This lacy bag holder is a tall, slender tube of stacked fan shells. It keeps plastic grocery bags tidy and easy to grab. You push bags in through the wide top and pull them out one at a time through the small round opening at the bottom. A solid hanging loop lets it hang from a cabinet knob, hook, or door handle.
The sample is worked in a soft cream cotton, which gives it a light, farmhouse look. It also looks lovely in pastels, and a lilac version uses exactly the same pattern. The open fans let you see how many bags are left, and the solid bands at the top and bottom give the piece structure.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Laid flat, the finished holder measures about 6 in (15.2 cm) wide at its widest point and 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide at the top band. It is 16 in (40.6 cm) long from the bottom opening to the top edge. The hanging loop adds about 4 in (10.2 cm), for a total hanging length of about 20 in (50.8 cm).
Construction is simple. You start with a chain ring that becomes the bottom opening and work a short solid single crochet base. Then you build the body in the round with alternating fan rounds and chain-net rounds. The fans grow larger through the middle and smaller near the top, which gives the teardrop shape. A solid single crochet band finishes the top, and you work the hanging loop straight off that band in rows.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide at the widest point, laid flat; 16 in (40.6 cm) long without the loop; about 20 in (50.8 cm) including the loop
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted weight (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 (worked in one piece, loop included)
- Layout: Single tube, worked in joined rounds from bottom to top
- Piece size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide x 16 in (40.6 cm) long
- Size before top band: 15 in (38.1 cm) long after Round 22
- Top band depth: 1 in (2.5 cm), 4 rounds of single crochet
- Bottom opening: about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
Materials
Choose a smooth, firm worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the fan shapes well. It also doesn’t stretch out under the weight of the bags the way acrylic can. A slightly twisted or cabled cotton gives the most defined fans.
- Main color (cream): about 110 g / 170 m worsted-weight cotton
- Optional second colorway (lilac): the same amount, 110 g / 170 m, if you want a matching pair
Tools:
- 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- 1 stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- A rolled towel or a stuffed bag for blocking
- Rust-proof pins and a spray bottle
All quantities include a margin of about 15% to cover your test rounds and small differences in tension.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- sk – skip
- rnd – round
Special stitch:
- Fan: Work the stated number of dc (5, 7, or 9) all into the same stitch. The center dc is the 3rd dc of a 5-dc fan, the 4th dc of a 7-dc fan, and the 5th dc of a 9-dc fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 14 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in the round. One pattern repeat (one 9-dc fan plus 1 sc) is about 2 in (5.1 cm) wide at the top of the fan.
Test before you commit: work Rounds 1–5 first. This takes only a few minutes and tells you whether your tension is right.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 4: a flat ring about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across, with a center opening about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
- After Round 5: the piece cups into a small bowl about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall.
- After Round 14: about 9.25 in (23.5 cm) long and 6 in (15.2 cm) wide laid flat.
- After Round 22: about 15 in (38.1 cm) long.
- After Round 26: about 16 in (40.6 cm) long and 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide at the top band.
If your piece is too big: go down to a 4.5 mm (7) hook. If it is too small: go up to a 5.5 mm (I-9) hook. Keep the stitch and chain counts the same and change only the hook, so the stitch math stays correct.
Base
The base is a solid ring of sc. The starting chain becomes the bottom opening, so don’t pull it tight.
Rnd 1: Ch 18 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist it. Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc. (18 sc)
Place a marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 6 times total, join. (24 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 6 times total, join. (30 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 6 times total, join. (36 sc)
Checkpoint: a flat ring about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across.
Lace Body
The body alternates two kinds of rounds:
- Fan rounds (odd numbers): fans of dc separated by single sc.
- Net rounds (even numbers): chain spaces anchored with sc. The sc go alternately into the center dc of each fan and into the sc between fans.
Each fan round places its fans into the net sc that sits above the previous round’s between-fan sc. That puts each new tier of fans halfway between the fans below, which creates the scalloped, brick-like shell layout.
Rnd 5 (first fan round): Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sk next 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 5 more times, leaving out the final sc on the last repeat, join with sl st to first sc. (6 fans, 6 sc; 42 dc + 6 sc = 48 sts)
Each repeat uses exactly 6 sts of Round 4 (1 + 2 + 1 + 2), and 6 repeats x 6 sts = 36 sts.
Rnd 6 (net): Sl st in next 4 dc (to the center dc of the first fan), ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 4, sc in next sc (between fans), ch 4, sc in center dc of next fan; rep from * 4 more times, ch 4, sc in next sc, ch 4, join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-4 sps)
Rnd 7 (fan): Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sk next ch-4 sp, 9 dc in next sc, sk next ch-4 sp, sc in next sc; rep from * 5 more times, leaving out the final sc on the last repeat, join. (6 fans, 6 sc; 54 dc + 6 sc = 60 sts)
Rnd 8 (net): Sl st in next 5 dc (to the center dc of the first fan), ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5, sc in center dc of next fan; rep from * 4 more times, ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5, join. (12 sc, 12 ch-5 sps)
Rnds 9–14: Repeat Rounds 7–8 three more times. Each fan round has 60 sts (54 dc + 6 sc). Each net round has 12 sc and 12 ch-5 sps.
Checkpoint: about 9.25 in (23.5 cm) long and 6 in (15.2 cm) wide laid flat. This is the widest part of the holder.
Tapering the Top
From here the fans and chain spaces get smaller, which narrows the tube toward the top.
