This hanging holder stores three spare rolls on a slim plum back panel. Each roll sits in a round lilac pocket covered in raised, overlapping leaf scales. Each pocket rim gets a plum zigzag edge with a tiny picot at every point and valley. A wooden ring at the top lets you hang it from a hook or towel bar.
The palette is two purples: deep plum for the panel and trims, and soft lilac for the pockets. The style is textured, botanical, and practical.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The panel measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide and about 23 in (58.4 cm) from the bottom edge to the top of the taper. The full piece hangs about 27 in (68.6 cm) including the ring. Each pocket opening is about 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across.
Construction is simple:
– Crochet one flat panel in rows, taper the top into a strap, and wrap the strap around a ring.
– Make three pockets top-down in rounds. They use crocodile-stitch scales, so the leaves point up toward the rim.
– Add the rim trims, edge the panel, and sew the pockets on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: panel body 4.5 in x 20.25 in (11.4 cm x 51.4 cm), plus a 2.7 in (6.9 cm) taper. About 27 in (68.6 cm) overall with the ring.
- Skill level: Intermediate (crocodile stitch worked in the round)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 4 (1 back panel, 3 pockets)
- Layout: 3 pockets stacked in one vertical column
- Pocket size: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) opening, 3.75 in (9.5 cm) deep including the points
- Panel size before border: 4 in x 20 in (10.2 cm x 50.8 cm) body
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per edged side
Materials
Pick a smooth worsted yarn with good stitch definition. Cotton or a cotton blend holds the bowl shape best and handles bathroom humidity. Acrylic also works, but the pockets will be softer.
- Plum (Color A): about 100 g / 180 m, for the panel, strap, edging, and three rim trims
- Lilac (Color B): about 150 g / 270 m, for three pockets
These quantities include a margin of about 20 percent for your swatch and small tension differences. Crocodile stitch uses a lot of yarn.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 3 in (7.6 cm) wooden ring
– Tapestry needle
– 6 stitch markers
– Locking pins
– Measuring tape
– Blocking mat and spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- rnd – round
Special stitches:
- V: 2 dc in the same st. For the beginning V, ch 3 and dc in the same st.
- Scale: Turn the work so the post of the first dc of a V lies horizontally.
- Work 5 dc around that post, from its top to its base.
- Ch 1.
- Work 5 dc around the post of the second dc of the same V, from its base to its top.
One scale = 10 dc + 1 ch-1 tip. The line where the two halves meet forms the leaf’s center vein.
– Picot: Ch 3, then sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook, or in the st named.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), worked in rows.
Test one pocket first. It’s the most tension-sensitive piece, and it shows right away whether a roll fits.
Checkpoints:
1. Pocket Rnd 1: 60 sc lies flat at 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide, for a 15 in (38.1 cm) circumference.
2. After Pocket Rnd 6: The tube is still about 7.5 in (19.1 cm) flat. Down to 7.25 in (18.4 cm) is fine.
3. Finished pocket: A standard roll, 4 in (10.2 cm) tall and 4.25 in (10.8 cm) across, slides in. About 1 in (2.5 cm) of the roll shows above the rim.
4. Panel: 16 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, and 90 rows = 20 in (50.8 cm).
Too big? Go down 0.5 mm. Too small, or the roll is tight? Go up 0.5 mm. Keep the stitch counts as written, because the trim and sewing math depend on them.
Back Panel
With Color A, ch 17.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (16)
Rows 2-90: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (16)
The body should measure 4 in x 20 in (10.2 cm x 50.8 cm). Place markers at both side edges of Rows 20, 50, and 80. These mark the pocket rim lines.
Taper
Row 91: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (14)
Rows 92-93: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (14)
Row 94: Rep Row 91. (12)
Rows 95-96: Ch 1, sc across, turn. (12)
Row 97: Rep Row 91. (10)
Rows 98-99: Ch 1, sc across, turn. (10)
Row 100: Rep Row 91. (8)
Rows 101-102: Ch 1, sc across, turn. (8)
The taper is 12 rows, about 2.7 in (6.9 cm) tall. It narrows from 4 in to 2 in (10.2 cm to 5.1 cm).
Strap
Rows 103-120: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (8)
The strap should measure 4 in (10.2 cm). Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Pocket (Make 3)
The pocket is worked top-down. Each scale finishes with its tip at the base of its V, so the leaves point up toward the rim when the pocket hangs. Each lower tier overlaps the tier above it.
With Color B, ch 60. Join with a sl st to the first ch without twisting.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join. (60)
Rnd 2 (V Round 1): Beginning V in the first st. *Sk 2 sts, V in next st; rep from * 18 more times. Sk the last 2 sts and join to the top of the ch-3. (20 Vs = 40 sts)
Rnd 3 (Scale Tier 1): Make a scale on the first V. *Sl st between the 2 dc of the next V, then make a scale on the following V; rep from * 8 more times. Sl st between the 2 dc of the last V, then join to the first dc of the first scale. (10 scales, 10 sl sts)
Rnd 4 (V Round 2): Sl st across to the space between the 5th and 6th dc of the first scale. Beginning V in that space, then V in the next sl st. *V between the 5th and 6th dc of the next scale, V in the next sl st; rep from * 8 more times, join. (20 Vs = 40 sts)
Rnd 5 (Scale Tier 2): Sl st over to the second V (the one sitting on a Rnd 3 sl st) and make a scale on it. *Sl st between the 2 dc of the next V, then make a scale on the following V; rep from * 8 more times. Sl st in the last V and join. (10 scales, 10 sl sts, offset from Tier 1)
Rnd 6 (Conversion): Ch 1. *3 sc between the 5th and 6th dc of the next scale, 3 sc in the next sl st; rep from * 9 more times, join. (10 scale centers x 3 sc + 10 sl sts x 3 sc = 60)
Rounded Bottom
Rnd 7: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog; rep from * 5 more times, join. (54)
Rnd 8: Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog around. (48)
Rnd 9: Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog around. (42)
Rnd 10: Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog around. (36)
Rnd 11: Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog around. (30)
Rnd 12: Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog around. (24)
Rnd 13: Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog around. (18)
Rnd 14: Sc in next st, sc2tog around. (12)
Rnd 15: Sc2tog around. (6)
Fasten off. Thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts, pull the hole closed, and secure. The pocket body should be about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) deep.
