This bag holder has neat vertical columns of stacked leaf shells, so it looks a bit like rows of fern fronds. The gaps between the columns are open, so you can see the bags inside. You stuff bags in at the wide top and pull them out one at a time through the small, firm opening at the bottom.
The sample is made in a soft olive green. A deep plum works just as well, and you can make one of each to hang side by side. Any solid, mid-to-dark color shows the leaf columns clearly. Avoid variegated yarn here, because it hides the stitch pattern.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide laid flat and 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall from the bottom edge to the top rim. The hanging loop rises about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) above the rim, so the total hanging length is about 19.2 in (48.8 cm).
The holder is worked from the bottom up in one piece, with no seams. You start with a chain ring for the bottom opening and increase in single crochet to full width. Next comes a tall section of leaf-shell lace, then a solid single-crochet top rim. Last, you work a short strap off the rim and attach it to form the hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide flat × 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall, plus a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) loop
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (seamless tube with an attached strap)
- Layout: Single vertical tube, worked bottom up in joined rounds
- Circumference: 15 in (38.1 cm) at full width
- Size before border (bottom section + lace): 14.6 in (37.1 cm) tall
- Border (top rim) depth: 1.1 in (2.8 cm)
- Bottom opening: 7.5 in (19.1 cm) around, 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide flat
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight yarn. Cotton or a cotton blend holds its shape best and stops the strap from stretching under a full load of bags. Acrylic works too, but it gives a slightly softer, droopier tube.
- Main color (olive green, or plum for the alternate colorway): 120 g / 225 m (about 246 yd)
All one holder needs is one color. The amount above includes a margin of about 15% for your gauge swatch and small differences in tension. A typical holder uses about 105 g (195 m).
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking surface
- Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special stitch – Leaf Shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in the same stitch or space. Each Leaf Shell has 4 dc and 1 ch-2 sp. When you stack Leaf Shells straight on top of each other, round after round, they form a column of V-shaped leaves.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Single crochet gauge: 16 sc and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Lace gauge: 1 repeat (one Leaf Shell plus one ch-2 bar) = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide. 4 lace rnds = 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
The holder is a single piece, so your test piece is the start of the holder itself. Work Rnds 1–5 and measure before you go any further.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 1: The ring measures 7.5 in (19.1 cm) around, or 3.75 in (9.5 cm) laid flat.
- After Rnd 5: The tube is 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide laid flat and 1.1 in (2.8 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 13 (8 lace rnds): The total height is 5.1 in (13.0 cm) and the width is still 7.5 in (19.1 cm).
- After Rnd 32: The total height is 14.6 in (37.1 cm).
- After Rnd 37: The total height is 15.7 in (39.9 cm).
If your piece is too big, go down a hook size, to 4.5 mm (7). If it is too small, go up to 5.5 mm (I-9). Changing hooks is better than changing stitch counts, because the 60-stitch circumference has to divide evenly into 10 lace repeats.
Pattern
Bottom Section (Solid Single Crochet)
Foundation: Ch 30. Sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist the chain.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, then join with a sl st to the first sc. (30 sc)
Place a marker in the first sc. This marks the back center line of the holder, and you will place the hanging loop here later.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, then join. (30 sc)
This second plain round makes the bottom opening firm, so bags slide out one at a time instead of falling through.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 9 more times, then join. (40 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 9 more times, then join. (50 sc)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 9 more times, then join. (60 sc)
These increases make the rounded, tapered bottom. Check the second checkpoint now.
Lace Body (Leaf Columns)
Rnd 6 (setup): Ch 1, sc in the first st, *sk next 2 sts, Leaf Shell in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around, ending with sk 2 sts after the last Leaf Shell. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (10 Leaf Shells and 10 sc)
Each repeat uses exactly 6 stitches: 1 sc, 2 skipped, 1 Leaf Shell stitch and 2 skipped. 10 repeats × 6 = 60 stitches, which uses Rnd 5 exactly.
Rnd 7: Sl st in each of the next 2 dc and into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (this counts as the first dc), then work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same sp. *Ch 2, sk the next sc, Leaf Shell in the next ch-2 sp; rep from * 8 more times. Ch 2 and join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (10 Leaf Shells and 10 ch-2 bars: 40 dc in total)
Rnds 8–32: Sl st in the next dc and into the ch-2 sp of the shell. Ch 3 (this counts as the first dc), then work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same sp. *Ch 2, sk the ch-2 bar, Leaf Shell in the ch-2 sp of the next shell; rep from * 8 more times. Ch 2 and join to the top of the beginning ch-3. (10 Leaf Shells and 10 ch-2 bars each round)
Every shell sits directly in the shell below it, so the V shapes stack into straight leaf columns. The ch-2 bars stack to make the open gaps between the columns. The lace section from Rnd 6 to Rnd 32 is 27 rounds, or 13.5 in (34.3 cm) tall.
