This hanging plastic bag holder turns a kitchen chore into something pretty. The body is worked in sage green fan stitches separated by wavy cream stripes, and a small cluster of cream roses with green leaves sits on the upper front. Bags go in through the wide top and come out one at a time through a round, cream-trimmed opening at the tapered bottom.
The style is soft farmhouse: muted green, warm cream, and an open lattice texture that shows when the holder is running low. A single green strap hangs from a towel bar, hook, or cabinet knob.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished body measures 9 in (22.9 cm) wide laid flat and 15 in (38.1 cm) tall, not counting the strap. The strap arches about 5 in (12.7 cm) above the rim, for a total hanging length of about 20 in (50.8 cm).
The body has no seams. You start at the bottom with a chain ring that becomes the dispensing opening. Single crochet increases shape it into a tapered cone, and then the body is worked in joined rounds of fans and stripes. A scalloped cream rim finishes the top. The strap, roses, and leaves are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 9 in (22.9 cm) wide flat x 15 in (38.1 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 body, plus 1 strap, 3 roses, and 5 leaves sewn on
- Layout: One tube-shaped holder hung by a single strap
- Piece size: 72-stitch circumference = 18 in (45.7 cm), or 9 in (22.9 cm) flat
- Size before border (rim): 14.5 in (36.8 cm) tall
- Border depth: Top rim 0.5 in (1.3 cm); opening edging 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
- Dispensing opening: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the fan shapes crisply and stretches less than acrylic when the holder is full. Avoid splitty yarns, since you will be working into crowded fans.
- Sage green (main color): 150 g, about 255 m (279 yd)
- Cream (contrast color): 75 g, about 128 m (140 yd)
These quantities include about 15 percent extra to cover your gauge check and small differences in tension.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Scissors and measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
- Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
- Fan: 11 dc in the same stitch.
- Half fan: at the start of a round, ch 3 (counts as dc) and 5 dc in the same stitch; at the end of the round, 5 dc in that same first stitch. Together they make one full 11-dc fan.
- V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in the round. One 4-round pattern repeat = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall. One fan plus one sc (12 stitches) = 3 in (7.6 cm) wide.
Test your gauge on the base first. It is small, quick, and predicts the finished size.
Checkpoints:
- Foundation ring: 32 chains joined measure 8 in (20.3 cm) around, about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
- After base Rnd 11: 72 sts, 18 in (45.7 cm) around. Laid flat, the base is 9 in (22.9 cm) across and about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall along the slope.
- After 2 pattern repeats: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) from the opening.
- After 8 pattern repeats: 14.5 in (36.8 cm) from the opening.
- After the rim: 15 in (38.1 cm) total.
Too big? Go down to a 4.5 mm (US 7) hook. Too small? Go up to a 5.5 mm (I-9) hook. Change the hook, not the stitch counts. All the stitch math relies on 72 stitches, which divide evenly into 6 fans and 12 rim scallops.
Base and Dispensing Opening
Work in joined rounds without turning. Join each round with a sl st to the first stitch. The beginning ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
With green, ch 32 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, without twisting.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, working under one loop so the other loop stays free for the edging. (32 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 8 times. (40 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (40 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 8 times. (48 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (48 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 8 times. (56 sts)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (56 sts)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 8 times. (64 sts)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (64 sts)
Rnd 10: Ch 1, *sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 8 times. (72 sts)
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (72 sts)
The base now forms a shallow cone that narrows toward the opening. Measure for Checkpoint 2 here.
Body: Fan and Stripe Pattern
The pattern repeats every 4 rounds: 2 green fan rounds, then 2 cream single crochet rounds. Don’t cut the yarn when you change colors. Carry the color you’re not using loosely up the inside of the holder at the join.
Rnd 1 (green): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 5 sts, fan in next st, sk 5 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep at *. Join to first sc. (6 fans and 6 sc; 72 sts)
Rnd 2 (green): Work a half fan in the first sc (ch 3 and 5 dc in the same st), sk 5 dc, sc in center (6th) dc of next fan, sk 5 dc, fan in next sc; rep from * around, ending last rep at *. Work 5 dc in the first sc to complete the half fan, and join to the top of the beginning ch-3. Drop green. (6 fans and 6 sc; 72 sts)
The Rnd 2 fans sit between the Rnd 1 fans. They stack like bricks, which creates the open lattice.
