Brown and yellow crocheted bookmark with three appliquéd stars displayed flat on a cream-colored linen background.

Golden Star Hanging Toilet Paper Holder Crochet Pattern

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This hanging toilet paper holder is a tall, narrow panel with three deep pockets, and each pocket holds one spare roll. Chocolate-brown star stitch gives every piece a thick, nubby texture, and butter-yellow rims and stars brighten the brown.

The style is cozy and a little festive. It suits a holiday bathroom but also works all year. The bottom of the panel is rounded, and the top narrows into a strap that loops over a towel rod or dowel.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide and about 26 in (66.0 cm) tall when hanging, including the loop. Each pocket is 6 in (15.2 cm) wide, 4 in (10.2 cm) deep, and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.

You work the panel flat in rows, from the bottom up to the tab. The pockets are oval baskets worked in turned rounds. After you make three small stars and sew everything together, you add a two-round border and block the holder.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 7.25 × 26 in (18.4 × 66.0 cm) hanging, including the loop
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
  • Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
  • Number of pieces: 7 (1 panel, 3 pockets, 3 stars)
  • Layout: 3 pockets stacked vertically on one panel
  • Pocket size: 6 × 4 × 3.75 in (15.2 × 10.2 × 9.5 cm)
  • Panel size before border: 6.25 × 23.25 in (15.9 × 59.1 cm), not counting the tab
  • Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on each side

Materials

Use a smooth worsted cotton. Cotton holds its shape under the weight of the rolls and handles bathroom humidity well. Acrylic works too, but it stretches more.

  • Chocolate brown (Color A): 300 g, about 510 m
  • Butter yellow (Color B): 60 g, about 102 m

These amounts include a margin of about 15%.

Tools: 5.0 mm (H-8) hook, tapestry needle, 8 locking stitch markers, measuring tape, scissors, blocking mat, and rust-proof pins.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
  • BLO – back loop only
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • RS / WS – right side / wrong side

Star (special stitch): Pull up a loop in each of 5 places so you have 6 loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all 6 loops, then ch 1 to close the star. That ch-1 is the star’s eye. After the first star, the 5 places are always:

  1. the eye of the previous star
  2. the back of the last loop of the previous star
  3. the same st where that star’s last loop went
  4. the next st
  5. the st after that

This means each new star uses 2 new stitches.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Star pattern: 4 sts (2 stars) = 1 in (2.5 cm); 2 rows (1 star row and 1 hdc row) = 1 in (2.5 cm)
  • Single crochet: 4 sc and 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm)

Make one pocket first as your test piece. It uses both gauges.

Checkpoints:
– Pocket base after Rnd 8: 6 × 4 in (15.2 × 10.2 cm)
– Pocket wall circumference: 16 in (40.6 cm)
– Panel width after Row 4: 6.25 in (15.9 cm)
– Panel length after Row 44: 21 in (53.3 cm)
– Panel length after Row 53: 23.25 in (59.1 cm)

If your piece is too big, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Never change the stitch counts, because the pocket backs and the panel both depend on 25 matching stitches.

Handmade crocheted basket in brown with yellow star appliqué and contrasting trim, wooden handle.

Pocket (Make 3)

Base

With Color A, ch 10.

Rnd 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in the next 7 ch (8 sc). Work 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate the work, sc in the next 7 ch along the underside, then work 2 sc in the last ch. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (22 sts)

Each end now has a 3-st curve, and each straight side has 8 sts. Place a marker in the middle st of each end curve, and move the markers up as you work.

Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc around, working 2 sc in each of the 3 end sts at both ends. Join. (28 sts)

Rnds 3–8: Ch 1. Sc around, spreading 3 increases evenly over each end curve, for 6 new sts per round. Join. The round totals are Rnd 3: 34, Rnd 4: 40, Rnd 5: 46, Rnd 6: 52, Rnd 7: 58, and Rnd 8: 64 sts.

