This bag holder is an open filet-mesh tube with a puffy sunflower on the front. You stuff plastic grocery bags in through the wide top and pull them out one at a time through the narrower bottom. The grid of square windows shows you how many bags are left.
The sample uses cream cotton for the body, golden mustard for the flower center, and sage green for the leaves. The look is a soft farmhouse kitchen style. It also works in a single color: an all-sage version looks very calm.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Laid flat, the finished holder measures 5 in (12.7 cm) wide by 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long. The hanging loop adds about 3 in (7.6 cm), for a total hanging length of about 20.5 in (52.1 cm).
How it’s built: You work the body as one seamless tube from the top down:
– a solid single-crochet band at the top
– 28 rounds of filet mesh
– a tapered single-crochet band at the bottom
A round of reverse single crochet finishes each opening, and a strap loop goes across the top. The sunflower and leaves are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (flat): 5 in (12.7 cm) wide x 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long, plus a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop
- Skill level: Easy / Advanced Beginner
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 body tube, plus 1 flower and 2 leaves (appliqué)
- Layout: Single tube; the flower is centered on the front
- Circumference: 40 sts = 10 in (25.4 cm), which is 5 in (12.7 cm) when flat
- Size before border: 5 in (12.7 cm) x 17 in (43.2 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at each end
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton keeps the mesh crisp and won’t stretch out under the weight of the bags. Avoid splitty or fuzzy yarns, because they blur the square windows.
- Cream (body, petals, loop): 120 g / 204 m
- Golden Mustard (flower center): 8 g / 14 m
- Sage Green (leaves): 6 g / 10 m
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Yarn needle
– Scissors
– 4 locking stitch markers
– Measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– An empty paper-towel tube or rolled towel (for blocking)
All quantities include about a 15% margin for your swatch and tension differences.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- PP – petal puff (special stitch)
Petal Puff (PP): Work all of this into the same stitch:
1. [Yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop to the height of the ch-3] 4 times. You now have 9 loops on the hook.
2. Yarn over and pull through all 9 loops.
3. Ch 1 to lock the puff closed.
Reverse Single Crochet: Work single crochet from left to right (right to left if you’re left-handed), inserting the hook into the next stitch to the right. It makes a firm, corded edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
– Single crochet: 16 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm); 4 rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm)
– Mesh: 10 mesh squares (20 sts) = 5 in (12.7 cm); 8 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm)
The holder is one piece, so the first few rounds are your test piece. Crochet the foundation ring and Rounds 1–5, then lay the tube flat and measure it before you go on.
Checkpoints:
– After Round 5: Flat width 5 in (12.7 cm); band depth 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
– After Round 15 (10 mesh rounds): Length 6.25 in (15.9 cm)
– After Round 33 (all mesh): Length 15.25 in (38.7 cm)
– After Round 40: Length 17 in (43.2 cm); bottom opening 3 in (7.6 cm) flat
Too big? Go down half a hook size (4.5 mm) and start again.
Too small? Go up half a hook size (5.5 mm).
If only the length is off, add or remove mesh rounds and keep the stitch counts the same. Each mesh round is 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Body
Work in joined rounds with the right side always facing you. Do not turn.
Foundation: With Cream, ch 40 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Don’t twist the chain. It should measure 10 in (25.4 cm) around.
Top Band
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, then join with a sl st to the first sc. (40 sts)
Rounds 2–5: Ch 1, sc in each st around, then join. (40 sts)
Place a marker in st 1 and another in st 21. These mark the two side folds and stay in place for the loop later.
Mesh Section
Round 6: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch-1). Skip the next st. Dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st. Repeat from * 18 times. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4.
– (20 dc + 20 ch-1 sps = 40 sts; 20 mesh squares)
Rounds 7–33: Sl st into the first ch-1 sp, then sl st into the next dc.
– Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch-1), dc in next dc, ch 1. Repeat around.
– Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (40 sts; 20 mesh squares)
– Easier alternative: Ch 4 directly from the join without slip stitching. Keep the beginning chains stacked in the same column either way.
Place each dc directly above the dc below it so the windows stay square and the columns run straight. That makes 28 mesh rounds in total, about 14 in (35.6 cm).
Bottom Band
Round 34 (conversion round): Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-1 sp around, then join.
– 20 sc in dc + 20 sc in ch-1 sps = 40 sts
Round 35: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog. Repeat 8 times, then join. (32 sts)
Round 36: Ch 1, sc in each st around, then join. (32 sts)
Round 37: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. Repeat 8 times, then join. (24 sts)
Rounds 38–40: Ch 1, sc in each st around, then join. (24 sts)
Fasten off. The bottom band has 7 rounds and is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) deep. Total length is now 17 in (43.2 cm).
Sunflower Appliqué
Center
Use Golden Mustard.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1 and work 8 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed and join. (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, then join. (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat 8 times, then join. (24 sts)
Fasten off. The center measures about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.
