This hanging toilet paper holder stores two spare rolls in a slim column on the wall. It has a soft sage green back panel, two deep pockets, and a cream lattice pineapple on the front of each pocket. Small cream scallops trim the panel and the pocket rims, and the whole piece hangs from a wooden ring.
The style is calm farmhouse-cottage. The sage single crochet is firm and quiet, and the cream trim and pineapples supply the detail. The pineapple is a traditional symbol of welcome, so this holder also works well in a guest bath.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 7.75 in (19.7 cm) wide and 23 in (58.4 cm) long from the bottom scallops to the shoulders. With the tab loop it is about 24.5 in (62.2 cm) long, not counting the ring.
Construction is simple. First you work the back panel in rows with a tab at the top. Then you work two pockets in rounds, each starting from a flat rectangular base. You make two pineapple appliqués, sew one to each pocket, and sew the pockets to the panel. Finally you add the scalloped border and wrap the tab around the ring.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7.75 in × 23 in (19.7 × 58.4 cm), plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tab loop
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hooks: 4.5 mm (US 7) for the body; 3.75 mm (US F-5) for the appliqués
- Number of pieces: 5 (1 back panel, 2 pockets, 2 pineapple appliqués), plus a wooden ring
- Layout: Vertical, with the two pockets stacked on the panel
- Panel size before border: 6.25 in × 22 in (15.9 × 55.9 cm)
- Pocket size before edging: base 5.25 in × 3.5 in (13.3 × 8.9 cm); walls 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the box shape of the pockets and handles bathroom humidity well. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the lattice.
- Sage green (Color A): 150 g, about 274 m (300 yd)
- Cream (Color B): 50 g, about 91 m (100 yd)
The quantities include a margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) hook
– 3.75 mm (US F-5) hook
– Wooden ring, 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across
– Tapestry needle
– 4 locking stitch markers
– Rustproof pins
– Tape measure
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)
- RS – right side
Special stitches
- Scallop: sk 1 st, 5 dc in the next st, sk 1 st, sl st in the next st. Each scallop uses 4 stitches.
- Leaf: from the current stitch, ch the number given, then work back down the chain starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, and sl st into the same base st. The leaf types are:
- Small: ch 5; sc, hdc, dc, sc (4 sts)
- Medium: ch 6; sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc (5 sts)
- Large: ch 7; sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc (6 sts)
- Tall: ch 8; sc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, sc (7 sts)
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sage, using the 4.5 mm hook.
Make one pocket base before anything else and treat it as your gauge test.
- Pocket base, Row 16: should measure 5.25 in × 3.5 in (13.3 × 8.9 cm).
- Back panel, Row 20: should be 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide.
- Back panel, Row 99: should be 22 in (55.9 cm) long, measured flat and unstretched.
- Each appliqué: should be about 3 in × 3.5 in (7.6 × 8.9 cm).
If your piece is too big, go down 0.5 mm. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. Don’t change the stitch counts, because the border math depends on them.
Back Panel
With Color A and the 4.5 mm hook, ch 26.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (25 sc)
Rows 2–99: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in each st across. Turn. (25 sc)
Checkpoint: the panel measures 6.25 in × 22 in (15.9 × 55.9 cm).
Hanging Tab
Row 100: Ch 1. Sk the first 9 sts and leave them unworked. Join to st 10 and work sc in sts 10–16. Turn. (7 sc)
The 9 unworked stitches on each side are the shoulders.
Rows 101–113: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (7 sc)
The tab is 14 rows, which is about 3.1 in (7.9 cm) long and 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide. Fasten off.
Pockets (Make 2)
Base
With Color A and the 4.5 mm hook, ch 22.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (21 sc)
Rows 2–16: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (21 sc)
Checkpoint: the base measures 5.25 in × 3.5 in (13.3 × 8.9 cm).
Walls
From here you work in joined rounds. Join each round with a sl st to the first sc, then ch 1.
