Three red crocheted gnome ornaments with white pom-poms and beards hang from a wooden dowel against a neutral background.

Jolly Trio Santa Hat Toilet Paper Holder Crochet Pattern

by

This Christmas bathroom organizer is three Santa hat pockets joined side by side. Each pocket holds one standard toilet paper roll. The holder hangs from a towel bar by three cream straps, so it needs no hooks or hardware.

The colors are a deep cranberry red and a soft cream. The red cups use a nested shell stitch, the rims get a thick band of cream popcorns, and each pointed hat panel has a round cream pom-pom near its tip. The result looks cozy and a little whimsical, and it’s sturdy enough for everyday use.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished set is about 15 in (38.1 cm) wide. It hangs about 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall from the base to the top of the loops.

You make each pocket from the bottom up: a flat cream base, a red shell-stitch body, and a triangular hat worked in rows from the back half of the rim. Then you add a cream strap and a pom-pom to each hat, sew the three cups together along their sides, and finish each rim with the popcorn border.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 15 in (38.1 cm) wide x 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall, including the loops
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
  • Number of pieces: 3 pockets
  • Layout: 3 pockets in a single horizontal row
  • Piece size: each base is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across; each cup is 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall before the border; each hat rises 5 in (12.7 cm) above the rim
  • Size before border: 14.25 in (36.2 cm) wide once joined
  • Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) of popcorn trim on each rim

Materials

Use a smooth worsted-weight yarn. A cotton or cotton blend gives the firmest cup that holds its shape best. Acrylic also works, but it makes a softer pocket. The amounts below assume a yarn of about 200 m per 100 g.

  • Red (cranberry): 170 g / 340 m
  • Cream: 140 g / 280 m

Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– 4 stitch markers
– Small amount of fiberfill for the pom-poms
– Scissors and a measuring tape
– One toilet paper roll or a 4.75 in (12.1 cm) jar for shaping

All yarn quantities include a margin of about 15% for gauge swatching and weaving in ends.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • sk: skip
  • BLO / FLO: back loop only / front loop only
  • MR: magic ring
  • inc: 2 sc in the same st
  • sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
  • hdc2tog: half double crochet 2 together
  • sc4tog: single crochet 4 together
  • RS / WS: right side / wrong side

Shell: 5 dc in the same st.

Popcorn (pc): Work 4 dc in the same st. Drop the loop from your hook. Insert the hook from front to back into the top of the first dc, pick up the dropped loop, and pull it through. Ch 1 to close. The ch-1 does not count as a stitch. Each popcorn counts as 1 st.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Single crochet: 16 sc and 17 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Half double crochet: 16 hdc and 12 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Shell rounds: 4 rounds = 2.5 in (6.4 cm)

Make one complete pocket before you start the others, and measure at each of these checkpoints:

  1. After the base (Rnd 10): 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across.
  2. After the body (Rnd 17): 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall, with a rim circumference of 15 in (38.1 cm).
  3. After the hat: 5 in (12.7 cm) from the rim to the tip, and 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide along its base.

If your base is smaller than the target, go up half a hook size. If it’s bigger, go down half a size. A base that’s too small won’t hold a roll. A base that’s too big makes the cups sag apart once they’re joined.

Close-up of cream pompom trim along the edge of burgundy crocheted fabric with textured bobble detail.

Pocket Pattern (Make 3)

Base (Cream)

Work in continuous rounds. Mark the first st of each round.

  • Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
  • Rnd 2: inc in each st. (12)
  • Rnd 3: sc 1, inc 6 times. (18)
  • Rnd 4: sc 2, inc 6 times. (24)
  • Rnd 5: sc 3, inc 6 times. (30)
  • Rnd 6: sc 4, inc 6 times. (36)
  • Rnd 7: sc 5, inc 6 times. (42)
  • Rnd 8: sc 6, inc 6 times. (48)
  • Rnd 9: sc 7, inc 6 times. (54)
  • Rnd 10: sc 8, inc 6 times. (60)

Checkpoint: the base is flat and measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across.

  • Rnd 11: sc BLO in each st around. (60 + 0 = 60) This turns the edge upward and leaves a cream ridge at the bottom. Sl st to the first st, then change to red.

