Three crocheted fish with turquoise heads, cream bodies, and coral accents displayed on a beige wall with wooden peg decorations.

Bubbles the Fish Plastic Bag Holder Crochet Pattern

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Bubbles is a happy fish that keeps your plastic grocery bags in one tidy place. She has a turquoise head, round white eyes with black centers, puffy coral lips, an open cream mesh belly, four coral-edged fins, and a striped split tail. You push bags in through the top and pull them out through a ring at the bottom.

The colors are bright turquoise, cream, coral, white, and black. The style is playful but practical: the mesh shows how many bags are left, and sturdy cotton holds its shape on a hook. A sage-green head with peach fins makes a lovely second colorway.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 21 in (53.3 cm) long from the top of the hanging ring to the tip of the tail. The body is 6 in (15.2 cm) wide laid flat, or 10 in (25.4 cm) across the fins.

The head and mesh body are one seamless piece, worked top-down in joined rounds. The bottom ring is crocheted on in the last round. The hanging ring, eyes, lips, fins, and tail lobes are made separately and sewn on. Two edging rounds finish the top opening.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 21 in (53.3 cm) long; 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat; 10 in (25.4 cm) across fins
  • Skill level: Easy-intermediate
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
  • Number of pieces: 11 (1 head-and-body, 1 hanging ring, 2 eyes, 1 lips, 4 fins, 2 tail lobes)
  • Layout: One vertical fish with 2 fins on each side and the tail at the bottom
  • Main piece size: Head 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall; body 10.5 in (26.7 cm) long
  • Size before border: Head and body together are 15 in (38.1 cm) long and 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat
  • Border depth: 2 rounds at the top opening, about 0.4 in (1.0 cm)

Materials

Use a smooth, firm 100% cotton worsted yarn with about 85 m per 50 g. Cotton keeps the mesh crisp and won’t sag when the holder is full. Acrylic also works, but the mesh will droop more.

  • Turquoise: 60 g (102 m), for the head, both rings, fin centers, and tail
  • Cream: 70 g (119 m), for the mesh body
  • Coral: 30 g (51 m), for the lips, fin edges, and tail stripes
  • White: 5 g (9 m), for the eyes
  • Black: 2 g (3 m), for the eye centers

All quantities include a margin of about 15% for swatching and sewing.

Tools:

  • 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
  • One 3 in (7.6 cm) plastic or wooden ring for the hanger
  • One 2 in (5.1 cm) plastic ring for the bottom opening
  • Tapestry needle, stitch markers, pins
  • Scissors and tape measure

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
  • sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
  • sp: space
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • rnd(s): round(s)
  • MR: magic ring
  • rev sc: reverse single crochet

Reverse single crochet (crab stitch): Work from left to right (if you crochet right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over again and pull through both loops. This makes a firm, corded edge.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Sc gauge: 16 sc and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Mesh gauge: 4 mesh squares (12 sts) and 4 mesh rnds = 3 in (7.6 cm)

Test one piece first: work the head through Rnd 9 (48 sts) and flatten it. The lower edge should measure 6 in (15.2 cm) across. At 4 sts per inch, 48 sts gives a 12 in (30.5 cm) circumference.

Checkpoints:

  • Head after Rnd 9: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat
  • Head after Rnd 20: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall
  • Body Rnds 2–13 (mesh section): 9 in (22.9 cm) long
  • Body after Rnd 18: 10.5 in (26.7 cm) long
  • One fin: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, 2 in (5.1 cm) deep

If your piece is too big, go down one hook size. If it is too small, go up one hook size. If only the mesh is off, change hooks for the body alone and keep the same round counts.

Turquoise crocheted creature with white-and-black eyes, coral-red stitched smile, and cream-colored bottom.

Head and Body (Make 1)

Work top-down in joined rounds. The ch 1 at the start of a round never counts as a stitch. Mark the first stitch of each round.

