This hanging organizer has three open baskets, one above the other. Two long side straps hold them and loop over a wooden dowel. Each basket holds one roll of toilet paper. The front of each basket has a cream daffodil with an orange cup and two sage-green leaves.
The main color is a soft butter yellow, worked in a textured shell stitch that looks like rows of little fans. The flowers add cream, orange, sage green and a touch of golden yellow. The holder suits a cottage-style or spring bathroom and is easy to wash.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each basket measures 6 in (15.2 cm) wide, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) deep and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall. The finished holder hangs 17.5 in (44.5 cm) from the dowel to the bottom of the straps.
Construction is simple. You make a flat single crochet base for each basket, work the walls in the round in shell stitch, and finish the rim with a firm border. Then you make two flat straps, sew the baskets to them at even spacing, and sew a daffodil to the front of each basket.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (each basket): 6 in (15.2 cm) wide x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) deep x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Hanging length: 17.5 in (44.5 cm) below the dowel
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 3 baskets, 2 straps, 3 flowers, 3 flower cups, 6 leaves
- Layout: 1 column of 3 baskets, spaced 2 in (5.1 cm) apart
- Piece size: base 6 in x 4.5 in (15.2 cm x 11.4 cm), perimeter 21 in (53.3 cm)
- Size before border: wall height 2.75 in (7.0 cm)
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Choose a worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape well, so the baskets stay upright with a roll inside. The amounts below assume about 85 m per 50 g.
- Butter yellow (main): 180 g / 306 m
- Cream (petals): 15 g / 26 m
- Orange (flower cups): 8 g / 14 m
- Sage green (leaves): 10 g / 17 m
- Golden yellow (flower centers): 2 g / 3 m
These amounts include a margin of about 15% to allow for gauge differences and swatching.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 8 stitch markers
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Wooden dowel, 10 in (25.4 cm) long, up to 1 in (2.5 cm) thick
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking surface
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch): working from left to right, insert the hook into the next st to the right, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through both loops.
Special stitch – Shell: 5 dc in the same stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Single crochet: 16 sts and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Shell pattern: 2 shell repeats (12 sts) = 3 in (7.6 cm); 4 shell rounds = 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
Make one complete basket before starting the others. That first basket is your gauge swatch.
Checkpoints:
- After Row 18, the base measures 6 in x 4.5 in (15.2 cm x 11.4 cm).
- After Rnd 2, the bottom of the wall measures 21 in (53.3 cm) around.
- After Rnd 6, the wall is 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, measured from the base fold.
- After Rnd 9, the basket is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
If your base is too big, use a hook 0.5 mm smaller. If it is too small, use a hook 0.5 mm larger. Change the hook, not the stitch counts, because every count below depends on the 84-stitch perimeter.
Basket (Make 3)
Use butter yellow.
Base
Row 1: Ch 25. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (24 sc)
Rows 2–18: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (24 sc)
Checkpoint: 6 in x 4.5 in (15.2 cm x 11.4 cm).
Rnd 1 (base edge): Do not turn. Ch 1, rotate the base and work around it:
– 18 sc evenly along the row ends, 1 sc per row
– 24 sc into the free loops of the foundation chain
– 18 sc along the other row ends
– 24 sc across the sts of Row 18
Sl st to the first sc. (84 sc: 24 + 18 + 24 + 18)
Don’t add corner stitches in this round. Keeping the corners sharp lets them fold upward in the next round.
Walls
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc BLO in each st around, sl st to first sc. (84 sc)
The unused front loops form a ridge, and the wall starts to turn upward.
Rnd 3 (Shell Rnd A): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 2, shell in next st, sk 2, sc in next st; repeat from * 12 more times, then sk 2, shell in next st, sk 2. Sl st to first sc. (14 shells + 14 sc = 84 sts)
Rnd 4 (Shell Rnd B): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same st as join (half shell), sk 2 dc, sc in center dc of shell, sk 2 dc. Shell in next sc, sk 2 dc, sc in center dc of next shell, sk 2 dc; repeat from * 12 more times. 2 dc in the first st to complete the half shell, sl st to top of ch-3. (13 full shells + 2 half shells + 14 sc = 84 sts)
Rnd 5 (Shell Rnd A): Ch 1, sc in top of ch-3, which is the center of the split shell. Sk 2 dc, shell in next sc, sk 2 dc, sc in center dc of next shell; repeat from * around, leaving out the last sc. Sl st to first sc. (14 shells + 14 sc = 84 sts)
Rnd 6 (Shell Rnd B): Repeat Rnd 4. (84 sts)
Each 6-stitch repeat lines up with the base: 4 shells on each long side and 3 on each short side. Checkpoint: the wall is 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall.
Don’t fasten off. Go to the Border section and work Rnds 7–9 now, then come back here for the other pieces.
Make All Pieces
- Butter yellow: 3 baskets, 2 straps
- Cream: 3 flowers
- Orange: 3 cups
- Sage green: 6 leaves
- Golden yellow: 3 center knots
Strap (Make 2)
Row 1: With butter yellow, ch 83. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (82 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sl st in each st across. (82 sl sts)
Fasten off. The strap measures 20.5 in (52.1 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide. The slip stitch row keeps it from stretching.
Daffodil (Make 3)
Petals: With cream, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 12 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. (12 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, sk 1 sc, sl st in next sc; repeat from * 5 more times. (6 pointed petals)
Fasten off. The flower measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across.
