Crochet Lemon Bag Holder – Free Mesh Pattern for Beginners

A simple crochet bag holder free pattern for beginners: a butter yellow mesh grocery bag holder with three plump crochet lemons and sage leaves.

If you want a simple crochet bag holder free pattern for beginners, start here. This crochet lemon bag holder is a butter yellow tube of easy double crochet mesh with a solid base for pulling bags out, a sturdy strap for hanging, and three plump crochet lemons with sage leaves that make it irresistibly cheerful.

The full free pattern is below. You can also download the printable PDF.

Pattern at a glance

• Skill level: Beginner
• Time: an afternoon
• Finished size: a 64-stitch round body with 29 mesh rounds
• Hook: 4.0 mm (G)
• Terms: US crochet terms

Materials

• Worsted cotton: butter yellow about 200 yd (body), golden yellow about 40 yd (lemons), sage green about 20 yd (leaves)
• 4.0 mm (G) crochet hook
• Yarn needle, scissors and a stitch marker
• A little fiberfill (optional, for the lemons)

Gauge

About 14 dc x 8 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in) in mesh. Adjust the starting chain in multiples of 4 to make the holder wider or narrower. If your swatch is small, go up a hook size.

Step 1: Foundation and solid base (Rounds 1-3)

• Round 1: With butter yellow, ch 64 and join into a ring with a sl st, without twisting. [64 ch]
• Round 2: Ch 1, sc in every chain around and join. [64 sc]
• Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around and join. [64 sc]

This solid edge becomes the bottom opening where bags are pulled out.

Step 2: Open mesh body (Rounds 4-29)

• Round 4: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip 1 st. *Dc in the next st, ch 1, skip 1.* Repeat around and join to the 3rd chain of the beginning ch-4. [32 dc, 32 ch-1 spaces]
• Round 5: Sl st into the first ch-1 space, ch 4. *Dc in the next ch-1 space, ch 1.* Repeat around and join. [32 dc, 32 ch-1 spaces]
• Rounds 6-29: Repeat Round 5, placing each dc into the next ch-1 space. [32 dc, 32 ch-1 spaces each round]

Step 3: Solid top rim (Rounds 30-35)

• Round 30: Ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 space around. Join. [64 sc]
• Rounds 31-35: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, joining each round. [64 sc]

Step 4: Hanging strap

1. Join yarn at the upper rim. Ch 61, then sl st to the opposite side of the rim, about 32 stitches away. [61 ch]
2. Ch 1, turn, and sc in each chain back toward the start. [61 sc]
3. Ch 1, turn, sc across once more. [61 sc]

Fasten off and reinforce both ends of the strap with your yarn needle.

Step 5: Crochet three lemons

• Round 1: With golden yellow, magic ring and 6 sc. [6]
• Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around. [12]
• Round 3: *Sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st.* Repeat 6 times. [18]
• Rounds 4-7: Sc around for 4 rounds. [18]
• Round 8: *Sc in the next st, sc2tog.* Repeat 6 times. Add a little filling if you like. [12]
• Round 9: Sc2tog around. [6] Close the opening firmly and leave a sewing tail.

Step 6: Leaves (make 3 pairs)

• First side: with sage green, ch 7. Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook: sc, hdc, dc in the next 2 chains, hdc, sc in the last chain.
• Second side: work back along the opposite side of the chain with sc, hdc and dc to mirror the first side.
• Finish: fasten off with a long sewing tail. Make 6 leaves in total.

Step 7: Assemble

1. Arrange the three lemons asymmetrically across the front of the holder.
2. Attach a pair of leaves at the top of each lemon.
3. Sew each lemon to several mesh junctions so it holds firmly without closing the open spaces.
4. Weave in all ends and lightly steam the mesh without flattening the lemons.

Hang it by the strap, push folded bags in through the top and pull them out through the bottom opening.

Care

Wash cold on a gentle cycle with little agitation, or hand wash in cold water and squeeze gently. Lay flat to dry and reshape the mesh and lemons.

Make it yours

• Oranges and limes instead of lemons
• A two-tone gradient mesh
• Striped lemons
• Pom-poms on the strap

Make it a quick Christmas gift

Crochet bag holders are some of the most useful quick crochet Christmas gifts: cheap to make from cotton you already own, finished in an evening or two, and actually used every day. They make a great crochet housewarming gift too, and sell well at Christmas craft markets. Tuck a few folded bags inside before you wrap it so it is ready to hang.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make the lemons without stuffing?

Yes. Without fiberfill they sit flatter against the mesh; with a little stuffing they look rounder and more 3D.

How do I stop the mesh from stretching?

Use cotton yarn, keep an even tension and do not overfill the holder. The solid top rim and strap also take most of the weight.

How do you put plastic bags in a bag holder?

Fold or loosely roll each bag, push it in through the top opening and keep adding bags on top. Pull the first one out through the bottom opening: as you take one, the next drops down, so they come out one at a time.

Download the free printable PDF: Crochet Lemon Grocery Bag Holder – Free Mesh Pattern