This hanging holder has three roomy pockets stacked on a soft blue backing and hung from a wooden ring. It keeps three spare rolls tidy, and it also works as a winter bathroom decoration.
The palette is powder blue, light gray and crisp white. Each pocket front is a small granny square in alternating blue and gray rounds, with a raised white snowflake sewn on top. A row of round white bobble beads trims every pocket rim and front seam.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide across the backing, about 5.25 in (13.3 cm) wide including the bead trim, and about 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall from the bottom edge to the top of the strap fold, not counting the ring.
Construction is simple. You crochet one backing panel in rows. Each pocket is a granny square front and a single crochet gusset strip, joined with a white seam and finished with bead trim. The snowflakes are sewn on, the pockets are sewn to the backing, and the strap is folded around the ring.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide x about 18.5 in (47.0 cm) tall, plus ring
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 10 (1 backing, 3 squares, 3 gussets, 3 snowflakes)
- Layout: 1 column of 3 pockets on the backing
- Pocket front (square): 4.75 in (12.1 cm) square
- Square size before white edging: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- Bead trim depth: about 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
- Pocket depth (gusset width): about 2.4 in (6.1 cm)
Materials
Pick a smooth worsted-weight cotton. It holds its shape in a humid bathroom, shows stitch definition, and makes rounder bobble beads than acrylic. Buy all of each color from one dye lot.
- Light blue (A): 110 g / about 187 m — backing, gussets, square Rounds 1 and 3
- Light gray (B): 25 g / about 43 m — square Rounds 2 and 4
- White (C): 50 g / about 85 m — square edging, joining seams, bead trim, snowflakes
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Wooden ring, 2.75 in (7.0 cm) diameter
– Tapestry needle
– 8–10 locking stitch markers
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Measuring tape and scissors
These quantities include a margin of about 15%. That covers a gauge swatch and small differences in tension.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch – Bead: Ch 3, yarn over, insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops; repeat from * to * 2 more times in the same ch (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 4 loops. Skip the next st and sl st in the following st. Each bead uses 2 sts of the edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc rows.
Before you start the backing, make one complete square (Rounds 1–5) as your test piece. It should measure 4.75 in (12.1 cm) per side. If it does, you can use it as one of the three pocket fronts.
Checkpoints for the square:
– After Round 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
– After Round 2: 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
– After Round 3: 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
– After Round 4: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
– After Round 5: 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
Checkpoints for the backing:
– Width: 19 sts = 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
– After Row 72: 16 in (40.6 cm)
If your square is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too big, go down one hook size. If it is too small, go up one size. The square has to match the backing width, so fix gauge before moving on.
Pocket Front: Snowflake Square (make 3)
Round 1 (A): Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, *3 dc in ring, ch 2; repeat from * 2 more times. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 corner sps; 3 dc per side)
Round 2 (B): Join B in any corner sp. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp, ch 1; repeat from * 2 more times. Join. Fasten off. (24 dc; 6 dc and 1 ch-1 sp per side)
Round 3 (A): Join A in any corner sp. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, *ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp; repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1, 3 dc in last ch-1 sp, ch 1. Join. Fasten off. (36 dc; 9 dc and 2 ch-1 sps per side)
Round 4 (B): Join B in any corner sp. Work as Round 3, putting 3 dc in each ch-1 sp along the sides. Join. Fasten off. (48 dc; 12 dc and 3 ch-1 sps per side)
Round 5 (C), conversion round: Join C in any corner sp. Ch 1, *3 sc in corner sp, sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp along the side; repeat from * around. Join to first sc. Fasten off.
Stitch count: 48 (1 sc per dc) + 12 (1 sc per ch-1 sp) + 12 (2 extra sc per corner) = 72 sc.
Each side has 17 sc between the corner center sts. Counting both of its corner centers, each side has 19 sts, which matches the 19-st backing width.
Pocket Gusset (make 3)
Foundation (A): Ch 56.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (55 sc)
Rows 2–11: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (55 sc)
Fasten off and leave a 36 in (91.4 cm) tail for sewing.
The gusset measures 13.75 in (34.9 cm) long and about 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide. Its 55 sts match the square’s left side, bottom and right side together: 19 + 19 + 19 − 2 shared corners = 55.
Snowflake Appliqué (make 3)
Round 1 (C): Magic ring, ch 1, 12 sc in ring. Join. (12 sc)
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24 dc; about 1.5 in / 3.8 cm across)
Round 3 (arms): *Sl st in next st. For the arm, ch 8, sl st in 4th ch from hook (tip loop), ch 3, sl st in same ch (second loop), ch 3, sl st in same ch (third loop), then sl st in each of the next 4 ch back to the base. Sc in next st, (sc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sc) in next st, sc in next st; repeat from * 5 more times. Join. (6 arms, each with a 3-loop tip, and 6 small picots between arms)
Each repeat uses 4 sts, and 6 x 4 = 24. Pin the snowflake flat to about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from tip to tip. Leave a 20 in (50.8 cm) tail.
Backing Panel (make 1)
Foundation (A): Ch 20.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (19 sc)
Rows 2–72: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (19 sc)
Checkpoint: 4.75 x 16 in (12.1 x 40.6 cm).
