Fun Toilet Roll Holder Crochet Patterns: Creative DIY Ideas for Every Bathroom
There is something quietly delightful about transforming a humble ball of yarn into something both functional and charming. Crochet has enjoyed a massive resurgence in recent years, and crafters everywhere are rediscovering just how versatile this craft can be. One of the most popular and surprisingly rewarding projects in the DIY crochet world right now is the toilet roll holder. Yes, you read that correctly. The humble toilet paper holder has become a canvas for creativity, and the results are genuinely beautiful.
Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a quick and satisfying project or a beginner eager to tackle something practical and fun, crochet toilet roll holder patterns offer the perfect blend of skill-building and home décor magic. In this guide, we are going to explore a wide range of patterns, styles, tips, and techniques to help you create the most adorable, functional, and Instagram-worthy toilet roll holders your bathroom has ever seen.
Why Crochet a Toilet Roll Holder?
Before diving into the patterns themselves, it is worth pausing to consider why so many crafters are drawn to this particular project. At first glance, a toilet roll holder might seem like an unusual choice. After all, most bathrooms already come equipped with a standard chrome or plastic holder fixed to the wall. But that standard holder is exactly the point — it is standard, and there is nothing standard about a handmade home.
Crocheted toilet roll holders serve several purposes beyond the obvious. They act as charming countertop or shelf décor, they keep spare rolls neatly organized and easy to access, and they instantly add a cozy, handcrafted feel to a space that is often overlooked in home decorating. They also make wonderful gifts. A handmade bathroom accessory set — think matching toilet roll holder, soap dish cover, and small basket — is a thoughtful and personal housewarming or birthday gift that stands out from anything you could buy in a shop.
From a practical standpoint, the projects are also beginner-friendly. Most toilet roll holders work up quickly, often in a single sitting, and they use a relatively small amount of yarn, which makes them an excellent stash-busting project. You can experiment with new stitches, try out a new color palette, or practice your tension without committing to a large or time-consuming piece.
Choosing the Right Yarn and Hook
Before you cast on — or in this case, make your magic ring — choosing the right materials will make a significant difference in how your finished project looks and holds up over time.
Yarn weight matters enormously for toilet roll holders. Worsted weight yarn is the most popular choice because it creates a sturdy fabric with good structure. That structure is important if you want your holder to stand upright or maintain its shape on a shelf. Bulky yarn can also work beautifully if you want a chunkier, more textured look. Cotton yarn is particularly well-suited to bathroom projects because it is easy to wipe clean, holds its shape well, and has a slightly stiffer drape than acrylic, which helps with structure. That said, acrylic yarn is affordable, widely available in a rainbow of colors, and perfectly functional.
Hook size should generally match the yarn you have chosen, though going down a hook size or two from the yarn’s recommendation will give you a tighter fabric that holds its shape better. A tighter tension is especially useful for holders that need to stand on their own or grip a roll securely.
Color selection is where the real fun begins. Neutral tones like cream, oatmeal, sage green, and dusty rose work beautifully for a Scandinavian or boho aesthetic. Bright, cheerful colors are perfect for a child’s bathroom or a playful, eclectic space. Variegated or self-striping yarns add visual interest without the need to change colors manually, which is a great option for beginners.
Pattern Style 1: The Classic Cylindrical Holder
The cylindrical toilet roll holder is the foundation of most patterns in this category. It is essentially a tube worked in the round, with a base at the bottom and an open top for easy roll access. This is the perfect starting point if you are new to crochet or to this type of project.
To create a basic cylindrical holder, you will start with a magic ring and work single crochet stitches in a spiral to create a flat circle for the base. From there, you will begin crocheting up the sides, working into the back loop only to create a clean edge where the base meets the walls. Continue working in single crochet or half double crochet until the holder is tall enough to fit a standard toilet roll with a little room to spare — typically around five to six inches tall. Finish with a slip stitch to close the round, fasten off, and weave in your ends.
