Give your holiday bathroom a cozy touch with the Hollyberry Trio, a three-tier hanging holder that stores spare toilet rolls in style. Three round baskets are stacked in a column and linked by open diamond mesh. A triangular mesh hanger ends in a strap wrapped around a wooden ring.
The colors are deep forest green, warm cream and bright berry red. Each basket has a green base, a cream textured band, a green upper band and a puffy cream scalloped rim. Eight sewn-on holly leaves form an arc on the front, with three red bobble berries at the bottom center.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 5 in (12.7 cm) wide and 21 in (53.3 cm) long, not counting the 3 in (7.6 cm) ring.
Construction overview: you crochet three baskets in joined rounds from the base up and finish each with a scalloped rim. You then crochet the mesh connectors directly between the baskets, work the hanger off the top basket’s rim, and sew on the holly leaves and berries last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide × 21 in (53.3 cm) long, plus the ring
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 3 baskets, 2 mesh connectors, 1 hanger, 24 leaves, 9 berries
- Layout: 1 column of 3 baskets
- Piece size (one basket): base 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across, height 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- Size before rim edging: wall height 2.9 in (7.4 cm)
- Rim edging depth: 0.6 in (1.5 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth, firm worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the basket shape well and doesn’t stretch much under the weight of the rolls.
- Forest green: 120 g / 220 m (baskets, mesh, hanger, leaves)
- Cream: 50 g / 95 m (textured band and scalloped rims)
- Berry red: 10 g / 18 m (berries)
All quantities include a margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– 3 in (7.6 cm) wooden macramé ring
– Tapestry needle
– 4 stitch markers
– Scissors
– Small amount of fiberfill or yarn scraps
– Pins and a tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- BLO / FLO – back loop only / front loop only
- MR – magic ring
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitches:
– Picot: ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook.
– Scallop: skip 1 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 1 st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc.
Make one complete basket before starting the others. The checkpoints are:
- After Rnd 5 (30 sts): base about 2.4 in (6.1 cm) across.
- After Rnd 10 (60 sts): base about 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across.
- After Rnd 23: wall height 2.9 in (7.4 cm); circumference about 15 in (38.1 cm).
- After Rnd 24: total height 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
A standard roll is about 4.3 in (10.9 cm) across, so it should sit easily inside.
- Too big: go down to a 4 mm hook.
- Too small or too stiff: go up to a 5 mm hook.
Don’t change the stitch counts. All of the mesh math depends on exactly 60 sts per round.
Basket (Make 3)
Work in joined rounds. At the end of each round, sl st in the first st, then ch 1; the ch 1 does not count as a stitch. Put a marker in the first st of Rnd 10. That stitch is st 1, and it marks the center back of the basket. Sts 1–29 form the back half.
Base (green):
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) × 6. (18)
- Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) × 6. (24)
- Rnd 5: (Sc 3, inc) × 6. (30)
- Rnd 6: (Sc 4, inc) × 6. (36)
- Rnd 7: (Sc 5, inc) × 6. (42)
- Rnd 8: (Sc 6, inc) × 6. (48)
- Rnd 9: (Sc 7, inc) × 6. (54)
- Rnd 10: (Sc 8, inc) × 6. (60)
Walls:
- Rnd 11 (green): Sc in BLO of each st. (60) This turns the wall upward and leaves the front loops of Rnd 10 free; the mesh connectors attach there later.
- Rnds 12–14 (green): Sc in each st. (60) On the final yarn over of the Rnd 14 join, change to cream.
- Rnd 15 (cream): Sc in each st. (60)
- Rnd 16: (Sc in next st, ch 1, skip 1) × 30. (30 sc + 30 ch-1 sps = 60)
- Rnds 17–19: Sl st in the first ch-1 sp, ch 1. (Sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip sc) × 30. (60)
- Rnd 20: Sc in each sc and each ch-1 sp. (60) On the final yarn over of the join, change to green.
- Rnds 21–23 (green): Sc in each st. (60) Change to cream at the join.
Check the wall height: it should be 2.9 in (7.4 cm). Work the rim (see Rim Edging below) before you go on.
Holly Leaves (Make 24, green)
Ch 8.
- Side 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next, hdc in next, picot, dc in next, picot, hdc in next, sc in next.
- Tip: In the last ch work (sc, picot, sc).
- Side 2: Working along the other side of the foundation chain, sc in next ch, hdc in next, picot, dc in next, picot, hdc in next, sc in next, sl st in last.
You now have 14 sts and 5 points. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Each leaf measures about 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Berries (Make 9, red)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: Sc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 4: Sc2tog × 6. (6)
Stuff with fiberfill or scraps, close the hole and leave a tail. Each berry is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Qty | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Basket | 3 | Green + cream |
| Leaves | 24 (8 per basket) | Green |
| Berries | 9 (3 per basket) | Red |
| Connectors | 2 | Green, worked in place |
| Hanger | 1 | Green, worked in place |
Layout from top to bottom:
[ RING ]
/ HANGER \
[ BASKET A ]
\CONNECTOR/
[ BASKET B ]
\CONNECTOR/
[ BASKET C ]
Appliqué:
- Find the front center, which is st 45 (opposite st 1).
