This hanging grocery bag holder is a tall, airy tube that keeps loose plastic bags tidy and easy to grab. Bags go in through the open top front and come out one at a time through an oval opening near the bottom.
The body is an open filet mesh in burgundy, framed by solid cream bands at the base and the top. A solid burgundy neck tab rises from the back and folds over a wooden ring for hanging. A small cluster of layered dusty-rose flowers, light-pink blossoms and green leaves sits at the upper left. An alternate sage-green colorway with cream daisies is included.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 4 in (10.2 cm) in diameter and 12.5 in (31.8 cm) tall for the body. It measures about 16 in (40.6 cm) from the base to the ring.
You will crochet an oval base and work the wall upward in one piece. Next comes the mesh with a built-in opening, then the top band and neck tab. To finish, you edge the holder, attach the ring and sew on the flowers.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4 in (10.2 cm) diameter; 12.5 in (31.8 cm) circumference; 16 in (40.6 cm) base to ring; about 18.5 in (47.0 cm) including the ring
- Skill level: Easy intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 holder body, plus 4 small appliqué flowers and 4 leaves
- Layout: Single vertical tube, worked bottom up in joined rounds
- Body size: 12.5 in (31.8 cm) around x 12.5 in (31.8 cm) tall
- Size before border: Same as body; the edging adds no width
- Border depth: 1 round of sc around the opening, about 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the mesh open and doesn’t stretch much under the weight of the bags.
- Burgundy (main): 60 g, about 114 m
- Cream (bands): 35 g, about 66 m
- Dusty rose (large flowers): 8 g, about 15 m
- Light pink (small flowers): 5 g, about 10 m
- Leaf green: 4 g, about 8 m
Sage colorway: sage 60 g (114 m) for the body, cream 41 g (78 m) for bands and flowers, mustard 2 g (4 m) for centers, olive 4 g (8 m) for leaves.
Tools:
- 4.5 mm (US 7) hook
- Wooden ring, 2.75 in (7.0 cm) outer diameter
- Tapestry needle
- 4 stitch markers
- Scissors and measuring tape
All quantities include a margin of about 15 percent.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- BLO – back loop only
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- beg – beginning
- rnd – round
Mesh square: 1 dc plus 1 ch-1 space. Each mesh square equals 2 sts.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Sc gauge: 16 sts x 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Mesh gauge: 8 mesh squares (16 sts) x 8 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Make the base first and use it as your gauge test piece.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 5, the oval base measures about 4.75 x 2.5 in (12.1 x 6.4 cm).
- After Rnd 14, the bottom band is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall and 12.5 in (31.8 cm) around.
- After 8 mesh rounds, the mesh measures 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 32, the body is 11 in (27.9 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 39, the body is 12.5 in (31.8 cm) tall.
- After Row 20, the neck tab measures about 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
If your base is too big, go down a hook size. If it is too small, go up one size. If only the mesh is too tall, keep your dc posts shorter by pulling the first loop snug.
Body
Base (cream)
Ch 13.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 10 ch, 3 sc in last ch; working along the other side of the chain, sc in next 10 ch, 2 sc in same ch as first sc. Join with sl st to first sc. (26 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), 2 sc in first st, sc in next 10, 2 sc in each of next 3, sc in next 10, 2 sc in each of next 2. Join. (32 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 10, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 10, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 2 times. Join. (38 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 10, [sc in next 2, 2 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 10, [sc in next 2, 2 sc in next st] 2 times. Join. (44 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 10, [sc in next 3, 2 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 10, [sc in next 3, 2 sc in next st] 2 times. Join. (50 sts)
Each round adds 6 sts, 3 at each curved end. The straight sides stay at 10 sts.
Bottom Band (cream)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join. (50 sts) This turns the edge sharply upward.
Rnds 7–14: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (50 sts)
Fasten off cream. The band is 9 rounds, or 2 in (5.1 cm), tall.
Mesh Body (burgundy)
Rnd 15: Join burgundy with sl st in any st. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip next st, [dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] 24 times. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (25 dc + 25 ch-1 sps = 50 sts)
Mark this joining point. It becomes the left edge of the opening, and the center front sits just to its right.
Rnds 16–17: Ch 4, skip ch-1 sp, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip sp] 24 times. Join to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (50 sts)
Number the dc posts 1 through 25, counting the beg ch-4 as post 1.
Rnd 18 (worked as a row): Ch 4, skip sp, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip sp] 18 times, dc in next dc (post 20). Do not join. Turn. (20 dc + 19 sps = 39 sts; 11 sts left unworked)
Rnd 19 (worked as a row): Ch 4, skip sp, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip sp] 18 times, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-4. Turn. (39 sts)
Rnd 20: Ch 4, skip sp, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip sp] 18 times, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-4 (post 20). Ch 11. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (39 sts + 11 ch = 50 sts)
The ch-11 bridges 6 mesh squares and forms the top of the opening. Do not turn from here on.
Rnd 21: Ch 4, skip sp, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip sp] 18 times, dc in next dc, ch 1, skip first ch of ch-11, [dc in next ch, ch 1, skip next ch] 5 times. Join to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (25 dc + 25 sps = 50 sts)
Rnds 22–32: Ch 4, skip sp, [dc in next dc, ch 1, skip sp] 24 times. Join. (50 sts)
You now have 18 mesh rounds, 9 in (22.9 cm) tall. The opening is 6 squares, or 3 in (7.6 cm), wide and 2 rounds, about 1 in (2.5 cm), tall. Fasten off.
