Plastic grocery bags pile up fast, and this holder gives them a cheerful home. The Morning Sun Grocery Bag Holder is one seamless tube. A solid half-sun sits low on the front and filet rays fan up from it toward the rim. Push bags in at the top and pull them out one at a time through the gathered bottom.
The sample is in soft pale butter yellow, which suits a bright kitchen. Lavender purple works just as well if you want a cooler look. The style is classic filet crochet: a grid of open and solid squares that turns into a picture when it hangs.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures 8 in (20.3 cm) wide when laid flat and 15 in (38.1 cm) tall, not counting the strap. The strap rises about 4 in (10.2 cm) above the rim when hung.
You work it top-down in joined rounds. First comes a solid single crochet band, then 22 filet rounds with the sunburst, then a decrease round, a ribbed cuff and a cinching round. Last, you finish the top edge with a rim round and add the strap. There’s no seaming and no assembly.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat × 15 in (38.1 cm) tall, plus the strap
- Skill level: Intermediate (filet crochet, post stitches)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (a seamless tube)
- Layout: sunburst centered on the front half, plain mesh on the back half
- Circumference: 64 sts = 16 in (40.6 cm)
- Size before the rim round: 8 in (20.3 cm) × 14.75 in (37.5 cm)
- Border depth: 1 rim round = 0.25 in (0.6 cm), plus a 3-row strap
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape, shows the filet squares clearly and survives a kitchen. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarn, because the open squares will blur and the tube will sag under the weight of the bags.
Yarn:
– Pale butter yellow: 150 g, about 285 m (312 yd)
– Optional colorway: swap in lavender purple in the same amount
Tools:
– 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 2 locking stitch markers
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Rust-proof pins and a rolled towel or cardboard tube about 5 in (12.7 cm) across, for blocking
The yarn amounts include a margin of about 25 g for your gauge swatch and small tension differences.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- fpdc – front post double crochet
- bpdc – back post double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special stitches (filet units):
- Open unit (O): dc in the next st, ch 1, sk the next st. This is 2 sts.
- Solid unit (S): dc in each of the next 2 sts. When you work over an open unit, the second dc goes into the ch-1 space. This is 2 sts.
Every filet round has 32 units, which is 64 sts. Units 1–16 form the front and units 17–32 form the back. The design is symmetrical, so the front reads the same whichever direction you work.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Filet gauge: 8 units (16 sts) and 8 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm). One unit is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) square.
Band gauge: 16 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Make a test swatch first. Ch 19. Row 1: dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in each ch across (17 dc). Row 2: ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), sk the next st, dc in the next st, then ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st across, for 8 open units. Repeat Row 2 six more times. Block the swatch, then measure 8 squares across and 8 rows up. Both should equal 4 in (10.2 cm).
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 5 (band): 8 in (20.3 cm) flat, 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall
– After Rnd 13: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) of filet, 4.75 in (12.1 cm) total
– After Rnd 27: 12.25 in (31.1 cm) total
– After Rnd 32: 14.5 in (36.8 cm) total
– After the rim round: 15 in (38.1 cm) total
If your piece is too big, go down half a hook size. If it’s too small, go up half a size. Don’t add or remove units, because the sun motif needs exactly 16 units across the front.
Pattern
Top Band
Ch 64 and join with a sl st to the first ch, taking care not to twist the chain.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, then join with a sl st to the first sc. (64 sts)
Place marker A in st 1 and marker B in st 33. These mark the two side folds and the strap points.
Rnds 2–5: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (64 sts each rnd)
Checkpoint: the band should be 8 in (20.3 cm) flat and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall.
Filet Body
Begin every round at the joining point. The first unit’s dc is replaced by ch 3, which counts as a dc. If the round starts with an open unit, work ch 3, ch 1, sk 1. If it starts with a solid unit, work ch 3, dc in the next st. End every round with a sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3. In every round below, the back is 16 O.
Rnds 6–7: Front: 16 O. (64 sts; 32 open units)
Rnd 8: Front: 7 O, 2 S, 7 O. (64 sts; 2 solid units)
This is the tip of the center ray.
Rnds 9–11: Front: 1 O, 1 S, 5 O, 2 S, 5 O, 1 S, 1 O. (64 sts; 4 solid units)
Rnds 12–14: Front: 2 O, 1 S, 4 O, 2 S, 4 O, 1 S, 2 O. (64 sts; 4 solid units)
Rnds 15–17: Front: 3 O, 1 S, 3 O, 2 S, 3 O, 1 S, 3 O. (64 sts; 4 solid units)
Rnds 18–20: Front: 4 O, 1 S, 2 O, 2 S, 2 O, 1 S, 4 O. (64 sts; 4 solid units)
The inner rays step one unit toward the center every 3 rounds.
Rnd 21: Front: 1 S, 4 O, 1 S, 1 O, 2 S, 1 O, 1 S, 4 O, 1 S. (64 sts; 6 solid units)
The outer rays start here, at the side folds.
Rnd 22: Front: 1 O, 1 S, 3 O, 1 S, 1 O, 2 S, 1 O, 1 S, 3 O, 1 S, 1 O. (64 sts; 6 solid units)
Rnd 23: Front: 2 O, 1 S, 2 O, 1 S, 1 O, 2 S, 1 O, 1 S, 2 O, 1 S, 2 O. (64 sts; 6 solid units)
Rnd 24: Front: 3 O, 1 S, 1 O, 6 S, 1 O, 1 S, 3 O. (64 sts; 8 solid units)
This is the top of the sun.
