The Plum Lattice Bag Holder is a tall, lacy tube that hangs from a hook and keeps plastic grocery bags tidy. You push bags in at the open top and pull them out, one at a time, through a smaller opening at the bottom.
The sample is worked in a single rich plum shade of cotton. The body is an open fan lattice: rounds of small three-dc fans, offset each round, which leave triangular windows between them. Solid single crochet bands frame the lace at the top and bottom, and a sturdy strap handle rises from the back of the rim.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures 6 in (15.2 cm) wide when flat and 19 in (48.3 cm) tall, not counting the handle. The circumference is 12 in (30.5 cm).
Construction is simple and seamless. You start at the bottom opening with a chain ring, then increase in single crochet to form the rounded base. Next come the lace body, a conversion round back to single crochet, the top band, the handle, and a light slip-stitch edging.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat x 19 in (48.3 cm) tall; circumference 12 in (30.5 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (the handle is worked directly off the rim)
- Layout: Single vertical tube, worked bottom up
- Piece size: 6 in (15.2 cm) x 19 in (48.3 cm) flat
- Size before border: 6 in (15.2 cm) x 19 in (48.3 cm); the edging adds no height
- Border depth: About 1/8 in (0.3 cm), a surface slip-stitch trim
- Handle: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 10 in (25.4 cm) long, standing about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) above the rim
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape, shows the fan texture clearly, and won’t stretch much under the weight of the bags. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy acrylics, which blur the lattice and let the tube sag.
- Plum (main and only color): 100 g, approximately 170 m (186 yd)
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- 2 locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and a rolled towel or a tall bottle for blocking
This amount includes a margin of about 25% to cover your gauge swatch and small differences in tension.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- inc = 2 sc in the same stitch
- sk = skip
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- BLO / FLO = back loop only / front loop only
- rep = repeat
Special stitch – Fan: (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) all in the same stitch. Each Fan has 3 dc and 2 ch-1 sps. The middle dc is the center dc.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Sc gauge: 16 sc and 20 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Lace gauge: 1 pattern repeat (6 base sts) = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide; 8 lace rounds = 5 in (12.7 cm) tall
The base is your test piece. Work Rounds 1–10 and measure before you continue. If the base is right, the rest of the holder will come out right too.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 1: the foundation ring measures 7.5 in (19.1 cm) around, or 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide when flattened.
- After Round 3: 36 sts, 9 in (22.9 cm) around.
- After Round 5: 42 sts, 10.5 in (26.7 cm) around.
- After Round 10: 48 sts, 12 in (30.5 cm) around, 6 in (15.2 cm) flat, base 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
- After Round 18: the lace measures 5 in (12.7 cm).
- After Round 34: the lace measures 15 in (38.1 cm), and the whole piece is 17 in (43.2 cm) tall.
- After Round 44: the piece is 19 in (48.3 cm) tall.
If your piece is too big: go down to a 4.5 mm hook and rework the base. If it is too small: go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Don’t add or remove stitches, because the lace needs exactly 48 sts (8 repeats of 6).
Pattern
Part 1: Base (Rounds 1–10)
Work in joined rounds without turning. Place a marker in the first st of each round.
Foundation: Ch 30. Join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist the chain.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc. (30 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (30 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st; rep from * 5 more times, join. (36 sts)*
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (36 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st; rep from * 5 more times, join. (42 sts)*
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (42 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, inc in next st; rep from * 5 more times, join. (48 sts)*
Rounds 8–10: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (48 sts each round)
Because the increases are spread out, the base flares gently from the small opening to the full width. This gives the holder its rounded bottom and keeps a narrow opening for pulling bags out.
Part 2: Fan Lattice Body (Rounds 11–34)
Round 11 (setup): Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, Fan in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, Fan in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts; rep from * 6 more times, join with sl st to first sc. (8 Fans, 8 sc, 16 ch-2 sps)*
Each repeat uses exactly 6 sts of Round 10 (1 sc + 2 skipped + 1 Fan + 2 skipped), and 6 x 8 = 48.
Round 12 (A): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), (dc, ch 1, dc) in same sc as join to complete the first Fan, ch 2, sc in center dc of next Fan, ch 2, Fan in next sc, ch 2, sc in center dc of next Fan, ch 2; rep from * 6 more times, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (8 Fans, 8 sc, 16 ch-2 sps)*
Round 13 (B): Sl st in next ch-1 sp, sl st in center dc. Ch 1, sc in same dc, ch 2, Fan in next sc, ch 2, sc in center dc of next Fan, ch 2, Fan in next sc, ch 2; rep from * 6 more times, join with sl st to first sc. (8 Fans, 8 sc, 16 ch-2 sps)*
Rounds 14–34: Rep Rounds 12 and 13 alternately. Even rounds follow Round 12 and odd rounds follow Round 13. End after Round 34, which is a Round 12 repeat. (8 Fans, 8 sc, 16 ch-2 sps each round)
That makes 24 lace rounds in total. Each new Fan sits on a sc, and each sc anchors into the center of a Fan below. This offset creates the zigzag lattice and the triangular windows.
