Crochet grocery bag holder pattern: tidy kitchen storage

If your kitchen has a drawer stuffed with plastic grocery bags, or a cupboard where they spill out every time you open the door, this crochet grocery bag holder pattern is the fix. It is a simple mesh tube, worked in the round in soft cotton yarn, that hangs neatly from a hook and keeps a whole drawer-full of bags in one tidy place. You stuff the bags in through the wide top opening, and pull one out through the smaller opening at the bottom. The whole holder takes about two hours and uses less than one ball of yarn.

Why you'll love this crochet grocery bag holder pattern

Most bag holders fall into one of two traps: they are either so tight that you have to wrestle every bag inside, or so loose that the bags fall straight out of the bottom. This pattern dodges both. The body is worked in an open mesh stitch, which is stretchy enough to swallow a whole armful of bags, but the bottom opening is cinched with a simple drawstring round, so the bags stay put until you pull one out. The mesh also lets you see at a glance how many bags are left.

The construction is simple and forgiving. You crochet a straight tube in the round, so there is no seaming and no shaping to keep track of. The mesh pattern is just one repeat, double crochet and chain one, so once you have done three rounds you can crochet the whole thing while half-watching television. And because the holder uses only about 150 yards of yarn, you can make one from a single ball of cotton left over from a dishcloth project.

It is also the perfect practical gift and market make. A bag holder in a pretty colour, stuffed with a few folded bags and tied with a ribbon, is a useful handmade gift people actually keep, and it sells beautifully at craft fairs next to dishcloths and scrubbies. If you like useful kitchen makes, our free crochet scrubby patterns are the natural next project: same cotton yarn, same one-evening speed, for the sink instead of the cupboard. And the crochet basket pattern is another tidy-up favourite for the kitchen.

Materials you'll need

A sturdy worsted-weight cotton yarn is the best pick here: it holds its shape under the weight of twenty bags, it washes well, and it comes in beautiful kitchen-friendly colours. Acrylic worsted works too, but it stretches more over time, so your holder may slowly grow longer on its hook. Avoid fluffy or eyelash yarn: it hides the mesh completely, and the whole point of the mesh is that you can see the bags inside.

Yarn amounts by size (approximate): Standard — 150 yds. Tall — 200 yds. Mini — 100 yds. One 100 g ball of cotton, about 200 yds, makes one standard holder with yarn to spare.

A note on cotton: kitchen cotton, the kind sold for dishcloths, is the right choice. It is firm, it does not pill the way soft acrylic does, and it survives being washed with the tea towels. If your cotton feels stiff while you work, do not worry: it softens after the first wash.

Size, gauge and skill level

The holder is worked in joined rounds from the top down. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round.

• Finished size (standard): about 16 in (41 cm) long and 6 in (15 cm) wide when laid flat, stretching to about 8 in (20 cm) around when full.
• Gauge: 14 dc and 7 rows = 4 in (10 cm) with a 5.0 mm hook in mesh stitch. Gauge matters less here than in garments, because the mesh is meant to stretch, but your stitches should be even so the tube hangs straight.
• Skill level: beginner. You should know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitch. The whole holder is one mesh repeat, worked in the round, with a cuff at the top and a cinched opening at the bottom.

If you have never crocheted in the round before, this is the perfect first project: the rounds are long and rhythmic, the stitch repeat is the same all the way down, and you will have a finished, useful thing hanging in your kitchen by the end of the evening.

Abbreviations — US terms

A note on the mesh stitch: the body of the holder is worked in a simple filet-style mesh: double crochet, chain one, skip one stitch, and repeat. The chain-one spaces are what make the holder stretchy and see-through, so do not work the mesh tighter to make it look neater. The holes are the feature, not a flaw.

The pattern (US terms)

Work the holder in joined rounds from the top down. Join each round with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain. Instructions below are for the standard size, with mini and tall in brackets: mini (standard, tall).

Sage green holder — the classic

With color A (sage green) and a 5.0 mm hook, start at the top cuff.

