Black crocheted cat tissue box holder with cream-colored face, closed eyes, and tail, with red tissue peeking from top.

Sleepy Kitty Plastic Bag Holder Crochet Pattern

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This sleepy black cat keeps your spare grocery bags tidy and close at hand. You stuff bags in through the open top and pull them out one at a time through the cream-rimmed opening at the bottom.

The main color is a soft charcoal. Cream is used for the inner ears, muzzle, tail edge, dispenser rim and embroidery. The fabric is plain single crochet, firm enough to hold its shape. A warm orange with cream also makes a lovely ginger cat.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 8 in (20.3 cm) wide when laid flat and 12.9 in (32.8 cm) tall from the bottom of the rim to the top edge. The ears rise about 1 in (2.5 cm) above the top edge, and the strap loop rises about 4.5 in (11.4 cm).

The body is one tube, worked in joined rounds from the bottom opening up. Increases shape the bottom and decreases shape the top. A cream rim is then worked into the foundation chain. The ears, muzzle, tail and strap are small flat pieces that you sew on before embroidering the face.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat x 12.9 in (32.8 cm) tall, not counting the ears or strap
  • Skill level: Easy
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
  • Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
  • Number of pieces: 1 body tube plus 7 small parts (2 outer ears, 2 inner ears, 1 muzzle, 1 tail, 1 strap)
  • Layout: One single holder, flattened, with the face centered on the front
  • Body size: 64 sts around = 16 in (40.6 cm) circumference
  • Size before border: 8 in (20.3 cm) x 12.2 in (31.0 cm)
  • Border depth: Cream bottom rim of 3 rounds = 0.7 in (1.8 cm). The top edge gets a slip-stitch round, which adds no measurable height.

Materials

Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape when the holder is full and shows embroidery clearly. Acrylic also works but gives a softer body. These amounts assume yarn with about 170 m per 100 g.

  • Color A, charcoal: 90 g, about 153 m (167 yd)
  • Color B, cream: 20 g, about 34 m (37 yd)

Both amounts include a margin of roughly 25% for gauge differences and swatching.

Tools

  • 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • 4 stitch markers
  • Scissors and measuring tape
  • Pins
  • Spray bottle and a towel for blocking

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
  • sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
  • sc3tog: single crochet 3 together
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • rnd: round
  • RS: right side

Special stitch, sc2tog: Insert the hook in the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop. Repeat in the following st, then yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. For sc3tog, pull up a loop in each of 3 sts, then pull through all 4 loops.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in joined rounds.

Test the body first. Work the foundation and Rnds 1–5, then lay the piece flat and measure.

  • After Rnd 5 (64 sts): 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat and about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) tall
  • After Rnd 50: 11.1 in (28.2 cm) tall
  • After Rnd 55: 12.2 in (31.0 cm) tall, with a top opening 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat
  • After the rim: 12.9 in (32.8 cm) tall

If the piece is too wide, go down half a hook size. If it’s too narrow, go up half a size. Keep the stitch counts the same, because the face placement depends on them. If the width is right but the height is off, add or remove plain rounds within Rnds 6–50. Each round changes the height by about 0.2 in (0.6 cm).

Crocheted black cat face with cream-colored muzzle, embroidered whiskers, and smiling closed eyes.

Body

Use Color A. Work in joined rounds with the RS facing you, and don’t turn. Join each round with a sl st to the first sc and start each round with ch 1 (the ch 1 does not count as a stitch). The joins make a faint line, which becomes the center back.

Foundation: Ch 32 and join with a sl st to the first ch to make a ring, taking care not to twist the chain. This ring is the bag opening.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join. (32 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc 3, inc; repeat from * 8 times total, join. (40 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc 4, inc; repeat 8 times, join. (48 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc 5, inc; repeat 8 times, join. (56 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc 6, inc; repeat 8 times, join. (64 sts)

These four increase rounds form the rounded bottom that slopes into the opening.

Side markers: Flatten the piece with the join at center back. Place a marker in st 16 and another in st 48. These mark the side folds and split the body into a 32-st front and a 32-st back. Move the markers up as you work.

Rnds 6–50: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (64 sts in each round, 45 rounds in all)

Checkpoint: 11.1 in (28.2 cm) tall and 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat.

Rnd 51: Ch 1, sc 6, sc2tog; repeat 8 times, join. (56 sts)

Rnd 52: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (56 sts)

Rnd 53: Ch 1, sc 5, sc2tog; repeat 8 times, join. (48 sts)

Rnds 54–55: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (48 sts)

This gentle decrease shapes the rounded shoulders. Leave the yarn attached for the top edge.

Ears (Make 2 of Each)

Outer ear (Color A): Ch 9.

  • Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (8 sts)
  • Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 4, sc2tog, turn. (6 sts)
  • Row 3: Ch 1, sc 6, turn. (6 sts)
  • Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 2, sc2tog, turn. (4 sts)
  • Row 5: Ch 1, sc 4, turn. (4 sts)
  • Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog twice, turn. (2 sts)
  • Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog. (1 st)

Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The ear is a triangle 2 in (5.1 cm) wide at the base and 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall.

Inner ear (Color B): Ch 6.

  • Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (5 sts)
  • Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 1, sc2tog, turn. (3 sts)
  • Row 3: Ch 1, sc 3, turn. (3 sts)
  • Row 4: Ch 1, sc3tog. (1 st)

Fasten off and leave a tail. The inner ear is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) tall.

