This lantern-shaped bag holder makes a storage job look like decor. Solid navy stripes alternate with open mustard-gold mesh windows, so you can see the stash of plastic bags inside. A flared, scalloped roof and two tassels finish the lantern look.
The color scheme is deep navy and warm mustard gold, with a twisted gold edge at the top and bottom. Burgundy and cream also works well. Keep a dark solid color with a light mesh color so the windows stand out.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 10 in (25.4 cm) tall from the bottom edge to the top rim, 19 in (48.3 cm) around the body and about 6 in (15.2 cm) across. The roof flares to 22 in (55.9 cm) around.
You work the holder bottom-up in one piece. First comes a navy bottom band, then the body in joined, turned rounds using intarsia. A decrease round forms the shoulder, followed by a short neck. The roof skirt is worked downward into the free front loops of the shoulder round, so it is part of the same piece. The handle and tassels are added last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished height (main piece): 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Body circumference: 19 in (48.3 cm), about 6 in (15.2 cm) across
- Roof edge circumference: 22 in (55.9 cm) before scallops
- Bottom opening and neck circumference: 14 in (35.6 cm), about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across
- Skill level: Intermediate (intarsia in the round)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 main piece, plus 1 handle strip and 2 tassels
- Layout: 4 navy stripes alternating with 4 gold mesh panels, under an 8-panel roof
- Body quarter (1 stripe + 1 mesh panel): 19 stitches, 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
- Height before edgings: 9 in (22.9 cm)
- Edging depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at top and bottom
Materials
Use a smooth, firm worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the lantern shape and keeps the mesh crisp. Soft acrylic will sag once the holder is full.
- Navy (Color A): 90 g, about 155 m
- Mustard gold (Color B): 65 g, about 110 m (includes the tassels)
Both amounts include about a 15% margin for swatching and the intarsia tails.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– 8 yarn bobbins or small butterflies of yarn (4 navy, 4 gold)
– 4 stitch markers
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– A 5 in (12.7 cm) piece of stiff cardboard for the tassels
– Rustproof pins and a spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- BLO / FLO – back loop only / front loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Special stitch: Reverse single crochet. Work from left to right (right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops. This makes the twisted, rope-like rim.
Mesh panel (13 sts): dc in the first st, [ch 1, skip 1 st or ch-sp, dc in next st] 6 times. That gives 7 dc and 6 ch-sps, or 6 open squares.
Color change: Work the last dc of the old color until 2 loops remain on the hook. Drop the old color to the wrong side, pick up the new color and pull it through.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 dc and 8 dc rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in navy.
Make a flat swatch of 20 dc by 10 rows and measure the middle 4 in (10.2 cm). Mesh worked at this gauge gives squares that are 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 3: the tube measures 19 in (48.3 cm) around and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 15: height is 7.5 in (19.1 cm). Each mesh panel is 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide and each stripe is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide.
– After Rnd 18: height is 9 in (22.9 cm) and the neck measures 14 in (35.6 cm) around.
– After Roof Rnd 4: the roof edge is 22 in (55.9 cm) around and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.
Too big? Go down a hook size (4 mm). Too small? Go up a hook size (5 mm). Fix gauge on the swatch before Rnd 4. Once the body starts, a bad gauge carries through every later section.
Main Pattern
Bottom Band (Navy)
With navy, ch 56 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Don’t twist the chain.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), dc in each ch around, sl st to the top of ch-3. (56 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in each st around, sl st to join. (56 dc)
Rnd 3 (increase/conversion round): Ch 3, dc in the same st, then dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] 3 times, dc in next 4 sts. This finishes quarter 1. [Dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] 5 times, dc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Sl st to join.
(56 sts worked 1-per-st + 20 increases = 76 dc, or 19 per quarter)
Place a marker in the first st of each quarter: sts 1, 20, 39 and 58.
Body (Intarsia, Rnds 4–15)
Each quarter is a navy stripe of 6 dc followed by a gold mesh panel of 13 sts. Wind 4 navy and 4 gold bobbins, about 4 m each. Use the main navy strand as the first navy bobbin.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sts (stripe 1, navy). Change to gold bobbin 1 and work the mesh panel over the next 13 sts. Change to navy bobbin 2 and dc in next 6 sts. Repeat the mesh/stripe sequence around, so you finish with mesh panel 4 in gold. Sl st to the top of ch-3 and turn. (76 sts: 24 navy dc + 52 gold mesh sts)
Rnd 5 (wrong-side pass): You now start at the end of mesh panel 4, where its gold bobbin is waiting. With gold, ch 3 (counts as the first mesh dc). Then [ch 1, skip ch-sp, dc in next dc] 6 times. Change to navy, dc in next 6 sts. Keep working each section in reverse order with the bobbin waiting at its edge. Sl st to join, then turn. (76 sts)
Rnds 6–15: Repeat Rnds 4 and 5 five more times, for 12 body rounds in total. Always work dc into dc and ch 1 over each ch-sp. This stacks the mesh into true squares. (76 sts each round)
At the end of Rnd 15, cut all gold bobbins and 3 navy bobbins, leaving 6 in (15.2 cm) tails. Keep the navy strand at the join.
Checkpoint: 12 squares tall, 6 squares wide per panel. Height is 7.5 in (19.1 cm).
