Navy and cream macramé wall hanging with tiered lattice sections and decorative shell motifs on beige wall.

Harbor Shell Three-Tier Hanging Basket Crochet Pattern

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The Harbor Shell organizer is a set of three hanging baskets for a bathroom wall. Each basket holds one standard toilet roll. The tiers hang from a natural wooden ring on two navy lattice straps.

The colors are classic coastal. Deep navy cotton makes the basket bodies and straps. Warm cream makes the diamond net, the scalloped rims and a ridged seashell on the top basket. The look is crisp and nautical without being busy.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished organizer is about 26 in (66.0 cm) tall including the ring. Each basket is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across the base and 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall to the top of the scallops.

The construction is easy to follow. Make three baskets in rounds and add a cream net and scalloped rim to each one. Make two straps in rows and crochet one shell. Then sew everything together and fold the straps over the ring.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: about 26 in (66.0 cm) tall including the ring; 6 in (15.2 cm) wide at the rims
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Aran / medium (#4) cotton
  • Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
  • Number of pieces: 6 crocheted (3 baskets, 2 straps, 1 shell) plus 1 wooden ring
  • Layout: 3 baskets stacked vertically in one column
  • Basket size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) base diameter
  • Size before border: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wall height
  • Border depth: the scalloped rim adds 1 in (2.5 cm), for 4.75 in (12.1 cm) total height
  • Strap size: 24.25 in (61.6 cm) long by 2 in (5.1 cm) wide

Materials

Choose a smooth, firm cotton or cotton blend in Aran weight, about 180 yd (164.6 m) per 100 g. Cotton keeps the baskets upright. Acrylic will slump.

  • Navy: 200 g, about 360 yd (329.2 m)
  • Cream: 100 g, about 180 yd (164.6 m)

These amounts include a margin of about 20 percent for gauge swatches and differences in tension.

Tools:
– 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– One wooden ring, 3 in (7.6 cm) outer diameter
– Stitch markers
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • rsc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
  • FPdc – front post double crochet
  • BLO / FLO – back loop only / front loop only
  • sk – skip
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • sp – space

Special stitch – rsc (crab stitch): Work from left to right (if you are right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over again and pull through both loops. This stitch makes the corded edge on the rims.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 14 sc and 16 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in the round.

Make one full basket first, without the rim, and check each stage before you make the others.

  • After Rnd 10: the base is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across and lies flat.
  • After Rnd 16: the bottom band is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall from the base edge.
  • After Rnd 25: the wall is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall. A toilet roll about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across should drop in easily.
  • After the rim: the basket is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall.

If the base is larger than 5.5 in (14.0 cm), change to a 4.5 mm hook. If it is smaller than 5.25 in (13.3 cm), change to a 5.5 mm hook. A base that ruffles means your tension is loose. A base that cups means your tension is tight.

Cream crochet shell motif with five ribbed sections and rope detailing on navy textured fabric.

Basket (Make 3)

Work in continuous rounds with navy unless told to join. Mark the first stitch of each round.

Base

Rnd 1: Magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (42 sts)

Rnd 8: Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (48 sts)

Rnd 9: Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (54 sts)

Rnd 10: Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times. (60 sts)

Checkpoint: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across.

Walls

Rnd 11 (conversion round): Sc in BLO of each st around. (60 + 0 = 60 sts) The unused front loops make a crisp edge around the base.

Rnds 12–16: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)

Rnd 17: Sc in BLO of each st around. (60 sts) The unused front loops of Rnd 16 will hold the net later.

Rnds 18–25: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)

Sl st in next st and fasten off. Checkpoint: the wall is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.

Cream Diamond Net

Keep the basket right side up. The net grows upward toward the top edge.

Rnd N1: Join cream in any free front loop of Rnd 16. Ch 1, sc in each free front loop around, join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts) This makes the cream ridge above the solid navy band.

Rnd N2: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 5, sk 4, sc in next st, ch 5, sk 4 11 times, join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-5 loops)

Rnd N3: Sl st in each of first 3 ch, ch 1, sc in same loop, ch 5, sc in next loop 11 times, ch 5, join with sl st to first sc. (12 loops)

Rnd N4: Repeat Rnd N3. (12 loops)

Do not fasten off. Lay the net flat against the wall. The loops of Rnd N4 should reach Rnd 25 without stretching. Pull the loop on your hook long, take the hook out and hold the loop with a marker.

Make All Pieces

Strap (Make 2)

Work in rows with navy.

Foundation: Ch 86.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Turn. (85 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 5, sk 3, sc in next st 21 times. Turn. (22 sc, 21 loops)

Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first loop, ch 5, sc in next loop 20 times, ch 2, dc in last sc. Turn. (21 sc, 20 loops, 2 ch-2 sps)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in dc, sc in ch-2 sp, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next loop 20 times, sc in last sc, sc in ch-2 sp, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch. (1 + 1 + 80 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 85 sts)

Fasten off. Checkpoint: 24.25 in (61.6 cm) long by 2 in (5.1 cm) wide.

Shell Appliqué (Make 1)

Work in rows with cream.

Row 1 (RS): Magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in ring. Turn. (7 sts)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each of next 5 sts, dc in last st. Turn. (2 + 10 + 1 = 13 sts)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, FPdc around next st, 2 dc in next st 6 times. Turn. (2 + 18 = 20 sts, 6 ridges)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (20 sts)

Hinge tab: Ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch, sl st into the center of the magic ring. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.

