This hanging holder has three round baskets stacked one above the other. Each basket holds one standard toilet roll, and the whole thing hangs from a single wooden ring. Each basket has a solid light blue base and lower wall, then a band of open blue lace fans, then a cream edge that arches over each fan and rises to a small pointed crown.
Only two colors are used: soft light blue for the bodies and straps, and cream for the edging. The look is calm and a little vintage, so it suits a pale bathroom with natural wood and brass.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each basket is about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) across and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall at the peaks. The finished holder is about 21 in (53.3 cm) long from the top of the ring to the bottom of the lowest basket.
Each basket starts as a flat single crochet circle. You turn the wall up with a back-loop round, work plain single crochet rounds, add two rounds of blue lace fans, and finish with two cream edging rounds. Then you sew short straps between the baskets and one long hanger strap around the ring.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: each basket about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) across × 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall; overall about 21 in (53.3 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 8 (3 baskets, 4 connector straps, 1 hanger strap)
- Layout: 3 baskets stacked in a vertical column, 1 × 3
- Piece size: basket 5.75 in (14.6 cm) across; straps 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide
- Size before border: basket 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall after Rnd 21
- Border depth: about 1 in (2.5 cm) at the peaks (Rnds 22–23)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape when it carries weight, does not stretch much, and takes damp bathroom air well. Avoid acrylic for the straps, because it slowly stretches under load.
- Light blue: 120 g, about 204 m (223 yd)
- Cream: 30 g, about 51 m (56 yd)
These amounts include a margin of about 25% for your gauge, seaming tails, and a test swatch.
Tools:
- 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- One 3 in (7.6 cm) wooden ring
- 4 stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- One toilet roll for test-fitting
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp(s) – space(s)
- sk – skip
- rnd – round
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Fan: 5 dc in the same stitch.
Standing sc: with the new color’s slip knot on your hook, insert the hook into the stitch and complete a sc without a turning chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 17 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in joined rounds.
Make one full basket before you start the others. It is your real gauge swatch. Check it with a roll inside before you commit to all three.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 4 (24 sts): base about 1.9 in (4.8 cm) across
- After Rnd 8 (48 sts): base about 3.8 in (9.7 cm) across
- After Rnd 12 (72 sts): base about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) across
- After Rnd 19: wall about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall, measured from the turning ridge
- After Rnd 21: basket about 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall
- After Rnd 23: basket about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall at the peaks
If your base is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, or a roll does not drop in easily, go up 0.5 mm. Do not add rounds to fix the size. The lace needs exactly 72 sts.
Basket (Make 3)
Use light blue. Join every round with a sl st to the first st. The ch 1 at the start of each round never counts as a stitch. Joined rounds keep the lace lined up over the base.
Base
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (36 sts)
Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (42 sts)
Rnd 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (48 sts)
Rnd 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (54 sts)
Rnd 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (60 sts)
Rnd 11: *Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (66 sts)
Rnd 12: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (72 sts)
To keep the base round and not hexagonal, start the repeat with half the sc count on odd rounds from Rnd 7 on. For example, Rnd 7 becomes: sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 4 more times, sc in next 3 sts. The total stays the same.
Wall
Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. (72 sts) This forms the turning ridge.
Rnds 14–19: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (72 sts)
At the end of Rnd 19, place a marker in st 1 and another in st 37. These two stitches are exactly opposite each other. The straps will be centered on them.
Blue Lace Fans
Rnd 20: Ch 1, sc in first st, *sk 2 sts, Fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 10 more times, sk 2 sts, Fan in next st, sk 2 sts, join to first sc. (12 sc + 60 dc = 72 sts; 12 Fans)
Each repeat uses 6 sts, and 12 × 6 = 72. The sc “valleys” fall on sts 1, 7, 13, and so on. That puts valley 1 on st 1 and valley 7 on st 37, right on your markers.
Rnd 21: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 2, dc in next dc, (ch 1, dc in next dc) 4 times, ch 2, sc in next sc; rep from * around, ending the last rep with ch 2, join to first sc. Fasten off. (72 sts: 12 sc + 60 dc; 48 ch-1 sps; 24 ch-2 sps)
The ch-1 spaces spread each fan into an open shell. The ch-2 spaces leave a small gap on either side of each valley.
Now finish each basket with the cream edging (Rnds 22–23) given in the Border section below. Do this before joining.
Strap Pieces
Use light blue. Each strap is 5 sts wide, about 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Connector Strap (make 4): Ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (5 sts)
Rows 2–23: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sts)
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The strap measures about 5.4 in (13.7 cm).
Hanger Strap (make 1): Work as for Connector Strap through Row 72. (5 sts) Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The strap measures about 17 in (43.2 cm).
Make All Pieces
- Light blue: 3 basket bodies (Rnds 1–21), 4 connector straps, 1 hanger strap
- Cream: 3 edgings (Rnds 22–23), one on each basket
Layout:
[ 3 in wooden ring ]
/ \ Hanger strap (72 rows)
[ Basket 1 – top ]
| | Connectors A + B (23 rows each)
[ Basket 2 – middle ]
| | Connectors C + D (23 rows each)
[ Basket 3 – bottom ]
Every strap sits over a marked valley, at st 1 or st 37.