Rnd 1: Work sc around the base:
– 21 sc across Row 16
– 15 sc evenly along the 16 row-ends of the short side (skip 1 row-end at the middle)
– 21 sc across the foundation chain
– 15 sc along the other short side
(72 sc)
Place a marker at each of the 4 corners.
Rnd 2: Sc BLO in each st around. (72 sc) The unworked front loops form a crisp fold line, which is what turns the flat base into a box.
Rnds 3–17: Sc in each st around. (72 sc)
The walls are 16 rounds, about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall. The round join falls at a corner, and that corner should be on the back wall.
Rim Edging
Change to Color B.
Rnd 18: Sc in each st around. Join. (72 sc)
Rnd 19: Sl st in the first st. Work 18 Scallops around (18 × 4 = 72 sts); the last sl st lands in the first sl st. Fasten off. (18 scallops)
Pineapple Appliqués (Make 2)
Use Color B and the 3.75 mm hook.
Lattice Body
Row 1 (RS): Make a magic ring. Ch 1, sc in ring, (ch 3, sc in ring) 3 times. Pull the ring closed. Turn. (3 ch-3 sps)
Row 2: Ch 3, sc in the first sc. Then (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 3 times, ch 3, sc in the last sc. Turn. (5 ch-3 sps)
Row 3: Ch 3, sc in the first sc. Then (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 5 times, ch 3, sc in the last sc. Turn. (7 ch-3 sps)
Rows 4–5: Ch 3, sc in the first ch-3 sp. Then (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 6 times. Turn. (7 ch-3 sps)
Row 6: Sl st into the first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in the same sp. Then (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 6 times. Turn. (6 ch-3 sps)
Row 7: Repeat Row 6, working the bracketed repeat 5 times. Turn. (5 ch-3 sps)
The body is now about 3 in (7.6 cm) at its widest and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall. Its rounded base narrows to a flat top.
Top Band
Row 8: Ch 1, 3 sc in each of the 5 ch-3 sps. Turn. (15 sc)
Crown
Row 9: Work the 7 leaves across the band in this order:
1. Sl st in st 1, Small Leaf.
2. Sl st in sts 2–3, Medium Leaf.
3. Sl st in sts 4–5, Large Leaf.
4. Sl st in sts 6–8, Tall Leaf.
5. Sl st in sts 9–11, Large Leaf.
6. Sl st in sts 12–13, Medium Leaf.
7. Sl st in sts 14–15, Small Leaf.
This places leaves on sts 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 13 and 15. (7 leaves)
Body Outline
Do not fasten off yet. Work down the side of the body by putting 3 sc into each of the 7 row-end spaces. Then work 3 sc around the ring at the bottom, and 3 sc into each of the 7 row-end spaces up the other side. Sl st to the band. (45 sc)
This outline gives the lattice a firm edge. Fasten off and leave a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for sewing.
Make All Pieces
Color A (sage): 1 back panel, 2 pocket bodies (Rnds 1–17)
Color B (cream): 2 pocket rims (Rnds 18–19), 2 appliqués, and the panel border (after joining)
Layout, top to bottom:
[ring]
[tab]
[shoulder][shoulder]
| |
| [POCKET 2] | base at Row 55
| (pineapple) |
| |
| [POCKET 1] | base at Row 7
| (pineapple) |
|__________________|
scalloped border
Joining
Appliqué to Pocket
- Choose one long (21-st) wall of each pocket to be the back wall. The other long wall is the front.
- Center the appliqué on the front wall, about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) above the fold line. The crown tips should just meet the cream Rnd 18. Pin it in place.
- Whipstitch around the body outline, through the outer loops only.
- Tack each leaf at its tip and at its base. Leave the leaves slightly raised.
Pocket to Panel
Use a whipstitch, working stitch-to-stitch, with Color A.
Pocket 1:
1. Lay the panel flat with the RS up.
2. Line up the 21 stitches of the back wall’s bottom fold with panel Row 7, sts 3–23. This leaves 2 sts free on each side. Sew 1 pocket st to 1 panel st.
3. Sew each vertical back corner of the pocket up the 16 wall rounds, following panel columns 3 and 23. Rounds and rows share the same gauge, so this is 1 round to 1 row.