Checkpoint: the base measures 6 × 4 in (15.2 × 10.2 cm) and lies flat.

Walls

Rnd 9: Ch 1. Sc in the BLO of each st around. Join. (64 sts) The unused front loops form a ridge, and the walls start to rise from it.

Rnd 10 (RS, star round): Ch 3. Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook, in the 3rd ch from the hook, and in each of the first 3 sts (6 loops). Yarn over, draw through all 6 loops, and ch 1. Work 30 more Stars, each one taking the next 2 sts. For the final Star, pull up loops in the eye, the back of the last loop, st 63, st 64, and the first st. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (32 stars)

Rnd 11 (WS, hdc round): Ch 2 (does not count as a st), turn. Work 2 hdc in each eye around. Join to the first hdc. (64 hdc)

Rnds 12–15: Repeat Rnds 10–11 twice more, for 3 star rounds in total. Fasten off Color A.

Checkpoint: the walls are 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall above the ridge.

Rim

Rnd 16: With the RS facing, join Color B. Ch 1 and sc in each st around (64 sts worked one per stitch, 0 added). Join. (64 sts)

Rnd 17: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join and fasten off. (64 sts)

The pocket is now 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.

Star Appliqué (Make 3)

With Color B, make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Work 10 sc in the ring and pull the ring closed. Join to the first sc. (10 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work a sl st, sc, hdc, and dc down the chain, one in each ch. Skip 1 sc and sl st in the next sc. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (5 points)

Each point uses 2 of the center sts, so the 5 points use all 10. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing. The star measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.

Back Panel

Bottom Curve

With Color A, ch 20.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (19 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 17 sts, then work 2 sc in the last st. (21 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 19 sts, then work 2 sc in the last st. (23 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 21 sts, then work 2 sc in the last st. (25 sts)

Checkpoint: the panel is 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide and 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.

Star Section

Row 5 (RS): Ch 3. Pull up a loop in the 2nd and 3rd ch from the hook and in each of the first 3 sts. Yarn over, draw through all 6 loops, and ch 1. Work 11 more Stars across. The 12th Star ends in the last st. (12 stars)

Row 6 (WS): Ch 2 (does not count as a st), turn. Work 2 hdc in each eye across, then 1 hdc in the top of the turning ch-3. (25 sts)

Rows 7–44: Repeat Rows 5–6 another 19 times, for 40 pattern rows in total.

Checkpoint: the panel is 21 in (53.3 cm) long.

Top Taper

Row 45: Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc in the next 21 sts, sc2tog. (23 sts)

Rows 46–53: Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc across to the last 2 sts, sc2tog. The row totals are 21, 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, and 7 sts.

Checkpoint: the panel is 23.25 in (59.1 cm) long.

Hanging Tab

Rows 54–69: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (7 sts)

The tab is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide and 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Fasten off.

Make All Pieces

  • Color A: 1 panel and 3 pocket bodies (Rnds 1–15)
  • Color B: 3 pocket rims (Rnds 16–17), 3 stars, and Rnd 2 of the border

Layout (front view):

        [ tab loop ]
       /   taper    \
      | Pocket 3 (*) |  base on Row 34, rim on Row 42
      | Pocket 2 (*) |  base on Row 20, rim on Row 28
      | Pocket 1 (*) |  base on Row 6,  rim on Row 14
       \bottom curve/

Joining

Stars: Center one star on each pocket front, over Rnds 11–14, directly opposite the middle of the back. Whipstitch around the edge with the tail.

Mark the pocket back: Pick one straight side to be the back. Mark its center st, then count out 12 sts to each side and mark those too. The back of the pocket now spans 25 sts, and the remaining 39 sts form the curved front.

Base seam: With the panel RS up, line up the 25 marked Rnd 9 sts with the 25 hdc of Row 6. Using Color A, whipstitch them together 1 to 1, going through the front-loop ridge and the hdc.

Side seams: Starting at each outer marker, whipstitch the pocket wall straight up the panel beside st 1 and beside st 25.