- Pin 3 berries in a tight triangle centered on st 45, over Rnds 15–16.
- Pin 4 leaves on each side in a rising arc, so the top leaves reach Rnd 20 at about sts 33 and 57.
- Sew everything on through the cream band only, so the stitching doesn’t show inside the basket.
Joining
The joins are crocheted directly between the baskets. Each connector covers only the back half, which leaves the front open so you can drop rolls in.
Rim anchors: The rim round (Rnd 24) has 15 sc anchors, at sts 1, 5, 9 … 57. The 8 back anchors are at sts 1–29.
Connector (make 2): Hold Basket A upside down.
- Row 1: Join green in the free front loop of Rnd 10 at st 1. Sc in the same st, then (ch 5, skip 3, sc in FLO of next) × 7. (7 loops; the last sc lands on st 29)
- Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), turn. Sc in first loop, (ch 5, sc in next loop) × 6, ch 2, dc in last sc. (6 loops + 2 half loops)
- Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Sc in dc, (ch 5, sc in next sp) × 7, ending in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. (7 loops)
- Row 4 (join row): Hold Basket B upright beneath Basket A, back halves aligned. Ch 1, turn. Sl st in Basket B’s anchor at st 29. Then (ch 2, sc in next Row 3 loop, ch 2, sl st in next anchor) × 7. (All 8 anchors and 7 loops used)
Stitch logic: 7 loops span 8 anchors on both baskets, so each loop is caught exactly once and the mesh hangs straight.
Tension: Keep the chains even. Tight chains pull the baskets together, and loose chains let them sag. Repeat the connector between Baskets B and C.
Size checkpoint: Each connector should hang about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) long and narrow slightly in the middle.
Rim Edging (Border) and Hanger
Rim gauge: Each scallop uses 4 sts of Rnd 23 and stands 0.6 in (1.5 cm) tall.
Rnd 24 (cream, all baskets): Sc in st 1, then (scallop, sc in next st) × 14, and scallop once more. Join to the first sc. (15 sc + 75 dc = 90 sts, worked over 60 sts)
- Back half: 8 anchors and 7 scallops
- Front half: 7 scallops plus the remaining anchors
Why the math works: 60 ÷ 4 = 15, so the 15 scallops repeat evenly with no partial repeat. The 8 back anchors match the 8 sc of each connector’s Row 1, which sit 4 sts apart on Rnd 10.
Hanger (on Basket A, green):
- Row 1: Join at the anchor on st 1. (Ch 5, sc in next anchor) × 7. (7 loops)
- Row 2: Turn. Sl st 3 into the first loop. (Ch 5, sc in next loop) × 6. (6 loops)
- Rows 3–7: Repeat Row 2, decreasing one loop each row. (5, 4, 3, 2, 1 loops)
- Row 8: Ch 1, 6 sc in the last loop. (6)
- Rows 9–16: Ch 1, turn, sc 6. (6) The strap should measure about 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Wrap the strap over the ring and whipstitch Row 16 to the back of Row 8. The full hanger measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm), with the mesh part about 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the baskets and mesh with water.
- Fit each basket over a roll or a can about 4.3 in (10.9 cm) across.
- Shape the scallops with your fingers so they flare evenly.
- Pin the column flat, face down, and open each diamond in the mesh.
- Pin the leaf points flat and leave everything to dry for 24 hours.
- Hang the holder and check that it measures 21 in (53.3 cm) long.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Each base has 60 sts and is 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across
- [ ] Each wall has 60 sts per round and is 2.9 in (7.4 cm) tall
- [ ] Each rim has 15 scallops
- [ ] Connectors attach to the back half only and hang 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- [ ] The hanger narrows from 7 loops to 1 loop
- [ ] Each basket front has 8 leaves and 3 berries, centered on st 45
- [ ] All ends are woven in and the ring is secure
Troubleshooting
- Base curls up like a bowl: Your tension is too tight. Go up a hook size for the base only.
- Base ruffles: You have extra stitches. Recount every round against the totals above.
- Basket leans: The connector anchors don’t line up. Re-check st 1 on both baskets.
- Front won’t open: The connector was worked past st 29. Undo it and redo it on the back half only.
- Leaves curl: Steam them and pin them flat before sewing.
- Berries look flat: Add more stuffing before you close them.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the water in a towel and lay flat to dry. Reshape the baskets over a roll while they’re damp.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is:
- Gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
- A 60-st base 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across.
- A 2.9 in (7.4 cm) wall.
- A 15-scallop rim, bringing each basket to 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
- Two 2.5 in (6.4 cm) connectors and a 5.5 in (14.0 cm) hanger.
Together these give a finished holder 21 in (53.3 cm) long. Check each stage as you go, and all three baskets will hang straight and match.
Happy crocheting!