Center each inner ear on an outer ear with the bottom edges lined up. Whipstitch the two slanted sides in place.

Muzzle (Color B)

Ch 6.

Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 3, then 3 sc in the last ch. Working along the other side of the chain: sc 3, then 2 sc in the first ch. Join. (12 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, inc, sc 3, inc 3 times, sc 3, inc twice, join. (18 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc 1, inc; repeat 9 times, join. (27 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The muzzle is an oval about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 1.3 in (3.3 cm).

With Color A, satin-stitch a small upside-down triangle for the nose at the top center. Below it, backstitch a short line that splits into a shallow “w” for the mouth.

Tail

With Color A, ch 26.

Row 1: Work 2 sc in the 2nd ch from hook and 2 sc in each of the next 9 ch (20 sts), then sc in each of the remaining 15 ch (15 sts). Turn. (35 sts)

The doubled stitches at the tip make the strip coil.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Fasten off Color A. (35 sts)

Row 3: Join Color B, ch 1, sc in each st across. (35 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Roll the tip into a curl and tack it in place. Coiled, the tail measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 3 in (7.6 cm), with the cream edge running along the outside of the curl.

Hanging Strap (Color A)

Ch 41.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (40 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (40 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The strap is 10 in (25.4 cm) x 0.5 in (1.3 cm).

Border

Both edges use the body gauge of 16 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm).

Top edge (Color A): After Rnd 55, sl st loosely in each st around and join. (48 sl sts) This firms up the top so it doesn’t stretch when you stuff bags in. Fasten off.

Bottom rim (Color B): Turn the body upside down. Join Color B in a free loop of the foundation chain at center back.

  • Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each free loop around, join. (32 sts)
  • Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (32 sts)
  • Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (32 sts)

Fasten off.

Why the math works: The foundation ring has 32 chains, so working 1 sc in each one gives exactly 32 sts, and every rim round keeps that count. With no increases, the rim won’t flare. With no decreases, the opening stays 8 in (20.3 cm) around and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide flat, which is big enough to pull out one bag but snug enough to hold the rest. At 18 rnds per 4 in (10.2 cm), the 3 rim rounds add 0.7 in (1.8 cm). That brings the 12.2 in (31.0 cm) body to 12.9 in (32.8 cm). The top sl st round keeps 48 sts, so the top opening stays 6 in (15.2 cm) wide flat.

Assembly and Face

Lay the body flat with the join line centered on the back.

  1. Muzzle: Center it on the front between Rnds 38 and 44. Pin it, then whipstitch it in place.
  2. Eyes: With Color B, backstitch two downward-curving arcs about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide on Rnds 48–49. Space them 1.5 in (3.8 cm) apart, centered above the muzzle. Add 3 tiny lash stitches under each arc.
  3. Whiskers: On each side of the muzzle, make 3 fanned straight stitches, each about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
  4. Ears: Set each ear base over Rnds 53–55, just inside a side marker. Whipstitch the base and the lower 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of each side. The tips will stand about 1 in (2.5 cm) above the top edge.
  5. Tail: Sew the straight end to the cat’s right side fold, centered on about Rnd 15, with the curl pointing up and outward.
  6. Strap: Sew 1 in (2.5 cm) of each end to the inside of the top edge at the side markers. This leaves a loop about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) high.

Weave in all ends on the inside.

Final Blocking

  1. Lightly mist the holder with water.
  2. Fill it loosely with a rolled towel so it holds an even 8 in (20.3 cm) flat width.
  3. Shape the bottom so the rim sits centered and round.
  4. Press the ears flat and tighten the tail spiral with your fingers.
  5. Check that the height is 12.9 in (32.8 cm).
  6. Let it dry completely before removing the towel.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • The body is 64 sts around and 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat.
  • The height is 12.2 in (31.0 cm) before the rim and 12.9 in (32.8 cm) after.
  • Every rim round has 32 sts, and the opening is round, not ruffled.
  • The top edge has 48 sl sts and isn’t wavy.
  • The ears match each other, and the inner ears are centered.
  • The face is centered between the side markers.
  • The tail is attached firmly, and the strap carries a full load.

Troubleshooting

  • The fabric slants: This is normal with joined rounds. Block it straight.
  • The rim flares: Recount it. Every rim round must have exactly 32 sts.
  • The bottom puckers: Work Rnds 2–5 more loosely, or with a hook half a size larger.
  • The tail won’t curl: Check for 20 sts in the first 10 ch, and keep your tension tight.
  • The ears flop: Add a second line of tacking stitches higher up the ear sides.
  • Bags fall out: Work the rim with a hook half a size smaller.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, reshape and lay flat to dry. Don’t wring it.

Charcoal crocheted cat tissue holder with cream face and ears hanging from wooden wall rack.

Final Notes

Here is the full measurement chain. A gauge of 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 64-st body that is 16 in (40.6 cm) around and 8 in (20.3 cm) wide flat. Fifty-five rounds bring it to 12.2 in (31.0 cm). The 32-st, 3-round rim adds 0.7 in (1.8 cm), for a total height of 12.9 in (32.8 cm). If your gauge and counts match, your sleepy kitty will match too.

Happy crocheting!

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