Tip: If your columns start to lean, check that every round starts with sl sts into the shell’s ch-2 sp and not into a bar.
Border: Top Rim
The rim works as the border for this tube. It is solid, so the bag opening keeps its shape and the strap has a firm base to attach to.
Border gauge: The same as the bottom section: 16 sc and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Rnd 33 (conversion): Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join, sc in the next dc, sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in the ch-2 bar. Sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in the ch-2 bar; rep from * around, then join. Count: 40 sc worked 1 per dc, plus 10 sc in shell sps and 10 sc in bars, for 60 sc*.
Rnds 34–37: Ch 1, sc in each st around, then join. (60 sc)
When the holder is laid flat, each half (front and back) has 30 sc. This gives 7.5 in (19.1 cm) across, which matches the width of the lace body.
Why the math works: Each lace repeat covers 6 stitches’ worth of width (4 dc, 1 shell sp and 1 bar). Converting each repeat back into exactly 6 sc gives 60 sc. That matches the 60 sc of Rnd 5, so the rim neither flares nor pulls in. Five rounds of sc at 18 rounds per 4 in gives the rim depth of 1.1 in (2.8 cm).
Hanging Loop
Do not fasten off after Rnd 37. Flatten the holder so that the marker from Rnd 1 sits at the center of the back. Move a marker up to the first st of Rnd 37.
Row 1: Ch 1, then sc in each of the first 5 sts of Rnd 37 and turn. (5 sc)
Rows 2–36: Ch 1, sc in each st across, then turn. (5 sc)
The strap is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide and 8 in (20.3 cm) long.
Attach: Count to sts 11–15 of Rnd 37, leaving a gap of 5 sts (sts 6–10) between the two ends of the strap. Make sure the strap is not twisted. Then sl st through both the strap stitches and the rim stitches, all the way across. (5 sl sts) Fasten off.
Strap edging: Join yarn at the base of one long edge of the strap and work 1 sl st in the end of each row (36 sl sts). Fasten off, then repeat on the other long edge (36 sl sts). This firms up the strap and stops it from curling. The finished arch rises about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) above the rim.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all the ends. Run each one along a solid sc area, not through the lace.
- Mist the whole holder with water until it is damp but not wet.
- Stuff the tube loosely with a rolled towel or plastic bags so it keeps a round shape.
- Lay it flat and gently ease it to 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide and 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall.
- Straighten each leaf column with your fingers so the V shapes line up vertically.
- Pin the strap flat at 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.
- Let it dry completely before you hang it or fill it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The bottom opening is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide flat and feels firm.
- Rnd 5 has 60 sc, and Rnds 6–32 each have 10 Leaf Shells.
- All 10 leaf columns run straight, with no lean or spiral.
- The lace body is 13.5 in (34.3 cm) tall.
- The top rim has 60 sc and lies flat without ruffling.
- The strap has 36 rows, 5 sts wide, and is attached without a twist.
- The total height to the rim is 15.7 in (39.9 cm).
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
The columns spiral around the tube. You are probably starting rounds in the wrong place. Always sl st into the shell’s ch-2 sp, then start the new shell there.
Bags fall out of the bottom. Your tension is loose. Rework Rnd 1 with a hook one size smaller, or add a third plain round of 30 sc.
The bottom flares or ruffles. You have extra increases. Recount Rnds 3–5: they should have 40, 50 and 60 sc.
The rim ruffles or pulls in. Recount Rnd 33. It must have exactly 60 sc, 6 per lace repeat.
The holder is too short. Add lace rounds in pairs. Each pair adds 1 in (2.5 cm).
The strap stretches over time. Use cotton yarn, or add a third line of sl sts down the center of the strap.
The ch-3 seam line is visible. Work the beginning ch-3 snugly, or replace it with a stacked sc (sc, then sc into the side of that sc).
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the tube while it is damp. Cotton versions can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag.
Final Notes
Each measurement builds on the one before it. A 30-stitch ring gives a 7.5 in (19.1 cm) bottom opening. Three increase rounds bring it to 60 sc, which is 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide flat. Those 60 stitches divide into 10 Leaf Shell repeats of 1.5 in (3.8 cm) each. The 27 lace rounds add 13.5 in (34.3 cm). Converting back to exactly 60 sc for the rim keeps the top the same width as the body. That gives a 15.7 in (39.9 cm) holder with a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) hanging loop.
If you check your gauge at each checkpoint, your holder will hang straight and dispense one bag at a time.
Happy crocheting!