Part 3: Conversion and Top Band (Rounds 35–44)
Round 35 (conversion): Ch 1, sc in first dc of Fan (on the first repeat, this is the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4), sk ch-1 sp, sc in center dc, sk ch-1 sp, sc in last dc of Fan, sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc, sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * 7 more times, join. (48 sts)*
Count check: each repeat is (3 dc + 1 sc, worked 1 per existing stitch = 4) + (2 sc added into ch-2 sps) = 6. Across 8 repeats, that is 32 + 16 = 48 sts.
Rounds 36–44: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (48 sts each round)
Do not fasten off. The top band is 10 rounds, or 2 in (5.1 cm), the same height as the base.
Part 4: Handle
Flatten the tube so the round joins run up the center back. Rounds 36–44 are worked through both loops. The handle uses only the back loops of Round 44, so the front loops stay free for the edging.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in BLO of the joining st and in BLO of next 3 sts, turn. (4 sts)
Rows 2–50: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (4 sts each row)
The strap now measures 10 in (25.4 cm). Skip 4 sts past the last st used in Row 1, and place a marker in the next st (st 9 of Round 44). Fold the strap over without twisting it. Hold Row 50 against the BLO of sts 9–12 and sl st through both layers 4 times. Fasten off.
The handle ends sit 1 in (2.5 cm) apart, and the whole handle base spans 3 in (7.6 cm).
Border
The border is a light slip-stitch edging. It firms up the openings without changing the size. Border gauge: 4 sl sts per 1 in (2.5 cm), the same as the sc gauge.
Top edge: Join yarn in the FLO of any st of Round 44. Sl st loosely in the FLO of each st around, including the sts under the handle, and join. (48 sl sts: 24 per flattened side)
Bottom opening: Join yarn in any free loop of the foundation chain. Sl st loosely in each loop around and join. (30 sl sts: 15 per flattened side)
Handle edges: Join yarn at one end of the strap. Work 1 sl st in each row end along the long edge (50 sl sts), then repeat on the other long edge. (50 sl sts per edge)
Why the math works: Each round has 48 sts, so each flattened side has 24 sts. At 4 sts per inch, 24 / 4 = 6 in (15.2 cm), which is exactly the flat width of the holder. The bottom opening has 15 sts per side, and 15 / 4 = 3.75 in (9.5 cm). Every stitch gets exactly one sl st, so the edges don’t ruffle or pull in.
Weave in all ends securely, working them through the solid sc bands where possible.
Final Blocking
- Soak the holder in cool water for 10 minutes.
- Press out the water gently and roll the holder in a towel. Do not wring it.
- Slide the holder over a tall bottle or a rolled towel about 12 in (30.5 cm) around.
- Ease the Fans open with your fingers until all the triangular windows are even.
- Measure: the holder should be 19 in (48.3 cm) tall and 6 in (15.2 cm) flat. If it is short, ease it lengthwise.
- Pin the handle flat and straight at 10 in (25.4 cm) long.
- Let it dry completely before hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Base is 6 in (15.2 cm) flat and 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
- Bottom opening is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) flat, wide enough to pull a bag through.
- Every lace round has 8 Fans and 8 sc.
- Fans are evenly staggered, with no doubled or missing columns.
- Round 35 has 48 sts.
- Top band is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
- Total height is 19 in (48.3 cm).
- Handle is untwisted and firmly joined, with 1 in (2.5 cm) between its ends.
- Slip-stitch edges are smooth and not tight.
- All ends are woven into the solid bands.
Troubleshooting
- Base cups or puckers: Your increases are too tight, or you skipped a round. Recount; Round 7 must have 48 sts.
- Lace spirals around the tube: A round started in the wrong place. Round 12-type rounds start in the sc, and Round 13-type rounds start in a center dc.
- Fewer than 8 Fans: You missed a sc. Rip back to the last correct round.
- Lace too short: Pull up the first loop of each dc to full hook height, or add 2 lace rounds (1 extra pair) before Round 35.
- Top band flares: Round 35 has too many sts. Work only 1 sc into each ch-2 sp.
- Handle stretches: Work the strap with a hook 0.5 mm smaller.
- Bottom opening too loose: Work the sl st edging more firmly or use a smaller hook.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, then lay flat or hang to dry. If the tube stretches after heavy use, gently reshape the cotton while it is damp.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain from start to finish. The base grows from 30 to 48 sts, reaching 12 in (30.5 cm) around and 6 in (15.2 cm) flat. The lace body keeps the same 48-st base as 8 Fan repeats of 1.5 in (3.8 cm) each and adds 15 in (38.1 cm) of height. The conversion round brings the count back to exactly 48 sts, and the 2 in (5.1 cm) band brings the total height to 19 in (48.3 cm). A 10 in (25.4 cm) strap gives you a sturdy hanging loop. If your base checkpoint is right, everything above it will fall into place.
Happy crocheting!