This hanging bag holder keeps plastic grocery bags tidy and easy to reach. It is a tall, soft peach tube with a solid base and an airy V-stitch mesh body. An oval opening near the bottom lets you pull out one bag at a time.
Three small sunflowers sit on the front. Each has golden-yellow pointed petals, a cream center and two sage-green leaves. A flat strap loops over a cabinet knob or hook, so the holder hangs neatly against a door or wall.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished body is 15 in (38.1 cm) around, about 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across and 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall, not counting the strap.
The construction is simple. You work the base and body in one piece from the bottom up:
- a flat sc circle
- a solid lower band with the bag opening
- 24 rounds of V-stitch mesh
- a solid top band
Then you crochet a strap, three sunflowers and six leaves, and sew them on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 15 in (38.1 cm) around x 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall; strap is 20.5 in (52.1 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted weight (4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 main body, plus 1 strap, 3 sunflowers and 6 leaves sewn on
- Layout: One tube. The sunflowers go on the front above the opening, and the strap ends are sewn inside the top band at the two sides.
- Piece size: Base is 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across; opening is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 1.3 in (3.3 cm) tall
- Size before top band: 15 in (38.1 cm) around x 14.4 in (36.6 cm) tall
- Top band (border) depth: 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape when the holder is full of bags, and it stretches less than acrylic.
- Peach (main color): 160 g, about 290 m
- Golden yellow (petals): 15 g, about 27 m
- Cream (flower centers): 5 g, about 9 m
- Sage green (leaves): 8 g, about 15 m
All quantities include a small safety margin.
Tools:
- 5 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers (at least 2)
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Rustproof pins for blocking and placing the appliqués
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
Special stitches:
- V-st (V-stitch): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space.
- Petal: (hdc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc) in the same stitch. This makes a small pointed petal.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Single crochet gauge: 16 sc x 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
V-stitch gauge: 4 V-sts (12 sts) = 3 in (7.6 cm) wide; 8 V-st rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
Make the base (Rounds 1–10) first as your gauge test. It should measure 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across. If it is bigger, go down a hook size. If it is smaller, go up a hook size. Then start again.
Checkpoints along the way:
- After Round 10: the base is 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across.
- After Round 21: the solid wall is 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall.
- The opening is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 1.3 in (3.3 cm) tall.
- After Round 29 (8 mesh rounds): the mesh is 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
- After Round 45: the mesh is 12 in (30.5 cm) tall and the body is 14.4 in (36.6 cm) tall.
- After Round 51: the body is 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall.
If the mesh is too tall, make your dc a little tighter. If the tube grows wider than 15 in (38.1 cm) around, your V-sts are loose. Drop half a hook size for the mesh only.
Pattern
Base
With peach, work in rounds and join each one with a sl st. The ch 1 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.
- Round 1: MR, 6 sc in ring, join. (6 sts)
- Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (12 sts)
- Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (18 sts)
- Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (24 sts)
- Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (30 sts)
- Round 6: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (36 sts)
- Round 7: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (42 sts)
- Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (48 sts)
- Round 9: Ch 1, sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (54 sts)
- Round 10: Ch 1, sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st 6 times, join. (60 sts)
Checkpoint: the base measures 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across when laid flat.
Lower Band
- Round 11: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around, join. (60 sts) This makes the crisp edge where the base turns up into the wall.
- Rounds 12–14: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60 sts)
Bag Opening
Now work back and forth over 42 sts. The other 18 sts stay unworked to form the opening.
- Row 15: Ch 1, sc in first 42 sts, turn. Leave the last 18 sts unworked. (42 sts)
- Rows 16–20: Ch 1, sc in each of the 42 sts, turn. (42 sts)
At the end of Row 20, do not turn. Ch 18, then sl st in the first sc of Row 20 on the other side of the gap. The chain bridges the top of the opening.
- Round 21: Ch 1, sc in each of the 42 sc and in each of the 18 ch, join. (42 + 18 = 60 sts)
The opening is now 18 sts wide (4.5 in / 11.4 cm) and 6 rows tall (1.3 in / 3.3 cm). The solid wall is 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall.
V-Stitch Mesh
- Round 22: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in same st (first V-st made), sk 2 sts, V-st in next st 19 times, sk 2 sts, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (20 V-sts)
Stitch check: each repeat is 1 worked st plus 2 skipped sts. 20 repeats use exactly 60 sts.
- Round 23: Sl st in first ch-1 sp, sl st in next dc, then sl st in the gap between this V-st and the next one. Ch 4, dc in same gap, V-st in each gap between V-sts around, join to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (20 V-sts)
Each new V-st sits between two V-sts of the round below. This offset forms the diamond-shaped holes.
- Rounds 24–45: Repeat Round 23. (20 V-sts in each round; 24 mesh rounds in total)
Checkpoint: the mesh is 12 in (30.5 cm) tall, and the body is 14.4 in (36.6 cm) tall.
Strap
With peach, ch 5.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (4 sts)
- Rows 2–90: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (4 sts)
Before the edging, the strap is 20 in (50.8 cm) long.