Rim tack: Whipstitch the 25 back rim sts of Rnd 17 to the 25 hdc of Row 14, 1 to 1. The wall eases about 0.25 in (0.6 cm), which keeps the back flat and firm.

Repeat for pocket 2 on Rows 20 and 28 and for pocket 3 on Rows 34 and 42.

Tension: Make the whipstitches snug but not tight. Puckered seams narrow the panel.

Size checkpoint: The panel still measures 6.25 in (15.9 cm) across at every pocket.

Border

Border gauge: 4 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm). Work 2 sc in the end of each star-pattern row, because those rows are 0.5 in tall. Work 1 sc in the end of each sc row.

Rnd 1 (Color A): With the RS facing, join at the first foundation ch.

  • Bottom: Work 3 sc in the first ch, 1 sc in each of the next 17 ch, and 3 sc in the last ch. (23 sts)
  • Each long side: Rows 1–4: 1 sc per row end (4 sts). Rows 5–44: 2 sc per row end (80 sts). Rows 45–53: 1 sc per row end (9 sts). Rows 54–69: 1 sc per row end (16 sts). (109 sts)
  • Tab top: Work 3 sc in the first st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, and 3 sc in the last st. (11 sts)

Join. The round total is 23 + 109 + 11 + 109 = 252 sts.

Rnd 2 (Color B): Ch 1. Sc in each st around, working 3 sc in the center st of each of the 4 corner groups (252 sts worked one per stitch, plus 8 added). Join and fasten off. (260 sts) The bottom now has 27 sts, each long side has 109, and the tab top has 15.

Why the math works: Every side count matches its length at 4 sts per inch. For example, the 80 sts along the star section match its 20 in (50.8 cm), so the edges stay flat without waving. The corner groups are counted only in the bottom and tab-top totals, so no corner is counted twice. The two sc rounds add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) per side, which takes the width from 6.25 in (15.9 cm) to 7.25 in (18.4 cm).

Loop: Fold the tab to the back and sew Row 69 to the WS of Row 53. This makes a loop about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall that fits a rod up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter.

Final Blocking

  1. Mist the holder lightly, or hover steam above it. Never press the iron down on it.
  2. Lay it face up on the blocking mat.
  3. Pin the panel to 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide and 23.75 in (60.3 cm) from the bottom edge to the start of the tab.
  4. Stuff each pocket with a small towel so it dries round.
  5. Pin each star point sharp.
  6. Let it dry completely before you hang it.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • The panel is 7.25 in (18.4 cm) wide with straight sides.
  • The hanging length is about 26 in (66.0 cm).
  • Each pocket rim has 64 sts and lies smooth.
  • Each pocket’s 25 back sts match 25 panel sts at both the base and the rim.
  • All 5 points of each star are sewn down.
  • The border has no gaps at the taper or the tab.
  • All ends are woven in at least 2 in (5.1 cm).

Troubleshooting

  • The base cups: Spread the increases more evenly around the curves, or go up a hook size.
  • The base ruffles: The increases are bunched together. Rework the round with them spaced evenly.
  • Star rows are wider than sc rows: Pull all 6 loops to the same height and keep the ch-1 eye snug.
  • The border waves: Count again, using exactly 2 sc per star-section row end.
  • A pocket sags forward: Re-tack the back rim firmly, matching it 1 to 1.

Care

Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the pockets while they are damp. Do not tumble dry.

Brown crochet toilet paper holder with yellow stars and trim, displaying three white rolls in a decorated bathroom.

Final Notes

The measurements build on each other. At 4 sts per inch, the 25-st panel is 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide. The 64-st pocket base measures 6 × 4 in (15.2 × 10.2 cm), and its 25 back sts sit flat on 25 panel sts. The two-round border brings the width to 7.25 in (18.4 cm), and the folded tab brings the hanging length to about 26 in (66.0 cm). Check each stage against these numbers and the holder will hang straight.

Happy crocheting!

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