The Sunset Rainbow bag holder is a wall pouch for keeping grocery bags tidy. Stuff bags in through the wide top and pull them out one at a time through a slot at the top of the rainbow arch. Two puffy cream clouds sit on the legs, and a slim strap hangs it from any hook.
The palette is warm and slightly faded: dusty rose, blush pink, mustard, burnt orange and a deep rust outer band. The rust also outlines the inner arch and the top rim. It fits a boho kitchen, a pantry door or a laundry corner.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 11.5 in (29.2 cm) wide and 9.75 in (24.8 cm) tall, not counting the strap. The strap rises about 6 in (15.2 cm) above the rim.
Construction overview: You work two identical rainbow panels in turned rows of single crochet around a U-shaped foundation chain, then edge each panel in rust. Next you seam the panels together along both legs, leaving the top open and leaving the top of the inner arch open as a dispenser slot. Finally, you add a two-round rim, sew on the strap and attach the two clouds.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 11.5 in (29.2 cm) wide x 9.75 in (24.8 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy+ (confident beginner)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 2 panels, 2 clouds, 1 strap
- Layout: front panel over back panel, with one cloud on each front leg
- Panel size (before edging): 10.5 in (26.7 cm) wide x 8.5 in (21.6 cm) tall
- Panel size (after edging): 11 in (27.9 cm) wide x 9 in (22.9 cm) tall
- Size before border (joined): 11.5 in (29.2 cm) x 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at the top rim
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight acrylic or cotton blend of about 100 g / 170 m per ball. Firm, low-stretch yarn holds the shape best when the pouch is full. All five rainbow colors should be the same yarn line so the stripes stay even.
- Rust (terracotta): 115 g / 196 m
- Burnt Orange: 40 g / 68 m
- Mustard: 35 g / 60 m
- Blush Pink: 30 g / 51 m
- Dusty Rose: 25 g / 42 m
- Cream: 10 g / 17 m
Quantities include a margin of about 15% for swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers (at least 8)
- Scissors
- Rustproof pins
- Tape measure
- Spray bottle and blocking mat
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- rnd – round
Special technique – corner pair: At each shoulder of the arch there are 2 corner stitches. Working “2 sc in each of next 2 sts” adds 2 stitches per corner. On the next row, the middle 2 of those 4 new stitches become the corner pair. This shifting increase gives a softly beveled corner instead of a sharp point.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in turned rows.
Make one complete panel before starting the second. Check it at each stage:
- Foundation: The first 16 ch of the foundation chain (one leg) should measure 4 in (10.2 cm).
- After Row 3: The Dusty Rose band should be 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep.
- After Row 9: The total band depth should be 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
- After Row 16: The total band depth should be 4 in (10.2 cm), and the panel should measure 10.5 in (26.7 cm) x 8.5 in (21.6 cm).
- After edging: The panel should measure 11 in (27.9 cm) x 9 in (22.9 cm).
If the panel is too big, go down one hook size. If it is too small, go up one size. A difference of more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at the Row 9 checkpoint is worth fixing, because it doubles by Row 16.
Rainbow Panel (Make 2)
Each row adds 4 stitches: 1 extra on each leg and 2 extra on the top. A row’s count reads as: leg + corner pair zone + top + corner pair zone + leg.
Color sequence: Rows 1–3 Dusty Rose, Rows 4–6 Blush Pink, Rows 7–9 Mustard, Rows 10–12 Burnt Orange, Rows 13–16 Rust. Change color on the last yarn-over of the final stitch of the previous row, and cut the old color.
Foundation: With Dusty Rose, ch 45. This is 44 working chains (16 leg + 2 corner + 8 top + 2 corner + 16 leg) plus 1 turning chain.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 15 ch (16 sts), 2 sc in each of next 2 ch, sc in next 8 ch, 2 sc in each of next 2 ch, sc in last 16 ch. (48 sts: 16 + 4 + 8 + 4 + 16)
The chain bends at the two increase zones to form the inner arch.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first 17 sts, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in last 17 sts. (52 sts: 17 + 4 + 10 + 4 + 17)
Rows 3–16: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first (15 + row number) sts, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next (6 + 2 x row number) sts, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in last (15 + row number) sts. The total for each row is 44 + (4 x row number).
| Row | Leg | Top | Row total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 18 | 12 | 56 |
| 6 | 21 | 18 | 68 |
| 9 | 24 | 24 | 80 |
| 12 | 27 | 30 | 92 |
| 13 | 28 | 32 | 96 |
| 14 | 29 | 34 | 100 |
| 15 | 30 | 36 | 104 |
| 16 | 31 | 38 | 108 |
Check: Row 16 has 31 + 4 + 38 + 4 + 31 = 108 sts. Do not fasten off.
Edging Rnd (Rust, RS): Ch 1, turn so the RS faces you. Work the round in this order:
- Outer edge: Sc in each of first 31 sts (leg). For the corner zone, sc in next st, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st (6). Sc in next 38 sts (top). Work the second corner zone (6), then sc in last 31 sts. (112 sts)
- Ch 1 for the corner.
- Leg base: Work 16 sc evenly across the row ends, 1 per row.
- Ch 1 for the corner.
- Inner edge: Working into the foundation chain, sc in 16 ch, sc2tog, sc in 8 ch, sc2tog, sc in 16 ch. (42 sts)
- Ch 1 for the corner.
- Second leg base: Work 16 sc across the row ends.
- Ch 1 and sl st to the first sc.
Round total: 112 + 16 + 42 + 16 = 186 sc plus 4 ch-1 corner sps.
