securely, and rises 4 in (10.2 cm)
- All ends are woven in and none show through the lace
Troubleshooting
Fans lean or twist around the body: Make sure each arch starts in the exact center dc. Count the slip stitches at the start of every arch round.
Body looks like a cylinder instead of a teardrop: Check the fan sizes. A 9-dc fan worked as a 7-dc fan removes the belly.
Arches sag: Your chains are too loose. Shorten each arch by 1 ch, but keep the fan counts the same.
Collar flares: Rnd 18 probably has more than 24 sc. Recount and fix it before working Rnd 19.
Bags pull out too easily: Work cuff Rnd 3 as plain 24 sc so it does not flare.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the teardrop while damp. Do not tumble dry, because heat can shrink cotton unevenly and distort the fans.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check. A 32-st base sets 8 repeats. The fans grow to a 17 in (43.2 cm) circumference at Rnd 9 and narrow to 24 sc at Rnd 18. Four collar rounds bring the body to 10.75 in (27.3 cm). The cuff adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and the loop rises 4 in (10.2 cm). If your Rnd 9 checkpoint matches, the rest will follow.
Happy crocheting!