Peach-colored crocheted hanging organizers with two compartments and wooden dowel handles against a neutral beige background.

Peach Shell Cascade Two-Tier Hanging Basket Crochet Pattern

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The Peach Shell Cascade is a two-tier hanging organizer. It has two oval lace baskets, each held open by a wooden dowel, hung from one cord. It holds toiletries, toilet rolls, brushes or hair accessories, and it lets light through.

The whole design uses one warm peach color, so the stitch pattern carries the look. Each basket has a solid oval base, a sturdy band of plain rounds, three bands of offset fan shells with triangle-shaped openings between them, and a scalloped rim.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished basket measures 12 in (30.5 cm) long, 5 in (12.7 cm) wide and 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall. The assembled organizer is about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide at the dowels and about 22 in (55.9 cm) tall from the hanging loop to the bottom of the lower basket.

Construction is simple. You work the oval base in joined rounds, turn up the wall with a back-loop round, and work the shell lace in the round. Then you thread a dowel through each basket and assemble everything with one slip-stitch cord.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Basket size: 12 in x 5 in x 4.75 in (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm x 12.1 cm)
  • Assembled size: about 14 in (35.6 cm) wide x 22 in (55.9 cm) tall
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
  • Number of pieces: 2 baskets + 1 cord + 2 dowels
  • Layout: 1 column x 2 tiers
  • Base size: 12 in x 5 in (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm)
  • Wall height before rim: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
  • Rim depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm)

Materials

Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds shape, stands up to bathroom humidity and shows the shell texture clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy acrylic, because the baskets will sag under weight.

  • Peach: 350 g / about 595 m (at roughly 170 m per 100 g)

Tools:

  • 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
  • 2 wooden dowels, 14 in (35.6 cm) long, 3/8 in (1.0 cm) diameter
  • 8 stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure
  • Rust-proof pins and a blocking surface

Yarn quantities include a margin of about 15% for swatching and tension differences.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • BLO – back loop only
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • sp(s) – space(s)
  • rnd(s) – round(s)

Special stitches

  • Shell: 7 dc in the same st or sp.
  • Rim shell: 9 dc in the same sp.
  • V-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same st.

Beginning ch-2 and ch-1 never count as stitches. Join every round with a sl st to the first stitch.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 15 dc and 8 dc rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).

Make one complete basket before starting the second. Measure it at each checkpoint:

  • After Rnd 1: about 8 in (20.3 cm) long x 1 in (2.5 cm) wide
  • After Rnd 3: about 10 in (25.4 cm) long x 3 in (7.6 cm) wide
  • After Rnd 5: 12 in x 5 in (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm)
  • After Rnd 9: solid wall band about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall
  • After Rnd 15: wall 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall
  • After Rnd 17: wall 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall

If the base is longer than 12.5 in (31.8 cm) after Rnd 5, go down one hook size. If it is shorter than 11.5 in (29.2 cm), go up one hook size. The dowel needs about 1 in (2.5 cm) sticking out at each end, so base length matters more than height.

Peach crochet fabric displaying an open diamond mesh pattern, with a wooden crochet hook softly blurred behind.

Basket (Make 2)

Oval Base

Foundation: Ch 31.

Rnd 1: 6 dc in 4th ch from hook (the skipped 3 ch do not count). Dc in each of next 26 ch. 6 dc in last ch. Rotate and work along the opposite side of the foundation ch: dc in each of next 26 ch. Join. (64 sts: 6 per end, 26 per straight side)

Rnd 2: Ch 2. [2 dc in each of next 6 sts, dc in each of next 26 sts] twice. Join. (76 sts: 12 per end, 26 per side)

Rnd 3: Ch 2. [Dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] 6 times, dc in each of next 26 sts. Repeat from * once. Join. (88 sts: 18 per end, 26 per side)

Rnd 4: Ch 2. [Dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st] 6 times, dc in each of next 26 sts. Repeat from * once. Join. (100 sts: 24 per end, 26 per side)

Rnd 5: Ch 2. [Dc in each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st] 6 times, dc in each of next 26 sts. Repeat from * once. Join. (112 sts: 30 per end, 26 per side)

The base should lie flat. If the ends ruffle, your increases are too tight together; if they cup, check the stitch count.

Solid Wall Band

Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc BLO in each st around. Join. (112 sc) The unworked front loops make the visible ridge where the base turns up.

Rnd 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join. (112 hdc)

Rnd 8: Repeat Rnd 7. (112 hdc)

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (112 sc) Sl st in each of next 3 sts. This moves the start to the beginning of an end section.

Shell Lace

Rnd 10 (shell round): Ch 1, sc in same st as last sl st. Skip 3 sts, shell in next st, skip 3 sts, sc in next st. Repeat from * around, ending with skip 3 sts after the last shell. Join to the first sc. (14 shells + 14 sc = 112 sts)

Each repeat uses exactly 8 sts, and 112 / 8 = 14 repeats.

Rnd 11 (mesh round): Sl st in each of next 3 dc. Ch 1, sc in next dc (the center dc of the shell). Ch 3, V-st in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next shell. Repeat from * around. On the last repeat, work the V-st in the sc at the start of Rnd 10, then ch 3 and join to the first sc. (14 sc, 14 V-sts, 28 ch-3 sps)

The ch-3 spaces stretch over the shell slopes below and form the triangular openings.

Rnd 12 (shell round): Ch 1, sc in first sc. Skip ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of next V-st, skip ch-3 sp, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Omit the last sc and join to the first sc. (14 shells + 14 sc = 112 sts)

These shells sit above the single crochets of Rnd 10, so the fans alternate.

