Shower Gel Hanger

In my flurry of Christmas gift making, I decided that the shower gel container needed a holder or caddy of some sort to make it easy to reach while in the shower or bath.



Usually when designing a project, I take care to think awhile, take measurements, make some swatches, experiment and, from that, come up with some design decisions  or direction.

In this case, I wanted a little mesh holder in a hurry and I already had a vision in my mind of how it should be. It needed to have a drawstring at the top with a dual purpose:

1. to tighten around the neck of the shower gel bottle and prevent it from falling out of the bag;
2. to become a loop for hanging the shower gel from a tap or bathroom hook.  (Had I made it longer, I could have looped it over a towel rail too.)

Because I was in a big hurry and felt that the project was relatively simple, I thought I would just start working around the bottle (that I still had with me) and see what would happen, making it up as I went along.

The back section
where spiral rounds are joined.
 
 
 

It seemed easy enough but as I came around the side of the container, I had doubts about the best way to join the rounds while continuing in a spiral without adding extra stitches to the circumference.  

I really should have thought it through more or at least taken time to look up some stitch dictionaries for a reminder of how others have approached the problem but I chose to continue crocheting instead, relying on my brain to know what to do when the time came.   

I just wanted to get the project done, have it functional and ready to give.

There is a spot on the back of the hanger where I am not happy with the joining of a round. It could be perceived as a little irregular or untidy but it does the job.  It is not that noticeable if one is not looking for perfection.  I asked myself whether I would still use it with the irregularity and the answer was 'yes' because it is still functional.

As I worked, I wrote things down; I thought about better possibilities to achieve the same aim but did not undo anything; I just kept working and recording my stitches.  It is a good starting point to develop the pattern into something neater. Therefore, consider this pattern a draft.

It has not been re-checked since or edited.  I apologise in advance if something makes no sense or appears to be troublesome.  One day, when I get another little bottle of shower gel, I will make this again and see what can be done but, for now, if you would like to try it out (and give me some feedback) you are more than welcome.

Shower Gel Hanger
(First Draft by Jodiebodie)

Example of 4-ply crochet cotton
(Milford Soft)

Designed to hold a small 60 ml (2 US fluid oz) bottle of shower gel, the mesh holder is made from remnant 4-ply crochet cotton; e.g. Milford Soft Knitting & Crochet Cotton, Panda Regal.

I used a 3.5 mm crochet hook (my 'Pony' yellow-handled aluminium hook because the thicker handle is more comfortable).

A stitch marker is handy to mark each round. I joined each round for the base and then worked in a spiral around the bottle for the chain-loop sides. 

Abbreviations 

BLO - work in Back Loop Only
ch - chain
dc - double crochet (Australian/UK)
lp - loop
pm - place marker
sl st - slip stitch (also known as single crochet in Australian/UK terms)
sp(s) - space(s)
rnd - round
RS - Right Side
tr - treble crochet (Australian/UK)
WS - Wrong Side

Technique: How to Make a Magic Ring

Underside
of shower gel hanger

 
 

Wrap loose end around finger twice to make a 2 rings on top of each other, ending with loose end on top. Hold the loose end against the circle to keep a closed circle shape. Insert the hook into the centre of the ring, pull the thread of the back ring through the middle of the top ring to the front (1 loop over hook), yarn round hook and pull through the loop on the hook (1st chain st made).
Work 6 dc of Rnd 1 into the ring by inserting the hook into the centre each time. Join with slip stitch to first dc.

*If you don't want to use the magic ring technique, you can work 2 chains and work 6 dc into the 2nd chain from hook, or make a ring of 3 or 4 chains, join with slip st and work 6 dc into the chain ring.  Use the loose end to weave into ring at the end and then pull tight to close the ring. Weave in end securely to prevent it coming loose and having the ring open up again.

Crochet Instructions 
(This pattern uses Australian / UK crochet terminology)

Front of shower gel hanger

Rnd 1. RS, In magic ring* 6 dc. Join with sl st.
Rnd 2. 2 tr in each dc [12 tr]
Rnd 3. 2 dc in each tr [24 dc]
Rnds 4. & 5. Work even BLO, [24 dc]
Rnd 6. (5 ch, miss 1 dc, dc), pm in 5-ch lp, (4 ch, miss 1 dc, dc) 10 times [11 ch lps]
Rnd 7. 8 ch,  dc into 1st 5-ch loop, move marker (pm) in the 8-ch loop, (7 ch, dc into next ch-lp) 10 times
Rnd 8. 4 ch, dc into 8-ch lp, (7 ch, dc into next 7-ch loop) 10 times, 1 ch, sl st into 4th ch of 4-ch lp.
Rnd 9. sl st in next dc, sl st into next 4 ch of 7-ch loop, dc into same lp, (3 ch, dc in next lp) 9 times, 3 ch, sl st in 1st dc.
Rnd 10. sl st in first 2 ch, 1 ch, dc in 3-ch lp, (1 ch, 1 dc into next 3-ch lp) 9 times, 1 ch, sl st in 1st dc, fasten off [20 sts] 

Drawstring strap. 

40 ch, pm in last ch, do not fasten off but cut yarn, thread the chain through the 1-ch sps of rnd 10, entering and leaving through back ch sps from the WS (inside circle), remove marker, insert hook into last ch and sl st join to 1st ch, fasten off.

Weave in ends and twist chain drawstring into body of mesh so join is hidden and hanging loop shows no join; weave loose ends of ch into underside loops of the ch.

Reflections

I suspect the stitch count was increasing in the side chain mesh sections.  Similar to a doily which gets wider with each round, I found the side getting looser around the bottle.  In an effort to tighten up the dimensions, my attempts to join the rounds at the back resulted in an irregular mesh.  I should have taken the time to do the maths and plan the project properly or at least frog back to the base and re-work. 

Why do Christmas deadlines cause me
to throw all my common sense out the window?

Have you ever thrown caution to the wind
with your crafting?
 
What was the result?

Whatever happens, never be afraid to experiment
and have fun with your crochet.
Even if the finished product doesn't work out as envisaged,
it can still be a successful and useful project, like this one.