This hanging paper towel holder adds a cozy winter touch to a kitchen wall. Two taupe crocheted straps hang from a wooden ring and form a soft A-frame. Two wooden dowels slide through openings in the straps: the top one holds a paper towel roll and the bottom one holds a hand towel.
Eight cream puff-stitch snowflakes are sewn along the straps, and a ninth one decorates the towel. The colors are warm oatmeal and soft cream, so the holder suits a farmhouse or Scandinavian-style kitchen and can stay up all winter, not just for Christmas.
All instructions use US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 13 in (33.0 cm) wide, which is the dowel length, and about 21 in (53.3 cm) tall below the ring. Each strap is 2 in (5.1 cm) wide and each snowflake is 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
Construction is simple. You crochet two straps in short rows of single crochet, with two dowel slots built into each strap. Then you work a two-round corded border around each strap, make nine snowflakes in the round, and put everything together with a tapestry needle.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 13 in (33.0 cm) wide × 21 in (53.3 cm) tall, not counting the ring
- Skill level: Easy to Intermediate (puff stitches and reverse single crochet)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Bulky (#5) for the straps; Worsted (#4) for the snowflakes
- Hooks: 6.0 mm (J-10) for the straps; 4.0 mm (G-6) for the snowflakes
- Number of pieces: 2 straps + 9 snowflakes
- Layout: A-frame. The two straps meet at one ring, with 4 snowflakes on each strap and 1 on the towel
- Strap size before border: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) × 24 in (61.0 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each edge
- Strap size after border: 2 in (5.1 cm) × 24.5 in (62.2 cm)
- Snowflake size: 3 in (7.6 cm) from point to opposite point
Materials
Use a smooth, firm yarn. Heathered acrylic or an acrylic-wool blend works well for the straps because it holds its shape under the weight of a full roll. Cotton or a cotton blend gives the snowflakes crisp, well-defined puffs.
- Taupe heather, Bulky (#5): 100 g / about 140 m (153 yd) for both straps
- Cream, Worsted (#4): 60 g / about 110 m (120 yd) for all 9 snowflakes
These quantities include a margin of about 25 percent for your gauge swatch and sewing tails.
Tools and hardware:
– 6.0 mm (J-10) and 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hooks
– 1 wooden ring, 2 in (5.1 cm) across
– 2 wooden dowels, each 13 in (33.0 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) thick
– Tapestry needle
– 4 stitch markers
– 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
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Puff stitch (puff): [Yarn over, insert hook in the stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop to about 0.5 in (1.3 cm)] 3 times. You now have 7 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 7 loops. Do not chain to close.
Reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work from left to right (left-handers work right to left). Insert the hook in the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops. This makes the rope-like, corded edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Strap gauge with the 6.0 mm hook: 4 sc = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 3 rows of sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
Snowflake gauge with the 4.0 mm hook: Rounds 1–4 = 3 in (7.6 cm) from point to point.
Before starting the full project, make one snowflake and the first 9 rows of one strap. Measure them before you continue.
Strap checkpoints (before border):
– After Row 3: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide × 1 in (2.5 cm) long
– After Row 24: 8 in (20.3 cm) long
– After Row 72: 24 in (61.0 cm) long
Snowflake checkpoints:
– After Round 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
– After Round 2: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
– After Round 3: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across
– After Round 4: 3 in (7.6 cm) point to point
If your work is too big, go down one hook size. If it is too small, go up one hook size. Strap length matters most: the slots need to sit 7 in (17.8 cm) apart so the paper towel roll has room above the hand towel. If your row gauge is off but your width is correct, add or remove plain rows between the slot rows to keep that 7 in (17.8 cm) spacing.
Strap (Make 2)
Use the taupe yarn and the 6.0 mm hook. The strap starts at the bottom tail and is worked upward.