Body (Red)

From here, join each round with a sl st.

  • Rnd 12: ch 1, sc in each st, sl st to the first sc. (60)
  • Rnd 13 (first shell round): ch 1, sc in the first st, sk 2, shell in next st, sk 2, sc in next st 9 times, sk 2, shell in next st, sk 2, sl st to the first sc. (10 sc + 50 dc = 60; 10 shells)
  • Rnds 14–16: sl st in the next 3 sts to reach the center dc of the first shell. Ch 1, sc in the same st, sk 2, shell in next sc, sk 2, sc in center dc of next shell 9 times, sk 2, shell in last sc, sk 2, sl st to the first sc. (10 sc + 50 dc = 60; 10 shells)

Each new shell sits in the valley between two shells below it, which creates the nested fan texture.

  • Rnd 17 (trim round): ch 1, sc in each dc and hdc in each sc around, sl st to the first st. (50 sc + 10 hdc = 60) The hdc fill the valleys so the rim stays level.

Checkpoint: the cup is 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall and 15 in (38.1 cm) around the rim.

Fasten off the red. Flatten the cup so the round join sits at the center back. Number the Rnd 17 sts from the join: sts 16–45 are the front half, and sts 46–60 plus 1–15 are the back half (30 sts). Place markers at st 46 and st 15.

Hat (Red, Worked in Rows)

  • Row 1 (RS): join red in BLO of st 46. Ch 2 (does not count), hdc BLO in sts 46–60 and 1–15. (30)
  • Row 2: ch 2, turn, hdc2tog, hdc to the last 2 sts, hdc2tog. (28)
  • Rows 3–14: repeat Row 2, decreasing 2 sts per row. Row 3 has 26 sts, Row 4 has 24, and so on down to Row 14, which has 4 sts. (Row 14: 4)
  • Row 15: ch 1, turn, sc4tog. (1)

Fasten off the red. The front loops of Rnd 17 are left free for the border.

Checkpoint: the hat is 5 in (12.7 cm) tall and 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide at its base. Its base follows the curve of the rim, which gives it a gentle cupped shape.

Hanging Strap (Cream)

  • Row 1: join cream in the hat tip, ch 1, 3 sc in the same st. (3)
  • Rows 2–20: ch 1, turn, sc in each st. (3)

The strap is 4.7 in (11.9 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Fold the strap toward the back of the hat and sew the last row to the WS of Rows 13–14. This makes a loop about 2 in (5.1 cm) high, which fits towel bars up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) thick.

Pom-Pom (Cream)

  • Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
  • Rnd 2: inc in each st. (12)
  • Rnd 3: sc 1, inc 6 times. (18)
  • Rnds 4–5: sc in each st. (18)
  • Rnd 6: sc 1, sc2tog 6 times. (12) Stuff firmly.
  • Rnd 7: sc2tog 6 times. (6)

Close the hole and leave a long tail. The pom-pom is about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) across. Sew it to the RS of the hat, centered between Rows 11 and 13, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) below the tip.

Make All Pieces

Make 3 complete pockets. Each one has a base, body, hat, strap, and pom-pom, but no border yet.

  • Per pocket: about 45 g red and 33 g cream before the border
  • Total for all three: about 135 g red and 99 g cream. The border uses the rest of the cream.

Layout (front view, hats at the back):

[ Pocket A ][ Pocket B ][ Pocket C ]

Joining

Lay the three pockets in a row with all hats at the back. Pocket A’s right side column (sts 45/46) meets Pocket B’s left side column (sts 15/16). Pocket B’s right side column meets Pocket C’s left side column in the same way.

Method: whipstitch with red and a tapestry needle. Sew through the outermost edge of each round where the cups touch, from the top of Rnd 16 down to Rnd 12. Rnd 17 stays free so the border can be worked all the way around each rim.

Stitch-to-stitch logic: on each cup, make 2 whipstitches per shell round (Rnds 13–16) and 1 in Rnd 12, for 9 stitches per seam. Both cups have the same round heights, so the rounds line up exactly. Each seam is 2.75 in (7.0 cm) long.

Tension: pull each stitch snug enough that the walls touch, but don’t flatten the curve. If you pull too tight, the rims tilt toward each other.

