A crocheted pouch with alternating dark purple and light lavender openwork squares, accented with a wooden ring handle.

Sugarplum Ornament Toilet Paper Holder Crochet Pattern

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This hanging holder stores two spare rolls and adds a bit of holiday color to a small bathroom. A deep plum back panel hangs from a wooden ring, and two curved lilac pockets each hold one standard roll.

The pockets are where the detail is. Each front has a band of open diamond mesh with three plump puff-stitch ornaments in it, plum, lilac, plum. Chain loops meet in a V over each ornament, like the hanger on a Christmas bauble. Solid single-crochet bands at the top and bottom keep the pocket firm.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 8 in (20.3 cm) wide and about 16 in (40.6 cm) from the bottom edge to the top of the folded tab, not counting the ring. Each pocket sticks out about 4 in (10.2 cm) from the panel.

Here’s how it’s built. You crochet the back panel in rows, shape the shoulders and tab, then work a two-round border. Each pocket starts as a dc half-circle base. You then work the lace wall straight off the curved edge of that base. Last, you sew both pockets to the panel and fold the tab over the ring.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 8 in (20.3 cm) wide × about 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4 medium)
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
  • Number of pieces: 3 (1 back panel, 2 pockets)
  • Layout: pockets stacked vertically on the panel, one above the other
  • Panel body before border: 7 × 12 in (17.8 × 30.5 cm), plus shoulders about 2¼ in (5.7 cm) tall and a tab 2 × 3 in (5.1 × 7.6 cm)
  • Pocket size: half-circle base 8 in (20.3 cm) across and 4 in (10.2 cm) deep; wall about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
  • Border depth: about ½ in (1.3 cm), 2 rounds

Materials

Use a smooth worsted-weight acrylic or cotton-acrylic blend. It holds its shape well and handles bathroom humidity. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the mesh and the puffs. The amounts below assume about 200 m (219 yd) per 100 g.

  • Plum (Color A): 70 g, about 140 m (153 yd). Used for the back panel, border, plum ornaments, and sewing.
  • Lilac (Color B): 65 g, about 130 m (142 yd). Used for both pockets and the lilac ornaments.

Both quantities include a margin of about 15%, which covers your gauge swatch and sewing lengths.

Tools

  • 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
  • Wooden ring, 3 in (7.6 cm) diameter
  • Tapestry needle
  • 6–8 locking stitch markers
  • Rust-proof pins
  • Tape measure and scissors
  • Blocking mat and spray bottle

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
  • BLO – back loop only
  • rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
  • sp(s) – space(s)
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • RS / WS – right side / wrong side

Special stitch – Ornament Puff (OP): (Yo, insert hook in the indicated st, yo, pull up a loop to ¾ in / 1.9 cm) 7 times, leaving 15 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through all 15 loops, then ch 1 to lock. For a plum ornament, make the 7 pull-ups with a separate 36 in (91.4 cm) strand of Color A. Switch back to Color B for the final yo and the locking ch 1, which gives the ornament a small lilac cap. For the lilac ornament, work the whole OP in Color B.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc. 16 dc × 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in dc.

Make one pocket base first and use it as your test piece. After Row 8, the straight edge should measure 8 in (20.3 cm) and the radius 4 in (10.2 cm). If the straight edge measures 8¼ in (21.0 cm) or more, go down 0.5 mm. If it measures 7¾ in (19.7 cm) or less, go up 0.5 mm.

Checkpoints:

  • Panel after Row 10: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide, about 2¼ in (5.7 cm) tall
  • Panel after Row 54: 7 × 12 in (17.8 × 30.5 cm)
  • Panel after border: 8 in (20.3 cm) wide
  • Pocket wall after Row 10: about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall

If the panel comes out too wide, the pockets won’t reach both side edges. If it comes out too narrow, the pockets will pucker. Fix the gauge before you go on.

Close-up of delicate pale lavender crochet stitches against a deep burgundy background fabric.

Back Panel (Color A)

Foundation: Ch 29.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (28 sc)

Rows 2–54: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in each st across. Turn. (28 sc)

Checkpoint: 7 × 12 in (17.8 × 30.5 cm).

