Crochet Dog Poop Bag Holder: An Easy Pattern for a Practical Dog Accessory You’ll Actually Love Making
If you have a dog, you already know the struggle. You’re halfway through a walk, your pup does their business, and you reach into your pocket only to find a crumpled, torn bag — or worse, nothing at all. A dog poop bag holder might not be the most glamorous crochet project, but it is one of the most genuinely useful ones you’ll ever make. It clips right onto a leash, holds a standard roll of waste bags, and looks far cuter than anything you’ll find at the pet store.
This pattern is designed for beginners and relaxed crafters alike. If you know how to make a magic ring, single crochet, and slip stitch, you have everything you need. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have a complete, easy crochet pattern for a dog poop bag holder that’s practical, durable, and totally customizable. Let’s get into it.
Why Crochet Your Own Dog Poop Bag Holder?
Before we dive into yarn weights and hook sizes, let’s talk about why this little project deserves a spot on your to-do list.
The plastic or nylon holders you buy at the pet store are fine, but they crack in cold weather, the lids get stuck, and they never quite match your leash or your aesthetic. A crocheted version, made with cotton yarn, is soft enough to not scratch your hands, sturdy enough to hold its shape, and flexible enough to slip a bag roll in and out without any fuss.
Beyond function, there’s something deeply satisfying about adding a handmade touch to your daily dog walks. You made that. It’s sitting on your leash, doing its job every single morning when you head out the door. That’s the kind of small, practical joy that crochet does better than almost any other craft.
These also make absolutely wonderful gifts for dog owners. Whether you’re putting together a welcome-home basket for a friend’s new puppy or making a quick birthday present for someone who loves their dog more than most things in life, a handmade bag holder paired with a roll of bags is thoughtful, personal, and actually useful. Nobody has too many of them.
Materials You’ll Need
One of the best things about this project is how little you need to get started. You probably already have most of this in your stash.
Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn works best for this project. Cotton is durable, washable, and holds its shape well — important qualities for something that lives outdoors, clipped to a leash. You’ll need approximately 50 to 75 yards, which means this is a perfect stash-buster project. Any color you love will work beautifully. Go bold with a bright teal or coral, keep it neutral with a creamy white or tan, or use up a small amount of a variegated yarn for a fun, multicolored effect.
Hook: A 5mm (H/8) crochet hook is ideal for worsted cotton. If you’re using a lighter cotton or a different fiber, adjust your hook size accordingly. You want the fabric to be firm enough that it holds its cylindrical shape but not so stiff that it’s hard to work with.
Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, a metal or plastic swivel clip (also called a lobster claw clasp — you can find these at craft stores, on Amazon, or repurposed from an old keychain), and a small piece of ribbon or a short length of yarn to attach the clip to the finished holder.
That’s genuinely everything. No stuffing, no specialty notions, no fancy finishing. Just yarn, a hook, and a few basic supplies.
Pattern Notes Before You Begin
This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up. The base is a small flat circle, the sides are worked in continuous rounds to form a tube, and the top is finished with a simple edging. A small loop is added at the top to attach your swivel clip.
The finished holder measures approximately 4 inches tall and 2.5 inches in diameter, which fits a standard roll of dog waste bags perfectly. If you want a slightly wider or taller tube, the instructions for adjusting are included below.
Abbreviations used in this pattern:
MR — magic ring
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
BLO — back loop only
st — stitch
rnd — round
Gauge: Approximately 14 sc x 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet with worsted cotton and a 5mm hook. Gauge is not critical for this project, but if your tube comes out too wide or too narrow, adjust your hook size accordingly.
The Pattern
Part One: The Base
Start with a magic ring. If you prefer, you can chain 2 and work your first round into the second chain from the hook — both methods work equally well for this project.
Round 1: Work 6 single crochets into the magic ring. Pull the tail to close the ring. Do not join. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the round and move it up as you work. (6 stitches)
Round 2: Work 2 single crochets in each stitch around. (12 stitches)
Round 3: Single crochet in the next stitch, increase in the following stitch. Repeat from to around. (18 stitches)
Round 4: Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase in the following stitch. Repeat from to around. (24 stitches)
At the end of Round 4, you should have a flat circle approximately 2.5 inches in diameter. If you want a wider tube, work one more increase round before moving on: single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase in the following stitch, repeated around, giving you 30 stitches.
Part Two: The Sides
This is where the magic happens. By working in the back loops only for the first round of the sides, you create a clean, defined edge where the base meets the tube — it looks intentional and tidy, like a proper base.
Round 5 (BLO): Single crochet in the back loop only of each stitch around. (24 stitches)
From this point on, work through both loops as normal.
Rounds 6 through 18: Single crochet in each stitch around. (24 stitches each round)
That’s 13 rounds of straight single crochet. It goes faster than you’d expect, especially if you put on a podcast or your favorite show. The tube will start to take shape around Round 8 or 9, and by Round 14 you’ll be able to slip a roll of bags inside to check the fit.
If you want a taller holder — some people prefer having a little extra length so the bag roll doesn’t pop out as easily during a walk — work up to Round 22 instead of stopping at Round 18. Both lengths work; it just comes down to preference.
Part Three: The Top Edge
Round 19: Slip stitch in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the round. Fasten off and leave a tail long enough to weave in.