Checkpoint: the joined set measures 14.25 in (36.2 cm) wide at the rims, and the bottoms stay level on a flat table.

Border (Cream Popcorn Rim)

Border gauge: 1 sc round plus 2 popcorn rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm) deep. The popcorns stick out about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on each side, so each pocket grows from 4.75 in (12.1 cm) to 5 in (12.7 cm) wide.

Work the border on each pocket separately, into the free front loops of Rnd 17. On the back half, you’ll be working in front of the base of the hat.

  • Rnd 1: join cream in FLO of st 16. Ch 1, sc FLO in each st around, sl st to the first sc. (60: 30 on the front half and 30 on the back half)
  • Rnd 2: ch 1, sc in the first st, pc in the next st, sc in next, pc in next 29 times, sl st to the first sc. (30 sc + 30 pc = 60: 15 pc on the front half and 15 pc on the back half)
  • Rnd 3: sl st in the top of the next pc. Ch 1, sc in the same st, pc in the next sc, sc in next pc, pc in next sc 29 times, sl st to the first sc. (30 sc + 30 pc = 60, with each popcorn offset from the round below)

Fasten off and repeat on the other two pockets.

Why the math works: each rim has exactly 60 sts, and nothing is added at the seams because the seams stop below Rnd 17. Sixty sts give 30 repeats of “sc, popcorn.” That’s exactly 3 popcorns over each of the 10 shell repeats (6 sts each), so the trim spaces evenly over the fan pattern. Each half of the rim has 30 sts, or 15 repeats, which keeps the band balanced on the front and back. The total stays at 60 in every round, so the rim doesn’t ruffle or pull in.

Final Blocking

  1. Weave in all ends along same-color stitches.
  2. Put a toilet paper roll or a 4.75 in (12.1 cm) jar into each cup.
  3. Spray each pocket lightly with water until it’s damp, not soaked.
  4. Push the popcorns outward with your fingertips so both rows stand evenly.
  5. Roll a sheet of paper into a cone about 5 in (12.7 cm) tall and tuck it behind each hat to shape the curve.
  6. Let everything dry for 24 hours.
  7. Remove the forms and check the measurements: 15 in (38.1 cm) wide and 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Every base measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across, and the cream ridge shows evenly at the bottom.
  • Every rim has 60 sts and 30 popcorns per border round.
  • All three hats are 5 in (12.7 cm) tall and lean the same way.
  • The pom-poms sit at the same height on all three hats.
  • Each strap is folded to the back and sewn securely through two rows.
  • All seams are 2.75 in (7.0 cm) long and line up round for round.
  • A roll fits into and comes out of each pocket easily.
  • All ends are woven in and invisible from the front.

Troubleshooting

  • The base cups or ripples: check your increase counts. Each round should grow by exactly 6. If the counts are right and it still cups, go up a hook size. If it ripples, go down one.
  • The shells don’t nest: you missed the 3 starting sl sts, so the round began at the wrong spot. Each round has to start at the center dc of a shell.
  • The rim slants: you skipped the hdc in the valleys on Rnd 17. Rework that round with hdc over each sc.
  • The hat leans sideways: Row 1 didn’t start at st 46. Count from the round join again and rework it.
  • The popcorns face inward: you closed them from the back. Insert the hook from front to back.
  • The pockets splay apart when hung: the seams are too short or too loose. Add stitches up to Rnd 16.
  • The loop is too small for your bar: add 4 rows to each strap, about 1 in (2.5 cm).

Care

Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Put the rolls back into the pockets while they’re still slightly damp to restore their shape. Don’t tumble dry, because heat can flatten the popcorns.

Three red crocheted gnomes with cream beards and pom-poms hang from a wooden rod in a holiday bathroom with greenery.

Final Notes

Everything depends on the measurement chain. A 60-st base at 4.75 in (12.1 cm) gives a 15 in (38.1 cm) rim. That rim divides evenly into 10 shells, a 30-st hat, and 30 popcorns. Three joined pockets measure 14.25 in (36.2 cm) wide before the border and 15 in (38.1 cm) after it, and the set hangs 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall. Check each checkpoint as you go and the three pockets will match.

Happy crocheting!

Leave a Comment