Row 1: Ch 5. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (4 sc)
Rows 2–3: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (4 sc)
Row 4 (lower slot row): Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first st, ch 2, sk the next 2 sts, sc in the last st. (2 sc + 1 ch-2 sp)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first st, 2 sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in the last st. (4 sc)
The ch-2 space makes an opening about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide. The sc fabric stretches enough to let the dowel through snugly. Place a marker in Row 4.
Rows 6–24: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (4 sc in each row)
Checkpoint: the strap is 8 in (20.3 cm) long.
Row 25 (upper slot row): Repeat Row 4. (2 sc + 1 ch-2 sp)
Row 26: Repeat Row 5. (4 sc)
Place a marker in Row 25. The centers of the two slots are 21 rows apart, which equals 7 in (17.8 cm).
Rows 27–72: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (4 sc in each row)
Checkpoint: the strap is 24 in (61.0 cm) long and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide. Do not fasten off. Go straight into the border.
Snowflakes (Make 9)
Use the cream yarn and the 4.0 mm hook.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as the first dc), then work 11 dc in the ring. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small hole about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) across. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the next st, ch 3. *Dc in each of the next 2 sts, ch 3; rep from * 4 more times. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (12 dc + 6 ch-3 sps)
The six ch-3 spaces become the open windows around the solid center.
Round 3: Sl st in the next dc and into the next ch-3 sp. Ch 2 (does not count as a st). Work a puff in the same sp, ch 3, then work another puff in the same sp. Ch 3, sk the next 2 dc. *(Puff, ch 3, puff) in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk the next 2 dc; rep from * 4 more times. Join with a sl st to the top of the first puff. (12 puffs + 6 point ch-3 sps + 6 side ch-3 sps)
Round 4 (points): Sl st into the next point ch-3 sp. Ch 2 (does not count). Work (puff, ch 2, puff, ch 2, puff) in the same sp, ch 1, 3 sc in the next side ch-3 sp, ch 1. *(Puff, ch 2, puff, ch 2, puff) in the next point ch-3 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in the next side ch-3 sp, ch 1; rep from * 4 more times. Join with a sl st to the top of the first puff. (18 puffs + 18 sc + 12 ch-2 sps + 12 ch-1 sps)
Each point now has a cluster of three puffs, and the sc groups pull the edge in between the points to make the snowflake shape. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing. Weave in the starting tail.
Make All Pieces
- Taupe: 2 straps, each with lower and upper slots at Rows 4 and 25
- Cream: 9 snowflakes (8 for the straps, 1 for the towel)
Layout grid (front view):
( RING )
/ \
[SF] Row 58 Row 58 [SF]
/ \
[SF] Row 43 Row 43 [SF]
/ \
[SF] Row 28 Row 28 [SF]
===|==== PAPER TOWEL ROLL ======|=== upper dowel, Row 25 slots
| |
[SF] Row 7 Row 7 [SF]
===|==== HAND TOWEL [SF] =======|=== lower dowel, Row 4 slots
The upper strap snowflakes are spaced 15 rows apart, which equals 5 in (12.7 cm).
Joining
Border gauge: One round of sc plus one round of rev sc adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) to each edge.
Strap Border (Work on Each Strap)
Round 1: You are still at the end of Row 72. Ch 1, do not turn.
– Top short end: sc in each of the 4 sts (these include both corner sts), ch 1 at the corner.
– First long side: sc in the end of each row, 72 sc, ch 1 at the corner.
– Bottom short end: sc in each of the 4 free loops of the foundation chain, ch 1 at the corner.
– Second long side: 72 sc in the row ends, ch 1 at the corner.
