This holder stores plastic grocery bags and looks like a small, decorated Christmas tree. The forest green body is an open mesh of offset V-stitches. The rows of solid green triangles let the white bags show through, so the stored bags look a little like snow behind branches.
Three red circle “ornaments” and a yellow star finish the holiday look. You push bags in through the top and pull them out one at a time through the bottom band. A sturdy strap hangs it from a hook, a door handle or a pantry rail.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 17 in (43.2 cm) long and 7 in (17.8 cm) wide when flat at its widest point. The hanging loop adds about 3.3 in (8.4 cm) more.
Construction is simple. You work the body in joined rounds from the bottom up: a single crochet band, 20 mesh rounds, then a single crochet top band and a strap. The tapered shape comes from changing the chain length between the V-stitches; the number of repeats never changes. Last, you crochet the four appliqués and sew them on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 17 in (43.2 cm) long × 7 in (17.8 cm) wide, measured flat at the widest point
- Skill level: Easy / Advanced Beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or a cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 tubular body plus 4 appliqués (1 star, 3 circles)
- Layout: a single tube with all appliqués on the front face
- Piece size: body 17 in (43.2 cm) long; top and bottom openings 5 in (12.7 cm) wide flat
- Size before top band: 16 in (40.6 cm) long
- Top band (“border”) depth: 1 in (2.5 cm), plus the hanging loop
Materials
Use a smooth, worsted-weight cotton or cotton-acrylic blend. Cotton holds the mesh shape well and won’t stretch out under the weight of the bags. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the triangle texture.
- Green (body and loop): 80 g / 150 m
- Red (3 circles): 10 g / 18 m
- Yellow (star): 5 g / 9 m
All quantities include a margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch marker
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Rustproof pins
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd(s): round(s)
- inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
Special stitch: V-stitch (V). Work (dc, ch 1, dc) in the stitch or space indicated.
Gap spacing. Each mesh round has a “ch-k” between the V’s, where k is 1, 2 or 3. A shorter gap gives a narrower round and a longer gap gives a wider one. Every mesh round always has 12 V’s.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Single crochet: 18 sc and 20 rnds = 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Mesh with ch-2 gaps: 12 V-repeats = 12 in (30.5 cm) around; 4 mesh rnds = 3 in (7.6 cm), so 1 mesh rnd = 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Test first. Before working the whole body, make Rnds 1–4. Flattened, the band should measure 5 in (12.7 cm) wide and 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
Checkpoints (measured flat):
– After Rnd 4: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide, 1 in (2.5 cm) tall
– After Rnd 8: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide, 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
– After Rnd 11: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide, 6.25 in (15.9 cm) tall
– After Rnd 18: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide, 11.5 in (29.2 cm) tall
– After Rnd 24: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide, 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
– After Rnd 28: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide, 17 in (43.2 cm) tall
If your piece is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. In the mesh, height matters more than width. If your rounds come out taller than 0.75 in (1.9 cm), shorten your beginning ch-4 to ch-3 and pull each dc snug.
Body
With green, ch 36 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Be careful not to twist the chain.
Bottom Band
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join to first sc. (36 sc)
Rnds 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (36 sc)
The band now measures 1 in (2.5 cm) tall and 10 in (25.4 cm) around.
Mesh Setup
Rnd 5: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the same st. This is your first V.
– Ch 1, skip 2 sc.
– V in next sc, ch 1, skip 2 sc. Repeat from * 10 more times.
– Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4.
Count: 12 V’s (24 dc + 12 center ch-1) + 12 gap ch-1 = 48 sts. Each repeat uses 3 sc, and 12 × 3 = 36, so the setup round fits the band exactly.
Standard Mesh Round (ch-k)
Every remaining mesh round follows this method.
- Sl st in the next ch-1 sp (the V center), sl st in the next dc, then sl st in the next gap sp.
- Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the same sp, ch k.
- V in the next gap sp, ch k. Repeat from * 10 more times.
- Join to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4.
Each new V sits in the gap between two V’s of the round below. That offset is what stacks the green into triangles.
Round count = 12 × (2 dc + 1 center ch + k gap ch):
– ch-1 gaps: 48 sts
– ch-2 gaps: 60 sts
– ch-3 gaps: 72 sts
Shaping Sequence
- Rnds 6–8 (ch-1 gaps): 48 sts per round. The body stays 5 in (12.7 cm) wide flat.
- Rnds 9–11 (ch-2 gaps): 60 sts per round. The body widens to 6 in (15.2 cm) flat, 12 in (30.5 cm) around.
- Rnds 12–18 (ch-3 gaps): 72 sts per round. This is the widest section: 7 in (17.8 cm) flat, 14 in (35.6 cm) around.
- Rnds 19–21 (ch-2 gaps): 60 sts per round. Back to 6 in (15.2 cm) flat.
- Rnds 22–24 (ch-1 gaps): 48 sts per round. Back to 5 in (12.7 cm) flat.