Joining
Use light blue yarn and a tapestry needle. Sew each strap to the baskets with a whipstitch.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The straps and the basket walls have the same gauge, 17 rows or rounds per 4 in (10.2 cm). That means 1 strap row matches 1 wall round, and 1 strap stitch matches 1 wall stitch. Each overlap is 4 rows over 4 rounds and 5 sts over 5 sts. Center each strap on the marked stitch, so it covers sts 71, 72, 1, 2, 3 or sts 35–39.
Connectors A and B (Basket 1 to Basket 2):
- Rows 1–4 go inside Basket 2, over Rnds 16–19. Sew all four edges of the overlap: 4 rows to 4 rnds on each side, and 5 sts to 5 sts across the end.
- Rows 5–19 (15 rows) pass up over the valley and stay free.
- Rows 20–23 go on the outside of Basket 1, over Rnds 13–16. Sew all four edges again.
Connectors C and D (Basket 2 to Basket 3): Join the same way, with the lower ends inside Basket 3 and the upper ends outside Basket 2.
Hanger Strap:
- Sew Rows 1–4 inside Basket 1, over Rnds 16–19 at st 1.
- Sew Rows 69–72 inside Basket 1, over Rnds 16–19 at st 37. Make sure the strap is not twisted.
- Fold Rows 33–40 around the wooden ring. Whipstitch Row 32 to Row 41 just under the ring, and tack Rows 31–32 to Rows 41–42 so the loop stays closed.
Tension: Pull each sewing stitch snug but not tight. Tight seams pucker the wall and tilt the basket. Make two passes over every overlap edge, because these seams carry weight.
Size checkpoint: Hang the holder and put a roll in each basket. All three baskets should hang level. The gap between the peaks of one basket and the base of the next should be about 1.5 in (3.8 cm). The total length should be about 21 in (53.3 cm). If a basket tilts, check that both of its straps sit on st 1 and st 37.
Border (Cream Edging)
Work this on each basket before joining. The border uses the same gauge as the body. Each scallop repeat covers one blue fan, so there are 12 repeats on every basket.
Rnd 22: Join cream with a standing sc in the first sc (a valley). *Sk ch-2 sp, sc in next dc, (sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) 4 times, sk ch-2 sp, sc in next sc; rep from * around, omitting the last sc, and join to first sc. (120 sts: 72 sts worked one in each existing st + 48 sts added in the ch-1 sps; 10 sts per repeat)
Skipping the ch-2 spaces pulls the cream line down into a V at each valley. This makes the cream arch over every fan.
Rnd 23: Ch 1, sl st in first sc, *sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next st, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sl st in next sc; rep from * around, ending the last rep with sc in next 2 sts, and join to the first sl st. Fasten off. (132 sts: 120 sts worked one in each existing st + 12 extra dc at the points; 11 sts per repeat, counting the sl st; 12 ch-3 points)
Why the math works: Each Rnd 22 repeat has 10 sts. The valley sc is position 1, and the arch is positions 2–10. The center of the arch, position 6, sits on the 3rd dc of the fan. Rnd 23 builds up symmetrically from that center: 2 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc on each side, and the (dc, ch 3, dc) at the center. So each peak sits right above the middle of a fan, and each sl st falls in a valley. The valleys are still on st 1 and st 37, so the straps fit between two peaks.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the inside of each basket, along the wall rounds.
- Spray each basket with water until it is damp but not dripping.
- Put a toilet roll, wrapped in a plastic bag, inside each basket. This sets the wall to the right size.
- Pinch each ch-3 point upward and smooth each cream arch so it follows the curve of its fan.
- Press the base flat on a towel so the turning ridge stays crisp.
- Let it dry completely, about 24 hours, before hanging.
- Steam the straps lightly and lay them flat to dry, so they hang straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each base is 5.75 in (14.6 cm) across and lies flat
- Each basket has 72 sts in Rnds 12–21
- 12 fans on each basket, all the same size
- Rnd 22 has 120 sts and Rnd 23 has 132 sts with 12 points
- Peaks sit over fan centers and valleys line up with the straps
- Straps sit on st 1 and st 37, with no twists
- Overlaps are sewn on all four edges, with two passes
- All three baskets hang level with about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) gaps
- A roll drops in and lifts out easily
Troubleshooting
The base cups upward. You have too few stitches or are working too tightly. Recheck the counts, or go up a hook size.
The base ruffles. You have too many stitches. Count each round, and stagger the increases as described.
The wall flares outward. Work Rnd 13 firmly in the BLO, and keep your tension even on Rnds 14–19.
The fans look crowded. Make sure you skip exactly 2 sts on each side of each Fan in Rnd 20.
The peaks flop over. Tighten the dc stitches in Rnd 23 and re-block with the points pinched upward.
A basket tilts. One strap is off-center. Unpick it and re-center it on st 1 or st 37.
The straps stretch. Use cotton, sew with two passes, and do not store heavy items in the baskets.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water, and reshape the baskets over a roll to dry. Do not tumble dry, because it can shrink the cotton and warp the baskets.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A gauge of 16 sc and 17 rnds per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 72-st base 5.75 in (14.6 cm) across. Rnds 13–21 build a wall 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, and the 12-repeat cream edging brings it to 3.75 in (9.5 cm) at the peaks. Straps with 4-row overlaps and the 3 in (7.6 cm) ring finish the holder at about 21 in (53.3 cm) long. If each checkpoint matches, the finished holder will match too.
Happy crocheting!