This plastic bag holder is a tall lavender tube with bands of shell scallops and bands of deep purple pansies. Each pansy has a bright yellow center and small green leaves on either side, so the holder looks like a column of spring flowers. It hangs from one strap on a wall knob or hook.
The body is lavender, the pansy petals are deep violet, the centers are yellow and the leaves are green. It has a cottage-garden look, with flat flowers sewn onto smooth single crochet bands.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide when flattened, 15 in (38.1 cm) around and 16.25 in (41.3 cm) long. A 7 in (17.8 cm) strap forms the hanging loop.
You crochet the body as one seamless tube in rounds, from the bottom up. Bags go in through the top and come out through the bottom opening. You work the strap directly off the top edge. The pansies and leaves are made separately and sewn on as appliqués.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide flat x 16.25 in (41.3 cm) long, plus strap
- Circumference: 15 in (38.1 cm), about 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across when round
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 tube body with attached strap, plus 16 pansy appliqués and 32 leaf appliqués
- Layout: Bottom cuff, then 5 shell bands alternating with 4 pansy bands, then top cuff
- Body size before border: 15.25 in (38.7 cm) long
- Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) top cuff, plus a slip stitch finish at the bottom edge
Materials
Choose a smooth cotton or cotton-acrylic blend in worsted weight. Cotton keeps the tube firm so it doesn’t sag when it’s full of bags. The quantities below assume a yarn of about 100 g = 180 m (197 yd).
- Lavender (body, strap): 120 g / 216 m (236 yd)
- Deep violet (pansy petals): 45 g / 81 m (89 yd)
- Yellow (pansy centers): 10 g / 18 m (20 yd)
- Leaf green (leaves): 25 g / 45 m (49 yd)
All quantities include a margin of about 15 percent for the gauge test and sewing tails.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 6 stitch markers
- Rust-proof pins
- Tape measure
- Scissors
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Shell: 5 dc worked into the same stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in the round. One dc rnd measures 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Test your gauge before going further. Work the foundation and bottom cuff (Rnds 1–4), then flatten the tube and measure it.
Checkpoints (length measured from the foundation edge):
- After Rnd 4: 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide flat, 1 in (2.5 cm) tall
- After Rnd 7 (shell band 1): 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- After Rnd 15 (pansy band 1): 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- After Rnd 26: 7.5 in (19.1 cm)
- After Rnd 37: 10.75 in (27.3 cm)
- After Rnd 48: 14 in (35.6 cm)
- After Rnd 51: 15.25 in (38.7 cm)
If too big: go down 0.5 mm in hook size and start again. If too small: go up 0.5 mm. Never change the stitch count. The shell and pansy spacing only works with 60 stitches.
Main Pattern: The Tube Body
Work in joined rounds without turning. Join each rnd with a sl st to the first st. The beginning ch-1 does not count as a st. The beginning ch-3 counts as a dc.
Place a marker in the first st of each rnd. When the tube is flattened, this st sits at the left fold. Sts 1–30 form the front and sts 31–60 form the back.
Bottom Cuff
With lavender, ch 60 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Make sure the chain isn’t twisted.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join. (60 sc)
Rnds 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60 sc)
The cuff is now 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
Shell Band (3 rnds)
Shell Rnd A: Ch 1, *sc in next st, sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts; rep from * 10 times total, join to first sc. (10 shells + 10 sc = 60 sts)
Shell Rnd B (offset): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sc as join (half shell made). *Sk 2 dc, sc in center dc of next shell, sk 2 dc, shell in next sc; rep from * 8 more times. Sk 2 dc, sc in center dc of last shell, sk 2 dc, 2 dc in same sc as beginning ch-3, join to top of ch-3. (3 + 54 + 1 + 2 = 60 sts: 10 shells and 10 sc)
The two half shells at the join combine to make the tenth shell.
Sc Rnd C: Ch 1, sc in each st around, including the top of the ch-3, join. (60 sc)
Each shell band measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm). That’s two dc rnds at 0.5 in (1.3 cm) each plus one sc rnd at 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Pansy Band (8 rnds)
Rnds 1–8 of band: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60 sc each rnd)
Each pansy band measures 2 in (5.1 cm). You’ll sew the pansies onto this smooth background later.
Round-by-Round Sequence
- Rnds 1–4: Bottom cuff
- Rnds 5–7: Shell band 1
- Rnds 8–15: Pansy band 1
- Rnds 16–18: Shell band 2
- Rnds 19–26: Pansy band 2
- Rnds 27–29: Shell band 3
- Rnds 30–37: Pansy band 3
- Rnds 38–40: Shell band 4
- Rnds 41–48: Pansy band 4
- Rnds 49–51: Shell band 5
Every rnd ends with 60 sts. Don’t fasten off after Rnd 51. Go straight on to the border.
Pansy Appliqué (make 16)
Rnd 1: With yellow, make a magic ring, ch 1, 5 sc in ring, join to first sc. (5 sc) Fasten off yellow.
Rnd 2: Join deep violet in any st. Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (10 sc)
Rnd 3 (petals): (Dc, 3 tr, dc) in next st, sl st in next st; rep from * once more for the 2 large back petals. (Hdc, 3 dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st; rep from * 2 more times for the 3 smaller front petals. Join to the first dc. (5 petals; 30 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing. The pansy measures about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
With yellow, embroider 5 short straight stitches from the center out onto the front petals. They form the star-shaped eye.