The mesh has 20 rounds (Rnds 5–24). At 0.75 in (1.9 cm) each, that is 15 in (38.1 cm). Add the 1 in (2.5 cm) bottom band and the piece is 16 in (40.6 cm) long.
Top Band and Hanging Loop (Border)
Border gauge: the same as the single crochet gauge, 18 sc = 5 in (12.7 cm). Flattened, the band has 18 sts on the front side and 18 on the back.
Top Band
Rnd 25 (conversion round):
1. Ch 1, then sc in each dc around. (24 sc)
2. Work 1 sc in each gap ch-1 sp. (12 sc)
3. Skip the V-center spaces.
4. Join.
Count: 24 sc worked 1 per existing dc + 12 sc added in the gaps = 36 sc.
Rnds 26–28: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (36 sc)
Fasten off only if you plan to add the loop later. Otherwise keep working.
Why the math works: 36 sc at 3.6 sc per inch gives 10 in (25.4 cm) around, or 5 in (12.7 cm) flat. That matches the bottom band exactly, so both ends are the same size. The band adds 4 rnds, or 1 in (2.5 cm), bringing the total to 17 in (43.2 cm).
Hanging Loop
Flatten the body so the star position is centered on the front. Mark the two side “fold” stitches: st 1 and st 19 of Rnd 28.
Row 1:
1. With green, join with a sl st in st 1 and ch 30.
2. Sl st in st 19.
3. Turn and sc in each of the 30 ch.
4. Sl st in st 1. (30 sc)
Row 2:
1. Turn and sc in each of the 30 sc.
2. Sl st in st 19. (30 sc)
Fasten off. The strap is 30 sc, or 8.3 in (21.1 cm) long. Anchored 5 in (12.7 cm) apart, it rises about 3.3 in (8.4 cm) above the rim.
Appliqués
Red Circles (make 3)
With red, make a magic ring.
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in the ring, join. (6 sc)
- Rnd 2: Ch 1, inc in each st, join. (12 sc)
- Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, inc. Repeat from * around, join. (18 sc)
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Each circle is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Yellow Star (make 1)
With yellow, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 10 sc in the ring, join. (10 sc)
Rnd 2:
1. Ch 4. Working back down the chain, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in the next ch, and dc in the next ch.
2. Skip 1 sc and sl st in the next sc.
3. Repeat Steps 1–2 four more times.
This makes 5 points. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The star is about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) from tip to tip.
Placement
- Star: centered on the front, directly below the top band, in Rnd 23.
- Circle 1: left of center, in Rnd 20.
- Circle 2: right of center, in Rnd 16.
- Circle 3: left of center, in Rnd 12.
Pin each appliqué over the solid triangle bars, not over the openings. Whipstitch around the edge through the mesh bars only. Keep your stitches on the front layer so you don’t sew the tube closed.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the holder, or dampen it and gently squeeze out the water.
- Stuff it firmly with plastic bags or a rolled towel to fill out the cocoon shape.
- Ease the mesh so the V’s line up vertically and the openings sit evenly.
- Flatten the appliqués and pin them flat if they curl.
- Check the size: 17 in (43.2 cm) long and 7 in (17.8 cm) wide at Rnds 12–18.
- Let it dry completely.
- Weave in all remaining ends.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every mesh round has exactly 12 V’s.
- Both bands have 36 sc and measure 5 in (12.7 cm) flat.
- The width changes only at Rnds 9, 12, 19 and 22.
- The strap is anchored on opposite sides, at st 1 and st 19.
- The appliqués are sewn through the front layer only.
- Total length is 17 in (43.2 cm), plus about 3.3 in (8.4 cm) of loop.
Troubleshooting
- The mesh spirals or slants. You may be starting the round in the wrong space. Always sl st across to the gap space before you ch 4.
- You have too many or too few V’s. Count the gaps. There must be 12. Place your marker in the first V.
- The bands flare out. Your sc is too loose. Go down one hook size for the bands only.
- The body is too short. Your dc are too tight. Add one ch-3 round (Rnd 18a) at the widest section. It adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
- The star points curl. Block them flat, or work the hdc and dc into the back bump of the chain.
- Bags fall out of the bottom. Work 1 extra sc round in the bottom band, tighter.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, shaping it while damp. Cotton versions can go through a gentle machine cycle inside a mesh laundry bag.
Final Notes
Every measurement in this pattern builds on the last one.
- The 36-sc band measures 5 in (12.7 cm) flat.
- The 20 mesh rounds, at 0.75 in (1.9 cm) each, add 15 in (38.1 cm) of length.
- Changing the gaps from ch-1 to ch-2 to ch-3 widens the body from 5 in (12.7 cm) to 6 in (15.2 cm) to 7 in (17.8 cm), and the same steps in reverse narrow it again.
- The 36-sc top band brings the total length to 17 in (43.2 cm).
Check your gauge at each checkpoint and the tree shape will take care of itself.
Happy crocheting!