Plastic bags tend to pile up in a drawer. The Coral Bloom Bag Holder gives them a tidy home on the wall: you stuff bags in at the top and pull them out one at a time through a small hole at the bottom.
The design uses six African flower hexagons with coral centers, turquoise petals, and solid coral outer rounds. Three hexagons make the front, three make the back, and side seams turn them into a tube that narrows slightly at each seam. A cuff at the top carries a sturdy hanging strap, and a cuff at the bottom decreases to a neat dispensing hole.
The finished body measures 5.8 in (14.7 cm) wide at the widest point and 17 in (43.2 cm) long, not counting the strap. The pattern uses US crochet terms throughout.
Construction overview: you make six hexagons, join them into two strips of three, and seam the strips together along their zigzag sides. Then you work a top cuff, a hanging strap, and a bottom cuff directly onto the tube.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.8 in (14.7 cm) wide at the widest point × 17 in (43.2 cm) long, plus a 6 in (15.2 cm) strap
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 6 hexagons
- Layout: 2 columns (front and back) × 3 hexagons tall, seamed into a tube
- Piece size: 5 in (12.7 cm) flat edge to flat edge, 5.8 in (14.7 cm) point to point, 2.9 in (7.4 cm) per side
- Size before cuffs: 5.8 in × 15 in (14.7 cm × 38.1 cm)
- Cuff depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) at the top and 1 in (2.5 cm) at the bottom
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape when the holder is stuffed, and it won’t stretch out of line under the weight of the bags. Avoid splitty or very fuzzy yarns, because they hide the spike stitches.
Yarn used in the sample is about 180 m (197 yd) per 100 g:
- Coral (Color A): 80 g / 144 m (157 yd), for the centers, outer rounds, cuffs, and strap
- Turquoise (Color B): 40 g / 72 m (79 yd), for the petals
Both quantities include a margin of about 15–20% for gauge swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers (at least 4)
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch: spike sc. Insert your hook into the indicated space two rounds below, yarn over and pull up a long loop to the height of the current round, then yarn over and pull through both loops. The spike wraps over the stitch beneath it and outlines each petal.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Hexagon gauge: one finished hexagon measures 5 in (12.7 cm) flat edge to flat edge.
Single crochet gauge: 15 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Make one complete hexagon before starting the others, then check it against these measurements, taken flat across the hexagon:
- After Rnd 2: 2 in (5.1 cm) across
- After Rnd 4: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across
- After Rnd 5: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) flat edge to flat edge
- After Rnd 6: 5 in (12.7 cm) flat edge to flat edge, with each side 2.9 in (7.4 cm)
If your hexagon is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too big, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 5.5 mm hook. All six hexagons must match, because the side seams join stitch to stitch.
Hexagon (Make 6)
Rnd 1 (Color A): Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 1 dc in ring, ch 1, 2 dc in ring, ch 1; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. Pull the ring closed. (12 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)*
Rnd 2 (Color A): Sl st into the next dc and into the ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), (1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the same sp. (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next ch-1 sp; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. Fasten off. (24 dc arranged as 6 V-groups, 6 ch-1 sps)*
Checkpoint: 2 in (5.1 cm) across.
Rnd 3 (Color B): Join Color B in any ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in the same sp. 1 sc in the gap between this V-group and the next, 7 dc in the next ch-1 sp; rep from * 4 more times. Finish with 1 sc in the last gap and sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. (42 dc + 6 sc = 48 sts, 6 petals)*
Rnd 4 (Color B): Ch 1. 1 sc in each of the next 7 dc, then 1 spike sc into the Rnd 2 gap below the next sc (enclosing that sc); rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (42 sc + 6 spike sc = 48 sts)*
Checkpoint: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across. The petals should look rounded and cupped, separated by six vertical spikes.