Leaf Appliqué (make 32)
With green, ch 5.
Rnd 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, work sc, hdc, hdc, sc (4 sts). Ch 1 for the tip. Rotate and work along the other side of the foundation ch: sc, hdc, hdc, sc (4 sts). Join to first sc. (8 sts plus the tip ch)
Fasten off with a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Each leaf is about 1 in (2.5 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide.
Attaching the Appliqués
Each pansy band holds 4 pansies, spaced 15 sts (3.75 in / 9.5 cm) apart around the tube.
- Bands 1 and 3: center the pansies over sts 8, 23, 38 and 53.
- Bands 2 and 4: center the pansies over sts 15, 30, 45 and 60.
This staggers the flowers so they run diagonally up the tube. Center each pansy from top to bottom in its band. Point the two large back petals toward the top of the holder. They may overlap the shell scallops a little.
Place 2 leaves in each gap between pansies, angled outward in a V with their bases touching. That’s 8 leaves per band.
Pin everything first, then check the tube from all sides. Sew around the outer edge of each appliqué with small whipstitches through the back loops of its edge. Catch only the outer layer of the tube. Keep a hand inside the tube so you don’t sew the front to the back.
Border: Top Cuff, Strap and Bottom Edge
Border gauge: same as the body, 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). When the tube is flattened, each rnd has 30 sts per side (front sts 1–30, back sts 31–60). A tube has no corners, so there are no corner stitches to add.
Top Cuff
Rnds 52–55: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (60 sc each rnd; 30 per side)
The cuff adds 1 in (2.5 cm). Fasten off.
Strap
The strap ends sit on the two side folds, so the loop arches across the top opening.
Row 1: Join lavender in st 59 of Rnd 55. Ch 1, sc in sts 59, 60, 1 and 2. (4 sc)
Rows 2–28: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4 sc)
The strap is 7 in (17.8 cm) long and 1 in (2.5 cm) wide. Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Keeping the strap untwisted, sew Row 28 to sts 29, 30, 31 and 32 on the opposite fold.
Strap edging: Join lavender at one end of the strap. Work 1 sc in the end of each row along one long edge (28 sc). Sl st into the cuff, then work 28 sc along the other long edge. Fasten off.
Bottom Edge
Turn the tube upside down. Join lavender in any loop of the foundation ch. Sl st loosely in each of the 60 loops around (30 per side), join and fasten off. This round neatens the foundation edge and keeps the bottom opening firm.
Why the math works: 60 divides by 6, so each shell rnd has exactly 10 shells. It divides by 4, so each pansy band has 4 pansies 15 sts apart. It’s even, so each flattened side has 30 sts. At 4 sc per in, 60 sts gives 15 in (38.1 cm) around, or 7.5 in (19.1 cm) flat. Every rnd comes back to 60, so the cuff, strap and bottom edge all line up with the body.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends, running the tails through several sts on the inside of the tube.
- Lightly mist the holder with water, or steam it from 1 in (2.5 cm) away without touching it.
- Slide a rolled towel inside the tube to hold its round shape.
- Lay it flat and smooth it to 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide and 16.25 in (41.3 cm) long.
- Gently shape each shell into an even scallop with your fingers.
- Flatten the pansy petals and press the leaves into their V shapes.
- Let it dry completely before you remove the towel.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The tube measures 7.5 in (19.1 cm) wide flat and 16.25 in (41.3 cm) long.
- Every shell rnd has 10 even shells, with none missing at the join.
- There are 4 pansy bands with 4 pansies each, staggered from band to band.
- There are 8 leaves per band, 32 in total.
- The yellow center shows on every pansy.
- The strap is 7 in (17.8 cm) long, untwisted and attached at both folds.
- No stitches go through to the back layer of the tube.
- All ends are secured on the inside.
Troubleshooting
The tube twists into a spiral: Your joins are drifting. Always join into the marked first st, and move the marker up every rnd.
The shells look crowded or ruffled: Make sure you skip exactly 2 sts on each side of every shell. Count 60 sts before each shell rnd.
The pansy petals cup instead of lying flat: Your petal stitches are too tight. Use a 5.5 mm hook for Rnd 3 only.
The leaves curl: Block them flat on their own before sewing them on.
The strap stretches under weight: Work a second row of sc along each long edge, or use a cotton with less stretch.
Bags slip out of the bottom: Work the bottom sl st round with firmer tension, or with a 4.5 mm hook.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and lay flat to dry. Reshape the shells and petals while they’re damp.
Final Notes
Here’s the measurement chain. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives 60 sts = 15 in (38.1 cm) around and 7.5 in (19.1 cm) flat. A 1 in (2.5 cm) bottom cuff, 5 shell bands of 1.25 in (3.2 cm) each and 4 pansy bands of 2 in (5.1 cm) each add up to 15.25 in (38.7 cm) before the border. The 1 in (2.5 cm) top cuff brings the length to 16.25 in (41.3 cm), and the 7 in (17.8 cm) strap completes the hanger.
Check your gauge and keep every round at 60 stitches, and your pansies will line up exactly.
Happy crocheting!