This wall-hanging paper towel holder is a flat ripple panel with two teal straps. The straps loop around two wooden dowels: the upper dowel holds a roll of paper towels, and the lower one holds a folded kitchen towel. Soft waves in teal, cream, and seafoam make it feel like a calm coastal kitchen.
The panel has gentle ripple stripes in three colors. A three-round seafoam single crochet border squares off the top and bottom. Each strap is a flat strip of dark teal single crochet. It’s sewn down the side of the panel and left loose in two places to make the dowel loops.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished panel measures 15.5 in wide x 10.5 in tall (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm). Each strap is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide and 18 in (45.7 cm) long before it’s sewn on.
The construction is simple. You crochet the panel bottom to top in rows, starting with a graded row so the bottom edge is straight. A leveling row at the top straightens that edge too. Next you add the border and crochet two straps. Last, you sew the straps on and slide the dowels through.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 15.5 in x 10.5 in (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm), panel only
- Skill level: Intermediate (ripple shaping, graded rows)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 3 (1 panel, 2 straps)
- Layout: panel in the center, with one vertical strap along each side edge
- Panel size before border: 14 in x 9 in (35.6 cm x 22.9 cm)
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on each side
- Strap size: 1.25 in x 18 in (3.2 cm x 45.7 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight 100% cotton, the kind sold for dishcloths. Cotton keeps the panel firm and won’t stretch under the roll’s weight.
- Color A, Dark Teal: 70 g / about 112 m (stripes and both straps)
- Color B, Seafoam: 65 g / about 104 m (stripes and border)
- Color C, Cream: 40 g / about 64 m (stripes)
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– 4 locking stitch markers
– Two 3/4 in (1.9 cm) wooden dowels, each 17 in (43.2 cm) long
– Two brass grommets or brass screws with washers for hanging
– Pins, blocking mat, spray bottle
All quantities include a margin of about 25% for your gauge swatch and weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – dc3tog (double crochet 3 together): [Yo, insert hook in next st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops. Uses 3 sts, makes 1 st.
Ripple repeat: dc3tog, dc in next 4 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts. Each repeat uses 12 sts and makes 12 sts, so the count never changes.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Dc gauge: 14 dc x 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Sc gauge (straps and border): 14 sc x 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
Crochet and block a plain dc swatch about 6 in (15.2 cm) square before measuring. The dowel spacing and strap positions all depend on the panel size.
Checkpoints:
– After Row 1: 14 in (35.6 cm) across.
– After Row 9: about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall at the edges.
– After Row 18: 14 in x 9 in (35.6 cm x 22.9 cm).
– After the border: 15.5 in x 10.5 in (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm).
Too big? Go down half a hook size. Too small? Go up half a size. Don’t change stitch counts; the ripple math depends on 49 sts.
Panel
Change colors on the last yo of the last st of the row before. Cut the yarn at each change.
Stripe sequence:
– Row 1: B
– Rows 2–3: A
– Rows 4–5: C
– Rows 6–7: B
– Rows 8–9: A
– Rows 10–11: C
– Rows 12–13: B
– Rows 14–15: A
– Rows 16–17: C
– Row 18: B
Row 1 (Graded Foundation Row)
With B, ch 52.
Row 1: Tr in 5th ch from hook (skipped 4 ch count as first tr), dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch. Sc in next 3 ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 3 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch; rep from * to * 2 more times. Sc in next 3 ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in last 2 ch. Turn. (49 sts)
Check: 5 start sts + 36 repeat sts (3 x 12) + 8 end sts = 49. Tall stitches sit under the future peaks and short ones under the valleys, so the bottom edge stays straight while the top takes on a wave.
Rows 2–17 (Ripple Rows)
Ripple row: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in first st, dc in next 4 sts, dc3tog, dc in next 4 sts. 3 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, dc3tog, dc in next 4 sts; rep from * to * 2 more times. 2 dc in last st. Turn. (49 sts)
- Sts used: 1 + 4 + 3 + 4 + 36 + 1 = 49
- Sts made: 2 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 36 + 2 = 49
Four dc3tog remove 8 sts. Three inside peaks add 6, and the two edge half-peaks add 1 each. Total: −8 + 6 + 2 = 0.
Work the ripple row 16 times, following the stripe sequence. Always center each dc3tog over the dc3tog below, and work each 3-dc group into the center dc of the 3-dc group below. Both side edges are half-peaks, so they stay straight and vertical.
Row 18 (Top Leveling Row)
With B: Ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st). Sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st. Tr in next 3 sts, dc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st; rep from * to * 2 more times. Tr in next 3 sts, dc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts. (49 sts) Fasten off.
Count: 5 + 36 + 8 = 49. Tr fills the valleys and sc sits on the peaks, so the top edge is straight. The panel now measures 14 in x 9 in (35.6 cm x 22.9 cm).
Make All Pieces
- Ripple panel: make 1 in A, B, and C (above)
- Strap: make 2 in A
Strap (make 2)
With A, ch 64.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (63 sc)
- Rows 2–5: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (63 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 30 in (76.2 cm) tail for sewing. Each strap measures 1.25 in x 18 in (3.2 cm x 45.7 cm).
Strap map: Place markers between sts 4/5, 28/29, 42/43, and 59/60 along one long edge:
– Top anchor: sts 1–4
– Upper loop: sts 5–28 (24 sts, about 7 in / 17.8 cm)
– Middle sewn section: sts 29–42 (14 sts, 4 in / 10.2 cm)
– Lower loop: sts 43–59 (17 sts, about 5 in / 12.7 cm)
– Bottom anchor: sts 60–63
Count: 4 + 24 + 14 + 17 + 4 = 63.