• Round 1: ch 48 (60, 60), join with sl st to first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist the chain. [48 (60, 60)]
• Round 2: ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc. [48 (60, 60)]
• Round 3: ch 1, sc in each st around, join. [48 (60, 60)]
• Round 4: ch 3 (counts as dc), *ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st; rep from * around, ending with ch 1, join with sl st to top of ch 3. [30 (30, 30) dc, 30 (30, 30) ch-1 spaces]
• Rounds 5 to 20 (22, 28): ch 3, *ch 1, dc in next dc; rep from * around, ending with ch 1, join. Work the double crochet into the double crochet of the round below, and the chain one over the chain-one space, so the mesh stacks neatly.

The tube should measure about 14 in (36 cm) from the cuff for the standard size. If your holder looks short, add two more mesh rounds; if it looks long, stop two rounds early.

• Bottom round 1: ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 space around, join. [60 (60, 60)]
• Bottom round 2: ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around, join. [50 (50, 50)]
• Bottom round 3: ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around, join. [40 (40, 40)]
• Bottom round 4 (drawstring round): ch 3, *ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st; rep from * around, ending with ch 1, join. This is the round the drawstring cord threads through.
• Bottom round 5: ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around, join. [30 (30, 30)]

Fasten off, leaving a 12 in tail. Thread the cotton cord or ribbon through the drawstring round, pull it until the bottom opening is about 3 in (8 cm) across, and tie it in a firm bow. The opening should be wide enough for a hand to pull a bag through, and narrow enough that the bags do not fall out on their own.

Cream holder — the striped version

With color B (cream) and a 5.0 mm hook, work the same top cuff and mesh body, but change colour every four mesh rounds: four rounds of cream, four rounds of mustard yellow, four rounds of cream, and so on. Carry the unused colour loosely up the inside of the tube instead of fastening off each time, and the stripes will look neat from the outside. The striped holder uses about 75 yds of each of the two colours for the standard size.

Work the bottom rounds exactly as for the classic holder, in the colour you finished the mesh with. The striped version is the prettiest of the three on a kitchen wall, and the best way to use up two half balls of cotton. If you like easy colour play in the kitchen, the crochet potholders free patterns use the same stripe rhythm in a different make.

Mustard yellow holder — the mini

With color C (mustard yellow) and a 5.0 mm hook, work the mini size: 48 starting chains, 16 mesh rounds, and the same bottom rounds as the classic. The mini holder is the right size for a small kitchen, a caravan, or a bathroom, where it can hold the small bags from the shops or the bathroom bin. It also makes a lovely gift when paired with a set of dishcloths.

The hanging loop

With the same colour as your holder and a 5.0 mm hook, work the loop at the top of the tube, on the opposite side from the join.

• Row 1: join the yarn to the top edge of the cuff, ch 1, sc in the next 6 sts. [6]
• Rows 2 to 10: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [6]
• Row 11: fold the loop over to the inside of the cuff and slip stitch it down, or sew it in place with the tapestry needle, leaving a loop about 4 in (10 cm) long.

If you prefer a button loop, work only 6 rows, then chain 8 at the end of the last row and slip stitch back into the first stitch of the row to form a small loop. Sew a 1 in button to the inside of the cuff, and the loop will hook over it. Either way, hang the holder from a hook, a knob, or the inside of a cupboard door.

Finishing the holder

Fasten off, leaving a 6 in tail. Weave the tail into the wrong side of the cuff for at least 2 in, working it through the base of the stitches so it cannot wriggle out. Trim the tail flush and the end will disappear inside the cuff. Then stuff the holder: fold each plastic bag into a small square and push it in through the top. The holder should look full and even, and if the bags show through the holes, that is fine: it is how you know how many are left.

Try pulling a bag out through the bottom opening: it should come out with a gentle tug, one at a time. If two bags come out together, the bottom opening is a little too wide: pull the drawstring a touch tighter. If a bag will not come out at all, the opening is too narrow: loosen the drawstring half an inch.

Finishing touches

Take five unhurried minutes here: it is the difference between homemade and handmade.

Block it lightly. Lay the holder flat on a towel, straighten the mesh so the rounds sit evenly, and mist it lightly with water. Let it dry completely before you hang it up. Blocking evens out the stitches and sets the mesh so it hangs straight.

