This hanging bag holder is a tall tube of open teal mesh. It has a neat beige band at the top, a slim teal hanging strap, and three beige-and-teal flowers running down the front. At the bottom, a beige-rimmed round opening lets you pull out one bag at a time.
The style is cottage-meets-modern. The deep teal mesh shows the bags inside, and the warm sand-beige accents soften it. Each flower has a solid teal center and six rounded beige petals. The flowers are sewn on as appliqués, so they sit slightly raised on the mesh.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide when flat and 17.5 in (44.5 cm) tall, not counting the strap. The strap forms a loop that rises about 4 in (10.2 cm) above the top edge.
You work the body in one piece from the bottom up. It starts as a flat ring around the dispensing hole, turns upward, becomes an open net, and finishes with a solid single crochet band. The strap is worked directly onto the band. The three flowers are made separately and sewn down the center front, so the only sewing in the project is the appliqué.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide flat x 17.5 in (44.5 cm) tall
- Circumference: 11 in (27.9 cm)
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 body (with attached strap) + 3 flower appliqués
- Layout: Flowers stacked in a single vertical column on the center front
- Flower size: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across
- Body size before top band: 16.5 in (41.9 cm) tall
- Top band depth: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the shape of the mesh and won’t stretch out under the weight of a full load of bags. Acrylic works too, but the tube will get longer over time.
- Teal (Color A): 100 g / about 170 m (186 yd)
- Beige (Color B): 50 g / about 85 m (93 yd)
These quantities include a margin of about 15-20% for swatching and differences in tension.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Rust-proof pins and a measuring tape
- A rolled towel or a bottle 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide, for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- BLO – back loop only
- sk – skip
- sp(s) – space(s)
- MR – magic ring
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitch – Petal: (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) all in the same ch-3 space. One petal = 7 stitches.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Single crochet gauge: 16 sc and 16 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm). That’s 4 sc per inch and 4 rounds per inch.
Mesh gauge: 4 ch-4 loops across and 6 mesh rounds tall = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each loop spans 1 in (2.5 cm), and each mesh round adds about 0.67 in (1.7 cm) of height.
Test one piece first. Make one flower before you start the body. It should measure 2.75 in (7.0 cm) from petal tip to petal tip. If it does, your sc and dc tension matches the pattern.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 4: the flat base ring measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across, with a center hole about 2 in (5.1 cm) across.
- After Round 6: the tube measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide when pressed flat.
- After Round 12: the mesh section measures 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
- After Round 30: the body measures 16.5 in (41.9 cm) from the base fold.
- After Round 34: the finished body measures 17.5 in (44.5 cm).
If your piece is too big, go down to a 4.5 mm (US 7) hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 5.5 mm (I-9) hook. If only the height is off, you can add or remove mesh rounds. Each one changes the height by about 0.67 in (1.7 cm). Keep the loop count at 11 so the top band math still works.
Flower Appliqué (make 3)
Round 1 (Teal): MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (12 dc)
Round 2 (Teal): Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc) Fasten off Teal.
Round 3 (Beige): Join Beige in any st. Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 4 more times, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sl st to first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-3 sps)
Check: each repeat covers 4 stitches (1 sc + 3 skipped), and 6 x 4 = 24, which matches Round 2.
Round 4 (Beige): Sl st in first ch-3 sp, work 1 Petal in each ch-3 sp around, sl st to first sc. (6 petals, 42 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) Beige tail for sewing. Weave in the Teal tail on the back. The flower should measure 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across.
Body
Base Ring
The base is a flat ring that frames the dispensing hole.
Foundation (Beige): Ch 24 and join with a sl st to the first ch. Make sure the chain isn’t twisted. The ring should measure about 6 in (15.2 cm) around.
Round 1 (Beige): Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc)
Round 2 (Beige): Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st; repeat from * around, sl st to first sc. (32 sc) Fasten off Beige.
Round 3 (Teal): Join Teal. Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st; repeat from * around, sl st to first sc. (40 sc)
Round 4 (Teal): Ch 1, sc in next 9 sts, inc in next st; repeat from * around, sl st to first sc. (44 sc)
Checkpoint: the ring lies flat and measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across. A slight ripple is fine. A deep cup means your increases are too tight.
Turning the Base
Round 5 (Teal): Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, sl st to first sc. (44 sc)
The unused front loops form a crisp fold, and the work starts turning upward into a tube.
Round 6 (Teal, mesh foundation): Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 9 more times, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sl st to first sc. (11 sc, 11 ch-3 sps)
Check: 11 repeats x 4 stitches = 44, which matches Round 5. Rounds 5 and 6 together add about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of height.
Checkpoint: pressed flat, the tube measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide.
