Plastic bags tend to pile up under the sink. This Seashell Lace holder gives them a tidy place to go. The tube hangs from a cabinet knob or wall hook. You push bags in at the top and pull them out one at a time through the gathered bottom.
The design is simple and slightly retro. Solid single crochet bands frame a lace section of shell fans stacked in columns, with open diamond mesh between them. The photographed samples are raspberry pink and aqua, but any bright or soft cotton works. The lace lets you see the bags inside, so the holder looks light rather than bulky.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures 5 in (12.7 cm) wide when flat and 14 in (35.6 cm) long, not counting the handle. The handle rises about 4 in (10.2 cm) above the rim.
You work the holder from the bottom up in joined rounds. First comes a solid band with a drawstring eyelet round. Next is the shell lace section, then a solid top band with a decorative eyelet round. You finish with a strap worked straight off the rim and a chain drawstring tied in a bow.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide flat × 14 in (35.6 cm) long, plus a handle about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Circumference: 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Skill level: Easy+ (simple lace repeat worked in the round)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 tube, plus 1 chain drawstring
- Layout: Single seamless tube, worked bottom-up
- Piece size: 40 stitches around; 29 rounds tall
- Size before border: 11.5 in (29.2 cm) tall after the lace section
- Border depth: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) top band, plus the strap handle
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape, doesn’t fuzz, and stands up to kitchen use. Avoid very stretchy acrylic, because a full holder can make the lace sag.
- Main color: 60 g (about 100 m) per holder
- Make one holder in Raspberry Pink or Aqua Turquoise, or make one in each, as in the photo.
These quantities include a safety margin. One holder actually uses about 45 g (about 75 m).
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch marker
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins and a rolled towel or tall jar for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special stitch – Fan: Work 9 dc into the same stitch. The 5th dc is the center of the fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Solid gauge: 16 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm). One sc rnd is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) tall.
Lace gauge: One 8-st repeat = 2 in (5.1 cm) wide. One fan rnd plus one net rnd = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
Check your tension before you commit to the full tube. Work the bottom band (Rnds 1–7), then flatten it and measure.
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 7: band is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall and 5 in (12.7 cm) wide when flat.
– After Rnd 12: total height 5 in (12.7 cm).
– After Rnd 20: total height 11.5 in (29.2 cm). The lace may lie up to 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide before blocking.
– After Rnd 29: total height 14 in (35.6 cm).
If the band is too wide (more than 5.25 in / 13.3 cm), change to a 4.5 mm hook. If it’s too narrow (less than 4.75 in / 12.1 cm), change to a 5.5 mm hook. Don’t change the stitch count, because the lace repeat needs exactly 40 stitches.
Bottom Band
Foundation: Ch 40. Join with a sl st into the first ch to form a ring, making sure the chain isn’t twisted.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with a sl st to the first sc. (40 sc)
Rnd 2 (drawstring eyelets): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st; repeat from * 18 more times. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (20 dc + 20 ch-1 sps = 40 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp around, join. (20 + 20 = 40 sc)
Rnds 4–7: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (40 sc)
Checkpoint: the band measures 2 in (5.1 cm) tall. Rnd 1 is 0.25 in (0.6 cm), Rnd 2 is 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and Rnds 3–7 add 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Seashell Lace Body
The lace has a 2-round repeat. The net rnd places an sc on the center of each fan and a dc on the sc between fans. The next fan rnd puts a new fan on each net sc, so the fans stack in vertical columns. The diamond mesh forms between the columns.
Rnd 8 (set-up net): Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), sk 3 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts, dc in next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts; repeat from * 3 more times. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-6. (5 dc + 5 sc + 10 ch-3 sps)
Each repeat uses exactly 8 base stitches: dc, skip 3, sc, skip 3. Five repeats use all 40.
Rnd 9 (fan): Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join, sk ch-3 sp, Fan in next sc, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next dc; repeat from * 3 more times, then sk ch-3 sp, Fan in last sc, and sk the last ch-3 sp. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (5 Fans of 9 dc + 5 sc = 50 sts)
Rnd 10 (net): Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), sc in 5th dc of next Fan, ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, sc in 5th dc of next Fan, ch 3; repeat from * 3 more times. Join to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-6. (5 dc + 5 sc + 10 ch-3 sps)
Rnds 11–20: Repeat Rnds 9 and 10 five more times. Each fan rnd has 50 sts. Each net rnd has 5 dc, 5 sc and 10 ch-3 sps.
You now have 6 tiers of fans. Rnd 20 is a net rnd. The lace section measures 0.5 in (1.3 cm) for the set-up rnd plus 6 × 1.5 in (3.8 cm) = 9.5 in (24.1 cm). The total height is 11.5 in (29.2 cm).