Layout grid (front view):
[Strap] [ Ripple panel 15.5 x 10.5 in ] [Strap]
[loop ] [ upper dowel: paper towel roll ] [loop ]
[sewn ] [ ripple stripes ] [sewn ]
[loop ] [ lower dowel: kitchen towel ] [loop ]
Joining
Work the Border section before joining, because the straps sit on top of it.
Method: Whipstitch with the strap tail. Line up each strap’s outer long edge with the outer edge of the border. That leaves 13 in (33.0 cm) between the straps, so a standard 11 in (27.9 cm) roll has about 2 in (5.1 cm) of clearance.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Sewn sections are 3.5 strap sts per 1 in (2.5 cm) of panel height, which matches the strap gauge, so they lie flat. Measure from the top edge of the finished panel:
- Top anchor (sts 1–4): Sew from 1 in to 2 in (2.5 cm to 5.1 cm), along both long edges and across the end.
- Upper loop (sts 5–28): Leave unsewn between 2 in and 3 in (5.1 cm and 7.6 cm). That puts 7 in (17.8 cm) of strap over 1 in (2.5 cm) of panel, so the loop stands out about 3 in (7.6 cm).
- Middle section (sts 29–42): Sew flat from 3 in to 7 in (7.6 cm to 17.8 cm).
- Lower loop (sts 43–59): Leave loose between 7 in and 8 in (17.8 cm and 20.3 cm). It stands out about 2 in (5.1 cm).
- Bottom anchor (sts 60–63): Sew from 8 in to 9 in (20.3 cm to 22.9 cm), along both edges and across the end.
Tension: Catch one strand of strap edge and one strand of panel per stitch. Keep the stitches snug, not tight, so the panel doesn’t pucker. Go through the anchors twice, because they carry all the weight.
Size checkpoint: The straps should match in height to within 1/8 in (0.3 cm). With the dowels in place, each dowel should stick out 0.75 in (1.9 cm) past both sides of the panel.
Border
Border gauge: 1 sc in each st across the top and bottom. Work 2 sc in each dc row end and 1 sc in the Row 18 end. Work 3 sc in each corner st. Each round adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the width and height.
Side counts include the 2 corner sts. The corner st is the center sc of each 3-sc group.
Round 1: With B, join at the top right corner. Work 3 sc in first st, sc in next 47 sts, 3 sc in last st. Down the side, work 1 sc in the Row 18 end, 2 sc in each Row 17–2 end (32 sc), and 2 sc in the Row 1 end. Along the bottom, work 3 sc in first ch, sc in next 47 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Work the second side to match. Sl st to first sc. (Top and bottom: 51 each. Sides: 37 each. Total: 172)
Math: top non-corner sts = 1 + 47 + 1 = 49. Side non-corner sts = 1 + 32 + 2 = 35. Total = 49 + 49 + 35 + 35 + 4 corners = 172.
Round 2: Ch 1. Sc in each st, with 3 sc in each corner st. Sl st to first sc. (Top and bottom: 53. Sides: 39. Total: 180)
Round 3: Rep Round 2. (Top and bottom: 55. Sides: 41. Total: 188) Fasten off.
Why it works: Each 3-sc corner adds 2 sts, and each corner is shared by 2 sides. Every side gains exactly 2 sts per round, and the total gains 8. The panel grows from 14 in x 9 in (35.6 cm x 22.9 cm) to 15.5 in x 10.5 in (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm).
Final Blocking
- Block the panel before attaching the straps. Pin it face up to 15.5 in x 10.5 in (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm).
- Pin the corners first, then the middle of each side.
- Even out the waves with your fingers so the peaks and valleys line up.
- Spray until damp, not soaked.
- Let it dry completely, usually 12–24 hours.
- Pin and spray the straps so they dry straight.
- Sew on the straps, then set the grommets or screw holes in the two top border corners.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every panel row has 49 sts.
- The dc3tog columns line up vertically on all 16 ripple rows.
- The stripe order is correct, with B at the top and bottom.
- The border counts are 55/41/55/41, with 4 clean corners.
- The panel measures 15.5 in x 10.5 in (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm).
- Both straps match and line up with the outer edge.
- The anchors are sewn through twice.
- The dowels slide in smoothly and stick out evenly.
Troubleshooting
- The waves drift sideways: A dc3tog is off-center. Frog back and center it.
- The row count is off: Each edge needs 2 dc in a single st.
- The bottom edge is wavy: The Row 1 heights may be swapped. Tr goes under peaks, sc under valleys.
- The sides ruffle: Use exactly 2 sc per dc row end.
- The sides cup in: Go up a hook size for the border only.
- The roll rubs the panel: Add 4 sts to the upper loop section.
- The panel sags: Use cotton and reinforce the anchors.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping while it’s damp. Take the dowels out first.
Final Notes
The measurement chain: 49 sts at 14 dc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives 14 in (35.6 cm) of width, and 18 rows give 9 in (22.9 cm) of height. Three border rounds bring the panel to 15.5 in x 10.5 in (39.4 cm x 26.7 cm). The two 63-st straps then turn the flat panel into a working two-dowel holder. Check your gauge, count every row, and sew the anchors securely.
Happy crocheting!