Head

With turquoise, ch 24 and join with a sl st to the first ch. Take care not to twist the chain.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join. (24)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (24)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, inc 6 times, join. (30)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (30)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, inc 6 times, join. (36)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (36)

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, inc 6 times, join. (42)

Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (42)

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, inc 6 times, join. (48)

Rnds 10–20: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (48)

Alternating increase rounds with plain rounds gives the head its gently widening, rounded bullet shape. Fasten off turquoise.

Mesh Body

Rnd 1: Join cream at center back. Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (48) This makes the solid cream band below the head.

Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), skip next 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts 15 times, join to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)

Check: 1 + 2 + (15 × 3) = 48 sts used.

Rnds 3–13: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in next dc, ch 2 15 times, join to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)

Each dc sits directly on the dc below it, which builds the square grid.

Rnd 14: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next dc, ch 1 15 times, join to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (16 dc + 16 ch-1 sps = 32 sts)

Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp 16 times, join. (32)

Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog 8 times, join. (24)

Rnd 17: Ch 1, sc in each st, join. (24) Fasten off cream.

Bottom Ring

Rnd 18: Hold the 2 in (5.1 cm) ring against the edge of Rnd 17 and join turquoise. Ch 1, then repeat 24 times: insert hook into next st and under the ring, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops. Join. (24)

Each stitch wraps the ring and catches Rnd 17, so the ring is covered and attached in one step. Fasten off.

Hanging Ring (Make 1)

With turquoise, place a slipknot on the hook and work sc directly over the 3 in (7.6 cm) ring. Pack the stitches together until you have 44 sc. Join, fasten off, and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.

Eyes (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With black, MR, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join. (6) Fasten off black.

Rnd 2: Join white. Ch 1, inc in each st, join. (12)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, inc 6 times, join. (18)

Fasten off with a long tail. Each eye is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across: a black center inside a thick white ring.

Lips (Make 1)

With coral, ch 7.

Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 4 ch, then 3 sc in last ch. Working along the other side of the chain, sc in next 4 ch, then 2 sc in last ch. Join. (5 + 3 + 4 + 2 = 14)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in each of last 2 sts, join. (20)

Fasten off with a long tail. With turquoise, backstitch along the foundation chain to make the mouth line. The lips measure 2.5 in × 1.25 in (6.4 × 3.2 cm).

Fins (Make 4)

Work flat in rows. The ch 2 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.

Row 1: With turquoise, MR, ch 2, 6 dc in ring, pull the ring closed, turn. (6)

Row 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st, turn. (12)

Row 3: Ch 2, dc in first st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st 5 times, dc in last st. (17) Fasten off.

Check: 1 + 10 + 1 = 12 sts used.

Row 4: Join coral in the first st. Ch 1, sc in same st, skip next st, 5 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st 4 times. (4 scallops: 5 sc + 20 dc = 25 sts)

Check: 1 + (4 × 4) = 17 sts used. Fasten off with a long tail. Each fin is a half-circle fan, 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.

Tail Lobes (Make 2)

Work flat in rows. The ch 2 does not count as a stitch. Carry the unused color loosely up the side.

Row 1: With turquoise, ch 6, dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (4)

Row 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (6)

Row 3: With coral, ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (8)

Row 4: With turquoise, ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (10)

Row 5: With coral, ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (12)

Row 6: With turquoise, ch 1, sc in each st. (12)

Fasten off with a long tail. Each lobe is 3 in (7.6 cm) long and 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at its end.

Make All Pieces

  • Turquoise: head-and-body with bottom ring (1), hanging ring (1)
  • Black and white: eyes (2)
  • Coral: lips (1)
  • Turquoise and coral: fins (4), tail lobes (2)

Front-view layout:

            ( O )            hanging ring
          [ o   o ]          head, eyes
          [  ===  ]          lips
   fin  [ ######### ]  fin   upper fins
        [ ######### ]        mesh body
   fin  [ ######### ]  fin   lower fins
            (O)              bottom ring
           /   \             tail lobes

Joining (Assembly)

Pin every piece before you sew.