Shoulders

Each shoulder row decreases 1 st at each end.

Row 55: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 24 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (26 sc)

Row 56: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 22 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (24 sc)

Rows 57–64: Work as for Row 56, with 2 fewer sc between the decreases each row. The counts are: Row 57 – 22, Row 58 – 20, Row 59 – 18, Row 60 – 16, Row 61 – 14, Row 62 – 12, Row 63 – 10, Row 64 – 8.

Checkpoint: the shoulders are about 2¼ in (5.7 cm) tall and slope evenly from 7 in (17.8 cm) to 2 in (5.1 cm).

Hanging Tab

Rows 65–78: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (8 sc)

The tab is 2 × 3 in (5.1 × 7.6 cm). Don’t fasten off. Go straight on to the border.

Pockets (make 2)

Half-Circle Base (Color B)

Row 1: Magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 5 dc in ring. Pull the ring closed. Turn. (6 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st across. Turn. (12 dc)

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * across. Turn. (18 dc)

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; repeat across. Turn. (24 dc)

Row 5: Increase in the same way, with 3 dc between increases. Turn. (30 dc)

Row 6: Increase in the same way, with 4 dc between increases. Turn. (36 dc)

Row 7: Increase in the same way, with 5 dc between increases. Turn. (42 dc)

Row 8: Increase in the same way, with 6 dc between increases. Turn. (48 dc)

Checkpoint: the straight edge (row ends plus ring) is 8 in (20.3 cm) and the curved edge is 12 in (30.5 cm).

Pocket Wall

The wall is worked in turned rows across the 48 sts of the curved edge only. The straight edge stays free so you can sew it to the panel later.

Row 1 (conversion): Ch 1. Working in BLO, sc in first 24 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in last 23 sts. Turn. (48 worked 1-per-st + 1 extra = 49 sc)

The BLO row leaves a crisp ridge where the base meets the wall.

Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (49 sc)

Row 4 (mesh): Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 5, skip 3 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 11 more times. Turn. (13 sc, 12 ch-5 sps)

Row 5 (ornament row): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 2, OP in plum in next sc, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp, (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) 3 times, ch 2, OP in lilac in next sc, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp, (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) 3 times, ch 2, OP in plum in next sc, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in last ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in last sc. Turn.

Row 5 count: 2 dc, 12 sc, 3 OP, 8 ch-5 sps, 6 ch-2 sps beside the ornaments, and 2 ch-2 end sps. The ornaments sit 16 sts apart, on sts 9, 25, and 41 of the 49. Because of that spacing, the lilac one lands exactly at the center front.

Row 6 (V row): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in top of next OP, (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) 3 times, ch 5, sc in top of next OP, (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) 3 times, ch 5, sc in top of next OP, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (13 sc, 12 ch-5 sps)

Two loops meet at the top of each ornament and form the V-shaped hanger.

Row 7 (conversion): Ch 1, sc in first sc, 3 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc; repeat from * 11 more times. Turn. (13 worked 1-per-sc + 36 worked into sps = 49 sc)

Rows 8–10: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (49 sc)

Fasten off. Tie each plum OP strand to its neighbor on the WS, then weave in all ends.

Checkpoint: the wall is about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, and each side edge is 4 in (10.2 cm) long.

Make All Pieces

  • Color A: 1 back panel
  • Color B: 2 pockets, each with 2 plum ornaments and 1 lilac ornament

Layout (top to bottom):

[   ring    ]
[    tab    ]
[ shoulders ]
[ Pocket 2  ]  base 6½ in (16.5 cm) above bottom edge
[ Pocket 1  ]  base 1 in (2.5 cm) above bottom edge
[bottom edge]

Border (Back Panel, Color A)

Work the border before you join anything. It’s worked only on the panel, so there are no seams to add into the count.

Border gauge: 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm), which matches the panel. Along the side row ends, work 8 sc for every 9 rows, then skip 1 row end, and repeat.

