Three blue and cream crocheted balls with lace trim, connected by cord with wooden ring, on cream background.

Seaside Shell Hanging Toilet Paper Holder Crochet Pattern

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This three-tier hanging holder stores three spare rolls in shell-edged baskets that look like little scalloped teacups. It hangs from a wooden ring on a door hook or towel hook, so it uses no shelf or counter space.

The palette is soft and coastal. Dusty denim blue makes the base, the shell round and the straps. Cream covers the open V-stitch band and the thick scalloped rim. Together they look calm, fresh and a little vintage, which suits most bathrooms.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each basket measures about 6.25 in (15.9 cm) across the scallops and 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall. The whole holder, ring included, hangs about 21.7 in (55.1 cm) long.

Construction is simple. You crochet three baskets in the round from the base up and two flat straps in rows. Then you loop the straps over the ring and sew the baskets between them. A slip-stitch edging on the straps finishes the piece.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: about 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide × 21.7 in (55.1 cm) long, ring included
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: worsted (#4) cotton
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US G-7)
  • Number of pieces: 5 (3 baskets, 2 straps), plus 1 wooden ring
  • Layout: 3 baskets stacked vertically between 2 straps
  • Basket size: base 4.75 in (12.1 cm) diameter; body 5.75 in (14.6 cm) diameter; 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall
  • Strap size before border: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide × 20.4 in (51.8 cm) long
  • Border depth: under 1/8 in (0.3 cm), a slip-stitch edge on the straps

Materials

Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend at about 190 m per 100 g. Cotton gives firm basket walls and clear shell stitches, and it can be washed. Avoid stretchy acrylic, because the baskets will sag under a roll.

  • Color A, dusty blue: 100 g / 190 m
  • Color B, cream: 50 g / 95 m

These amounts include a safety margin of about 25%. The project uses roughly 71 g of blue and 25 g of cream.

Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US G-7) crochet hook
– 1 wooden ring, 3 in (7.6 cm) outer diameter
– Tapestry needle
– 4 locking stitch markers
– Scissors and a measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins and a spray bottle for blocking

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
  • BLO: back loop only
  • MR: magic ring
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • sp: space
  • sk: skip

Special stitches
– V-stitch (V): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch.
– Shell: 5 dc in the same stitch.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rounds/rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc.

Make one full basket before you start the others. It works as your gauge swatch, and it is the only way to check that a roll fits.

Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 5 (30 sts): base is 2.4 in (6.1 cm) across.
– After Rnd 10 (60 sts): base is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across.
– After Rnd 16 (72 sts): the side wall is 1.3 in (3.3 cm) tall above the base ridge.
– Finished basket: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall and 6.25 in (15.9 cm) across the scallops.
– Strap after Row 35: 7.8 in (19.8 cm). Finished strap after Row 92: 20.4 in (51.8 cm).

A standard roll is about 4.1 in (10.4 cm) wide and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall. Allow ±0.25 in (0.6 cm) on any measurement.

Base too small (under 4.5 in / 11.4 cm after Rnd 10): go up to a 5 mm hook and start again. Don’t add rounds, because every count after this point depends on 60 sts.

Base too large (over 5 in / 12.7 cm): go down to a 4 mm hook. A loose base gives floppy walls.

Crocheted toilet paper holder in blue-gray with cream scalloped trim detail, wooden ring top, and brass hanger.

Basket (Make 3)

Work in continuous joined rounds. Join each round with a sl st to the first st. Ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.

Base (Color A)

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. Join. (6)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, inc in each st around. Join. (12)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, [sc 1, inc] 6 times. Join. (18)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, [sc 2, inc] 6 times. Join. (24)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, [sc 3, inc] 6 times. Join. (30)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, [sc 4, inc] 6 times. Join. (36)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, [sc 5, inc] 6 times. Join. (42)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, [sc 6, inc] 6 times. Join. (48)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, [sc 7, inc] 6 times. Join. (54)
Rnd 10: Ch 1, [sc 8, inc] 6 times. Join. (60)

The base should lie flat and measure 4.75 in (12.1 cm).