Rnd 25: Front: 4 O, 8 S, 4 O. (64 sts; 8 solid units)
Rnds 26–27: Front: 3 O, 10 S, 3 O. (64 sts; 10 solid units)
This is the widest part of the sun. Check that the outer rays meet the sun corner to corner, so the rays look like they start at the sun’s edge.
Checkpoint: the piece should be 12.25 in (31.1 cm) tall and still 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat.
Gathered Bottom
Rnd 28 (decrease round): Ch 2, then dc in the next st; together these count as the first dc2tog. Dc2tog over each of the remaining 31 units, then join.
This round works the 64 sts in 32 pairs, giving 32 sts. Each dc2tog takes one unit’s dc and its ch-sp or second dc. The fabric pulls in to about 4 in (10.2 cm) flat.
Rnd 29: Ch 2 (does not count). Work (fpdc around the next 2 sts, bpdc around the next 2 sts) 8 times, then join to the first fpdc. (32 sts: 16 fpdc, 16 bpdc)
Rnds 30–32: Ch 2. Fpdc around each fpdc and bpdc around each bpdc, then join. (32 sts each rnd)
The 8 raised ribs bunch into the lobed, gathered look.
Rnd 33 (cinch round): Ch 1. Work (sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog) 8 times, then join. (24 sts)
Of the 32 sts, 16 are worked 1-per-stitch and 16 are worked in pairs: 16 + 8 = 24. Fasten off. The opening is about 6 in (15.2 cm) around and 3 in (7.6 cm) flat, which is snug enough to hold bags but loose enough to pull one out.
Checkpoint: the piece should be 14.75 in (37.5 cm) tall.
Border
On this design, the “border” is the top rim round plus the strap. Both are worked into the foundation chain at the top of the piece.
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the band. The rim adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of height.
Rim round: Turn the tube upside down. Join the yarn at marker A, in the free loop of the foundation ch. Ch 1, then sc in each free loop around and join. (64 sts)
This round has 64 sts worked 1-per-stitch, plus 0 added. Each side has 32 sts: front sts 1–32 and back sts 33–64. Move the markers up to sts 1 and 33 of this round. Do not fasten off.
Strap Row 1: Ch 40. Sl st into the marked st 33, then sl st into the next st and turn. (40 ch)
Strap Row 2: Sc in each ch back across, then sl st into marked st 1 and turn. (40 sc)
Strap Row 3: Sc in each sc across, then sl st into st 33. (40 sc)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: The rim has exactly 64 sts, one per foundation chain, so the edge lies flat with no ruffling or cupping. The markers sit exactly 32 sts apart, which places the strap ends at the two side folds. That keeps the sunburst centered between them on the front. The strap’s 40 sts at about 4 sts per inch give a 10 in (25.4 cm) strap. When hung, it rises about 4 in (10.2 cm) into a soft point at the hook.
Final Blocking
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes, then gently squeeze out the water. Don’t wring it.
- Roll it in a towel to remove more water.
- Slide a rolled towel or a cardboard tube wrapped in plastic into the body.
- Lay it flat with the sunburst facing up and the side folds at markers A and B.
- Pat the body to 8 in (20.3 cm) wide and 12.25 in (31.1 cm) from the rim edge to the decrease round.
- Square up the filet grid with your fingers, and pin the rays straight if any lean.
- Leave the ribbed cuff unpinned so it stays gathered.
- Let it dry completely, then turn it over and check the back.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every filet round has 64 sts (32 units).
- The sun is 10 units wide at its base and centered on the front.
- There are 5 rays: one center ray, two inner rays and two outer rays.
- The back is all open mesh.
- The cuff shows 8 even ribs.
- The cinch round has 24 sts.
- The rim has 64 sts, and the strap ends sit at the side folds.
- The finished piece is 8 in (20.3 cm) × 15 in (38.1 cm).
- All ends are woven into solid areas.
Troubleshooting
The rays drift sideways. Your round joins are shifting. Always start in the same st, right on top of the previous ch-3.
The squares look like rectangles. Your dc are too tall. Pull up shorter loops or go down a hook size.
The tube twists. The foundation chain was twisted when you joined it. If the twist is small, blocking can correct it. If it’s large, restart.
The cuff flares instead of gathering. Check that the rib rounds have 32 sts. Work the posts firmly and keep the cinch round tight.
The strap stretches over time. Add a fourth row of sl sts along the strap.
The rim cups inward. Work the rim round with a hook half a size larger.
Care
Hand wash or machine wash on cool in a mesh bag, reshape while damp and lay flat to dry. Don’t tumble dry, because heat can shrink cotton unevenly.
Final Notes
Each stage builds on the one before it. Your swatch sets the 0.5 in (1.3 cm) unit. The 64-st band gives the 8 in (20.3 cm) width. The 22 filet rounds add 11 in (27.9 cm) and carry the sunburst. The decrease round, ribbed cuff and cinch round add 2.5 in (6.4 cm) and close the bottom to a 3 in (7.6 cm) opening. The rim brings the total height to 15 in (38.1 cm). If you check your measurements at each stage, the finished holder will hang straight, with the sun centered on the front.
Happy crocheting!