Shaping the tab:
– Row 73: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (17 sc)
– Rows 74–77: Repeat Row 73. (15, 13, 11, 9 sc)
Strap:
– Rows 78–97: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (9 sc, 2.25 in / 5.7 cm wide)
Fasten off and leave a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Qty | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Snowflake square | 3 | A (Rnds 1, 3), B (Rnds 2, 4), C (Rnd 5) |
| Gusset | 3 | A |
| Snowflake | 3 | C |
| Backing | 1 | A |
Backing layout (rows counted from the bottom):
Rows 78–97 strap (9 sts) -> ring
Rows 73–77 tapered tab
Rows 70–72 top margin
Rows 50–69 POCKET 3
Rows 47–49 gap
Rows 27–46 POCKET 2
Rows 24–26 gap
Rows 4–23 POCKET 1
Rows 1–3 bottom margin
Check the total: 3 + 20 + 3 + 20 + 3 + 20 + 3 = 72 rows. Put markers on both side edges at the start of Rows 4, 27 and 50.
Joining
Step 1: Snowflake to square. Center the snowflake on the RS of a square. Use the tail to tack down Round 1 all around, then tack each arm tip and each picot. The arms should sit over the blue and gray rounds.
Step 2: Square to gusset (C). Hold the square RS facing you, with the gusset behind it and the gusset’s foundation edge lined up with the square’s edge. Join C at the top-left corner center st. Working through the square’s st and the matching foundation loop of the gusset, sc 1 for 1:
- 19 sts from the top-left corner down the left side to the bottom-left corner
- 18 sts along the bottom (17 side sts plus the bottom-right corner)
- 18 sts up the right side (17 side sts plus the top-right corner)
That gives 19 + 18 + 18 = 55 sc. Bend the gusset sharply at each bottom corner and don’t add any stitches there. Leave the square’s 17 top sts unworked; they form the front rim.
Step 3: Bead trim. See the next section.
Step 4: Pocket to backing. Lay the backing RS up. The gusset’s last row (Row 11, 55 sts) is the back edge.
- Gusset sts 19–37 (the bottom 19) go across the backing, 1 to 1, along the line between Rows 3 and 4.
- Sts 1–18 and 38–55 go up the backing’s side edges over Rows 4–23.
There are 18 sts for 20 row ends, so whipstitch 1 st to 1 row end and take 2 row ends together at about the 6th and 12th sts. Repeat for Pocket 2 (Rows 27–46) and Pocket 3 (Rows 50–69).
Keep your sewing tension firm but flat. The backing should not pucker. Size checkpoint: the backing should still measure 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide behind each pocket.
Border: White Bead Trim
Border gauge: each bead uses 2 edge sts and stands about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) tall.
Work this on each pocket after Step 2 and before Step 4.
Bead round (C): Join C with sl st in the first joining sc (top-left corner). Work [Bead] 27 times along the joining seam. Each bead skips 1 st and sl sts in the next, so 1 + 27 x 2 = 55, and the last sl st lands in the top-right corner sc.
Continue across the top rim: work [Bead] 9 times over the 17 top sts. The 9th bead’s sl st goes into the starting sl st. Fasten off.
Counts per side:
– Left side: about 9 beads
– Bottom: about 9 beads
– Right side: about 9 beads
– Top rim: 9 beads
– Total: 36 beads
Why the math works: the edge has 55 + 17 = 72 sts, which equals the square’s 72-st Round 5. Since 72 is even, 36 beads go around evenly with no leftover st.
Ring and Strap
Pass the strap (Rows 78–97) through the wooden ring from front to back. Fold it down over the back of the tab and whipstitch the last row across the WS at Row 75. The fold above Row 77 adds about 1.4 in (3.6 cm), so the total height is about 18.5 in (47.0 cm).
Final Blocking
- Before joining, block each square to 4.75 in (12.1 cm) per side.
- Pin each snowflake to 3.75 in (9.5 cm), opening up the tip loops. Spray with water and let it dry.
- Block the backing to 4.75 x 16 in (12.1 x 40.6 cm) below the tab.
- After assembly, mist the pockets lightly. Stuff each pocket with a toilet roll so it dries rounded.
- Leave flat until fully dry. Don’t press the beads or the snowflakes.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every square has 72 sts in Round 5 and measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
- Each joining seam has 55 sc and each pocket has 36 beads
- The pockets line up with Rows 4, 27 and 50
- The backing is 19 sts wide all the way to Row 72
- The strap is sewn securely and the ring doesn’t twist
- All tails are woven in on the WS
- A roll slides into each pocket without stretching the seams
Troubleshooting
- Square cups or ruffles: Check that Round 5 has only 3 sc per corner, and adjust your hook size.
- Gusset is too short for the square: Make sure the gusset has 55 sts. Don’t skip the corner sts.
- Beads lean flat: Close each bead tightly, then sl st firmly.
- Pocket sags: Tighten the bottom whipstitch seam. Cotton yarn helps here.
- Backing curls: Block it, and check that your rows are not tighter than your foundation chain.
- Rolls don’t fit: Add 1 row to each gusset (12 rows), giving 2.7 in (6.9 cm) of depth.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press out the water in a towel and dry flat with a roll in each pocket to keep the shape.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short. Gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 19-st backing 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide. The square’s 19 sts per side match that width, and its 72-st edge gives a 55-st seam plus 17 rim sts, for 36 beads. Check each link before moving on, and the holder will hang straight with three even pockets.
Happy crocheting!