The sc2tog stitches stop the concave inner corners from rippling. The extra stitches on the outer shoulders keep the convex corners flat. Fasten off one panel. For the second panel, fasten off with a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Cloud (Make 2)
With Cream, ch 8.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 5 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate and work along the other side of the chain: sc in next 5 ch, 2 sc in last ch (the same ch as the first sc). Sl st to first sc. (16 sts)
The stitches now sit like this: st 1 and sts 15–16 form one end, sts 2–6 are the bottom, sts 7–9 are the other end and sts 10–14 are the top.
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Work into the stitches in order:
- Sc in sts 1–7.
- 5 dc in st 8 (side lobe).
- Sc in st 9.
- 6 dc in st 10.
- Sc in st 11.
- 7 dc in st 12 (center lobe).
- Sc in st 13.
- 6 dc in st 14.
- Sc in st 15.
- 5 dc in st 16 (side lobe).
- Sl st to first sc.
Round total: 11 sc + 29 dc = 40 sts.
The result is a cloud with a straight bottom and five lobes: the center one is largest, flanked by two medium lobes and two smaller side lobes. It measures about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Fasten off with a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Strap (Make 1)
With Rust, ch 71.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (70 sts)
Rows 2–3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (70 sts)
The strap measures 17.5 in (44.5 cm) x 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Fasten off with a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Make All Pieces
- Rust: panel bands, both edgings, strap, seams and rim
- Burnt Orange, Mustard, Blush Pink, Dusty Rose: one 3-row band on each panel
- Cream: 2 clouds
Layout, front view:
[ strap loop ............... ]
+------- open top rim -------+
| rainbow bands (front) |
| +--- slot ---+ |
| leg | arch | leg |
|[cloud] opening [cloud] |
+------+ +--------+
Joining
Place the panels WS together with all edges matching. Pin at each corner and at the seam start points.
Join Rust with a sl st through both layers at the first corner-zone stitch next to the top segment on one side. Ch 1, then sc through both layers:
- 37 sts down the outer edge (6 corner-zone sts + 31 leg sts).
- 3 sc in the outer bottom corner sp.
- 16 sts across the leg base.
- 3 sc in the inner bottom corner sp.
- 16 sts up the inner leg.
Seam total: 75 sc. Fasten off. Repeat on the other leg.
Every stitch is worked 1-to-1 through matching stitches. The only extras are the 2 added at each convex bottom corner. Leave the 38 top sts of each panel unworked to form the bag opening. Also leave the 10 inner-arch stitches open (sc2tog, 8 sts, sc2tog) to form a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) dispenser slot.
Keep your tension even and slightly relaxed. Seams worked too tightly pull the legs inward.
Checkpoint: The joined holder should measure 11.5 in (29.2 cm) x 9.25 in (23.5 cm).
Border
Border gauge: Same as the panel: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and each round is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) tall.
Rnd 1 (Rust): Join at the top of one leg seam. Ch 1. Sc in the seam’s end st (1), sc in 38 front top sts, sc in the other seam’s end st (1), sc in 38 back top sts. Sl st to first sc. (78 sts: 1 + 38 + 1 + 38)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (78 sts)
Why the math works: Each panel’s top segment has exactly 38 sts after edging, and each seam ends in 1 st, so 38 + 38 + 1 + 1 = 78. The rim is a straight tube edge with no corners, so working 1 stitch per stitch keeps it flat without flaring. The border adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm), bringing the height to 9.75 in (24.8 cm).
Strap: Tuck 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of each strap end inside the rim at a seam point. Whipstitch each end securely through the front and back panels.
Clouds: Center each cloud on a front leg with its bottom 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the lower edge. Let the outer lobes overlap the side seam by about 0.5 in (1.3 cm). Whipstitch around the cloud through the front panel only, so the slot stays free.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends inside the pouch, following stripes of the same color.
- Lightly mist the holder, or steam it gently if you used acrylic, holding the iron above the fabric without touching it.
- Stuff the pouch with a folded towel to shape it.
- Pin it flat to 11.5 in (29.2 cm) x 9.75 in (24.8 cm), keeping the legs parallel.
- Ease the shoulders into soft curves with your fingers.
- Pin the clouds’ lobes into rounded shapes.
- Let it dry completely, at least 12 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The stitch count for Row 16 is 108 on both panels.
- All five bands are the same depth on the front and back.
- Both leg seams have 75 sc and match at the corners.
- The top opening lies flat and has 78 sts.
- The dispenser slot is open and about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide.
- The clouds sit level with each other.
- The strap is secure and centered.
- No ends are visible on the outside.
Troubleshooting
- Shoulders cup upward: You worked too few corner increases. Count 4 extra sts per row.
- Shoulders ruffle: Your corner tension is too loose. Tighten the 2-sc pairs.
- Inner arch puckers: You missed an sc2tog in the edging.
- Legs differ in length: Count the leg sts against the table and rework the uneven row.
- The rim flares: Go down a hook size for the border only.
- Bags fall out: Make the slot narrower by working 1 extra joining st on each side.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. If you used cotton, a gentle machine cycle inside a mesh bag works well.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other in a simple chain:
- Gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) of band
- Panel 10.5 in (26.7 cm) x 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
- Edged panel 11 in (27.9 cm) x 9 in (22.9 cm)
- Joined body 11.5 in (29.2 cm) x 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
- Finished holder 11.5 in (29.2 cm) x 9.75 in (24.8 cm)
If each checkpoint matches, the holder will match too. Happy crocheting!