Rnd 15 (fan): Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sk next ch-5 sp, 7 dc in next sc, sk next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc; rep from * 5 more times, leaving out the final sc on the last repeat, join. (6 fans, 6 sc; 42 dc + 6 sc = 48 sts)
Rnd 16 (net): Sl st in next 4 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 4, sc in next sc, ch 4, sc in center dc of next fan; rep from * 4 more times, ch 4, sc in next sc, ch 4, join. (12 sc, 12 ch-4 sps)
Rnd 17 (fan): Work as for Round 15, but skip ch-4 sps instead of ch-5 sps. (6 fans, 6 sc; 42 dc + 6 sc = 48 sts)
Rnd 18 (net): Sl st in next 4 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next fan; rep from * 4 more times, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, join. (12 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 19 (fan): Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sk next ch-3 sp, 5 dc in next sc, sk next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc; rep from * 5 more times, leaving out the final sc on the last repeat, join. (6 fans, 6 sc; 30 dc + 6 sc = 36 sts)
Rnd 20 (net): Sl st in next 3 dc, ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next fan; rep from * 4 more times, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, join. (12 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 21 (fan): Repeat Round 19. (36 sts)
Rnd 22 (net): Repeat Round 20. (12 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Checkpoint: about 15 in (38.1 cm) long. All nine tiers of fans (Rounds 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21) are now done.
Top Band (Border)
The top band is this piece’s border. It closes the lace into a firm, solid rim that holds its shape when you stuff bags in.
Border gauge: 14 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), or 3.5 sc per inch. Laid flat, the band has two sides (front and back) and no corners, so each side has half the round’s stitches.
Rnd 23 (conversion round): Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc, sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * 6 times total, join. (12 sc worked 1 into each sc + 18 sc worked into the ch-3 sps = 30 sc; 15 sc per flat side)
Rnds 24–26: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (30 sc each round; 15 sc per flat side)
Why the math works: 15 sc per side ÷ 3.5 sc per inch = 4.29 in, which rounds to 4.25 in (10.8 cm) of flat width. That is narrower than the 6 in (15.2 cm) widest point, so the top gathers in gently. It still leaves an opening of about 8.5 in (21.6 cm) around for pushing bags in. At 16 rnds per 4 in (10.2 cm), the four band rounds add 1 in (2.5 cm), bringing the length to 16 in (40.6 cm).
Do not fasten off.
Hanging Loop
The loop is worked in rows straight off the top band.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same st as join and in next 3 sts, turn. (4 sc)
Rows 2–36: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (4 sc)
The strap should measure about 9 in (22.9 cm) long. Fold it down toward the same side of the rim without twisting it. Counting from the first strap stitch, the strap sits on band sts 1–4. Leave sts 5–8 free, then sl st the last row of the strap to band sts 9–12, working through both layers. This leaves a gap of about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) between the two legs of the loop, and the loop stands about 4 in (10.2 cm) above the rim.
Fasten off and weave in all ends. Optional: work a row of sl sts along each long edge of the strap to make it firmer.
Final Blocking
- Lightly spray the holder with water until it is damp, not soaked.
- Slide a rolled towel or a stuffed plastic bag inside to fill the tube.
- Shape the bottom into a smooth, rounded bowl with the opening centered.
- Ease each fan open so the dc spread out evenly and the chain arches sit smoothly between them.
- Check the widest point: 6 in (15.2 cm) laid flat. Check the length: 16 in (40.6 cm).
- Pin the top band straight so it measures 4.25 in (10.8 cm) flat.
- Hang the holder by its loop to dry fully, with the towel still inside, so it lengthens evenly.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The bottom opening is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across and lets one bag pull through easily.
- There are nine tiers of fans, each tier sitting halfway between the fans below.
- Every fan round has six fans.
- No chain spaces are twisted in the net rounds.
- The top band has 30 sc and lies flat with no ruffles.
- The width is about 6 in (15.2 cm) at the widest point and 4.25 in (10.8 cm) at the top.
- The length is about 16 in (40.6 cm) without the loop.
- The loop is untwisted and firmly attached at both ends.
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
- Bottom opening too small: your starting chain was tight. Start again, working only the chain with a hook one size larger.
- Base ruffles or cups too early: check your increases. Round 4 must have exactly 36 sc.
- Fans line up instead of alternating: you started the net round in the wrong place. Always start each net round in the center dc of a fan.
- Fans look crowded: you may have missed a skipped ch-sp. Each fan round should have exactly 6 fans and 6 sc.
- Holder is too short: your fan rounds may be tight. Pull up the dc loops a little more, or go up a hook size.
- Top band ruffles: you worked too many sc in Round 23. Recount to 30.
- Loop stretches: add the optional sl st edging on both strap edges.
Care
Hand wash, or machine wash on a gentle cold cycle, then reshape and dry flat or hanging. Avoid high heat in the dryer, because cotton can shrink.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other:
- The 18-chain ring gives a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) bottom opening.
- The 36-st base sets up 6 fan repeats.
- The 9-dc fans give the 6 in (15.2 cm) widest point.
- The smaller 7-dc and 5-dc fans taper the body to 15 in (38.1 cm).
- The 30-st top band adds 1 in (2.5 cm), for a finished length of 16 in (40.6 cm).
- The 9 in (22.9 cm) strap becomes a loop about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
Check your gauge, follow the stitch counts, and your holder will hang neat and straight.
Happy crocheting!