Join with a sl st to the first sc. (152 sc + 4 corner ch-1 sps)
Round 2: Ch 1. Work rev sc in each sc around: 4 on each short end and 72 on each long side. Skip the corner ch-1 sps so the corners stay neat. Join and fasten off. (152 rev sc)
Why the math works: Each long side gets 1 sc per row end, which is 72 rows = 72 sc. Each short end has the strap’s 4 sts, and those 4 already include the corner stitches. So the total is 4 + 72 + 4 + 72 = 152. Single crochet rows are slightly shorter than single crochet stitches are wide, so 1 sc per row gives a firm, slightly compressed edge. That stops the strap from stretching under the roll’s weight. The corner ch-1 sps let the corners turn without adding stitches.
Strap check: 2 in (5.1 cm) wide × 24.5 in (62.2 cm) long.
Assembly
- Ring: Push the top 6 rows (Rows 67–72) of one strap through the wooden ring from front to back. Fold them down behind the strap. Whipstitch the top edge, all 4 short-end border sts plus the corners, to the back of Row 61, matching stitch to stitch. Repeat with the second strap in the same ring, right beside the first.
- Upper dowel: Slide one dowel through the left strap’s Row 25 slot from front to back. Put the paper towel roll on it, then slide the dowel through the right strap’s Row 25 slot. Leave about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of dowel sticking out past each strap.
- Lower dowel: Repeat with the second dowel through the Row 4 slots, then hang the towel over it.
- Snowflakes: Center a snowflake on each strap at Rows 7, 28, 43 and 58. With the cream tail, sew around the center ring through the strap. Then tack the two points that line up with the strap. The other four points sit free past the strap edges.
- Towel snowflake: Center the ninth snowflake on the towel and stitch around its center ring and all six points.
Tension advice: Sew firmly enough that the snowflakes don’t droop, but not so tightly that they cup. Keep every stitch about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) long.
Size check: Hang the holder. It should measure about 13 in (33.0 cm) across the dowels and 21 in (53.3 cm) from the bottom of the ring to the bottom edge of the straps. The slots should be 7 in (17.8 cm) apart, center to center.
Final Blocking
- Before assembling, pin each snowflake to the blocking mat at 3 in (7.6 cm) across, with one pin in each point.
- Shape each three-puff cluster gently into a rounded point.
- Spray until damp, not dripping.
- Pin each strap flat at 2 in (5.1 cm) × 24.5 in (62.2 cm), and keep the corded edges straight.
- Leave everything to dry completely, about 12 to 24 hours.
- Unpin all pieces and then assemble.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Both straps measure 24.5 in (62.2 cm) and have slots at Rows 4 and 25
- Each strap border has 152 stitches with neat corners
- Each snowflake has 18 puffs and 6 even points at 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Ring seams are stitched through all 4 short-end sts
- Dowels stick out about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) past the straps
- All yarn ends are woven in at least 1 in (2.5 cm)
- The holder hangs level at about 13 in (33.0 cm) × 21 in (53.3 cm)
Troubleshooting
- Dowel won’t fit through the slot: Redo the slot row with ch 3 instead of ch 2. Then in the next row work 3 sc in the space and skip one stitch, so the row still has 4 sc.
- Strap stretches when the roll is on: Your gauge is too loose. Use a smaller hook, or make sure the border has exactly 72 sc on each long side.
- Snowflakes curl: Rounds 3 and 4 are too tight. Pull up longer loops in your puffs and block the snowflakes again.
- Holder hangs crooked: Check that the ring seams sit at Row 61 on both straps.
- Puffs look flat: Pull up all three loops to the same height before you close the stitch.
Care
Remove the dowels and spot clean the straps with cool water, then lay flat to dry. Before washing the towel, unpick its snowflake or wash the towel by hand.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short. The strap gauge of 4 sc = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and 3 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) gives 72 rows, or 24 in (61.0 cm). The border brings each strap to 2 in (5.1 cm) × 24.5 in (62.2 cm). The slots sit 7 in (17.8 cm) apart, and the 13 in (33.0 cm) dowels set the final width. Snowflakes worked to 3 in (7.6 cm) finish the look. If you check each step, the holder will hang straight and stay sturdy all season.
Happy crocheting!