Shoulder and Neck (Navy)
Rnd 16 (decrease round): Ch 3, [dc in next st, dc2tog] 5 times, dc in next 4 sts (worked over 19 sts, makes 14). Repeat 4 times in total. On the first repeat, the ch-3 stands in for the first dc. Sl st to join and don’t turn. (56 dc, 14 per quarter)
Rnd 17: Ch 3, working in BLO, dc in each st around, sl st to join. (56 dc) The front loops of Rnd 16 stay free for the roof.
Rnd 18: Ch 3, dc in each st around, sl st to join. Fasten off navy. (56 dc)
Top Rim (Gold)
Rnd 19: Join gold in any st. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (56 sc)
Rnd 20: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, sl st to join. Fasten off. (56 rev sc)
Roof (Navy, worked downward)
Turn the holder upside down. Join navy in a free front loop of Rnd 16 directly above a quarter marker.
Roof Rnd 1: Ch 3, working in FLO, dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * 6 more times. Sl st to join. (64 dc, 8 per panel)
Roof Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in each st across the panel, working 2 dc in the last st of each panel. (72 dc, 9 per panel)
Roof Rnd 3: Repeat Rnd 2. (80 dc, 10 per panel)
Roof Rnd 4: Repeat Rnd 2. Fasten off. (88 dc, 11 per panel)
Checkpoint: The roof is 22 in (55.9 cm) around and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.
Handle (Gold)
Ch 41. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (40 sc) Then sl st down the other side of the foundation chain. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The strip is 10 in (25.4 cm) long.
Sew one end to Rnd 19 above st 1 and the other end above st 29, directly opposite. Sew it securely through both rim rounds.
Tassels (make 2, Gold)
Wrap gold 25 times around the 5 in (12.7 cm) cardboard. Tie the top with a 12 in (30.5 cm) strand and cut the bottom loops. Wrap another strand tightly 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top to form the head, 10 times, then bury the end.
Trim the tassel to 4.5 in (11.4 cm). Use the tie strands to attach one tassel to the bottom edge at st 1 and the other at st 29.
Border
All three edgings are the border. Each is worked in gold at the gauge above, so 4 sc or rev sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Bottom edge: Turn the holder upside down and join gold in a free loop of the foundation chain at a quarter marker.
– Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to join. (56 sc, 14 per quarter)
– Rnd 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around. (56 rev sc, 14 per quarter) Fasten off.
Why it works: the foundation has 56 chains, so 1 sc per chain keeps the 14 in (35.6 cm) opening flat without flaring.
Top rim: Rnds 19–20 above give 56 sts, 14 per quarter. This matches the 56 sts of the neck exactly.
Roof scallops: Join gold in the first st of any roof panel.
– Scallop round: Sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in each of next 3 sts, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sl st in next st. Repeat from * 7 more times. Sl st to join and fasten off.
– Count: Each scallop works over 11 sts and makes 14 (11 worked 1-per-st + 3 extra), so the round has 112 sts in 8 scallops.
Why it works: 88 roof sts ÷ 8 panels = 11 sts per scallop exactly. The 3 extra stitches at each scallop’s peak give it a gentle curve without ruffling.
Gold roof lines: With gold, surface sl st from the scallop up to the neck along each of the 8 increase columns. This gives 8 lines of 4 rounds each.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the wrong side, keeping each one inside its own color.
- Stuff the holder firmly with plastic bags or a rolled towel until it is 6 in (15.2 cm) across.
- Spray it evenly until damp, not soaked.
- Ease the mesh squares into straight columns with your fingers.
- Shape the roof so it flares outward. Pin the scallops into even curves on a towel ring.
- Let it dry completely, about 24 hours, before removing the stuffing.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Total height is 10 in (25.4 cm) and the body is 19 in (48.3 cm) around.
- There are 4 navy stripes of 6 dc and 4 mesh panels of 6 × 12 squares.
- The mesh columns line up vertically, with no slanting.
- The roof has 88 sts, 8 scallops and 8 gold lines.
- Both rims have 56 rev sc with no gaps.
- The handle is centered between opposite points and securely sewn.
- The tassels hang at opposite sides and are trimmed level.
Troubleshooting
- Mesh spirals or slants: You probably forgot to turn. Turn after every body round.
- Gold shows through the navy stripes: Pull the dropped color snug at each change and keep the tails on the wrong side.
- Roof cups inward: Your tension is tight. Redo the roof with a 5 mm hook.
- Roof ruffles: Check for 11 sts per panel before you start the scallops.
- Bags fall out the bottom: Add a round of [sc 2, sc2tog] before the rev sc edge, or thread round elastic through Rnd 1.
- Holder sags when full: Use firmer cotton or go down a hook size.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and press out excess moisture in a towel. Reshape it over a rolled towel to dry flat.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. The 56-st base is 14 in (35.6 cm) around, and the increase round brings it to 76 sts, or 19 in (48.3 cm). Twelve body rounds add 6 in (15.2 cm). The shoulder decrease returns to 56 sts at the neck, and the roof grows from 56 to 88 sts, giving 22 in (55.9 cm) for 8 even scallops. If each checkpoint matches, the whole lantern comes together in proportion.
Happy crocheting!