Make All Pieces
- Color A: 1 back panel with taper and strap, plus 1 panel edging
- Color B: 3 pockets, each with 60 sts at the rim
- Color A: 3 rim trims
Layout, top to bottom:
[ ring ]
[strap ]
/ taper \
| panel Rows 81-90 |
[ POCKET 3 - rim Row 80 ]
| panel |
[ POCKET 2 - rim Row 50 ]
| panel |
[ POCKET 1 - rim Row 20 ]
| panel Rows 1-19 |
Border
Border gauge: 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) along stitch edges. Along row edges, work 8 sc per 9 rows. Since 9 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm) and 8 sc = 2 in (5.1 cm), the edging lies flat.
Pocket Rim Trim (each pocket)
Join Color A in any free loop of the foundation chain.
Trim Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each free loop around, join. (60)
Trim Rnd 2 (Points): Each repeat makes one point over 5 sts:
– Sl st in next st, then picot in the same st (valley picot).
– Hdc in next st.
– (Dc, picot, dc) in next st (tip picot).
– Hdc in next st.
– Sc in next st.
Work 12 repeats in total, then join. (60 sts worked 1 per st + 12 extra dc = 72 sts, plus 24 picots)
Why the math works: 12 points x 5 sts = 60, with nothing left over. Each point is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Panel Edging
The edging runs from the base of the strap, down one side, across the bottom, and up the other side. The strap isn’t edged. Join Color A on the left edge where Row 102 meets the strap.
Edging Row: Ch 1, then work:
1. 12 sc down the left taper (1 per row)
2. 80 sc down the left body (8 per 9 rows)
3. 3 sc in the corner st
4. Sc in the next 14 sts
5. 3 sc in the corner st
6. 80 sc up the right body
7. 12 sc up the right taper
Fasten off. (12 + 80 + 3 + 14 + 3 + 80 + 12 = 204)
The bottom’s 16 original sts include its 2 corner sts. So the bottom count is 14 middle sts + 2 corners, which come out as 14 + 3 + 3 = 20 sc. No corner is counted twice. The panel now measures 4.5 in x 20.25 in (11.4 cm x 51.4 cm).
Joining
Ring: Wrap the strap over the ring toward the back and fold it down. Whipstitch its 8 sts to the 8 sts of Row 102 on the back, one stitch to one stitch.
Pockets:
1. Pin Pocket 1 so its Trim Rnd 1 lies along panel Row 20, with one point centered on the panel.
2. Whipstitch 16 consecutive sc of Trim Rnd 1, at the back of the rim, to the 16 sts of Row 20, stitch to stitch. The 1:1 match prevents puckering. The other 44 rim sts stay free to form the open front.
3. Sew a vertical seam from the center back of the rim down to the closed bottom. Catch the panel’s center column every 2 rows.
4. Tack each side of the pocket back to the panel at mid-depth.
5. Repeat for Pocket 2 at Row 50 and Pocket 3 at Row 80.
Tension: Sew firmly without pulling. The panel should stay 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide at every seam.
Size checkpoint: The rims sit 30 rows, about 6.7 in (17.0 cm), apart. Measured from the bottom edge, they sit at about 4.4 in (11.2 cm), 11.1 in (28.2 cm), and 17.8 in (45.2 cm). The bottom pocket’s base should sit about 1.2 in (3.0 cm) above the edge.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends.
- Pin the panel face up to 4.5 in x 20.25 in (11.4 cm x 51.4 cm).
- Mist it lightly.
- Fill each pocket with a roll wrapped in a plastic bag.
- Smooth each scale upward with your fingers.
- Pinch each trim point and picot into shape.
- Let it dry for at least 24 hours before hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The panel is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide along its full length.
- Each rim has 60 sc and 12 even points.
- Each pocket has 2 offset tiers of 10 scales, with tips up.
- The pocket bottoms are fully closed.
- The rims sit on Rows 20, 50, and 80, each sewn 16-to-16.
- The ring hangs straight.
- All ends are hidden.
Troubleshooting
- Scales point down: You worked bottom-up. Start from the 60-ch rim.
- Scales crowd or curl: Go up 0.5 mm for Rnds 3 and 5.
- Rim ripples: Recount Trim Rnd 1. It should be 60 sts.
- Uneven points: Make sure each repeat covers exactly 5 sts.
- Pocket tips forward: Add a tack stitch lower on the back seam.
- Panel sides wave: Keep strictly to 8 sc per 9 rows.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and roll the piece in a towel to remove the water. Dry it flat with the pockets stuffed so they keep their shape.
Final Notes
Each measurement builds on the one before:
– A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 4 in (10.2 cm) panel and a 60-stitch, 15 in (38.1 cm) pocket rim.
– Twelve 5-stitch points fit that rim exactly.
– The 0.25 in (0.6 cm) edging brings the panel to 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
– Each 16-stitch rim segment sews 1:1 to a 16-stitch row.
Check each step as you go, and all three pockets will hang evenly.
Happy crocheting!