The Holly Hearth Poinsettia Paper Towel Holder is a hanging wall piece for the holidays. Two chunky cream cords hang from a wooden ring, spread into a triangle around a paper towel roll, and drop down to a second dowel that holds a hand towel.
Seven bright red poinsettias with gold bead centers sit along the cords, with small green leaves between them. A matching larger poinsettia with two leaves decorates the hand towel. The colors are classic Christmas red, deep pine green, warm cream, and gold.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide by 24.5 in (62.2 cm) tall.
You make two Romanian cords from a doubled strand of worsted yarn, plus small poinsettias and leaves worked in the round or around a chain. Then you loop the cords around the ring and dowels and sew the motifs in place.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 14 in (35.6 cm) wide x 24.5 in (62.2 cm) tall, including the ring
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hooks: 4.0 mm (G-6) for motifs; 5.5 mm (I-9) for cords
- Number of pieces: 18 in total: 2 cords, 7 small poinsettias and 6 leaves for the hanger, plus 1 large poinsettia and 2 leaves for the towel
- Layout: Triangle from the ring to the upper dowel, then two parallel vertical drops to the lower dowel
- Piece sizes: Cord 31 in (78.7 cm) long x 3/8 in (1.0 cm) wide; small poinsettia 2.75 in (7.0 cm); large poinsettia 3.75 in (9.5 cm); leaf 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- Size before border: Same as the finished size, because there is no border
- Border depth: 0 in (0 cm)
Materials
Use smooth worsted acrylic or cotton so the stitches show clearly. Cotton holds its shape well in a kitchen.
- Cream (cords): 30 g / 60 m
- Red (poinsettias): 30 g / 60 m
- Deep green (leaves): 15 g / 30 m
All quantities include about a 30% margin.
Tools and notions:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) and 5.5 mm (I-9) crochet hooks
– 1 wooden ring, 2 in (5.1 cm) across
– 2 wooden dowels, 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 3/4 in (1.9 cm) thick
– 56 gold beads, 6 mm (7 per flower)
– Sewing needle and gold or red sewing thread
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Scissors
– 1 cream hand towel (optional, for the appliqué)
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- MR – magic ring
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
Romanian cord row: Rotate the cord clockwise a half turn, like turning a page. Insert your hook under the 2 strands on the left edge, yo, and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Yo and draw through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one small poinsettia, one leaf, and 12 rows of cord before you start. Check each against these numbers:
- Cord: 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm); width 3/8 in (1.0 cm)
- Small poinsettia, Rnd 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across
- Small poinsettia, finished: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) from tip to tip
- Leaf: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
If your pieces are too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If they’re too small, go up 0.5 mm. Cord gauge matters most: every 4 rows you’re off adds up to about 1 in (2.5 cm) over the full length.
Cord (Make 2)
Use cream, held double, and the 5.5 mm hook. Leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) starting tail.
Row 1: Ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook. (1 row)
Rows 2–124: Work a Romanian cord row. (124 rows total)
Place markers to mark each section as you go:
– Rows 1–8: ring wrap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
– Rows 9–64: diagonal, 14 in (35.6 cm)
– Rows 65–76: upper dowel loop, 3 in (7.6 cm)
– Rows 77–112: vertical drop, 9 in (22.9 cm)
– Rows 113–124: lower dowel loop, 3 in (7.6 cm)
Check that the sections add up: 8 + 56 + 12 + 36 + 12 = 124 rows, and 2 + 14 + 3 + 9 + 3 = 31 in (78.7 cm).
Length checkpoints: Row 40 = 10 in (25.4 cm). Row 80 = 20 in (50.8 cm). Row 124 = 31 in (78.7 cm).
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Make the second cord with the same row count, then lay the two side by side. They should match within 1 row.
Small Poinsettia (Make 7)
Use red and the 4.0 mm hook.
Rnd 1: In a MR, ch 1, 12 sc. Sl st to the first sc to join. (12 sts)
Rnd 2 (petals):
1. Ch 8.
2. Working back down the chain: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in last 2 ch. (7 sts per petal)
3. Sk next sc on Rnd 1, sl st in the following sc.
Repeat steps 1–3 five more times. Your last sl st lands in the joining st. (6 petals of 7 sts each, plus 6 anchoring sl sts)
Each petal starts with a sl st at the tip and builds to tr at the base, so it tapers to a sharp point. Every petal uses 2 sts of Rnd 1: 6 petals x 2 = 12 ✓.
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail for sewing. The flower should measure 2.75 in (7.0 cm) from tip to tip.
Beads: With sewing thread, stitch one 6 mm gold bead in the center. Then sew 6 more in a ring around it. (7 beads)
Large Poinsettia (Make 1, Towel)
Use red and the 4.0 mm hook.
Rnd 1: In a MR, ch 1, 8 sc. Join. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st. Join. (16 sts) Checkpoint: 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Rnd 3 (petals):
1. Ch 10.
2. Working back down the chain: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in last 3 ch. (9 sts per petal)
3. Sk next sc, sl st in the following sc.
Repeat steps 1–3 seven more times. (8 petals of 9 sts each; 8 x 2 = 16 ✓)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. The flower should measure 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from tip to tip. Sew on 7 gold beads in the same cluster as the small flowers.
Leaf (Make 8)
Use green and the 4.0 mm hook. You’ll make 6 leaves for the hanger and 2 for the towel.