The slip stitch round gives the top edge a neat, finished look and adds just a little bit of stability so the tube doesn’t flare outward over time.
Part Four: The Clip Loop
To attach your swivel clip, you’ll make a small loop at the top of the holder. This is worked as a separate piece and then sewn on.
Using the same yarn, join to the back of the top edge at any point. Chain 10. Slip stitch into the same stitch to form a loop. Fasten off, leaving a tail.
Thread the tail onto your yarn needle and whipstitch the base of the loop securely to the outside of the top edge. Weave in all ends.
Slide your swivel clip through the yarn loop, and you’re done.
How to Insert the Bag Roll
This is one of those things that’s almost too simple, but worth mentioning: remove the cardboard tube from the center of your waste bag roll if there is one (most standard rolls don’t have one, but some do). Drop the roll into the holder bottom-first. Pull the free end of the first bag up through the open top of the holder. That’s it. The bags dispense from the top, one at a time, just like they do from a commercial holder. The slight tension of the yarn against the roll keeps everything in place as you walk.
Customization Ideas
One of the most fun things about making your own dog accessories is that you get to make them exactly how you want. Here are some easy ways to put your own stamp on this pattern.
Add a button closure. If you want to keep the bags protected from rain or debris, sew a button to the outside of the tube near the top edge and add a small yarn loop on the opposite side as a closure. It takes five extra minutes and makes the holder feel a little more polished.
Use two colors. Work the base and the first few rounds of the sides in one color, then switch to a second color for the rest of the tube. You can also do stripes by switching colors every two rounds — just carry the unused yarn loosely up the inside of the tube.
Make a matching set. Once you’ve made one holder, you’ll want to make a dozen. Consider making a set in the same colorway as your dog’s leash, or in different colors so each dog in a multi-dog household gets their own.
Embellish with a paw print appliqué. A crocheted or embroidered paw print on the side of the tube is a charming touch and takes almost no extra time. You can find small paw print patterns easily online, or simply embroider one with a yarn needle and a contrasting color.
Add a zipper. For a more secure closure, a small zipper can be hand-sewn to the top edge. This is a slightly more advanced finishing technique but gives the holder a very professional look.
Care Instructions for Your Finished Holder
Cotton yarn is wonderfully practical for this project partly because it’s so easy to wash. Dog walks get dirty. Things happen. The holder will inevitably come into contact with mud, rain, and things we don’t need to name specifically.
Machine wash your holder in cold water on a gentle cycle. Lay it flat to dry or hang it somewhere it can air dry completely before attaching it back to the leash. Avoid putting it in a hot dryer, as this can cause cotton to shrink and may distort the shape of the tube.
If your holder gets a stain, a little dish soap worked in by hand before washing usually takes care of it. Cotton is remarkably forgiving.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
The tube is too wide and the bag roll falls out. This happens when your gauge is looser than expected, or if you accidentally added too many stitches in the base. Try going down a hook size, or work the base only through Round 3 (18 stitches) instead of Round 4. A slightly snugger tube actually works better because the friction keeps the roll in place.
The tube is too narrow to fit the bag roll. Go up a hook size, or work an extra increase round in the base to add 6 more stitches before starting the sides.
The base is cupping instead of lying flat. This is a tension issue — your increases may be too tight, or you may need a slightly larger hook. If you’re already a few rounds in and notice the cup forming, you can gently block the base by pinning it flat and misting it with water, then letting it dry completely before continuing.
The tube is curling at the top. The slip stitch round at the top usually prevents this, but if you’re still seeing curl, you can block the finished holder by soaking it in cool water, reshaping it around something cylindrical (a small jar or container works perfectly), and letting it dry completely.
Why This Project is Perfect for Beginners
If you’re newer to crochet, the dog poop bag holder is honestly one of the best practice pieces you can make. Here’s why it works so well as a learning project.
It uses only single crochet, which is the most foundational stitch in crochet. If you can make a single crochet, you can make this entire holder. There are no tricky stitches, no pattern repeats to memorize, and no complicated shaping beyond the initial increases in the base.
Working in the round gives you a lot of practice with that particular skill set — managing a stitch marker, maintaining an even count, and keeping your tension consistent — all in a small, forgiving format. If you make a mistake, it’s easy to see, easy to fix, and the whole project is small enough that frogging (unraveling) and starting over doesn’t feel devastating.
It’s also fast. A motivated crocheter can finish this holder in a single afternoon or evening. That kind of quick completion is really valuable when you’re learning, because you get the satisfaction of a finished object without a months-long commitment.
A Few Final Thoughts
There’s something quietly lovely about the fact that crochet — a craft that has produced intricate heirloom blankets, couture fashion pieces, and museum-worthy art — is equally suited to making something as humble and practical as a dog poop bag holder. That versatility is part of what makes this craft so enduring.
This project costs almost nothing if you’re working from your stash. It takes just a few hours. It solves a real, daily problem for dog owners. And it gets a little better every time you make one, because you’ll find yourself tweaking the length, experimenting with colors, adjusting the fit for different bag brands.
Make one for yourself, then make a few more for the dog lovers in your life. They’ll appreciate it more than you might expect — not because it’s an impressive technical feat, but because it’s thoughtful, handmade, and genuinely useful. In crochet, and in life, that combination is pretty hard to beat.
Happy hooking, and happy walking.