4. Tack the back half of Rnd 18 to the panel. Leave the scallops free.
Pocket 2: Repeat with the fold line on Row 55, which is 12 in (30.5 cm) above the foundation chain.
Tension: Keep each stitch snug but flat. If the panel puckers behind the pocket, your stitches are too tight.
Checkpoint: the panel is still 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide, and both pockets are centered.
Border
The border gauge is the same as the body: 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm). The pockets are sewn on top of the panel, so they don’t change any border counts.
Rnd 1
With Color B and the 4.5 mm hook, RS facing, join yarn in a top outer corner stitch (the end of Row 99). Work:
| Section | Stitches |
|---|---|
| Top corner A (3 sc in 1 st) | 3 |
| Long side: sc in the next 8 row-ends, sk 1 row-end 11 times (11 × 9 = 99 row-ends) | 88 |
| Bottom corner (3 sc in 1 st) | 3 |
| Bottom: sc in each of the 23 foundation chains between the corners | 23 |
| Bottom corner (3 sc in 1 st) | 3 |
| Long side, same as before | 88 |
| Top corner B (3 sc in 1 st) | 3 |
| Shoulder | 8 |
| Up the tab: sc in 12 of the 14 row-ends, evenly | 12 |
| Tab top: 3 sc in the first st, sc in the next 5, 3 sc in the last st | 11 |
| Down the tab | 12 |
| Shoulder | 8 |
Join to the first sc. (262 sc)
Rnd 2
- Sl st in the next sc, which is the center sc of corner A.
- Work 52 Scallops. The last sl st lands in the center sc of corner B.
- Sl st in each of the next 53 sts: 1 corner sc, 8 shoulder, 12 tab, 11 tab top, 12 tab, 8 shoulder, and 1 corner sc.
- Join to the first sl st.
Fasten off.
Why the math works:
– The scalloped run goes from the center of corner A to the center of corner B: 1 + 1 + 88 + 3 + 23 + 3 + 88 + 1 + 1 = 209 sts. Since 209 = (52 × 4) + 1, 52 scallops fit exactly.
– The plain section is 262 − 209 = 53 sts.
– The long sides have 88 sc, which matches 22 in × 4 sc per in. That keeps the edge flat, without ruffling or cupping.
Tab
Pass the tab through the ring from front to back. Fold it so the tab top lies against the back of the shoulders. Whipstitch it down. The result is a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
Final Blocking
- Mist the holder lightly or steam it from above. Don’t press the iron onto the yarn.
- Pin the panel to 7.75 in × 23 in (19.7 × 58.4 cm).
- Pin each scallop into a rounded point.
- Stuff each pocket with a dry roll in a plastic bag so it holds its box shape.
- Fan the pineapple leaves out evenly and pin their tips.
- Let it dry completely, about 24 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Panel measures 7.75 in × 23 in (19.7 × 58.4 cm)
- Border Rnd 1 has 262 sc, and Rnd 2 has 52 scallops
- Each pocket has 72 sts and 18 scallops
- Pockets sit 2 sts in from each panel edge
- Each pineapple has 7 leaves and a 5-loop top
- Ring wrap is secure, and all ends are woven in
Troubleshooting
- Panel edges ruffle: Too many sc on the long sides. Keep to exactly 88.
- Pocket walls flare out: You skipped the BLO round, or your tension loosened. Redo Rnd 2.
- Lattice looks lopsided: Recount the sps on Rows 2–3. You should have 5 and then 7.
- Leaves curl: Block them flat, or go up a hook size for Row 9.
- Last scallop is off by one: Recount Rnd 1 one section at a time.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Reshape the pockets around a roll while damp.
Final Notes
Everything comes back to one gauge: 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm). That gauge gives a 25-st panel that is 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide and 99 rows that are 22 in (55.9 cm) long. The panel’s 88-st sides and 209-st scalloped run produce the bordered size of 7.75 in × 23 in (19.7 × 58.4 cm). Check the gauge, check each checkpoint, and the pieces will fit together.
Happy crocheting!