Top Band (cream)
Rnd 33 (conversion round): Join cream in 3rd ch of beg ch-4. Ch 1, sc in same st, [sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc] 24 times, sc in last ch-1 sp. Join. (25 sc in dc + 25 sc in sps = 50 sts)
Rnds 34–39: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (50 sts)
Fasten off. The top band is 7 rounds, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm), tall.
Neck Tab (burgundy)
The tab is worked in rows over the 20 back sts. Counting from the first st of Rnd 39, place markers in st 11 and st 30. Flatten the tube with the opening centered on the front and check that the markers sit evenly on the back.
Row 1: Join burgundy in st 11. Ch 1, sc in same st and next 19 sts. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (18 sts)
Rows 5–12: Repeat Rows 3–4 four more times. (Row 6: 16 sts; Row 8: 14 sts; Row 10: 12 sts; Row 12: 10 sts)
Row 13: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 6, sc2tog. Turn. (8 sts)
Rows 14–20: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (8 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The 30 front sts of Rnd 39 stay free as the loading edge.
Appliqués
Large Layered Flower (dusty rose, make 2)
Ch 4, join to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 10 sc in ring. Join. (10 sts)
Rnd 2: [Sc in next st, ch 3, skip next st] 5 times. Join. (5 ch-3 loops)
Rnd 3: In each ch-3 loop work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Join. (5 inner petals)
Rnd 4: Working behind the petals, [ch 4, sl st around post of next Rnd 2 sc] 5 times. (5 ch-4 loops)
Rnd 5: In each ch-4 loop work (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc). Join and fasten off. (5 outer petals)
The inner petals stand in front of the outer ones, which gives the stacked rose look. The flower is about 2 in (5.1 cm) across.
Small Flower (light pink, make 2)
Ch 4, join to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 10 sc in ring. Join. (10 sts)
Rnd 2: [(Hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st] 5 times. Fasten off. (5 petals)
The flower is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Leaf (leaf green, make 4)
Ch 7. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch. Working along the other side, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Sl st to first sc and fasten off. Each leaf is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long.
Sage colorway: Make 6 small flowers, working Rnd 1 in mustard and Rnd 2 in cream. Make 4 buds: for each one, work 4 dc in a cream magic ring, pull the ring tight and fasten off. Make 6 olive leaves.
Border
Border gauge: 1 sc per sc row end, 2 sc per dc row end, and 2 sc per ch-1 sp.
Opening edging: Join burgundy at the lower right corner of the opening. Ch 1. Along the bottom edge, work 2 sc in each of the 6 ch-1 sps (12 sc). Up the side, work 2 sc around each of the 2 dc row ends (4 sc). Across the top, working into the underside of the ch-11, sc in next 5 ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next 5 ch (12 sc). Down the second side, work 2 sc around each of the 2 row ends (4 sc). Join. (32 sts)
Neck side edging: With burgundy, sc along each side of the neck tab, 1 sc per row end for Rows 1–16. (16 sc per side)
Front top edge: With cream, sl st loosely in each of the 30 free front sts. (30 sl sts)
Why the math works: At this gauge, a dc round and a mesh square each measure 0.5 in (1.3 cm), the same as 2 sc. The 12 sc along the bottom and top of the opening match the 12 sts the opening replaced. The side counts match the 2 dc rounds, so the edge lies flat without ruffling or pulling.
Attaching the Ring
Slip Rows 17–20 of the neck tab through the ring from front to back. Fold them down onto the wrong side of the tab, about 1 in (2.5 cm). Whipstitch the last row to Row 16 with the long tail so the ring sits snugly in the fold.
Final Blocking
- Mist the holder lightly with water until it is damp.
- Slide a rolled towel or a 4 in (10.2 cm) wide jar into the tube.
- Gently square up the mesh so the holes line up vertically.
- Shape the opening into a smooth oval, 3 in (7.6 cm) wide.
- Flatten the base and leave the holder to dry completely.
- Block the flowers flat, pressing the inner petals forward.
- Sew the appliqués to the upper-left front of the mesh, just below the top band. Place the two large flowers first, tuck the small flowers beside them and slip the leaves underneath.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Base is 4.75 x 2.5 in (12.1 x 6.4 cm) and sits flat
- Every body round counts 50 sts
- Mesh holes are square and aligned
- Opening is centered on the front, 6 squares wide
- Body is 12.5 in (31.8 cm) tall
- Neck tab is centered on the back and tapers evenly to 8 sts
- Ring is stitched firmly inside the fold
- All flowers and leaves are secure and all ends are woven in
Troubleshooting
- Mesh slants: Your joins are drifting. Always work the beg ch-4 at the same post.
- Base cups upward: Your tension is too tight. Go up a hook size for the base only.
- Base ruffles: The increases are stacking unevenly. Check that each curved end grows 3, 6, 9, 12, then 15 sts.
- Opening is too tight for bags: Add 1 extra row between Rnds 18 and 19, worked the same way.
- Neck tab is off-center: Pull out Row 1 and recount from the first st of Rnd 39.
- Holder sags: Your yarn is too stretchy. Switch to 100 percent cotton.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Remove the wooden ring first if it is not sealed.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. The 50-st base gives a 12.5 in (31.8 cm) circumference. Each mesh square equals 2 sts, so every round keeps 25 squares. The 2 in (5.1 cm) bottom band, 9 in (22.9 cm) of mesh and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) top band add up to a 12.5 in (31.8 cm) body. The neck tab brings the holder to 16 in (40.6 cm) at the ring. Check your gauge at each stage and every part will line up.
Happy crocheting!