Mesh Walls
Round 7 (Teal): Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 4, sc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * 9 more times, ch 4, sl st to first sc. (11 ch-4 loops)
Rounds 8-30 (Teal): Sl st in next 2 ch, ch 1, sc in same ch-4 loop, ch 4, sc in next ch-4 loop; repeat from * 9 more times, ch 4, sl st to first sc. (11 ch-4 loops)
In each round, the sc lands in the middle of a loop from the round below. This staggers the openings into a honeycomb-style net. The loop count stays at 11 in every round.
Checkpoints: after Round 12, the mesh (Rounds 7-12) measures 4 in (10.2 cm) tall. After Round 30, Rounds 7-30 measure 16 in (40.6 cm), and the whole body measures 16.5 in (41.9 cm) from the base fold.
Fasten off Teal.
Border: Top Band and Strap
Border Gauge
The band uses the same single crochet gauge: 4 sc per inch and 4 rounds per inch.
Top Band
Round 31 (Beige, conversion round): Join Beige in any ch-4 loop. Ch 1, work 4 sc in each ch-4 loop around, sl st to first sc. (11 loops x 4 sc = 44 sc)
With the tube pressed flat, that’s 22 sc across the front and 22 sc across the back.
Rounds 32-34 (Beige): Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (44 sc)
Fasten off Beige. The band is 1 in (2.5 cm) deep.
Why the math works: 44 sc at 4 sc per inch makes 11 in (27.9 cm) around, which is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) flat. The base, mesh, and band all share the same 44-stitch circumference. The 11 mesh loops convert back to exactly 44 sc, so the band doesn’t flare or pucker, and the tube stays straight from bottom to top.
Strap
Flatten the tube and choose the neatest side as the front. Number the 44 sts of Round 34 from 1 to 44, with st 1 at the left fold and st 23 at the right fold. They’re 22 sts apart, so they sit exactly opposite each other. Mark both.
Row 1 (Teal): Join Teal with a sl st in st 1 of Round 34. Ch 36 (about 9 in / 22.9 cm), sl st in st 23. Turn.
Row 2 (Teal): Sc in each of the 36 ch, sl st in st 1. (36 sc)
Fasten off and weave in the ends. The strap forms an arch that rises about 4 in (10.2 cm) above the band.
Attaching the Flowers
Pin the three flowers in a single column down the center front, halfway between the side markers. Place the top flower 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the band and leave 0.75 in (1.9 cm) between flowers. The column is 9.75 in (24.8 cm) long and ends about 6 in (15.2 cm) above the base fold.
Use the Beige tails to whipstitch around each flower just behind Round 3, catching mesh strands as you go. Sew through the back of the petals so no stitches show on the front. Catch at least one mesh strand under every petal so the flowers don’t flip forward when the holder is full.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends along solid stitches, not along open chains.
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes, then roll it in a towel to press out the water. Don’t wring it.
- Slide the holder over a rolled towel or a bottle about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide.
- Ease the mesh until the tube is 17.5 in (44.5 cm) tall and the loops are even.
- Pin the flowers flat and shape each petal into a rounded tip.
- Flatten the base ring so the opening is round and about 2 in (5.1 cm) across.
- Let it dry completely, about 24 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Base ring lies flat with a round opening about 2 in (5.1 cm) across
- 44 sc in Rounds 4, 5, and 31-34
- 11 loops in every mesh round
- Flat width 5.5 in (14.0 cm) and height 17.5 in (44.5 cm)
- Strap attached at exactly opposite points
- Three flowers centered and spaced 0.75 in (1.9 cm) apart
- No visible sewing on the front of the petals
- All ends secured
Troubleshooting
The base cups instead of lying flat. Your increases are too tight. Go up a hook size for Rounds 1-4 only.
The base ruffles. You probably added an extra increase. Recount: 24, 32, 40, 44.
The mesh spirals. This is normal for net rounds. Block the holder on a straight form, and always start each round with 2 sl sts to the center of the loop.
The tube is too narrow. Your chains are tight. Work the ch-4 loops more loosely, or use a larger hook for the mesh rounds only.
The top band flares. You worked 5 sc into some loops. Rework Round 31 with exactly 4 sc per loop.
The flowers curl. Block them flat before sewing, and don’t pull the whipstitches tight.
Bags fall out too fast. Work one extra round of 24 Beige sc into the inside edge of the foundation chain to narrow the hole.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, then lay flat or hang to dry. Reshape it while damp if the mesh has stretched.
Final Notes
Here’s the measurement chain from bottom to top:
- A 24-chain ring grows to 44 sc, making a base 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across.
- Those 44 sts become 11 mesh loops, each 1 in (2.5 cm) wide, for a tube 11 in (27.9 cm) around.
- Twenty-four mesh rounds add 16 in (40.6 cm) of height.
- The loops convert back to 44 sc for a 1 in (2.5 cm) band, bringing the total to 17.5 in (44.5 cm).
- Three flowers, each 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across, finish the front.
For a reversed colorway, swap the colors: make the mesh body and flower petals in beige, and the band and flower centers in teal.
Happy crocheting!