This grocery bag holder is a tall, lacy tube that keeps plastic bags tidy and easy to reach. Staggered fans climb the body in neat rows, and the chain arches between them leave openings big enough to show the bags inside. Solid bands at the top and bottom hold the shape, and a chain drawstring with two small balls gathers the bottom into a pull-through opening.
The sample is shown in two colorways, cranberry red and cream. Each holder uses one solid color. A cotton or cotton-blend worsted yarn gives crisp fans and holds up well in a kitchen.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tube measures 6 in (15.2 cm) wide laid flat, which is a 12 in (30.5 cm) circumference, and 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long, not counting the strap. The strap adds an arch about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
Construction is simple. You chain a ring and work in joined rounds from the bottom up, without turning. First comes a solid bottom band with an eyelet round for the drawstring, then the fan lace, then a solid top band. The strap is worked straight off the last round. The drawstring and its two balls are made separately and threaded in at the end.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat x 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long
- Circumference: 12 in (30.5 cm)
- Skill level: Easy intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4 medium), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 body (strap worked on), plus 1 drawstring and 2 small balls
- Layout: One seamless tube, worked in joined rounds from the bottom up
- Piece size: 6 in (15.2 cm) flat width throughout
- Size before top band: 15.75 in (40.0 cm) long
- Top band depth: 1.75 in (4.4 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend at roughly 170 m per 100 g. Cotton keeps the fans crisp and does not stretch out under the weight of a full load of bags. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns, since they blur the fan shapes.
Yarn, per holder (one color):
– Cranberry red or cream: 120 g / 204 m
The body and strap use about 95 g, and the drawstring and balls about 10 g. Quantities include a margin of roughly 15 g for your gauge check and any ripping back. To make both colorways, as shown, you need 120 g of each color.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 1 stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Tape measure
– Rust-proof pins
– A small handful of yarn scraps or fiberfill for the balls
– Spray bottle and a bath towel for blocking
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
- sk: skip
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sp(s): space(s)
- rnd(s): round(s)
- beg: beginning
Special stitch:
– Fan: 7 dc worked into the same stitch. The 4th dc is the center dc of the fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge in sc: 16 sts and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Gauge in hdc: 16 sts and 13 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Because this is a single piece, your test piece is simply the start of the holder. Work the foundation ring and Rnds 1–7, then stop and measure before going on.
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 6: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat, 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 7: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, still 6 in (15.2 cm) wide.
– After Rnd 27: 15.25 in (38.7 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 28: 15.75 in (40.0 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 34: 17.5 in (44.5 cm) tall.
If the tube is too wide (over 6.25 in / 15.9 cm flat), go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it is too narrow (under 5.75 in / 14.6 cm flat), go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Do not change the stitch count, because the lace needs a multiple of 6.
Length matters less than width. If you run long or short, remove or add one arch-and-fan pair, which is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm), in the lace section.
Pattern
Join every round with a sl st and work with the right side facing. Do not turn. Place a marker in the first stitch of each round if it helps.
Bottom Band
Foundation: Ch 48 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist the chain.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc. (48 sc)
Rnd 2 (eyelet round): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st; repeat from * 22 more times, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (24 dc + 24 ch-1 sps = 48 sts)
The drawstring goes through this round later.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp around, sl st to first sc. (24 sc in dc + 24 sc in sps = 48 sc)
Rnds 4–6: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc in each st around, sl st to first hdc. (48 hdc)
Checkpoint: The band is about 2 in (5.1 cm) tall and 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat.
Fan Lace
The lace alternates a fan round and an arch round. The center of each arch sits above the gap between two fans, so each new fan is offset by half a repeat from the fans below. That offset gives the scale-like look and makes the open spaces.
Rnd 7 (first fan round): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 2 sts, fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 6 more times, sk 2 sts, fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st to first sc. (8 fans + 8 sc = 64 sts)
Each repeat uses exactly 6 stitches of Rnd 6, and 8 x 6 = 48, so the round fits with nothing left over.
Rnd 8 (arch round): Sl st in next 4 dc (you are now in the center dc of the first fan), ch 1, sc in same st, ch 5, sc in center dc of next fan; repeat from * 6 more times, ch 5, sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-5 sps = 48 sts)
Rnd 9 (fan round): Sl st in next 3 ch (you are in the center ch of the first ch-5), ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same ch, sc in next sc, fan in center (3rd) ch of next ch-5; repeat from * 6 more times, sc in next sc, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (8 fans + 8 sc = 64 sts)
Rnd 10 (arch round): Sl st in next 3 dc (the beg ch-3 is the first dc, so you land in the center dc), ch 1, sc in same st, ch 5, sc in center dc of next fan; repeat from * 6 more times, ch 5, sl st to first sc. (8 sc + 8 ch-5 sps = 48 sts)
Rnd 11: Repeat Rnd 9. (64 sts)
Rnds 12–27: Repeat Rnds 10–11 eight more times. (Each arch round has 48 sts; each fan round has 64 sts.)
Checkpoint: You now have 11 fan tiers (Rnds 7, 9, 11 and so on through 27), and the tube is about 15.25 in (38.7 cm) tall.