- Edging round: Ch 1 and work around the whole strap, joining at the end:
- 3 sc in the corner st, sc in the next 2 sts, 3 sc in the next corner st
- 90 sc down the long side (1 per row end)
- 3 sc in the first foundation st, sc in the next 2 sts, 3 sc in the last foundation st
- 90 sc up the second long side
- Total: (4 corners x 3) + (2 short ends x 2) + (2 long sides x 90) = 196 sts
Fasten off and leave a long tail. The finished strap is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 20.5 in (52.1 cm) long.
Sunflowers (make 3)
- Round 1: With cream, MR, 8 sc in ring, join. (8 sts)
- Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (16 sts) Fasten off cream. The center is 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
- Round 3: Join yellow in any st. Work a Petal in each st around, then join to the first hdc. (16 petals)
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. The flower is 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
Leaves (make 6)
With green, ch 7.
- Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, then (sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch for the tip. Now work along the other side of the foundation chain: hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch, join to first sc.
Fasten off and leave a tail. Each leaf is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long.
Border: Top Band and Opening Edge
The solid top band is the border. It closes the mesh, gives the strap a firm place to attach and finishes the rim.
Border gauge: same as the base: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Round 46 (conversion round): Sl st in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, 2 sc in ch-1 sp, sc in the gap before the next V-st 20 times, join. Count: 40 sc worked 1 per space (20 V-st spaces + 20 gaps) + 20 extra sc (the second sc in each V-st space) = 60 sts.
- Rounds 47–51: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60 sts)
Fasten off and weave in the end.
When the tube is laid flat, the front and the back each hold 30 sts, so each side measures 7.5 in (19.1 cm) across. The 6 band rounds add 1.3 in (3.3 cm), which brings the body to 15.7 in (39.9 cm).
Why the math works: each V-st takes up 3 stitches of width, and 20 x 3 = 60. The conversion round puts exactly 3 sc back into each V-st repeat, so the top band has the same count as the base. The rim matches the bottom, and the tube hangs straight instead of flaring out or pulling in.
Opening edge: Join peach at the lower right corner of the opening.
- Work 18 sc in the 18 unworked sts of Round 14 (bottom edge), 6 sc along the row ends of the side (1 per row), 18 sc in the underside of the 18 ch (top edge) and 6 sc along the second side, then join. (18 + 6 + 18 + 6 = 48 sts)
Don’t add extra stitches at the corners. This lets the corners soften so the opening becomes a smooth oval.
Assembly
- Flatten the body so the opening is centered on the front. The two folds at the sides mark where the strap goes.
- Place one strap end inside the top band at a side fold. Overlap it by the full 1.3 in (3.3 cm) depth of the band and pin it.
- Check that the strap is not twisted, then pin the second end at the opposite fold.
- Whipstitch around each overlap. Catch only the inside layer of the band so the stitches stay hidden.
- Arrange the sunflowers on the front mesh above the opening. Put one flower in the center of the upper half. Put the other two below it, side by side, with the right flower a little higher than the left.
- Tuck two leaves behind the top edge of each flower, angled up and out in a V.
- Sew on each leaf, then each flower, through the solid strands of the mesh with small stitches. Don’t sew through to the back of the holder.
Final Blocking
- Spray the body lightly with water until it is damp but not soaked.
- Stuff the tube with a rolled towel or a bottle about 4.8 in (12.2 cm) wide so it is round.
- Gently pull the mesh down to an even height of 15.7 in (39.9 cm).
- Shape the opening into a smooth oval with your fingers.
- Lay the strap flat and pin it straight at 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide.
- Flatten the sunflower petals with damp fingers.
- Let everything dry completely before hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The base is flat and 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across.
- Every solid round has 60 sts.
- Every mesh round has 20 V-sts.
- The opening edge has 48 sts and lies smooth.
- The body is 15.7 in (39.9 cm) tall and 15 in (38.1 cm) around.
- The strap is not twisted, and both ends are secure.
- Each of the 3 sunflowers has 16 petals and 2 leaves.
- No sewing shows on the inside or the back.
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
- Base cups or ruffles: Cupping means too few stitches or a tight hand. Ruffling means too many stitches. Recount each round against the pattern.
- Mesh slants or spirals: Start each round in the gap between V-sts, not in a V-st space.
- Wrong V-st count: You skipped a gap or worked one twice. Count the V-sts before you join each round.
- Opening has gaps at the corners: Add 1 sl st into each corner while you work the edging.
- Tube is too wide: Go down half a hook size for the mesh rounds.
- Strap stretches: Sew it across the full depth of the band, and use cotton instead of acrylic.
- Petals curl: Block them flat, or work the Petal round with a hook one size larger.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press out the water, reshape the holder and dry it flat. Don’t tumble dry, because heat can shrink the cotton and distort the mesh.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain. The 60-stitch base makes a tube 15 in (38.1 cm) around. The solid lower band with the opening adds 2.4 in (6.1 cm). The 24 mesh rounds, with 20 V-sts each, add 12 in (30.5 cm). The 60-stitch top band adds 1.3 in (3.3 cm), for a finished body of 15.7 in (39.9 cm). Check your gauge at each step, and the holder will hang straight, hold plenty of bags and show off its three sunflowers.
Happy crocheting!