Lower Wall (Color A)

Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join. (60)
Working only the back loops makes a ridge that turns the wall upward.

Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (60)
Rnd 13: Ch 1, [sc 9, inc] 6 times. Join. (66)
Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (66)
Rnd 15: Ch 1, [sc 10, inc] 6 times. Join. (72)
Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join, changing to Color B on the final sl st. Fasten off Color A. (72)

These increases give the wall its gentle teacup flare. Put a marker in st 1 and another in st 37 of Rnd 16. These two opposite points show where the straps will go.

V-Stitch Band (Color B)

Rnd 17: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (72)
Rnd 18: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in same st, [sk 2, V in next st] 23 times, sk 2. Join to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (24 V)
Rnd 19: Sl st into first ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same sp, 3 sc in each remaining ch-1 sp around. Join. Fasten off Color B. (72 sc)

Rnd 19 is a conversion round: 24 V spaces × 3 sc = 72 sc. The count returns to 72 so the shell repeat fits exactly.

Shell Round (Color A)

Rnd 20: Join Color A in any sc. Ch 1, sc in same st, [sk 2, shell in next st, sk 2, sc in next st] 11 times, sk 2, shell in next st, sk 2. Join to first sc. Fasten off Color A. (12 shells, 12 sc = 72 sts)

Each repeat uses 6 sts of Rnd 19, and 12 × 6 = 72.

Scalloped Rim (Color B)

Rnd 21: Join Color B with a sl st in any sc between shells. [Sc in next 2 dc, 3 sc in next dc, sc in next 2 dc, sl st in next sc] 12 times. Join. (84 sc + 12 sl st = 96 sts)
Rnd 22: [Sc in next 3 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, sl st in next sl st] 12 times. Join. Fasten off. (108 sc + 12 sl st = 120 sts)

The 3-sc groups make a peak above each shell, and the sl sts make a valley between shells. Weave in all ends on the inside.

Strap (Make 2)

Use Color A, worked flat in rows.

Row 1: Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (4)
Rows 2–92: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4)

Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.

Each strap is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and 20.4 in (51.8 cm) long. Mark the strap zones with markers or scrap yarn:

  • Rows 1–8: ring loop, 1.8 in (4.6 cm)
  • Rows 9–35: top drop, 6 in (15.2 cm)
  • Rows 36–48: Basket 1 attachment, 2.9 in (7.4 cm)
  • Rows 49–57: gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
  • Rows 58–70: Basket 2 attachment, 2.9 in (7.4 cm)
  • Rows 71–79: gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
  • Rows 80–92: Basket 3 attachment, 2.9 in (7.4 cm)

Check: 8 + 27 + 13 + 9 + 13 + 9 + 13 = 92 rows.

Make All Pieces

  • Baskets: 3, each using about 15 g of Color A and 8 g of Color B
  • Straps: 2, each using about 10 g of Color A
  • Ring: 1 wooden ring

Layout:

          ( RING )
         /        \
   Strap A        Strap B
     |   [ Basket 1 ]   |
     |      gap         |
     |   [ Basket 2 ]   |
     |      gap         |
     |   [ Basket 3 ]   |

Joining

Ring loops: Pass Rows 1–8 of Strap A through the ring from front to back. Fold them so the foundation edge sits on the wrong side of Row 9. Whipstitch the 4 foundation loops to the 4 sts of Row 9. Repeat with Strap B, placing it right next to Strap A on the ring.

Baskets: Joining works one strap row to one basket round. Lay the right side of the strap against the outside of Basket 1, centered on the st-1 marker. Line up strap Row 48 with the BLO ridge (Rnd 11) and strap Row 36 with the shell round (Rnd 20).

