This grocery bag holder brings some order to a cluttered kitchen corner. Stuff used plastic bags in through the wide top, then pull them out one at a time through the small opening at the bottom. Its teardrop shape is narrow at the base, fuller through the middle and slightly gathered at the rim, so it hangs neatly from a single hook.
The colors are a deep raspberry berry and a soft cream. The two colors alternate in rounds of fan-shaped shells, and each round is offset so the fans nest into each other. Solid berry single crochet bands finish the bottom opening and the top rim, and a solid berry strap makes the hanging loop.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished body is about 11.8 in (30.0 cm) tall, about 8 in (20.3 cm) wide when laid flat at its widest, and about 18 in (45.7 cm) long including the strap.
You crochet the holder in one piece from the bottom up. Start with a chain ring for the bottom opening, then increase in single crochet to form the rounded base. Next come 14 rounds of striped shells, then a leveling round and a top rim. Last, you work the strap straight off the rim and attach it to the opposite side.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 11.8 in (30.0 cm) body height; about 8 in (20.3 cm) wide when flat at the widest point
- Skill level: Easy–Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), 100% cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (worked in one piece, strap included)
- Layout: Continuous joined rounds, bottom up
- Bottom opening: 32 sts, 8 in (20.3 cm) around, about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across
- Widest single crochet round: 60 sts, 15 in (38.1 cm) around
- Height before the rim: 10.6 in (26.9 cm)
- Rim depth: 1.2 in (3.0 cm)
- Strap: 4 sts wide, 1 in (2.5 cm) wide × 14 in (35.6 cm) long
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton is firm, so the shells keep their shape and the bag doesn’t sag under its load. Acrylic also works, but it will stretch more over time.
- Color A – Berry (raspberry red): 100 g, about 170 m
- Color B – Cream: 50 g, about 85 m
Both quantities include a margin of roughly 15–20% for gauge differences and swatching.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 1 stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– A rolled towel or small cushion for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
Special stitches:
– 5-dc shell: 5 dc in the same stitch. The center dc is the 3rd dc.
– 7-dc shell: 7 dc in the same stitch. The center dc is the 4th dc.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm). In shell pattern, 1 repeat (sc + shell) is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide, and 5 shell rounds are about 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
The holder is a single piece, so your test piece is the first 10 rounds of the holder itself. Work them, then measure:
- After Round 3: The tube is 8 in (20.3 cm) around and 0.7 in (1.8 cm) tall.
- After Round 10: The piece is 15 in (38.1 cm) around and 2.2 in (5.6 cm) tall.
- After Round 14: The piece is 4.6 in (11.7 cm) tall.
- After Round 24: The piece is 10.6 in (26.9 cm) tall.
- After Round 29: The piece is 11.8 in (30.0 cm) tall.
Too big? Go down 0.5 mm in hook size and restart. Too small? Go up 0.5 mm. If only the shell section runs tall, do one fewer 7-dc shell round, but keep the color order so the last shell round is still berry.
Pattern
Round construction notes:
– Ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.
– Join each round with a sl st to the first stitch.
– Do not turn. The RS faces you the whole time.
Bottom Opening and Base (Color A)
Foundation: Ch 32. Join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, making sure the chain isn’t twisted.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join. (32 sts)
Rounds 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (32 sts)
These three rounds make the firm edge of the bottom opening.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 7 sts, inc; repeat from * 4 times total, join. (36 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 8 sts, inc × 4, join. (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in next 9 sts, inc × 4, join. (44 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in next 10 sts, inc × 4, join. (48 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 11 sts, inc × 4, join. (52 sts)
Round 9: Ch 1, sc in next 12 sts, inc × 4, join. (56 sts)
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in next 13 sts, inc × 4, join. (60 sts)
Checkpoint: 60 sts, 15 in (38.1 cm) around, 2.2 in (5.6 cm) tall. The base now flares out from the opening and forms the rounded bottom of the teardrop.
Shell Body (Colors B and A Alternating)
Color changes: Odd rounds (11, 13, 15 … 23) use Color B (cream). Even rounds (12, 14 … 24) use Color A (berry).
To change color, finish the join with the old color and drop it to the inside. Then insert your hook in the stitch named for the start of the next round, pull up a loop of the new color and ch 1.
Carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the bag. Each round starts 3 sts further around, so the carried strand spirals gently. Catch it under a stitch every few rounds.
Round 11 (B): Join B in any st. Ch 1, sc in the same st, skip 2 sts, 5-dc shell in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next st. Repeat from * around, but on the last repeat end with “skip 2 sts” and join to the first sc. (10 shells + 10 sc = 60 sts)
That makes 10 repeats of 6 sts, which uses all 60 base stitches exactly.
Round 12 (A): Join A in the center dc of any shell. Ch 1, sc in the same st, skip 2 dc, 5-dc shell in next sc, skip 2 dc, sc in center dc of next shell. Repeat around, ending with a shell in the last sc and skipping 2 dc, then join. (10 shells + 10 sc = 60 sts)
Each new shell sits in the sc between two shells of the round below, which creates the nested-fan look.
Rounds 13–14: Repeat Round 12, using B for Round 13 and A for Round 14. (60 sts each)
Checkpoint: The piece is 4.6 in (11.7 cm) tall.
Round 15 (B), widening round: Join B in the center dc of any shell. Ch 1, sc in the same st, skip 2 dc, 7-dc shell in next sc, skip 2 dc, sc in center dc of next shell. Repeat around and join. (10 shells of 7 dc + 10 sc = 80 sts)
The number of repeats stays at 10. The extra width comes only from the bigger shells, and that gives the holder its fuller middle.
