Toilet Paper Holder Crochet Pattern — Funny Bathroom Buddy Reading a Book
If you’ve ever wandered into someone’s bathroom and spotted a quirky little figure perched on the back of the toilet, cheerfully holding a roll of paper while pretending to read a tiny book, you already know the magic of crochet bathroom decor. This delightful project combines function with personality, turning a completely ordinary household item into a conversation starter that guests will gush about every single time. Whether you’re making it for yourself, gifting it to a bookworm friend, or selling it at your next craft fair, this Funny Bathroom Buddy Reading a Book toilet paper holder crochet pattern is about to become one of your all-time favorites.
This post walks you through everything — the materials you’ll need, the stitches used, gauge and sizing, the full pattern broken down step by step, tips for customization, and ideas for finishing touches that make your Bathroom Buddy truly one of a kind. Grab your hook, pour yourself a cup of tea, and let’s get started.
Why Everyone Needs a Crochet Toilet Paper Holder
Let’s be honest: bathrooms don’t get nearly enough love in the home decor department. We spend a surprising amount of time in there, and yet most people put their decorating energy into living rooms and kitchens, leaving the bathroom to look like an afterthought. A handmade crochet toilet paper holder changes all of that instantly.
This particular design — a little figure sitting and reading a book — leans into the universal humor of bathroom life. Everyone gets the joke, and everyone smiles. It’s gentle, family-friendly, and endlessly charming. The figure sits upright, holds the toilet paper roll in front of them as though it’s a very absorbing novel, and their tiny crocheted face wears an expression of total literary concentration. The result is whimsical without being messy, funny without being crude, and decorative without sacrificing the practical function of actually holding a spare roll of toilet paper.
These also make extraordinary gifts. Think about the people in your life who are hard to shop for — the person who has everything, the bookworm who doesn’t need another actual book, the new homeowner who’d love something handmade and personal. A Bathroom Buddy checks all of those boxes and then some.
Materials You Will Need
Before you begin, gather everything on this list. Having your supplies organized before you start crocheting makes the process smooth and enjoyable.
Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (category 4) works beautifully for this project and gives the finished figure a nice, sturdy structure that can hold the weight of a toilet paper roll without flopping over. You’ll need a main color for the body (think skin tones, or go fantastical with any color you love), a contrasting color for clothing, a small amount of a dark color for facial features, and a tiny bit of a bright color for the book cover. Approximately 150 to 200 yards total, though the exact amount depends on how large you make your buddy and how many details you add.
Hook: A size 5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook is ideal for worsted weight yarn and gives a fabric tight enough to hold stuffing without gaps showing. If you tend to crochet loosely, go down to a 4.5mm. If you crochet tightly, a 5.5mm works.
Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill stuffing gives the body a firm, round shape. Don’t be shy with it — a well-stuffed figure holds its seated position much more reliably than an understuffed one.
Safety Eyes: Two black safety eyes, 12mm, give your buddy that sweet, focused reading expression. If you’re making this for a child under three, embroider the eyes with yarn instead, as safety eyes are a choking hazard for very young children.
Additional Supplies: A yarn needle for sewing pieces together and weaving in ends, stitch markers, scissors, and a small piece of cardboard or plastic canvas cut into a circle for the base (optional but recommended for stability).
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge: 14 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet with worsted weight yarn and a 5.0mm hook.
Finished size: The completed Bathroom Buddy sits approximately 9 to 10 inches tall when seated and is wide enough to comfortably hold a standard toilet paper roll in front of the body. The figure’s “lap” — the space between the arms — is designed to cradle a roll with a diameter of approximately 4.5 inches, which fits most standard and double rolls.
If your gauge is off by a stitch or two, don’t panic. This project is forgiving because exact sizing isn’t critical — you just want the finished figure to be proportional and large enough to hold a roll. However, if your gauge is significantly tighter or looser, adjust your hook size accordingly before you begin the main body.
