This hanging bag holder turns a messy drawer of plastic shopping bags into a tidy kitchen accessory. You stuff bags in at the top and pull them out one at a time through the cinched bottom. Because the lattice is open, the holder stays light and you can see when it needs a refill.
The holder is one seamless tube. It has a solid double crochet band at each end and a lattice of triangular fans and round holes in the middle. A strap across the top lets it hang, and a drawstring runs through the bottom band. It looks good in a warm mustard or a deep navy, and solid cotton shows the fan texture best.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat, 14 in (35.6 cm) around, and 20 in (50.8 cm) tall, not counting the strap. When it hangs, the strap rises about 3 in (7.6 cm) above the rim.
You start with a foundation ring and work the bottom band. Then you build the lattice upward and finish with the top band. Last, you add the edging rounds, the strap, and the drawstring. There is nothing to sew together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat x 20 in (50.8 cm) tall
- Circumference: 14 in (35.6 cm)
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Bulky (#5) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 6.0 mm (J-10)
- Number of pieces: 1 tube, plus a strap and a drawstring worked onto it
- Layout: Bottom band, 20-round lattice, top band
- Piece size before border: 7 in (17.8 cm) x 19 in (48.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at the top and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at the bottom
Materials
Choose a firm, smooth bulky cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape when the holder is full and doesn’t stretch under the weight of the bags. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns, because they hide the fan shapes.
- Mustard version: 160 g (about 160 m) bulky cotton in mustard yellow
- Navy version: 160 g (about 160 m) bulky cotton in navy blue
Each holder uses one color only. Warm golds go well with wood and plants, and navy hides everyday marks well near a busy counter.
One holder uses about 130 g. The amounts above include a margin for the gauge check, the strap, and the drawstring.
Tools:
– 6.0 mm (J-10) crochet hook
– Stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking surface
– A rolled towel or paper-towel tube for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp(s) – space(s)
- rep – repeat
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special stitch – Fan: Work 5 tr in the same stitch or space. Each fan opens upward like a triangle, with its point at the bottom.
Stitch counting: In lattice rounds, every chain counts as 1 stitch, so a ch-5 arc is 5 stitches.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
– 12 dc and 6 dc rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
– One lattice pair (1 fan rnd + 1 arc rnd) = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
– 12 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 1 sc rnd = 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Test one piece first. Work the foundation ring and the bottom band (Rnds 1–3) as your swatch. This is the real start of the holder, so nothing is wasted if it measures right.
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 3: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat and 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 7: 5 in (12.7 cm) tall in total.
– After Rnd 23: 17 in (43.2 cm) tall in total.
– After Rnd 26: 19 in (48.3 cm) tall in total.
– After both borders: 20 in (50.8 cm) tall.
If your band is too big (wider than 7 in / 17.8 cm flat), go down one hook size and restart. If it is too small, go up one hook size. Don’t change the stitch count, because the lattice needs a multiple of 6.
Pattern
Bottom Band
Foundation: Ch 42. Without twisting the chain, sl st in the first ch to form a ring. (42 ch)
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each ch around, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (42 dc)
Rnd 2 (eyelet round): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip next st, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; rep from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-4 to join. (21 dc + 21 ch-1 sps = 42 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each ch-1 sp and each dc around, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (42 dc)
The band should measure 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat and 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
Lattice
Rnd 4 (first fan round): Ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 2 sts, Fan in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 5 more times, skip 2 sts, Fan in next st, skip 2 sts, sl st to first sc to join. (7 fans + 7 sc = 35 tr + 7 sc = 42 sts)
Each 6-stitch repeat holds 1 sc and 1 fan, and 7 repeats use all 42 stitches.
Rnd 5 (arc round): Sl st in next 3 tr, which puts you in the center tr of the first fan. Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 5, skip next 5 sts, sc in next st (center tr of next fan); rep from * 5 more times, ch 5, sl st to first sc to join. (7 sc + 7 ch-5 arcs = 42 sts)
This round forms the holes. Each arc spans the gap between two fans and closes the top of a round opening.
Rnd 6 (fan round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, *Fan in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc; rep from * 5 more times, Fan in last ch-5 sp, sl st to first sc to join. (7 fans + 7 sc = 35 tr + 7 sc = 42 sts)
These fans sit above the holes of the tier below, so each new pair of rounds is offset from the pair before it.
Rnd 7: Rep Rnd 5. (7 sc + 7 ch-5 arcs = 42 sts)
Checkpoint: the piece now measures 5 in (12.7 cm) tall.
Rnds 8–23: Rep Rnds 6–7 eight more times, ending after an arc round. (42 sts)
You now have 10 lattice pairs (Rnds 4–23), which is 15 in (38.1 cm) of lattice. The piece measures 17 in (43.2 cm) tall.
