Navy Diamond Tapestry Paper Towel Holder Crochet Pattern

This paper towel holder is a single flat panel in cream and deep navy that hangs on your kitchen wall. A band of three bold diamonds runs across the top. Each diamond has a thick navy outline, a cream ring and a solid navy center. Below the band the panel stays plain cream so the paper towel roll stands out against it.

Two navy straps run down the sides. Each strap forms two loops. The upper loops hold a wooden dowel for the paper towel roll, and the lower loops hold a second dowel where you can hang a tea towel. A narrow navy border frames the panel and keeps the edges firm.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished panel measures 13.75 in (34.9 cm) wide by 13 in (33.0 cm) tall. The gap between the straps is 11.75 in (29.8 cm), so a standard roll about 11 in (27.9 cm) tall fits.

You’ll work the panel bottom-up in rows of single crochet. The top band uses tapestry crochet with the unused color carried inside the stitches. After that you add a two-round border, crochet two straps, sew them on and slide in the dowels.

Finished Size and Construction

• Finished size: 13.75 in (34.9 cm) wide × 13 in (33.0 cm) tall
• Skill level: Intermediate (tapestry color changes)
• Terminology: US
• Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
• Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
• Number of pieces: 1 panel + 2 straps (one item)
• Layout: One panel, with one strap sewn along each side edge
• Panel size before border: 12.75 in (32.4 cm) × 12 in (30.5 cm), 51 sts × 54 rows
• Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on every side, 2 rounds
• Strap size: 1 in (2.5 cm) × 18.2 in (46.2 cm), 4 sts × 82 rows

Materials

Cotton works best. It holds its shape, doesn’t fuzz and puts up with kitchen humidity. Choose a smooth, tightly plied worsted cotton so the diamond edges look crisp.

• Cream (main color, C): 60 g, about 110 m (120 yd)
• Navy (contrast color, N): 45 g, about 80 m (87 yd)

These quantities include a margin of about 15% for the carried strands, the swatch and seaming.

Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– 2 locking stitch markers
– 2 wooden dowels, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) diameter, 16 in (40.6 cm) long
– 2 small brass screws, or picture hooks, for hanging
– Measuring tape, scissors and blocking pins

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• rep – repeat
• C – cream
• N – navy
• RS / WS – right side / wrong side

Tapestry single crochet (color change): Work the last stitch of the old color until 2 loops are on the hook. Yarn over with the new color and pull through. Lay the unused color along the top of the previous row and work over it with every stitch so it is hidden inside.

Reading color runs: “5N, 7C” means 5 sc in navy, then 7 sc in cream.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in tapestry single crochet, with one strand carried.

Make a 20-st swatch at least 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, and carry the second color through it. Carrying makes the fabric denser, so a plain sc swatch will mislead you.

Checkpoints:
1. After Row 10: The width is 12.75 in (32.4 cm) and the height is about 2.2 in (5.6 cm).
2. After Row 37: The height is about 8.2 in (20.8 cm).
3. After Row 54: The panel is 12.75 in (32.4 cm) × 12 in (30.5 cm).
4. After the border: The panel is 13.75 in (34.9 cm) × 13 in (33.0 cm).
5. Strap: It is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and 18.2 in (46.2 cm) long.

Too big? Go down a half or full hook size. Too small? Go up one size. You can accept up to ±0.25 in (0.6 cm) on the panel width. If it is wider than that, the roll may not fit between the straps or the dowels may be too short.

Panel

The panel is worked in turned rows. Every color row of the diamond is symmetrical, so you read it the same way on RS and WS rows.

Foundation: With C, ch 52.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (51 sc)

Rows 2–37: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (51 sc)

Check the width after Row 10, then check the height again after Row 37.

Diamond Band (Rows 38–54)

Join N on the last stitch of Row 37 using the tapestry color change. From now on, carry the unused color across every stitch, including the first and last stitch of each row.