Face: Flatten the head with the round joins at center back. Place the eye centers on Rnd 11, with 8 sts between the eyes. Center the lips below them, over Rnds 14–19. Whipstitch through the outer loops of each piece’s last round.

Fins: Each fin’s straight edge is made of row ends. With the body flat, sew that edge vertically along each side fold. Place the upper fins over mesh Rnds 3–7 and the lower fins over Rnds 9–13. Sew around the dc posts, not through chain spaces, so the fins don’t slide.

Tail: Sew the 4-st foundation edge of each lobe to the lower back of the bottom ring, one on each side of center, angled outward into a V. Each 1 in (2.5 cm) edge covers about 4 sts of Rnd 18.

Hanging ring: Sew 6 sts of the ring to 6 sts at center back of the top rim, passing through 3 times. This leaves the front of the opening free for loading bags.

Tension check: Sew firmly but don’t pucker the mesh. Afterward, the body should still lie 6 in (15.2 cm) wide and measure 15 in (38.1 cm) from the top rim to the bottom ring.

Border (Top Rim)

Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the head.

Rim Rnd 1: Turn the head upside down. Join turquoise in a free loop of the foundation chain at center back. Ch 1, sc in each free loop, join. (24 sts; 12 per side when flattened)

Rim Rnd 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each st, join. (24 sts; 12 per side) Fasten off.

Why the math works: The foundation has exactly 24 chains. Working 1 sc per chain keeps the rim flat, with no ruffling or pulling in. Rev sc is also worked 1 per stitch, so the count stays at 24. At 4 sts per inch, 24 sts makes a 6 in (15.2 cm) circumference, or 3 in (7.6 cm) flat per side, which is room enough for a hand pushing in bags. The bottom ring also has 24 sts, so the two openings match.

Final Blocking

  1. Weave in all ends through solid stitches, not through the mesh.
  2. Lightly mist the whole holder with water.
  3. Fill the head with a rolled towel to set its dome shape.
  4. Lay the body flat and ease it lengthwise to 10.5 in (26.7 cm) so the squares open evenly.
  5. Pin each fin into a smooth half-circle and open every scallop.
  6. Pin the tail lobes into a V.
  7. Let it dry completely, about 24 hours.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Overall length is about 21 in (53.3 cm)
  • Body is 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat
  • Head has 48 sts; mesh has 16 squares around
  • Eyes are level; lips are centered
  • Fins match in height on both sides
  • Tail lobes are symmetrical
  • Hanging ring is secure
  • Both openings have 24 sts
  • All ends are woven in

Troubleshooting

  • Head ruffles: You added increases on a plain round. Recount Rnds 3–9.
  • Mesh squares are tall rectangles: Your dc are too tall. Use a smaller hook for the body.
  • Mesh spirals: Join every round and start each ch-5 from the joining stitch.
  • Fins cup: Rows 2–3 are tight. Use a hook one size larger for those rows.
  • Bottom ring shows through: Slide the stitches along the ring so they are evenly spaced.
  • Bags drop out on their own: Weave a cream strand through Rnd 16 and snug it slightly.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Reshape while damp and lay flat to dry.

Colorful crocheted fish-shaped tissue dispenser with turquoise head, cream netted body, and coral fins in a cozy home.

Final Notes

The measurement chain is simple. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 48-st head that is 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat. Those 48 sts become 16 mesh squares of 0.75 in (1.9 cm) each, so the body stays 6 in (15.2 cm) wide. Twelve plain mesh rounds add 9 in (22.9 cm), and the taper closes to a 24-st bottom ring that matches the 24-st top rim. Check each stage and Bubbles will hang straight and hold plenty of bags.

Happy crocheting!

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