Round 1 (RS): Continuing from the tab, work sc evenly around the panel:

  • Tab top: 3 sc in first st, sc in next 6 sts, 3 sc in last st (12 sc)
  • Tab side: 12 sc across 14 rows
  • Shoulder: 12 sc
  • Body side: 48 sc across 54 rows
  • Bottom edge (along foundation ch): 3 sc in first st, sc in next 26 sts, 3 sc in last st (32 sc)
  • Second body side: 48 sc
  • Second shoulder: 12 sc
  • Second tab side: 12 sc

Join with sl st to the first sc. (12 + 12 + 12 + 48 + 32 + 48 + 12 + 12 = 188 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around. Join and fasten off. (188 rev sc)

Why the math works: 48 sc at 4 sc per in is 12 in (30.5 cm), the same as the 54 body rows. The bottom has 28 base sts, and each corner st gets 3 sc instead of 1. That gives 26 + 3 + 3 = 32, and the corner groups turn the corner without flaring. With 2 rounds at about ¼ in (0.6 cm) each, the panel grows from 7 in (17.8 cm) to 8 in (20.3 cm). That matches the 8 in (20.3 cm) straight edge of each pocket base.

Joining

Use Color A and a tapestry needle.

  1. Place the panel RS up. Pin Pocket 1 so its straight base edge runs across the panel 1 in (2.5 cm) above the bottom edge. Each end of the base should line up with the outer edge of the border.
  2. Whipstitch the base edge to the panel. Each dc row end covers about 2 panel sts, so 8 row ends on each side of the ring cover 16 stitch widths. Across both halves that’s 32 stitch widths: 28 panel sts plus 2 border rounds at each side.
  3. Lift the wall so it stands up from the base. Whipstitch each 4 in (10.2 cm) side edge to the inner loops of 16 border sts, running straight up the panel side.
  4. Repeat for Pocket 2, with its base 6½ in (16.5 cm) above the bottom edge.

Tension: Keep the stitches snug but not tight, about 3 stitches per inch (2.5 cm). If you pull too hard, the border ripples.

Checkpoint: each pocket opening measures 8 in (20.3 cm) straight across, and a roll drops in easily.

Ring: Fold the top half of the tab over the wooden ring to the WS. Whipstitch the tab top down at the shoulder line.

Final Blocking

  1. Take out the rolls and lay the holder flat, RS up.
  2. Mist it lightly until it’s damp, not wet.
  3. Pin the panel to 8 in (20.3 cm) wide, with the side edges straight and parallel.
  4. Stuff each pocket with a folded towel so the curve holds its shape.
  5. Gently open the ch-5 loops with your fingers so the diamonds are even.
  6. Roll each ornament between your fingertips to round it.
  7. Leave it to dry completely before you hang it.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Panel is 8 in (20.3 cm) wide with straight sides.
  • Border has 188 sts per round and lies flat.
  • Each pocket wall has 49 sts in Rows 1–3 and 7–10.
  • Ornaments read plum, lilac, plum, with the lilac one at the center front.
  • Each V meets on top of its ornament.
  • Pocket bases are at 1 in (2.5 cm) and 6½ in (16.5 cm).
  • All ends are woven in on the WS.
  • The ring is secure and the tab is stitched down neatly.

Troubleshooting

  • The base cups or ruffles: Your dc tension has drifted. Check the 6-st increase per row and redo the rows from the point where it changed.
  • The ornaments are flat: Pull every loop up to the full ¾ in (1.9 cm) before closing the puff.
  • The ornaments are off-center: Recount Row 4. You need exactly 12 ch-5 sps.
  • The panel sides wave: You worked too many sc along the row ends. Stick to 8 sc per 9 rows.
  • The pocket gapes away from the panel: Sew the side edges more tightly, with 16 border sts per edge.
  • The tab stretches: Add a second line of whipstitch across the fold.

Care

Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping each pocket over a rolled towel. Don’t wring it, and don’t tumble dry.

Crocheted toilet paper holder in deep purple with mauve pockets and pom-poms on bathroom wall.

Final Notes

The measurements all build on each other. Gauge of 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 7 in (17.8 cm) panel. The 2-round border brings it to 8 in (20.3 cm), which matches the 8 in (20.3 cm) straight edge of each half-circle base. The 48-st curve of the base becomes a 49-st lace wall, so the three ornaments line up across the front. Check each stage as you go and the holder will go together easily.

Happy crocheting!

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