Rnd 3 (cream): Join cream with a sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. Ch 1, sc in each st around, including the ch-3. (72 sts)
Rnd 4 (cream): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Drop cream. (72 sts)
The fan tops sit higher than the single crochet dips between them. As a result, the cream rounds follow the outline of the fans and form wavy stripes. Don’t try to straighten them.
Rep Rnds 1–4 seven more times, for 8 repeats total, ending with a cream round. (72 sts)
Size check: 14.5 in (36.8 cm) from the opening, 9 in (22.9 cm) flat.
Strap
With green, ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (5 sts)
Rows 2–63: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The strap measures 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.
Roses (Make 3)
With cream, ch 25.
Row 1: V-st in 5th ch from hook, *sk 1 ch, V-st in next ch; rep from * across, ending in the last ch. (11 V-sts)
Row 2: Ch 3, turn, 5 dc in each ch-1 sp across. (11 petals of 5 dc)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Starting at the end without the tail, roll the strip tightly so the petals spiral outward. Stitch through all layers at the base. Each rose is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Leaves (Make 5)
With green, ch 8.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working along the other side of the chain, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. Sl st to first sc. (15 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Each leaf is about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long.
Border: Top Rim and Opening Edging
Border gauge: Each rim scallop covers 6 sts, or 1.5 in (3.8 cm). The rim adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of height.
Lay the body flat with the opening pointing straight down. Place a marker at each side fold. The front and back each have 36 sts.
Rim Rnd (cream): Join cream in the first st. Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep at *. Join to first sc. (12 scallops: 6 on the front, 6 on the back; 96 sts = 12 sc + 84 dc)
Why the math works: 72 sts divided by a 6-st repeat gives exactly 12 scallops, with no partial repeat at the join. Each side’s 36 sts hold 6 scallops, so the front and back match. Because the piece is a tube, it has no corner stitches.
Opening Edging (cream): Turn the holder upside down. Join cream in any free loop of the foundation chain.
Edging Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each free loop around. (32 sts)
Edging Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (32 sts)
Fasten off. The edging makes a short cream collar, about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep, that keeps the opening firm. It works 1 st into each of the 32 foundation chains, so the opening stays 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
Assembly
Strap: Working on the inside, center one strap end on each side fold, just below the rim, so 1 in (2.5 cm) of strap overlaps the body. Whipstitch all edges of each overlap with green. The free strap is 12 in (30.5 cm) long and arches about 5 in (12.7 cm) above the rim.
Roses and leaves: On the upper front, near the right side, arrange the 3 roses in a loose diagonal cluster starting about 2 in (5.1 cm) below the rim. Tuck the 5 leaves under the roses so the tips peek out. Pin them in place, then sew each piece through its base into the body behind it, without closing any of the lattice spaces.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the inside, through solid stitches only.
- Stuff the holder loosely with plastic bags or a rolled towel.
- Mist lightly until damp, not soaked.
- Shape the base into a smooth taper and round out the opening.
- Pin each rim scallop so it curves evenly.
- Open the fans gently with your fingertips and fluff the rose petals.
- Let dry completely, about 24 hours, before removing the stuffing.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Body is 9 in (22.9 cm) flat and 15 in (38.1 cm) tall.
- Each fan round has 6 fans and 6 sc (72 sts).
- Each cream round has 72 sc.
- The rim has 12 even scallops, 6 per side.
- The opening is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across, with a 32-st edging.
- Carried yarn is loose and does not pucker the stripes.
- The strap is untwisted and sewn securely on both sides.
- Roses and leaves are firmly attached.
Troubleshooting
Base ruffles: Tension is loose on increase rounds. Go down a hook size for the base.
Base cups too much: Go up a hook size for the base, and confirm each increase round has exactly 8 increases.
Fan count is off: Recount the previous cream round. Every pattern round must start from 72 sts.
Stripes pucker: Carried yarn is too tight. Pull out some slack before each color change.
Opening too tight for bags: Work the edging more loosely, or one hook size up.
Strap stretches: Add a sl st round along both long edges.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out water in a towel, and lay flat to dry. Reshape while damp.
Final Notes
Here is how the measurements build. Thirty-two chains make an opening 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across. Eleven base rounds grow to 72 sts and 18 in (45.7 cm) around. Eight pattern repeats of 1.5 in (3.8 cm) bring the body to 14.5 in (36.8 cm). The cream rim adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm), for a 15 in (38.1 cm) holder. If each checkpoint matches, the finished holder will too.
Happy crocheting!