Rnd 5 (Color A): This round shapes the hexagon, with a corner at each spike. Join Color A in any spike sc. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), 1 dc in the same st. 1 dc in each of the next 7 sc, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in the next spike sc; rep from * 4 more times, then 1 dc in each of the last 7 sc. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beg ch-5. (54 dc, 9 per side counting the corner dc at each end, plus 6 ch-2 corner sps)*
Checkpoint: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) flat edge to flat edge.
Rnd 6 (Color A): Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the same sp. 1 sc in each of the next 9 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the next ch-2 sp; rep from * 4 more times, then 1 sc in each of the last 9 dc. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off, leaving a 24 in (61 cm) tail on two of the six hexagons for seaming. (66 sc, 11 per side, plus 6 ch-2 corner sps)*
Per-side count: each side has 11 sc. That is 9 sc worked into the dc of Rnd 5 plus 1 corner sc at each end. The ch-2 corner spaces are counted separately and are not part of the 11.
Checkpoint: 5 in (12.7 cm) flat edge to flat edge, 5.8 in (14.7 cm) point to point.
Make All Pieces
- Hexagons: 6
- Color A per hexagon: Rnds 1, 2, 5, and 6
- Color B per hexagon: Rnds 3 and 4
- Weave in all ends except the seaming tails.
Layout grid (flat edges at top and bottom):
FRONT BACK
[ F1 ] [ B1 ] <- top
[ F2 ] [ B2 ]
[ F3 ] [ B3 ] <- bottom
F1 is joined to F2, and F2 to F3, along their flat edges. The same goes for the back. Then the front and back columns are seamed together along both zigzag sides.
Joining
Method: whipstitch with Color A through the back loops only, with the RS of both pieces facing up for the strip seams and WS together for the side seams. This leaves a neat coral ridge on the outside.
Step 1 – Strips. Place F1 above F2 so that the bottom flat edge of F1 meets the top flat edge of F2. Start in the matching ch-2 corner spaces. Whipstitch through the corner sps, then the 11 sc of F1 to the 11 sc of F2 one-to-one, ending in the opposite corner sps. Join F2 to F3 the same way, then repeat for B1–B2–B3.
Step 2 – Side seams. Lay the front strip on the back strip, WS together, with all edges matching. Each hexagon has two slanted edges on each side, and each slanted edge has 11 sc. Starting at the top-right corner of F1/B1, whipstitch the matching ch-2 corner sps together. Then join 11 sc to 11 sc down the upper slanted edge, the corner sps at the side point, and 11 sc to 11 sc down the lower slanted edge. Continue past the strip seam into F2/B2 and F3/B3. Each long side seam joins 6 edges × 11 sc = 66 sc, plus the corner spaces. Seam the second side the same way. Leave the top flat edges and bottom flat edges open.
Tension: pull each stitch snug, but stop before the edges pucker. The seam should be the same length as the edge beside it.
Size checkpoint: the tube lies flat at 5.8 in (14.7 cm) across at each side point, narrows to 2.9 in (7.4 cm) at each strip seam, and is 15 in (38.1 cm) tall.
Border: Cuffs and Strap
Border gauge: 15 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each opening is the top or bottom flat edge of a front hexagon plus the matching edge on the back hexagon. That is 2 × 11 sc = 22 sts, plus one stitch at each side where the front and back corner spaces meet.
Top Cuff (Color A)
Rnd 1: Join Color A at the right side point of the top opening, working through both the front and back ch-2 corner sps held together. Ch 1, 1 sc through both corner sps. Then work 1 sc in each of the 11 sc on the B1 top edge, 1 sc through the left-side corner sps held together, and 1 sc in each of the 11 sc on the F1 top edge. Sl st to the first sc. (11 + 1 + 11 + 1 = 24 sc) Place a marker in each of the two side-point stitches.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. (24 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. (24 sc) Do not fasten off.
Checkpoint: the cuff is 1 in (2.5 cm) deep, and the opening lies flat at about 3.2 in (8.1 cm) wide.