Each row is one 17-st motif worked 3 times across, which gives 51 sts. Start every row with ch 1 and turn; the ch 1 doesn’t count as a stitch.

• Row 38 (motif row 1): [5N, 7C, 5N] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 39 (row 2): [4N, 4C, 1N, 4C, 4N] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 40 (row 3): [3N, 4C, 3N, 4C, 3N] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 41 (row 4): [2N, 4C, 2N, 1C, 2N, 4C, 2N] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 42 (row 5): [1N, 4C, 2N, 3C, 2N, 4C, 1N] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 43 (row 6): [4C, 2N, 5C, 2N, 4C] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 44 (row 7): [3C, 2N, 3C, 1N, 3C, 2N, 3C] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 45 (row 8): [2C, 2N, 3C, 3N, 3C, 2N, 2C] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 46 (row 9, widest row): [1C, 2N, 3C, 5N, 3C, 2N, 1C] 3 times. (51 sc)
• Row 47 (row 10): Work as Row 45.
• Row 48 (row 11): Work as Row 44.
• Row 49 (row 12): Work as Row 43.
• Row 50 (row 13): Work as Row 42.
• Row 51 (row 14): Work as Row 41.
• Row 52 (row 15): Work as Row 40.
• Row 53 (row 16): Work as Row 39.
• Row 54 (row 17): Work as Row 38.

Fasten off C. Keep N attached for the border.

What this produces: Rows 38 and 54 place the navy half-diamond triangles at the bottom and top of the band. The 2-st navy outline forms each large diamond. The cream ring is 3 sts wide at the center row, and the solid navy center diamond is 5 sts wide at Row 46. Two cream sts separate neighboring diamonds at their widest point. The band is 17 rows, about 3.8 in (9.7 cm) tall, and each motif is 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide.

Count check: Every motif row adds up to 17 sts, and 17 × 3 = 51. That matches the 51 sts from Row 1.

Border

Border gauge: 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) along every edge. The top and bottom edges have 4 sts per inch already. The sides have 4.5 row ends per inch, so Round 1 skips a few row ends to bring the sides to 4 sts per inch.

In this section, “per side” counts include both corner center sts.

Round 1 (N, RS): Ch 1. You are working along the top edge (Row 54). Work 3 sc in the first st. Sc in each of the next 49 sts, then 3 sc in the last st. Mark the middle sc of each 3-sc group as a corner center.

Turn the work to go down the side. The 52 row ends of Rows 53–2 sit between the corners. Sc in the next 2 row ends, [skip 1 row end, sc in the next 7 row ends] 6 times, then sc in the last 2 row ends. (46 sc)

Along the bottom edge, work into the free loops of the foundation chain. Work 3 sc in the first ch, sc in each of the next 49 ch, then 3 sc in the last ch.

Work up the second side the same way as the first. (46 sc) Sl st to the first sc.

• Top and bottom, per side: 51 sts worked 1 per existing st + 2 extra corner sts = 53
• Sides, per side: 46 sc into row ends + 2 extra corner sts + 2 corner centers = 50
• Round total: 4 corner centers + (2 × 51) + (2 × 48) = 202 sts

Round 2: Ch 1. Sc in each st around and work 3 sc in each corner center. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off.

• Top and bottom: 53 + 2 = 55 per side
• Sides: 50 + 2 = 52 per side
• Round total: 202 + 8 = 210 sts

Why the math works: At 4 sts per inch, 55 sts measure 13.75 in (34.9 cm) and 52 sts measure 13 in (33.0 cm). Those match the panel size before the border plus 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of border on each side. Because the sides now have the same 4 sts per inch as the top and bottom, the edges lie flat without rippling or pulling in.

Straps (Make 2)

With N, ch 5.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (4 sc)

Rows 2–82: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4 sc)

Fasten off and leave a 40 in (101.6 cm) tail for sewing. Each strap measures 1 in (2.5 cm) × 18.2 in (46.2 cm).