This basic structure can be endlessly customized. Try adding a row or two of shell stitches near the top for a decorative border, or incorporate a simple stripe pattern by switching colors every few rounds. You can also add a small crocheted bow or flower to the outside for a feminine touch, or stitch on a simple geometric motif for a more contemporary look.
Pattern Style 2: The Bohemian Macramé-Inspired Holder
Boho bathroom décor has been having a long and glorious moment, and crochet toilet roll holders fit perfectly into this aesthetic. A macramé-inspired holder typically features an open, airy construction with decorative knots, fringe, or mesh-style stitching that gives it a relaxed, handcrafted look.
For this style, consider using a natural cotton twine or jute-look yarn rather than a soft acrylic. The stiffer texture of these materials helps the holder maintain its structure even with an open stitch pattern. A simple mesh base can be achieved using chain spaces and double crochet stitches worked in alternating positions on each round — this creates a classic net-like pattern that looks gorgeous and still holds a roll securely.
Adding fringe to the bottom edge is easy and very effective. After finishing the main body of the holder, cut lengths of yarn approximately twice the length of your desired fringe, fold them in half, and use a crochet hook to pull them through the bottom stitches and knot them in place. Trim the fringe to an even length for a tidy finish, or leave it slightly uneven for a more relaxed boho vibe.
A macramé-inspired holder looks wonderful hanging from a small piece of driftwood or a decorative wooden dowel, which you can mount on the wall near your toilet for easy access and a genuinely striking display.
Pattern Style 3: The Amigurumi Animal Holder
If you love amigurumi — the Japanese art of crocheted stuffed toys — then you are going to absolutely adore animal-themed toilet roll holders. These patterns take the basic cylindrical holder concept and transform it into a charming character: a chubby cat, a smiling elephant, a wide-eyed owl, or a fluffy bunny.
The basic body is still a cylinder, but instead of a plain finish at the top, you will crochet ears, a face, tiny limbs, or a tail to give your holder a personality. Facial features are usually added using safety eyes and embroidered details like a nose and mouth. For cats, you might add triangular ears sewn to the top rim of the cylinder. Bunnies call for long, floppy ears that drape down the sides. Owls look magical with crocheted feather texture worked into the body and large, expressive safety eyes.
These holders are especially popular in children’s bathrooms and nurseries, where they serve double duty as a functional storage piece and a decorative character that kids genuinely love. They also make incredibly sweet baby shower gifts, particularly when paired with a matching crocheted storage basket or toy.
When making an animal holder, it helps to stuff the base lightly with a small amount of fiberfill to help the holder sit stably on a flat surface. This also gives it a slightly sculpted, three-dimensional quality that makes the finished piece look even more charming.
Pattern Style 4: The Basket Weave Texture Holder
Texture lovers will rejoice over the basket weave toilet roll holder. This pattern uses a combination of front post and back post double crochet stitches to create a woven effect that looks incredibly intricate but is actually quite simple once you get the hang of the technique.
The basket weave stitch creates alternating raised columns and recessed columns across the fabric, giving the finished piece a warm, tactile quality that looks gorgeous in neutral tones like cream, caramel, or a warm chocolate brown. Worked in a chunky cotton or bulky yarn, a basket weave holder has a real artisan quality that looks expensive and handcrafted in the very best sense.
This style pairs particularly well with a wooden bathroom accessory theme. Imagine a basket weave toilet roll holder sitting on a reclaimed wood shelf next to a small potted succulent and a wooden soap dispenser — the combination is warm, cohesive, and completely on-trend.
Pattern Style 5: The Bobbly or Bobble Stitch Holder
Bobble stitches create beautiful raised clusters of yarn that give a surface rich dimension and texture. A toilet roll holder worked entirely or partially in bobble stitch has a wonderfully tactile quality and looks genuinely impressive, even though the technique is not especially difficult once you have practiced it a few times.
To make a bobble stitch, you will work several incomplete double crochet stitches into the same stitch, then pull the yarn through all loops on the hook to close them together into a single raised cluster. Repeating this across a row or round creates that signature bubbly, textured surface.