Round 16 (A): Join A in the center (4th) dc of any shell. Ch 1, sc in the same st, skip 3 dc, 7-dc shell in next sc, skip 3 dc, sc in center dc of next shell. Repeat around and join. (80 sts)
Rounds 17–24: Repeat Round 16, alternating colors: B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A. Round 24 is in A. (80 sts each)
Checkpoint: The piece is 10.6 in (26.9 cm) tall, and the widest point lies flat at about 8 in (20.3 cm). You now have 14 shell rounds: 7 cream and 7 berry. Cut B and weave in its end.
Leveling Round (Color A)
Round 25: Continue in A. Sl st into the first sc of Round 24, ch 2 (doesn’t count), dc in the same sc. Then skip the first dc of the shell, sc in each of the next 5 dc, skip the last dc of the shell, dc in next sc. Repeat around, ending the last repeat after “skip the last dc”, and join to the first dc. (50 sc + 10 dc = 60 sts)
This is a conversion round:
– Each shell gives 5 sc, worked 1 per existing stitch (50 sts).
– Each valley between shells gets 1 dc, which brings the low point up level with the shell tops (10 sts).
– Total: 60 sts, the same count as Round 10.
Border: Top Rim and Strap
Rim gauge: The rim is worked at 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the base. Each sc round adds about 0.2 in (0.5 cm).
Round 26: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60 sts)
Round 27: Ch 1, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog × 6, join. (54 sts)
Rounds 28–29: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (54 sts)
Checkpoint: The rim is 13.5 in (34.3 cm) around and lies 6.75 in (17.1 cm) wide when flat. The body is 11.8 in (30.0 cm) tall. Do not fasten off.
Why the math works:
– The 60-stitch round splits evenly into 10 shell repeats of 6 sts.
– Removing 6 sts evenly in Round 27 pulls the top in a little, so the open mouth is slightly narrower than the shell body. That helps the bags stay in.
– 54 is an even number, so the rim splits into two equal halves of 27 sts. The strap ends land exactly opposite each other, and the holder hangs straight.
Placing the strap: Lay the bag flat with the Round 29 join at one side fold. Count the join as st 1, then place a marker in st 28, which sits directly opposite at the other fold.
Strap:
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in sts 1–4 of Round 29, turn. (4 sts)
Rows 2–63: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (4 sts)
Checkpoint: The strap is 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
Attach: Make sure the strap isn’t twisted. Line up its last row with the marked sts 28–31. Sl st through both layers across all 4 sts, then fasten off.
Strap edging: Join A at the base of one long edge of the strap. Sc evenly in the end of each row up that edge (63 sc), then fasten off. Repeat on the other edge (63 sc). This firms up the strap and gives it a rounded, cord-like finish.
The strap rises about 6 in (15.2 cm) above the rim at its peak, so the overall hanging length is about 18 in (45.7 cm).
Weave in all ends on the inside.
Final Blocking
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes, then gently squeeze it out. Don’t wring it.
- Roll it in a towel and press to remove excess water.
- Stuff the body loosely with a rolled towel or small cushion to shape the teardrop.
- Pat each fan open so the shells lie flat and the cream and berry stripes are even.
- Check that the body is 11.8 in (30.0 cm) tall and about 8 in (20.3 cm) wide at its widest.
- Pinch the bottom opening into a neat circle about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
- Hang the strap straight, or lay it flat beside the body, and let everything dry completely.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Bottom opening is 32 sts and 8 in (20.3 cm) around.
- Round 10 has exactly 60 sts.
- Each shell round has 10 shells.
- There are 7 cream and 7 berry shell rounds, and they alternate correctly.
- Rounds 11–14 use 5-dc shells, and Rounds 15–24 use 7-dc shells.
- Round 25 has 60 sts and the top edge is level.
- The rim is 54 sts, 13.5 in (34.3 cm) around.
- Strap ends sit exactly opposite each other, at sts 1–4 and 28–31.
- The strap is untwisted and 14 in (35.6 cm) long.
- Carried strands are loose and caught on the inside.
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
Shells ruffle or cup: Your dc stitches are too loose. Go down a hook size for the shell section only.
Fewer than 10 shells in a round: You missed a sc between shells. Count the sc in the round below before you continue.
Stripes pucker: The carried yarn is too tight. Pull out some slack, or cut and rejoin the color every few rounds.
Bottom opening too loose for bags: Work Round 1 into the back bumps of the chain, or use a hook 0.5 mm smaller for Rounds 1–3.
Rim flares: Make sure Round 27 decreases a full 6 sts.
Bag hangs crooked: The strap ends aren’t opposite each other. Recount 27 sts between them.
Bumpy color-change seam: Start each round in a shell’s center dc, as written, so the joins drift around the bag instead of stacking in one line.
Care
Hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cool cycle in a laundry bag. Reshape while damp and lay flat or hang to dry.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain:
– The 32-st opening is 8 in (20.3 cm) around.
– Increases bring the base to 60 sts, 15 in (38.1 cm) around and 2.2 in (5.6 cm) tall.
– 14 shell rounds add 8.4 in (21.3 cm), for 10.6 in (26.9 cm) in total.
– The leveling round brings the count back to 60 sts.
– The rim decreases to 54 sts and adds 1.2 in (3.0 cm), for a final body height of 11.8 in (30.0 cm).
– A 14 in (35.6 cm) strap joins opposite points of the rim.
If your checkpoints match, the holder will match too.
Happy crocheting!