Cup: With orange, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Sc BLO in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 4: (Sl st, ch 2) in next st; repeat from * around, sl st to first sl st. (12 ruffle loops)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Rnd 3 makes the cup stand up and Rnd 4 ruffles its rim. The cup measures 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
With golden yellow, make a 3-wrap French knot in the center of the cup. Sew the cup to the middle of the petals.
Leaf (Make 6)
With sage green, ch 8. Working in the chain:
– Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, then sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc in the next 5 ch.
– 3 sc in the last ch.
– Rotate. Working in the free loops on the other side: hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
Fasten off. Each leaf measures 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide.
Attach the Appliqués
Center one daffodil on a long side of each basket, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the base ridge. Tuck one leaf under each side of the flower, angled down and outward. Whipstitch all edges in place with matching yarn. This side is now the front of the basket.
Joining
The straps run down the center of each short side wall. From the front, they frame the stack of baskets.
Strap stitch map (counted from the top end of each strap):
Sts 1–12 fold-over loop, 3 in (7.6 cm)
Sts 13–20 gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
Sts 21–34 Basket 1, 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Sts 35–42 gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
Sts 43–56 Basket 2, 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Sts 57–64 gap, 2 in (5.1 cm)
Sts 65–78 Basket 3, 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Sts 79–82 tail, 1 in (2.5 cm)
Check: 12 + 8 + 14 + 8 + 14 + 8 + 14 + 4 = 82 sts.
Layout:
====== dowel ======
S S
S [Basket 1] S
S S
S [Basket 2] S
S S
S [Basket 3] S
S S
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The basket wall is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, the same as the 14-stitch strap section. Match 1 strap st to each sc round: Rnds 2, 7, 8 and 9, for 4 sts. Match 5 strap sts to each pair of shell rounds: Rnds 3–6, for 10 sts. That gives 4 + 10 = 14 sts.
Method:
- On each short side, place a marker between sts 9 and 10 to mark the center line.
- Pin the strap section along the center line, with its bottom at the base ridge and its top at the rim.
- Whipstitch both long edges of the strap to the wall, catching 1 strap st and 1 wall st with each stitch.
- For strength, sew straight across the strap 3 times at the rim and 3 times at the base.
Tension: Make each stitch snug but not tight. The wall should lie flat behind the strap without puckering.
Loop: Fold sts 1–12 to the back and whipstitch the tip to st 13. The loop fits a dowel up to 1 in (2.5 cm) thick.
Size checkpoint: Lay the holder flat. Each gap should be 2 in (5.1 cm). It should measure 17.5 in (44.5 cm) from the top fold to the strap ends.
Border
Work the border on the rim of each basket before joining. Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm); 3 rounds = 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (84 worked 1 per existing st + 0 added = 84 sc: 24 per long side, 18 per short side)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (84 sc: 24 / 18 / 24 / 18)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, sl st to first st. (84 sts: 24 / 18 / 24 / 18)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: The base perimeter is 2 x 24 + 2 x 18 = 84 sts. Each shell round is also 84 sts (14 repeats of 6), so every wall round has the same count. The border keeps 84 sts, so the rim neither flares nor pulls in. The wall stays 21 in (53.3 cm) around, which matches 84 sts at 4 sts per inch.
Final Blocking
- Before joining, lightly mist each basket with water.
- Fill the basket with a toilet roll wrapped in a towel to set its shape.
- Square the corners with your fingers and straighten the rim.
- Pin the daffodil petals flat and pinch each tip to a point.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Pin the straps out straight at 20.5 in (52.1 cm) and let them dry.
- After joining, hang the holder on the dowel and check that the gaps are even.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each base measures 6 in x 4.5 in (15.2 cm x 11.4 cm).
- Every wall and border round has 84 sts.
- The shells line up: 4 on each long side, 3 on each short side.
- The rim is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall all the way around.
- Each daffodil has 6 pointed petals, a ruffled orange cup and a golden knot.
- Each flower has 2 leaves, firmly sewn on.
- Both straps are 82 sts long, and each basket sits at the same stitch positions on both straps.
- The holder hangs level.
- All ends are woven in.
Troubleshooting
Wall flares out: Your dc are too loose. Use a hook one size smaller for the shell rounds only.
Shells don’t line up with the corners: Rnd 1 is not exactly 18 / 24 / 18 / 24 sts. Recount and correct it.
Basket sags: Use a stiffer cotton, or work Rnd 2 with a hook 0.5 mm smaller.
Petals curl: Pin them flat while blocking, or replace the dc in each petal with an hdc.
Holder tilts: One strap is sewn at different stitch positions from the other. Check the stitch map and sew it again.
Loop is too tight for the dowel: Fold at st 13 instead and sew the tip to st 14. The top gap becomes 0.25 in (0.6 cm) shorter.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the extra water, reshape the baskets and dry flat. Don’t use a dryer, because it can shrink the cotton and distort the shells.
Final Notes
Every measurement builds on the one before. A base of 24 sts x 18 rows gives an 84-stitch perimeter of 21 in (53.3 cm). Four shell rounds make a 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wall. A 0.75 in (1.9 cm) border brings each basket to 3.5 in (8.9 cm). The baskets are sewn to two 82-stitch straps, 2 in (5.1 cm) apart, giving a holder that hangs 17.5 in (44.5 cm). If your first basket hits every checkpoint, the rest of the project will fit together.
Happy crocheting!