Why the math works: 24 sc at 15 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a circumference of 6.4 in (16.3 cm). That matches the two 2.9 in (7.4 cm) hexagon edges plus the two side points, so the cuff neither ruffles nor pulls in.
Hanging Strap (Color A)
Row 1: Sl st along the cuff to the stitch 2 sts before the first marked side stitch. Ch 1, then work 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, which centers the strap on the side point. Turn. (5 sc)
Rows 2–28: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Turn. (5 sc)
Checkpoint: the strap measures 6 in (15.2 cm). Add or remove rows if needed.
Attach: Bring the strap over the opening to the opposite side. Center the last row on the second marked stitch, covering 2 sts on each side of it. Sl st the 5 strap sts to those 5 cuff sts, working through both layers. Fasten off. If you like, work a row of sl st along each long edge of the strap for a firmer, neater finish.
Bottom Cuff (Color A)
Rnd 1: Join at a side point of the bottom opening and work exactly as for Top Cuff Rnd 1. (24 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, sc2tog; rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to the first sc. (4 × 5 = 20 sc)*
Rnd 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc2tog; rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to the first sc. (4 × 4 = 16 sc)*
Rnd 4: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (16 sc)
Checkpoint: the cuff is 1 in (2.5 cm) deep. The opening has a circumference of about 4.3 in (10.9 cm), which is a round hole about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) across. That is snug enough to hold the bags in but wide enough to pull one out.
Why the math works: the opening drops from 24 sts to 16, a one-third reduction. Spreading it over two rounds with the decreases offset keeps the hole round instead of pinched.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends along the seams on the WS.
- Lay the holder flat with the side points matching.
- Mist it evenly until the yarn is damp, not soaked.
- Pin each side point so the width is 5.8 in (14.7 cm). Pin the body length to 15 in (38.1 cm) and the overall length to 17 in (43.2 cm).
- Gently shape the petals with your fingertips so they cup outward.
- Let it dry completely, flip it over, and mist and smooth the back.
- Unpin it, roll a towel inside to round the tube, and let it rest for an hour.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All six hexagons measure 5 in (12.7 cm) flat edge to flat edge.
- Every hexagon side has 11 sc plus its ch-2 corner spaces.
- The strip seams join 11 sc to 11 sc with no skipped stitches.
- Each long side seam joins 66 sc and lies flat.
- The top cuff has 24 sc in each round.
- The strap is 5 sc wide, 6 in (15.2 cm) long, and centered on both side points.
- The bottom cuff goes 24 → 20 → 16 → 16 sc.
- The dispensing hole is about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) across.
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
Petals look flat: your Rnd 3 tension is too tight. Loosen up, or work the 7 dc with a slightly taller yarn-over.
Spikes pucker: you are pulling the long loop too short. Draw it up to the full height of Rnd 4 before finishing the stitch.
Hexagon cups or ruffles: check Rnd 5. Each side needs exactly 7 dc between corners. If the counts are right, change hook size.
Side seam is longer on one strip: count each slanted edge. One edge probably has 10 or 12 sc instead of 11.
Top cuff flares: you may have worked 2 sc into a side point. Rnd 1 needs exactly 24 sts.
Bags fall out of the bottom: add one more round of (sc 2, sc2tog) to bring the opening down to 12 sc.
Strap stretches: add a sl st edging along both long edges, or line the strap with grosgrain ribbon.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the hexagons while damp. Cotton can be machine washed on a gentle cycle inside a mesh bag.
Final Notes
The whole project depends on one chain of measurements. One hexagon is 5 in (12.7 cm) flat to flat with 11 sc per side. Three stacked hexagons give a 15 in (38.1 cm) body. Two 11-sc edges plus two side points make 24 sc for each opening. Two 1 in (2.5 cm) cuffs bring the body to 17 in (43.2 cm), and a 6 in (15.2 cm) strap finishes it. If your first hexagon is accurate, everything after it fits.
For a matching pair, swap the colors: turquoise centers and outer rounds with coral petals.
Happy crocheting!