Whipstitch both long edges of the strap to the basket wall, one stitch per strap row. That is 13 stitches per edge. The strap covers about 4 basket sts, 2 on each side of the marker. Repeat with Strap B at the st-37 marker.

Attach Basket 2 at Rows 58–70 and Basket 3 at Rows 80–92 in the same way.

Tension: Sew firmly enough that the strap lies flat against the wall, but don’t pull the basket inward. Hold each basket open with a roll inside while you sew.

Size checkpoint: With the holder hanging, each open gap should be 2 in (5.1 cm), the straps should sit 5.75 in (14.6 cm) apart at each basket, and the total length should be about 21.7 in (55.1 cm).

Border

The border is a slip-stitch edging on both long edges of each strap. Use Color A. It sharpens the edges and hides the whipstitches.

Border gauge: 1 sl st per row end, which is 4.5 sl sts per inch (2.5 cm). This matches the row gauge.

Strap edging (each strap): With the right side facing, join at the Row 9 end next to the ring loop. Sl st loosely in each row end down the edge to Row 92 and on through the loop rows. On attached sections, work through the strap edge only, not through the basket.

  • Long edge 1: 92 sl st
  • Long edge 2: 92 sl st
  • Per strap: 184 sl st
  • Both straps: 368 sl st

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Why the math works: The strap has 92 rows, so each long edge has 92 row ends, and one sl st in each gives 92. At 4.5 per inch, the edging matches the strap’s row gauge exactly. The edge won’t ruffle or pucker, and the strap stays 20.4 in (51.8 cm) long. A sl st adds almost no width, so the strap stays 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.

Final Blocking

  1. Spray the whole holder lightly with water until it is damp, not soaked.
  2. Put a rolled hand towel or a roll in plastic wrap inside each basket to hold the round shape.
  3. Pull each scallop peak gently outward and pin it if needed, aiming for 6.25 in (15.9 cm) across.
  4. Pin the gap sections of the straps flat at 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
  5. Lay the holder flat on its back, or hang it from the ring, and leave it until fully dry.
  6. Take out the forms and check the measurements.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • [ ] All 3 baskets have 72 sts at Rnd 16 and 12 shells at Rnd 20.
  • [ ] Each basket has 12 even scallops.
  • [ ] Bases measure 4.75 in (12.1 cm), and a roll fits easily.
  • [ ] Both straps have 92 rows.
  • [ ] Straps sit exactly opposite each other on every basket.
  • [ ] Gaps are 2 in (5.1 cm) and equal on both sides.
  • [ ] The holder hangs level from the ring without twisting.
  • [ ] All ends are woven in on the inside or back.

Troubleshooting

  • Base cups before Rnd 11: your tension is tight. Loosen up or go up a hook size.
  • Base ruffles: your tension is loose. Go down a hook size.
  • Shells don’t fit evenly: recount Rnd 19. It must be 72 sts.
  • Scallops look flat: make sure you work 3 sc in each center st on both rim rounds.
  • Basket tilts forward: the straps aren’t opposite each other. Re-sew them at the st-1 and st-37 markers.
  • Holder hangs crooked: the straps differ in length. Recount the rows and check the attachment zones.
  • Strap edging puckers: work the sl sts more loosely or use a hook one size larger for the edging only.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then reshape and dry flat. Don’t put it in the dryer, because cotton shrinks and the scallops lose their shape.

Three-tier crocheted toilet paper organizer with blue-gray straps and cream scalloped baskets mounted on a cream wall.

Final Notes

The measurements build on each other in a chain. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 60-st base of 4.75 in (12.1 cm). Flaring to 72 sts gives a 5.75 in (14.6 cm) body, which takes 12 shells and a 6.25 in (15.9 cm) scalloped rim. Straps of 92 rows give 20.4 in (51.8 cm), and with the ring the holder hangs 21.7 in (55.1 cm). If your gauge matches, every piece fits the next.

Happy crocheting!

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