Pull the magic ring tight. Checkpoint: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide by 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall.

Piece Summary

  • Navy: 3 basket bodies, 2 straps
  • Cream: 3 nets, 3 rims, 1 shell

Layout Grid

        [ wooden ring ]
        /             \
   strap A           strap B
   [ TOP basket  + shell  ]
   |  gap 1.5 in (3.8 cm) |
   [ MIDDLE basket        ]
   |  gap 1.5 in (3.8 cm) |
   [ BOTTOM basket        ]

Border: Scalloped Cream Rim

Border gauge: One scallop repeat uses 6 base sts, about 1.7 in (4.3 cm). It stands about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall including the crab-stitch edge.

Rnd R1 (net join): Put the held cream loop from the net back on your hook and bring it to the top of Rnd 25. Sc in next 2 sts of Rnd 25, sc through next N4 loop and next st together, sc in next 2 sts 12 times, join with sl st to first sc. (12 repeats x 5 = 60 sts)

Rnd R2 (scallops): Sc in next st, sk 2, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 10 times, join with sl st to first sc. (10 sc + 70 dc = 80 sts; 8 sts per scallop)

Rnd R3 (corded edge): Ch 1, rsc in each st around, join with sl st to first rsc. (80 sts; 8 per scallop)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Why the math works: The wall has 60 sts. The net needs a multiple of 5 (60 / 5 = 12 loops), and the scallops need a multiple of 6 (60 / 6 = 10 scallops). Rnd R1 catches all 12 net loops without adding any stitches, so R2 starts on exactly 60 sts. R3 works one stitch into each R2 stitch, so it stays at 80.

Joining

Choose the neatest side of each basket as the front. Mark the front-center stitch of Rnd 25 as st 1. Then mark sts 17–23 on the back-left and sts 39–45 on the back-right. Each strap covers 7 sts, which is 2 in (5.1 cm).

Strap Zones (counted from the strap’s bottom end)

  • Sts 1–17: bottom basket, about 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
  • Sts 18–22: gap, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
  • Sts 23–39: middle basket
  • Sts 40–44: gap
  • Sts 45–61: top basket
  • Sts 62–79: free rise to the ring, about 5 in (12.7 cm)
  • Sts 80–85: fold over the ring, about 1.75 in (4.4 cm)

Check: 17 + 5 + 17 + 5 + 17 + 18 + 6 = 85 sts.

Sewing

Use navy and a tapestry needle to whipstitch both long edges of the strap to the basket wall. Strap st 1 meets Rnd 11, and strap st 13 meets Rnd 25.

Make one whipstitch per wall round, for 15 stitches. Strap sts 1–13 have to ease into 15 rounds, so sew into the same strap st twice at Rnd 15 and again at Rnd 21. Strap sts 14–17 sit behind the rim. Tack them to Rnd R1 only so the scallops stay free.

Keep your stitches snug but not tight. The wall should stay round and should not pucker inward.

Fold strap sts 80–85 over the ring to the back and whipstitch them flat onto sts 74–79. Repeat with the second strap, and place the two folds side by side on the ring.

Shell

Center the shell on the front of the top basket. Put the hinge tab at Rnd 17 and the ridged edge just below Rnd R1. Sew around the outer edge with the cream tail.

Size checkpoint: Hang the organizer. It should measure about 26 in (66.0 cm) from the top of the ring to the base of the bottom basket. The gaps between tiers should be 1.5 in (3.8 cm).

Final Blocking

  1. Lightly mist each basket with water.
  2. Fill it firmly with a toilet roll wrapped in a towel to set the round shape.
  3. Pin each scallop so it stands upright and evenly spaced.
  4. Pin the straps flat and open each diamond evenly.
  5. Let everything dry completely for 24 hours.
  6. Remove the pins and hang.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Each base lies flat at 5.5 in (14.0 cm).
  • All three walls are 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
  • Each net has 12 even diamonds and no slack.
  • Each rim has 10 scallops with 80 crab stitches.
  • Both straps are 85 sts long and identical.
  • The tier gaps match at 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
  • The shell is centered and firmly sewn.
  • All ends are woven in securely.

Troubleshooting

  • Base cups: Your tension is too tight. Go up one hook size.
  • Base ruffles: Your tension is too loose, or the increases are stacking. Go down one hook size.
  • Net sags: Ch 4 instead of ch 5 in Rnds N3–N4.
  • Net pulls the wall in: Ch 6 instead of ch 5.
  • Scallops flop: Use a firmer cotton, or block over a roll again.
  • Baskets tilt forward: Sew the straps again higher up at Rnd R1, or add a tack at Rnd 11.
  • Straps twist: Block them flat before sewing.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Roll in a towel, reshape over a roll and let dry. Do not tumble dry.

Navy and cream crocheted toilet paper organizer with three baskets mounted on a light, modern bathroom wall.

Final Notes

Each piece builds on the one before. The base is 60 stitches and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across. The wall is 15 rounds and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall. The rim adds 1 in (2.5 cm) with 10 scallops, and the two straps are 85 stitches and 24.25 in (61.6 cm) long. Each basket ends up 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall, and the hung organizer is about 26 in (66.0 cm) tall. If every checkpoint matches, the finished piece will match too.

Happy crocheting!

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