Petals
Round 4: Join Cream with a sl st in any st. Make 12 petals:
– (Ch 3, PP, ch 3, sl st) all in the same st as the joining sl st.
– Sl st in the next st.
– Repeat from * 11 more times. The last sl st lands at the base of the first petal.
– Result: 12 petals, each worked over 2 center sts (12 x 2 = 24)
The ch-3 rising up, the puff, and the ch-3 coming back down make an oval, slightly pointed petal. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The finished flower is about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across.
Leaves (make 2)
With Sage Green, ch 8.
Side 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. (6 sts)
Tip: Work 3 sc in the last ch to turn the point.
Side 2: Rotate the piece and work along the opposite side of the foundation chain: sc, hdc, dc in next 2 ch, hdc, sc. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Total: 6 + 3 + 6 = 15 sts. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Each leaf is about 2 in (5.1 cm) long and 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
Border and Hanging Loop
Border gauge: One round of rev sc adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of depth. Work 1 rev sc into every stitch, so the edge keeps the same circumference and doesn’t ruffle or pull in.
Top Border
- Hold the tube upside down and join Cream in the free loop of the foundation chain at the st 1 marker.
- Ch 1 and rev sc in each foundation loop around (40 sts). Flattened, that is 20 sts per side.
- Join and fasten off.
Bottom Border
- Join Cream in any st of Round 40.
- Ch 1 and rev sc in each st around (24 sts). Flattened, that is 12 sts per side.
- Join and fasten off.
Why the math works: The top border sits on the 40-st foundation, which matches the 40-st top band. The bottom border sits on the 24-st Round 40. You add no stitches at either end, so each opening stays exactly the width you measured: 5 in (12.7 cm) at the top and 3 in (7.6 cm) at the bottom. The borders add 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at each end, which brings the length from 17 in (43.2 cm) to 17.5 in (44.5 cm).
Hanging Loop
- Join Cream with a sl st in the top border at the st 1 marker.
- Ch 32, then sl st in the top border at the st 21 marker, on the opposite fold.
- Ch 1 and turn. Sc in each of the 32 ch, then sl st in the border st next to the st 1 marker.
- Fasten off.
The strap has 32 sts and is 8 in (20.3 cm) long. It arches about 3 in (7.6 cm) above the rim.
Attaching the Appliqué
- Flatten the tube so the markers sit on the folds, then remove the markers.
- Center the flower on the front so its top petals overlap the top band slightly. The center should sit about 2 in (5.1 cm) below the top rim.
- Tuck one leaf behind the petals on each side, angled slightly downward.
- Whipstitch around the flower center and under each petal tip. Sew through the front layer of the tube only.
- Sew each leaf along its center line and at its point.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the solid bands, not through the mesh.
- Spray the holder evenly with water until it is damp but not dripping.
- Slide a rolled towel or paper-towel tube inside to hold the round shape.
- Lay it flat with the flower on top. Gently pull the mesh lengthwise so the columns run straight and the windows are square.
- Pin the top to 5 in (12.7 cm) wide and the bottom to 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. Check that the total length is 17.5 in (44.5 cm).
- Fluff each petal with your fingertips.
- Let it dry completely before you remove the pins.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Stitch counts: Rounds 1–34 = 40 sts each, Round 35 = 32, Round 36 = 32, Rounds 37–40 = 24
- Every mesh round has 20 open squares, and the beginning chains line up in one column
- Flat width is 5 in (12.7 cm) at the top and 3 in (7.6 cm) at the bottom
- Length is 17.5 in (44.5 cm) without the loop
- The loop is attached at both folds and centered
- The flower has 12 even petals and is sewn through the front layer only
- Both leaves are secure, with no loose tips
- All ends are woven in and invisible
Troubleshooting
- Mesh is slanting or spiraling: Your beginning chains are drifting. Join into the 3rd ch of the ch-4 every time, and start each round directly above the last one.
- Windows look rectangular: Your dc are too tall. Pull up shorter loops, or drop to a 4.5 mm hook for the mesh section only.
- Bottom flares: Make sure Rounds 35 and 37 each have exactly 8 decreases.
- Bags fall out on their own: Work one extra round of sc2tog decreases before the border, and adjust the border count to match.
- Petals look flat: Pull the puff loops up to the full height of the ch-3 before closing the puff.
- Top rim curls out: Your rev sc is too loose. Tighten your tension or use a smaller hook for that round.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press the water out in a towel, and lay flat to dry. Reshape the petals while the piece is damp.
Final Notes
The measurements build like this:
| Stage | Size |
|---|---|
| Foundation ring | 40 sts = 10 in (25.4 cm) around |
| Top band | 1.25 in (3.2 cm) deep |
| Mesh section | 28 rounds = 14 in (35.6 cm) |
| Bottom band | 7 rounds = 1.75 in (4.4 cm), tapering to 24 sts |
| Body total | 17 in (43.2 cm) |
| Borders | 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at each end |
| Finished holder | 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long, plus a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop |
If you hit each checkpoint, the holder will hang straight with its sunflower centered.
Happy crocheting!