Foundation: Ch 9.
Around the chain:
1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. (7 sts)
2. In the last ch, work (sc, ch 2, sc). This forms the pointed tip.
3. Rotate the leaf and work into the free loops on the other side of the chain: sc in next, hdc in next, dc in next 3, hdc in next, sc in next. (7 sts)
4. Sl st into the skipped first ch.
Total: 16 sts plus the ch-2 tip.
The chain stays in the middle and forms the central vein. The dc sts make the leaf widest in the middle, so it comes out oval with a pointed tip.
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The leaf should measure 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Make All Pieces
| Color | Piece | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Cream | Cord | 2 |
| Red | Small poinsettia | 7 |
| Red | Large poinsettia | 1 |
| Green | Leaf | 8 |
Placement layout (F = small poinsettia, L = leaf, O = ring, === = dowel):
O
F
L L 4 in (10.2 cm) below ring
F F 8 in (20.3 cm) below ring
L L 12 in (30.5 cm) below ring
F===============F upper dowel
| |
L L 4.5 in (11.4 cm) below upper dowel
| |
F===============F lower dowel
Count check: 1 at the top + 3 per side x 2 sides = 7 flowers ✓. 3 leaves per side x 2 sides = 6 leaves ✓.
Joining
1. Ring. Pass Rows 1–8 of each cord through the ring from front to back. Fold Row 1 down against Row 9. Whipstitch it in place with the starting tail, taking 1 stitch per row edge over 4 rows. Set the two cords side by side on the ring.
2. Upper dowel. Slide the dowel through the Rows 65–76 section so the cord wraps from front to back. Whipstitch Row 64 to Row 77 just under the dowel, using 4 stitches through both cords.
Leave the loop loose enough that the dowel slides out to change the roll, but not so loose that it wobbles. A 3/4 in (1.9 cm) dowel needs the full 3 in (7.6 cm) loop.
3. Lower dowel. Wrap Rows 113–124 around the lower dowel. Whipstitch Row 124 to the back of Row 112, then weave in the tail.
4. Spacing. Set each cord 1 in (2.5 cm) in from the dowel end. That leaves 12 in (30.5 cm) between the cords, which fits a standard 11 in (27.9 cm) roll.
5. Motifs. Sew each piece in place with its tail, using small stitches through the back of the motif and the center of the cord.
– Sew the top flower over the ring join so it hides both cord ends.
– Sew the flowers at the dowel junctions over the whipstitched seams.
– Angle the leaves along the cord so their stems point toward the nearest flower.
Tension: Pull each sewing stitch snug but not tight. Tight stitches pucker the cord and make the diagonal shorter.
Size checkpoint: Hang the holder. The diagonals should each measure 14 in (35.6 cm). The distance between the dowels should be 9 in (22.9 cm), and both dowels should hang level.
Border
This design has no border. Romanian cord has finished braided edges on both sides, and each motif’s petal or leaf round is its own edge. So the border depth is 0 in (0 cm), and the size before and after the border is the same: 14 in (35.6 cm) x 24.5 in (62.2 cm).
The math works because the full length comes from the cord row count alone: 124 rows at 4 rows per inch = 31 in (78.7 cm). No edging adds length or width.
Final Blocking
- Before sewing on beads, mist the poinsettias and leaves lightly with water.
- Pin each flower flat on a blocking mat with one pin per petal tip, pulling the tips into sharp points. Each small flower should measure 2.75 in (7.0 cm) and the large one 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
- Pin each leaf to 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm), with one pin at the tip and one at the stem.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Steam the cords lightly while they hang straight, without pressing, to relax any twist.
- Sew on the beads and assemble.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Both cords are 124 rows, 31 in (78.7 cm)
- Diagonals are 14 in (35.6 cm) each and equal
- Dowels are 9 in (22.9 cm) apart and level
- The upper dowel slides out for roll changes
- 7 small flowers each have 6 petals and 7 beads
- 6 hanger leaves and 2 towel leaves are in place
- The large towel flower has 8 petals
- All tails are woven in, with no sewing thread showing on the front
Troubleshooting
- Petals curl forward: Your chain is too tight. Make the ch-8 with a hook one size larger, or block the petals harder.
- Flower center cups: Close the MR fully, and check that Rnd 1 has exactly 12 sts (16 sts by Rnd 2 for the large flower).
- Cord twists while hanging: Always rotate the same direction (clockwise), then steam-block the cord.
- Dowels hang crooked: Count the rows in each section again. A 2-row difference makes a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) drop.
- Leaf comes out lopsided: Make sure each side has 7 sts and the tip is worked into the last chain only.
Care
Spot clean with mild soap and cool water, and lay flat to dry. Remove the motifs’ bead clusters from heat and keep the holder away from direct stove splashes.
Final Notes
Everything starts from the measurement chain: 4 cord rows = 1 in (2.5 cm), which gives a 31 in (78.7 cm) cord made of a 2 in (5.1 cm) ring wrap, a 14 in (35.6 cm) diagonal, a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop, a 9 in (22.9 cm) drop, and a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop. Twelve-stitch centers give 2.75 in (7.0 cm) six-petal poinsettias, and sixteen-stitch centers give the 3.75 in (9.5 cm) towel flower. If you match those checkpoints, the finished holder will hang at 14 in (35.6 cm) x 24.5 in (62.2 cm).
Happy crocheting!