Crochet Hand Sanitizer Holder

When I first saw these awesome little hand sanitizer holders I went nuts. Of course I had to have one and it just happened to be close to Christmas so I ended up getting mine for free when I bought 'x' number of hand sanitizers.

These things are really convenient; you don't have to dig around in your purse, the kids don't have to come home upset because their sanitizer burst open inside their backpack ruining the hand-print turkey they made you for Thanksgiving. I'm sorry, I digress. Let me get to the point which I've already said: convenience! We love that little noun!

Well needless to say after much abuse my holder finally got so stretched and torn I had to toss it in the trash. Such is the case with a lot of  convenient things. So guess what? I decided to make my own. Sure there are others out there making and selling crochet hand sanitizer holders on eBay and Etsy, but they lacked something. All the ones I managed to find were just tube-sock like products that could easily lose my hand sanitizer. The sewn ones were a bit better but I don't personally have a sewing machine and I hate sewing by hand unless it's something small . . . . like "a button" small. So I made my own holder and I really fell in love all over again.

Notice my holder has a top to it. I wanted a top so my bottle wouldn't end up flying out one day as I was sprinting through the rain into Walmart. (yea right, ask anyone who knows me how much sprinting I do *eyeroll*). ANYWAY I felt it was important for it to have a top. That cute little daisy you see there is actually a button that holds the top closed. Now I'm not one that has to show the world what I buy and where it came from and all that jazz so it didn't matter one single bit to me that the brand name and scent of the sanitizer ended up being covered. I mean really, if I can't remember which one I have on my purse I will just open the end and smell it. How hard is that? And if someone wants to bum a squirt, well you know that old saying: Beggers can't be choosers.


I'm not finished by any means so don't get ready to go just yet. Did you notice that there is no handle in this picture? There is a reason for it. I think when you are the creator you can make anything your heart desires. So mine's a backpack. I heard those eyebrows shoot up a notch. My hand sanitizer holder looks like a backpack. How adorable is that?! So what if it has two buttons. I made this for me and I don't switch out sanitizers every day of the week, I use one until it's completely empty. And I don't swap out purses to match my outfits either. I don't have room to store a boat-load of pocketbooks (all that storage space is taken up by yarn anyway).

Quick pattern: 

*this is not a tested pattern and I've made a total of ONE so there may be errors*

Materials:

• small amount of cotton yarn (I used Lily Sugar'n Cream Lime Stripes)
• size H crochet hook
• 2 small buttons
• sewing needle
• thread
• embroidery needle for weaving in the ends
• 1 fl oz bottle of hand sanitizer

Gauge is not important to this project. Depending on your tension, you may need to start with 8 or 10 in your initial chain. Adjust as needed.

Stitches used:

• SC - single crochet
• SC2TOG - single crochet two together
• Chain stitch (you don't get a link for a chain stitch. If you can't make a chain you probably can't make this project)

Body

Row 1: Start with a slip knot and chain 9. Join to make a circle. Test this size circle to make sure it will fit snugly around the cap end of the hand sanitizer. Adjust as needed.

Row 2: Chain one and turn. SC in same space. *1SC in next stitch 2SC in next. Continue from *  around. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning chain one stitch. Test this first row by inserting the sanitizer through the opening and make sure it fits snugly around the bottle.

Rows 3 - 8: Chain one and turn. SC in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning chain one stitch.

Top Flap

Do not cut your yarn. This flap is worked along one side of the body only.

Row 1: Chain one and turn. SC in the next 6 stitches.

Rows 2 - 4: Chain one and turn. SC in the next 6 stitches.

Row 5: Chain one and turn. SC2TOG, chain 3, SC2TOG

             (the added stitch is intentional for the buttonhole)

Leaving your hook in the last stitch, measure off approximately 4 inches for a tail and cut your yarn. Chain 2 and pull tight making a knot. Weave in the ends with the embroidery needle.

Put the bottle in the pouch and measure out the spot for your button. You can make a mental note where to sew the button or, if you're like me and will forget, use a stitch marker. Remove the bottle and sew the button in place.

"Shoulder" Straps 

Make 2: 

Start with a slip knot and chain 12. SC in second chain from hook and across. Tie off. Weave in any loose ends.

Sew the tops of each strap on Row 8 of the Body.

To make the back buttonhole:

Using yarn slip stitch the ends of the straps together. Chain 4 from one strap end and secure to the opposite strap end. Tie off.

Sew button to Row 3 of the Body.

Now put your favorite bottle of hand sanitizer in the backpack and attach it to your purse, gym bag or wherever you need it!