Border: Top Band and Handle
The top band works as the border of the tube. It brings the lace back to a firm edge of exactly 40 sts. When the tube is flat, that’s 20 sts across the front and 20 across the back. There are no corners on a tube, so no stitches are added at the fold lines.
Border gauge: 4 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm), so 20 sts per flat side = 5 in (12.7 cm). That matches the bottom band.
Rnd 21 (conversion): Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next dc; repeat around, leaving out the final sc. Join. (10 sc worked 1-per-stitch into 5 dc and 5 sc, plus 30 sc worked into 10 ch-3 sps = 40 sc)
Rnds 22–24: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (40 sc; 20 per flat side)
Rnd 25 (top eyelets): Work as Rnd 2. (20 dc + 20 ch-1 sps = 40 sts; 10 dc and 10 sps per flat side)
Rnd 26: Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp, join. (40 sc)
Rnds 27–29: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (40 sc) Don’t fasten off.
Why the math works: Each lace repeat started from 8 stitches. In Rnd 21, each repeat gets back 1 sc in its dc, 1 sc in its sc, and 3 sc in each of its two spaces: 1 + 1 + 3 + 3 = 8. Five repeats × 8 = 40. Rnds 21–24 measure 1.0 in (2.5 cm), Rnd 25 measures 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and Rnds 26–29 measure 1.0 in (2.5 cm). That gives a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) top band and a total body height of 14 in (35.6 cm).
Handle:
Flatten the tube so the join sits at one fold. Sts 1–4 sit at that fold, and sts 21–24 sit at the opposite fold.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in each of sts 1–4. (4 sc)
Rows 2–36: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4 sc)
The strap measures 9 in (22.9 cm), and each row is 0.25 in (0.6 cm). Arch the strap over the opening without twisting it. Hold the strap end against sts 21–24 on the inside of the rim. Sl st through both layers, 4 sl sts across. Fasten off. When the holder hangs, the handle rises about 4 in (10.2 cm) above the rim.
Drawstring:
Ch 85 to make a cord about 21 in (53.3 cm) long. Fasten off and tie an overhand knot close to each end, then trim the tails. Starting at the center front, weave the cord over and under the dc posts of Rnd 2 all the way around, so both ends come out at the center front. Pull the cord to gather the bottom to an opening about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across, then tie a bow.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the solid sc bands, where they stay hidden.
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes. Squeeze gently and don’t wring.
- Roll it in a towel to remove most of the water.
- Slide the tube over a tall jar or a rolled towel about 10 in (25.4 cm) around.
- Gently stretch the lace lengthwise until the body measures 14 in (35.6 cm). Open each fan and center its middle dc.
- Straighten the fan columns so they run in vertical lines.
- Lay the handle flat and pin it to 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
- Let it dry completely before hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every solid round has exactly 40 stitches.
- Every fan round has 5 fans of 9 dc each.
- The fans stack in straight columns and don’t spiral.
- The flat width is 5 in (12.7 cm) at both bands.
- The body measures 14 in (35.6 cm) from the bottom edge to the rim.
- The handle is attached at points directly opposite each other and isn’t twisted.
- The drawstring gathers the bottom evenly and the bow sits at center front.
- All ends are woven into the solid bands.
Troubleshooting
The fans lean or spiral. Check that you always join into the 3rd ch of the ch-6 and start the next fan rnd with an sc in that same stitch.
The lace is wider than the bands. Fans often flare before blocking. If the lace stays over 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide flat, use a hook one size smaller for Rnds 8–20 only.
The top band ripples. You probably worked 4 sc into some ch-3 spaces in Rnd 21. Count to 40 and rework the round if needed.
The drawstring won’t gather tightly. Check that the cord goes over and under alternate dc posts and doesn’t skip the ch-1 spaces.
The handle stretches. Work it with a smaller hook, or make it 5 sc wide (add one stitch at each attachment point on both sides).
Care
Hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water, then reshape and dry flat. Cotton can shrink slightly, so check the 14 in (35.6 cm) length after the first wash.
Final Notes
Everything follows from one measurement chain. At 16 sc to 4 in (10.2 cm), the 40-stitch ring makes a 10 in (25.4 cm) tube, which lies 5 in (12.7 cm) flat. Those 40 stitches split into 5 lace repeats of 8 stitches, and Rnd 21 brings them back to exactly 40. The height adds up as a 2 in (5.1 cm) bottom band, 9.5 in (24.1 cm) of lace and a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) top band, for 14 in (35.6 cm) total. If your gauge matches at the first checkpoint, the rest of the holder will follow the same measurements.
Happy crocheting!