Top Band
Rnd 24 (conversion round): Ch 3 (counts as dc in first sc), 5 dc in next ch-5 sp, *dc in next sc, 5 dc in next ch-5 sp; rep from * 5 more times, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (7 dc worked 1 per sc + 35 dc worked 1 per arc chain + 0 extra = 42 dc)
Rnds 25–26: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st around, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (42 dc)
The top band is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall. The piece now measures 19 in (48.3 cm) tall and 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat. Do not fasten off.
Border
Border gauge: 12 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and each sc round adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of height.
For the border, think of the tube flattened into two sides, front and back. Each side holds 21 stitches, and 21 + 21 = 42.
Top Border Rnd: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc to join. (21 sc front + 21 sc back = 42 sc) Fasten off and weave in the end.
Bottom Border Rnd: Turn the tube upside down. Join yarn with a sl st in any foundation ch loop. Ch 1, sc in each foundation ch around, sl st to first sc to join. (21 sc front + 21 sc back = 42 sc) Fasten off and weave in the end.
Why the math works: The body has 42 stitches at 12 stitches per 4 in (10.2 cm), which is 14 in (35.6 cm) around. Each border puts exactly 1 sc in each existing stitch with no increases. The edges stay 14 in (35.6 cm) around and lie flat instead of ruffling or pulling in. Two borders of 0.5 in (1.3 cm) each bring the height from 19 in (48.3 cm) to 20 in (50.8 cm).
Hanging Strap
Flatten the tube with the join at one side. Number the top border stitches 1 to 42, starting with the stitch at the back center. Stitch 22 is directly across from it at the front center.
Row 1: Join yarn with a sl st in st 1. Ch 24, sl st in st 22. (24 ch)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each ch across, sl st in st 2. (24 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across, sl st in st 23. (24 sc)
Fasten off and weave the ends firmly into the top band. The strap is 8 in (20.3 cm) long. When the holder hangs from a hook, the strap rises about 3 in (7.6 cm) above the rim.
Drawstring
Ch 90 (about 30 in / 76.2 cm). Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch back to the start. (89 sl sts) Fasten off.
Start at the front center of the bottom band. Weave the cord over and under the dc posts of Rnd 2, through the ch-1 spaces, all the way around. Bring both ends out through neighboring ch-1 spaces at the front. Tie an overhand knot at each end of the cord and trim the tails to 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends before blocking.
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes.
- Gently press out the water by rolling the holder in a towel. Do not wring it.
- Slide a rolled towel or a paper-towel tube inside the holder so it keeps a round shape.
- Gently open each fan and each hole with your fingers so the lattice looks even.
- Check the measurements: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat and 20 in (50.8 cm) tall.
- Lay the drawstring and strap straight beside the body.
- Let it dry completely before you fill it with bags.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every round has 42 stitches.
- Each fan round has 7 fans and each arc round has 7 arcs.
- The lattice has 10 tiers of holes, each tier offset from the one below.
- The tube is not twisted, and the joins line up in a straight column.
- The holder measures 7 in (17.8 cm) wide flat and 20 in (50.8 cm) tall.
- The strap is anchored at stitches 1–2 and 22–23, directly opposite each other.
- The drawstring passes through every ch-1 space and pulls closed smoothly.
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
The tube is twisted. The foundation ring twisted when you joined it. Restart, and lay the chain flat to check it before joining.
The fans don’t line up. Count the slip stitches at the start of each arc round. You need exactly 3 to land in the center tr.
The arcs sag. Your chains are looser than your stitches. Chain more firmly so each ch-5 arc matches the width of a fan base.
The holder is too short. Your lattice pairs are shorter than 1.5 in (3.8 cm). Add one more pair (Rnds 6–7) before the top band.
The top edge flares. You worked extra stitches in Rnd 24. Recount: 7 dc in the sc plus 5 dc in each of the 7 arcs gives 42.
The bottom won’t close. Make sure the cord goes through every ch-1 space and not around the whole band.
Care
Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag, then reshape the holder and lay it flat to dry. Avoid hot dryers, which can shrink cotton unevenly.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain:
– Width: 42 stitches at 12 stitches per 4 in (10.2 cm) give 14 in (35.6 cm) around, or 7 in (17.8 cm) flat.
– Height before border: The bottom band adds 2 in (5.1 cm), 10 lattice pairs add 15 in (38.1 cm), and the top band adds 2 in (5.1 cm), for 19 in (48.3 cm).
– Finished height: Two 0.5 in (1.3 cm) borders bring the holder to 20 in (50.8 cm).
If your swatch band matches the gauge, every later checkpoint should follow.
Hang it by the door or under the sink and enjoy a tidier drawer. Happy crocheting!