Rnd 13: Repeat Rnd 11. (14 sc, 14 V-sts, 28 ch-3 sps)

Rnd 14: Repeat Rnd 12. (14 shells + 14 sc = 112 sts)

Rnd 15: Repeat Rnd 11. (14 sc, 14 V-sts, 28 ch-3 sps) Do not fasten off.

Checkpoint: the wall should measure 4.25 in (10.8 cm) from the base ridge.

Make All Pieces

  • Basket A (upper): 1, Peach, about 165 g
  • Basket B (lower): 1, Peach, about 165 g
  • Cord: 1, Peach, about 15 g

Layout:

            [ hanging loop ]
             /            \
     dowel =[  Basket A   ]= dowel
       |                      |
       |                      |
     dowel =[  Basket B   ]= dowel

Both baskets are identical. Finish both rims, as given in the Border section below, before assembly.

Border (Scalloped Rim)

Rim gauge: one rim repeat (rim shell + sc) spans about 2.1 in (5.3 cm), the same width as one 8-st wall repeat.

Each round has 3 repeats across each short end and 4 along each long side.

Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in first sc. Skip ch-3 sp, rim shell in ch-2 sp of next V-st, skip ch-3 sp, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Omit the last sc and join. (14 rim shells + 14 sc = 140 sts: 40 per long side, 30 per short end)

Rnd 17: Ch 1, loosely sl st in each st around. Join and fasten off. (140 sl sts: 40 per long side, 30 per short end)

Why the math works: the wall carries 112 sts = 14 repeats of 8. In the rim, each repeat becomes 9 + 1 = 10 sts, so 14 x 10 = 140. Per side, that is 4 x 10 = 40 on each long side and 3 x 10 = 30 on each short end, and 40 + 30 + 40 + 30 = 140. The rim adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm), bringing the wall to 4.75 in (12.1 cm).

Cord and Joining

Cord

Ch 240 loosely. Sl st in the back bump of 2nd ch from hook and in each back bump to the end. (239 sl sts) Fasten off and leave 8 in (20.3 cm) tails at both ends.

The cord should measure about 60 in (152.4 cm). If it is shorter, add chains at the start of a new cord; do not stretch it.

Insert the Dowels

  1. Lay a basket flat and find the V-st at the center of one short end in Rnd 15. Mark it.
  2. The opposite V-st is the 8th V-st counting from the marked one (7 V-sts further on). Mark it.
  3. Push a dowel through the ch-2 sp of one marked V-st, across the inside of the basket, and out through the other.
  4. Center the dowel so 1 in (2.5 cm) sticks out at each end.
  5. Repeat for the second basket.

Assemble

  1. Fold the cord in half and mark the center. Fold a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop at the center and sew the base of the loop closed with the tail of a scrap strand.
  2. Measure 10 in (25.4 cm) down each cord arm from the loop. At that point, wrap the arm 4 times around one end of Basket A’s dowel, keeping it tight against the basket wall. Sew through all wraps.
  3. Continue each arm straight down. Measure 10 in (25.4 cm) of cord from the upper dowel, then wrap and sew it around Basket B’s dowel end in the same way.
  4. Wrap the remaining cord ends around the lower dowel ends and sew them in securely. Weave in the tails.
  5. Stitch-to-stitch anchoring: where each vertical cord passes the short end of a basket, tack it to the Rnd 17 sl st directly below the dowel with 2 small stitches. This stops the baskets from swinging forward.

Tension: both diagonal arms above Basket A must be equal, and both vertical drops must be equal. Hang the organizer and adjust the wraps before final sewing.

Size checkpoint: the dowels should be level and 10 in (25.4 cm) apart, and the total height should be about 22 in (55.9 cm).

Final Blocking

  1. Wet both baskets in cool water, squeeze gently and roll them in a towel.
  2. Stuff each basket with a towel or a box of about 12 in x 5 in (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm) so the walls stand straight.
  3. Open each ch-3 triangle and each shell with your fingers.
  4. Pin the rim scallops evenly so each one is about 2.1 in (5.3 cm) wide.
  5. Let the baskets dry completely, then remove them and assemble.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Base measures 12 in x 5 in (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm) and lies flat
  • Rnd 5 count is 112; every shell round is 112; the rim is 140
  • 14 shells per shell round, alternating with the round below
  • Each long side has 4 rim scallops; each short end has 3
  • Dowels stick out 1 in (2.5 cm) on both sides
  • Dowels hang level, 10 in (25.4 cm) apart
  • All tails are woven in and the cord wraps are sewn through

Troubleshooting

  • Base cups: too few increases. Recount the end sections against the stated counts.
  • Base ruffles: extra stitches crept in. Check the straight sides stay at 26.
  • Shells don’t line up: a sc went into the wrong stitch. Each repeat must use exactly 8 sts.
  • Walls lean outward: tension is loose in the solid band. Work Rnds 7–8 with a hook one size smaller.
  • Basket sags on the dowel: the dowel is through the wrong round. Move it to the Rnd 15 V-sts.
  • Organizer tilts: the cord arms are uneven. Rewrap the shorter side.
  • Cord stretches over time: work the sl sts slightly tighter, or use a cotton without much give.

Care

Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the baskets over a towel. Remove the dowels before washing.

Pink crocheted wall organizer displaying soap, lotion, brush, and toilet paper rolls near bright window.

Final Notes

The measurements build on each other. A gauge of 15 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 112-st base of 12 in x 5 in (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm). That base takes 14 shell repeats of 8 sts, which grow into 140 rim sts and a 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wall. The basket length leaves 1 in (2.5 cm) of dowel on each side for the cord. Check the base and the counts before you move on, and the two baskets will hang level.

Happy crocheting!

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