Bobble stitch holders look particularly striking in a single contrasting color or in alternating colors worked every few rows. They are also wonderful as gifts because they look like they required considerably more skill and effort than they actually did — a happy secret that every crocheter understands well.
Pattern Style 6: The Hanging Wall Holder
For bathrooms where counter space is limited, a hanging wall-mounted crochet toilet roll holder is a practical and stylish solution. These holders typically feature a long strap or loop at the top that allows them to be hung on a hook or small nail, and they are designed to hold one or more spare rolls in a vertical column.
The construction is similar to a long tube or pocket, often worked flat and then seamed, with a sturdy hanging loop crocheted directly into the top edge. Some patterns include multiple pockets for several rolls, making them ideal for a busy family bathroom. Others have a simple single-roll design that works beautifully as a wall art element in a minimalist bathroom.
Macramé details, tassels, and woven wooden beads can all be incorporated into hanging holders for added visual interest. A hanging holder in a neutral cotton yarn with a few wooden beads threaded onto the hanging cord looks genuinely beautiful and is the kind of handmade detail that guests always notice and comment on.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Working on toilet roll holder patterns is generally quite forgiving, but a few tips will help you get results you are truly proud of.
Blocking your finished piece makes a noticeable difference, particularly with cotton yarn. Simply wet the finished holder, gently squeeze out the excess water, shape it carefully, and allow it to dry completely before use. This evens out the stitches, improves the structure, and gives the piece a more polished look.
If you find that your holder does not stand up on its own, try inserting a piece of plastic canvas cut to fit the base — this gives a rigid foundation that keeps the holder stable on a shelf or countertop.
Always weave in your ends carefully and securely. Bathroom accessories are handled frequently, and loose ends have a way of working themselves free over time. A few extra stitches spent on proper finishing will keep your holder looking pristine for much longer.
Caring for Your Crocheted Holder
Most crocheted toilet roll holders can be hand washed gently in cool water with a mild detergent. Lay them flat to dry to preserve their shape. If you have used acrylic yarn, many projects can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in a laundry bag, though always check the yarn label for specific care instructions. Cotton holders tend to become softer and more beautiful with each wash.
Making It a Set
One of the most satisfying things about making a crochet toilet roll holder is the natural next step: building a complete coordinating bathroom set. A matching soap dish cover, small storage basket, toothbrush holder cover, and even a simple crocheted bath mat in the same yarn and stitch pattern can completely transform a bathroom’s look and feel. Working in a coordinating color palette — even if not every piece is identical — ties the room together beautifully and gives it that curated, intentional quality that is so appealing in home décor.
This approach also makes your handmade pieces feel like a genuine design statement rather than a single quirky accent. The cumulative effect of several coordinating handmade pieces in a bathroom is nothing short of stunning.
Sharing Your Makes
Once you have finished your toilet roll holder, do not be shy about sharing it with the crochet community. Instagram, Pinterest, and Ravelry are all wonderful platforms for sharing finished objects, connecting with other crafters, and finding inspiration for your next project. Use relevant hashtags to help other crafters find your work, and consider leaving a comment on the pattern source if you used a designer’s pattern — makers genuinely appreciate knowing their patterns are being enjoyed.
If you feel confident in your skills and want to take things a step further, designing your own pattern and sharing it as a free download is a wonderful way to give back to a craft community that has almost certainly inspired and supported your own creative journey.
Crochet toilet roll holders are a tiny but perfectly formed corner of the crafting world — quick to make, endlessly customizable, genuinely useful, and capable of bringing a quiet, handcrafted joy to one of the most overlooked spaces in the home. Whether you gravitate toward the simple and classic, the whimsical and playful, or the boho and textured, there is a pattern out there waiting for you and a bathroom out there that will be better for it. Pick up your hook, choose your favorite yarn, and get started — you might be surprised at just how much fun a toilet roll holder can be.