Check the drawstring. Hold the holder up by its loop and look at the bottom opening. It should be a neat circle about 3 in (8 cm) across, with the drawstring tied in a bow that sits flat against the stitches.

Three cute variations to try next

Once you have made one holder, the same mesh tube makes a whole tidy kitchen. Same construction, three personalities:

1. The tall pantry holder. Use the tall size, 28 mesh rounds, in a single colour. The tall holder lives in the pantry or the utility room and swallows the big bags from the weekly shop. It is the same pattern, just longer, and takes about three hours. If you like big storage makes, the crochet basket pattern is the matching piece for the pantry shelf.
2. The striped market set. Make the striped holder and a matching set of scrubbies in the same two colours, tied together with ribbon for a housewarming gift. A matching set looks thoughtful and takes no extra planning, because the colours are already chosen. For the scrubbies, our free crochet scrubby patterns use the same cotton yarn and the same stripe rhythm.
3. The bag dispenser with a button loop. Work the button-loop version of the hanging loop, and sew a wooden button to the cuff. The button loop lets you unhook the holder, carry it to the cupboard, fill it with bags, and hang it back up. If you like bag projects, the free crochet bag patterns are the next make: same cotton yarn, same useful speed, for the market instead of the kitchen.

And if this holder gave you the tidy-kitchen bug, the crochet tissue box cover free pattern is the next make: same cotton yarn, same one-evening speed, for the living room instead of the kitchen.

Troubleshooting tips

• Your holder is too tight and the bags will not fit inside. Your mesh is too tight, or your starting chain is too short. Go up half a hook size, and make sure you are chaining loosely: the starting chain sets the width of the whole tube.
• The bags fall straight out of the bottom. The bottom opening is too wide. Pull the drawstring tighter until the opening is about 3 in (8 cm) across, and tie it in a double bow so it cannot loosen.
• The holder stretches longer and longer on its hook. Cotton stretches under weight, and acrylic stretches more. Work the mesh with a hook half a size smaller next time, and do not overfill the holder.
• The mesh looks lopsided. You worked the double crochet into the chain-one space instead of into the double crochet below, so the mesh drifted sideways. Count a round: the double crochets should stack in straight vertical lines.
• The tube twists. You twisted the starting chain when you joined it into a ring. Check the chain carefully before the first join: lay it flat and make sure it is not twisted anywhere.
• The cuff rolls down. Your cuff is only two rounds of single crochet, which can roll. Work a third round of single crochet, or work the cuff in the back loop only.

Frequently asked questions

Is this crochet grocery bag holder pattern really free?

Yes, the complete pattern above is free, no email signup, no PDF purchase required.

What skill level is this bag holder pattern?

Beginner. If you can chain, single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitch, you have every skill this pattern needs. The whole holder is one mesh repeat, worked in the round.

How long does it take to make a grocery bag holder?

About 2 hours for the standard size: roughly 15 minutes for the cuff, 90 minutes for the mesh body, and 15 minutes for the bottom rounds, the loop, and finishing. The mini takes about 90 minutes, and the tall about 3 hours.

How much yarn do I need?

About 150 yds of worsted-weight cotton yarn for the standard size. One 100 g ball, about 200 yds, makes one standard holder with yarn to spare, or one tall holder with almost nothing left over.

How many bags does it hold?

The standard holder holds 20 to 30 folded plastic grocery bags, the mini holds 10 to 15, and the tall holds 30 to 40. Fold each bag into a small flat square and they pack in neatly.

Can I wash a crochet bag holder?

Yes. Hand wash in cool water with a little gentle soap, squeeze out the water without wringing, and lay flat to dry. Take the bags out first, and let the holder dry completely before you refill it.

Can I sell the finished bag holders I make?

Yes! You may sell finished bag holders made from this pattern in small batches (craft fairs, markets, gifts). Please credit Little Loop Finds as the pattern designer with a link back to this page.

More free patterns to try

If this bag holder was fun, keep the hook moving. The crochet basket pattern is the matching storage make, the free crochet bag patterns are the next useful project, the crochet potholders free patterns use the same stripe rhythm, and the free crochet scrubby patterns are the next kitchen stash buster.