I’ve been dreaming about creating some baskets to add texture and warmth to some bare spaces and these are really going to charm up a few spaces. In the bathroom, I envision them holding cotton swabs or cotton balls, maybe even nail polish and manicure items. In a baby’s room, there’s so many little things to capture and contain. In living spaces, the cacti and succulents are perfectly cozy at home in their new containers. Oooo these are so easy to whip up, I could easily make one to pull together some gift sets for a personal touch (…hand lotions, facial masque, shaving sets, so many ideas, so little time required).
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in the Fisherman colorway, about 1/2 skein (55 yards).
Hook Size: US K/6.5 mm and US N/10mm, the smaller size makes the bottoms nice and tight for a good base then I change to larger size hook to move up the sides
Abbreviations:
SC = single crochet
BLO = back loop only
HDC = half double crochet
Sl St = slip stitch
Ch = chain
sts = stitches
Pattern:
To start: Using the US K/6mm hook, make a magic ring and chain 1
Row 1: 6 SC in the magic circle (over the magic circle drawstring) then pull the circle tight, join together through top of first SC
Row 2: 2 SC in each SC (12 sts), join and Ch 1
Row 3: 2 SC in each SC (24 sts), join and Ch 1
Row 4: 2 SC in 1st SC, SC, *2 SC, SC* (36 sts), join and Ch 1
Row 5: SC around (36 sts), join and Ch 1
Row 6: SC around (36 sts), join and Ch 1
Row 7: *5 SC in first 5 SC of previous row, 2 SC in 6th SC of previous row* and repeat 5 more times (42 sts), join and Ch 1
Row 8: Sl st around (41 sts), join and Ch 1 (the join is the 42nd stitch)
Bottom is complete, mine measures about 7″ diameter. The next rows start working up the sides of the container.
Switch to the US N/10mm hook.
Row 9: Using larger hook, SC BLO (see photo, you are leaving the knit-like front “V” loops that make the ribs between rows)
When you get back to the join, start Sl St row 10.
Row 10: Sl St around, join and Ch 1
Row 11: HDC BLO, join and start sl st row.
Row 12: Sl St around, join and Ch 1
Rows 13-18: Repeat rows 10 and 11
Row 19: HDC BLO in each of the first 8 HDC from the previous row, Ch 5 skipping the next 4 HDC – this is what makes the first handle. 16 HDC in each of the next 16 HDC from the previous row, Ch 5 skipping the next 4 HDC, this makes the 2nd handle. 8 SC in the next 8 HDC to the end, join and start sl st row.
Row 20: Sl St around including each of the handle Ch 1 spaces, join. Clip yarn, pull through last stitch and weave end in the inside the basket.
Weave in the end from the starting magic loop.
Finished height: 5-1/2 to 6″ tall at top of handles, about 7″ base diameter
This pattern is available as an ad-free PDF pattern to download HERE.
Optional: Add a ceramic label, a chalkboard tag, leather cord or any other embellishment to tie into your decor for the perfect personal touch as you like!
This metal enamel painted tag came from Michaels Craft Store and I simply used a sharpie to make this “No. 1” label.
Once you understand the basic construction, this is easy to modify to make other sizes, I like to place trios so I made a tall medium and smaller short version. The small version (shown here holding my little cactus) doesn’t have handles.