Pattern Notes
Throughout this pattern, the following abbreviations are used:
MR = Magic ring, ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch), dec = invisible decrease, st = stitch, sts = stitches, BLO = back loop only, FLO = front loop only, rnd = round, rep = repeat.
All pieces are worked in the round unless otherwise specified. Do not join rounds unless instructed; instead, use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round. When the pattern says “join and fasten off,” slip stitch into the first stitch of the round, cut yarn, and pull the tail through.
The Full Pattern
Part One: The Body
The body is the largest piece and forms the seated torso of your Bathroom Buddy. It’s worked from the bottom up.
Rnd 1: Using your main clothing color, start with a MR. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tight. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [Sc 1, inc] rep around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [Sc 2, inc] rep around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: [Sc 3, inc] rep around. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: [Sc 4, inc] rep around. (36 sts)
Rnds 7 through 10: Sc in each st around. (36 sts)
Rnd 11: [Sc 4, dec] rep around. (30 sts)
Rnd 12: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)
Rnd 13: Switch to your body/skin color. Sc in each st around. (30 sts)
This color change marks the beginning of the torso above the “waistband.” Continue with the skin color for the upper body.
Rnds 14 through 20: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)
Before closing, stuff the body firmly with fiberfill. If you’re using a cardboard or plastic canvas circle cut to about 2.5 inches in diameter, place it inside at the bottom before stuffing to give the base extra rigidity.
Rnd 21: [Sc 3, dec] rep around. (24 sts)
Rnd 22: [Sc 2, dec] rep around. (18 sts)
Rnd 23: [Sc 1, dec] rep around. (12 sts)
Add more stuffing if needed to firm up the top of the body.
Rnd 24: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off and close the opening with your yarn needle. Weave in the end.
Part Two: The Head
The head is worked separately and attached after the facial features are placed.
Rnd 1: Using skin color, MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [Sc 1, inc] rep around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [Sc 2, inc] rep around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: [Sc 3, inc] rep around. (30 sts)
Rnds 6 through 12: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)
Attach safety eyes between rounds 8 and 9, spaced about 8 stitches apart. The eyes should be positioned low on the face so there’s room for a forehead — this gives your buddy that focused, scholarly look.
Using dark yarn and a yarn needle, embroider a tiny curved mouth below and between the eyes, just a gentle upward curve that suggests concentration rather than a big grin. A few small straight stitches above each eye make charming little eyebrows.
Rnd 13: [Sc 3, dec] rep around. (24 sts)
Rnd 14: [Sc 2, dec] rep around. (18 sts)
Stuff the head generously before closing.
Rnd 15: [Sc 1, dec] rep around. (12 sts)
Rnd 16: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off, close the opening, and leave a long tail for sewing the head onto the body.
Part Three: The Arms
Make two arms in skin color.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rnds 2 through 4: Sc in each st around. (6 sts)
Rnd 5: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnds 6 through 10: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Stuff lightly — the arms should have a little body but remain bendable enough to position around the toilet paper roll.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
The arms are positioned at the sides of the upper body, angled slightly forward so that when you place a toilet paper roll in front of the figure, the arm ends (hands) rest against either side of the roll. This is the key functional detail that actually holds the paper in place.
Part Four: The Legs
Make two legs in your clothing color.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnds 3 through 8: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Switch to skin color for the lower leg/ankle area.
Rnds 9 through 12: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
For feet, continue in skin color:
Rnd 13: Inc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 14: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 15: [Sc 2, dec] rep around. (18 sts)
Rnd 16: [Sc 1, dec] rep around. (12 sts)
Stuff the foot and lower leg firmly, then close the top loosely — you’ll attach it to the bottom of the body, so you want a flat opening.
Fasten off and leave a long tail.
Part Five: The Book
This is everyone’s favorite detail — the tiny book your buddy is reading. It’s worked flat in rows.
Using a bright color for the cover, chain 10.
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (9 sts) Ch 1, turn.