Strap sections, from Row 1 down:
– Rows 1–20: flat, 4.4 in (11.2 cm)
– Rows 21–36: upper loop, 3.6 in (9.1 cm)
– Rows 37–60: flat, 5.3 in (13.5 cm)
– Rows 61–76: lower loop, 3.6 in (9.1 cm)
– Rows 77–82: flat, 1.3 in (3.3 cm)

Attaching the Straps

1. Lay the panel RS up. Place a strap on the RS along one side with its outer long edge on the outer edge of the border. The strap covers the 0.5 in (1.3 cm) border and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of the panel.
2. Line up strap Row 1 with the top edge of the panel. Whipstitch both long edges of Rows 1–20 to the panel, then whipstitch across the end of Row 20.
3. Upper loop: Pin the start of Row 37 to the panel 1 in (2.5 cm) below Row 20. The 16 rows in between bow outward to form a loop. Don’t sew Rows 21–36.
4. Whipstitch Rows 37–60 flat, sewing both long edges and both ends.
5. Lower loop: Pin the start of Row 77 1 in (2.5 cm) below Row 60 and leave Rows 61–76 free.
6. Whipstitch Rows 77–82 flat. Row 82 should line up with the bottom edge of the panel; ease in the last few rows if needed.
7. Repeat on the other side so the loops sit at exactly the same heights.

Checkpoint: The clear space between the two straps is 11.75 in (29.8 cm). The upper dowel’s center sits about 4.9 in (12.4 cm) below the top edge.

Final Blocking

1. Weave in all ends inside the sc stitches that match their color.
2. Wet the panel and straps and gently squeeze out the water. Don’t wring them.
3. Pin the panel to 13.75 in (34.9 cm) × 13 in (33.0 cm) on a blocking board, and square the corners.
4. Straighten the outer border edge with a ruler and pin it every 1 in (2.5 cm).
5. Push the dowels through the loops while everything is still damp, so the loops dry in a rounded shape.
6. Let it dry completely flat, which takes about 24 hours.
7. Hang the holder with a small brass screw through each top corner of the border, about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in from the edges.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

• The panel is 51 sts wide, and every motif row adds up to 17 sts × 3.
• All three diamonds are the same size, and their centers line up on Row 46.
• The navy triangles meet the top border cleanly.
• No carried strands show on the RS.
• Border Round 1 has 202 sts and Round 2 has 210.
• The panel measures 13.75 in (34.9 cm) × 13 in (33.0 cm) after blocking.
• Both straps are 82 rows long, and their loops sit at the same heights.
• The dowels slide in easily and the roll turns freely.

Troubleshooting

Navy shows through the cream: Hold the carried strand slightly to the back and tighten your tension. A darker cotton also hides less well behind cream, so choose the opaque yarn.

Diamonds lean to one side: Tapestry sc tends to slant. Work every row with the same yarn-over direction and block the panel firmly square.

The panel puckers in the band: You are carrying the floats too tightly. Spread the stitches along the hook before each color change.

The border ripples: You probably left out the skipped row ends. Check that each side has 46 sc in Round 1.

The roll doesn’t fit: The panel came out narrow. Rework it with a larger hook, or attach the straps closer to the outer edge.

The loops are too tight: Add 2 rows to each loop section and add 4 rows to the total row count.

Care

Hand wash in cool water, press out the excess and dry flat. Take the dowels out before washing.

Final Notes

The measurement chain is simple. The 16-st gauge gives a 51-st panel 12.75 in (32.4 cm) wide, and 54 rows make it 12 in (30.5 cm) tall. The 0.5 in (1.3 cm) border brings it to 13.75 in (34.9 cm) × 13 in (33.0 cm). Two 82-row straps then hold the dowels, with 11.75 in (29.8 cm) of clear space between them. If you check each stage against these numbers, the finished holder will hang straight and fit a standard roll.

Happy crocheting!