Rnd 28: Repeat Rnd 10. (8 sc + 8 ch-5 sps = 48 sts)
This last arch round brings the lace back to a 48-stitch base for the top band. The tube is now 15.75 in (40.0 cm) tall.
Top Band and Strap (Border)
The top band is the border of this piece. It firms up the rim so the holder keeps its shape on the hook, and it carries the strap.
Border gauge: 16 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm) in both sc and hdc. At 48 sts, that gives 12 in (30.5 cm) around, the same as the bottom band.
Per-side counts: A tube has no corners. Laid flat, it has two sides of 24 stitches each, and the strap attaches at the two fold points (st 1 and st 25). Each side’s 24 includes its fold stitch, so nothing is counted twice: 24 + 24 = 48.
Rnd 29 (conversion round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, 5 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc, 5 sc in next ch-5 sp; repeat from * around, sl st to first sc. (8 sc in sc + 40 sc in sps = 48 sc; 24 per side)
Rnds 30–33: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first hdc. (48 hdc; 24 per side)
Rnd 34: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (48 sc; 24 per side)
Why the math works: Each arch repeat in Rnd 28 is 1 sc + 5 ch = 6 sts, and 8 repeats = 48. Rnd 29 puts 1 sc on each sc and 5 sc in each space, so it reproduces exactly 6 sts per repeat. The rim matches the 48-st bottom band and does not flare or pull in.
Checkpoint: The top band is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) deep, and the tube is 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long.
Strap: Do not fasten off.
– Strap Row 1: Ch 30, sk next 23 sts, sl st in next st (st 25, the opposite fold). Ch 1, turn.
– Strap Row 2: Sc in each ch across, sl st in st 1 of Rnd 34. (30 sc) Ch 1, turn.
– Strap Row 3: Sc in each sc across, sl st in st 25 of Rnd 34. (30 sc) Fasten off.
The strap forms an arch about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall. Weave in the ends firmly at both anchor points, since the holder hangs its full weight from them.
Drawstring and Balls
Drawstring: Ch 100, or until the chain measures 24 in (61.0 cm). Fasten off, leaving short tails.
Balls (make 2):
– Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
– Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
– Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (12 sc)
– Rnd 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts) Stuff firmly with yarn scraps or fiberfill.
Fasten off with a long tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull tight. Each ball is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Threading: Starting at the front center, weave the drawstring in and out through the 24 ch-1 sps of Rnd 2 so both ends come out side by side. Sew one ball firmly to each end of the drawstring.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends. The ball tails are already secured.
- Pull the drawstring out a little so the bottom band lies open.
- Mist the whole tube with water until damp but not soaked.
- Roll a bath towel into a firm cylinder about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across and slide it inside the tube.
- Ease each fan open into a smooth half-circle, and straighten the chain arches.
- Measure: 6 in (15.2 cm) flat width and 17.5 in (44.5 cm) length. Pin the top and bottom bands to the towel if needed.
- Let it dry completely, about 12–24 hours.
- Remove the towel, gather the drawstring until the opening is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across, and tie a bow.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rnds 1, 3–6, and 29–34 each have 48 sts.
- Rnd 2 has 24 dc and 24 ch-1 sps.
- Every fan round has 8 fans of 7 dc and 8 sc (64 sts).
- Every arch round has 8 sc and 8 ch-5 sps (48 sts).
- The fans are staggered, each centered above the gap below it.
- There are 11 fan tiers.
- The width is 6 in (15.2 cm) flat at the bottom band, the lace, and the top band.
- The length is 17.5 in (44.5 cm), not counting the strap.
- The strap is anchored at st 1 and st 25, opposite each other.
- The drawstring passes through all 24 eyelet spaces, and both balls are sewn on securely.
Troubleshooting
The tube flares in the lace section. Your chains are loose. Make each ch-5 a little snugger, or go down half a hook size for the arch rounds only.
The tube narrows in the lace section. Your chains are tight. Loosen the ch-5 arches so they lie flat without pulling.
The fans are not staggered. Make sure each fan goes in the 3rd (center) ch of a ch-5, and each arch’s sc goes in the center dc of a fan.
The round count is off. Check that the first fan round started with sc and that you have exactly 8 repeats. Counting fans is quicker than counting stitches.
The strap twists. Make sure you skipped exactly 23 sts so it lands on st 25, and that the chain was not twisted before the first sl st.
The bottom opening is too big. Pull the drawstring tighter, or weave it through Rnd 2 a second time.
The top band ripples. Some spaces in Rnd 29 probably have more than 5 sc. Recount to 48.
Care
Hand wash, or machine wash on a gentle cold cycle, then reshape and dry flat. Cotton may shrink slightly, so re-block over a rolled towel if needed.
Final Notes
The whole holder rests on one number: 48 stitches, which is 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat. The bottom band reaches 2 in (5.1 cm) and the first fan round 2.75 in (7.0 cm). The tube is 15.75 in (40.0 cm) at the end of the lace, and the top band brings it to 17.5 in (44.5 cm). Check your width after Rnd 6 and keep your ch-5 arches even, and the rest of the rounds will fall into place.
Happy crocheting!