Rows 2 through 12: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 13: Fasten off bright color, join a cream or white color for the pages. Sc across. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 14 through 24: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 25: Fasten off white, rejoin bright color for the back cover. Sc across. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 26 through 37: Sc in each st across. Fasten off.
Fold the piece so that the two bright-colored sections are the front and back covers and the white section forms the pages in the middle. Use a yarn needle to sew the short edges together like the spine of a book. You can add a tiny embroidered title on the cover in contrasting thread — even just a few straight stitches that suggest words add a wonderful detail.
Assembly
Assembly is where your Bathroom Buddy truly comes to life, and it’s worth taking your time here.
Start by sewing the head onto the body. Pin it in place first and make sure it’s centered and facing the direction you want. Your buddy should be looking slightly downward, as if absorbed in their book, rather than staring straight ahead. Once you’re happy with the position, sew around the base of the head securely, going around at least twice for a strong join.
Next, sew the legs to the bottom front of the body. Position them so the legs hang forward and slightly downward — your buddy is seated, so the legs extend out in front rather than hanging straight down. The feet should point upward at a slight angle, relaxed and cozy.
Attach the arms to the upper sides of the body. Before sewing them down permanently, do a test fit with a toilet paper roll: hold the roll in front of the figure and position the arms so they wrap around either side of it naturally. Mark those positions with a stitch marker, then sew the arms down securely.
Finally, position the tiny book between the arms and tack it in place with a few stitches through the spine so it stays put even when the toilet paper roll is removed. The book should look like it’s being held up and read, resting against the roll when it’s in place and sitting in the buddy’s lap when it’s not.
Customization Ideas
One of the best things about this pattern is how easy it is to make every Bathroom Buddy unique. Here are some ideas that work beautifully.
Hair: A simple yarn fringe sewn around the top of the head creates instant personality. Long loops for a bookworm with flowing hair, short looped strands for a tousled look, or a neat row of stitches in gray for a distinguished professor type.
Glasses: Bend a small piece of wire into two connected circles and attach them in front of the eyes for the most bookish accessory imaginable. Alternatively, embroider the frames directly onto the face with a few careful stitches.
Clothing Details: A few rows of a contrasting color at the bottom of the body suggest a shirt untucked from pants. A small crocheted rectangle attached to the front becomes a pocket. Add a tiny crocheted bow tie at the neck area and your buddy goes from casual reader to distinguished literary scholar.
Color Schemes: Match your bathroom’s color palette for a cohesive look. Go full rainbow for a fun, maximalist vibe. Make a holiday version in red and green for a Christmas bathroom that’ll have every guest cackling with delight.
Book Titles: Using embroidery thread, you can stitch actual tiny titles on the book cover. “Loo’s Who,” “War and Pees,” “Great Expectorations,” and “The Great Gatstby” are all perennial favorites in the crafting community and never fail to get a laugh.
Tips for Success
A few practical notes that make a real difference in the finished result.
Tension consistency matters more in amigurumi-style work than in almost any other type of crochet, because uneven tension shows up as lumps and holes in the surface of a stuffed figure. If you notice your tension shifting as you work, take a short break and come back fresh.
When sewing pieces together, always use the same yarn that the piece was made with. This makes your joins nearly invisible and gives the finished figure a clean, professional look.
If your finished figure is too floppy to hold a toilet paper roll without leaning, add a small weighted object inside the base before closing — a few smooth pebbles in a small ziplock bag work perfectly and won’t affect the look at all.
Store your Bathroom Buddy away from the shower or bathtub. Yarn doesn’t love sustained moisture, and while a splash here and there won’t hurt it, a consistently humid environment will eventually affect the stuffing and the yarn’s texture.
A Few Words About Selling This Pattern
If you’re a crafter who sells finished items, Bathroom Buddies are consistent bestsellers at craft fairs, on Etsy, and at holiday markets. They’re genuinely funny, clearly handmade, priced accessibly, and unlike most craft fair
