crochet basket pattern/tutorial.

Hello everybody!

A few weeks ago I had a fabulous idea for what to do with all my random piles of half-used-yarn (that is slowly taking over my house), make it into the cutest little basket!

I shared a photo of what I was up to on instagram and received a lot of love from all my sweet followers! This got me excited to create a tutorial so you all can make these awesome organizational baskets too!

Now this is probably a shocker (heavy sarcasm), but I've never made a tutorial before (let alone wrote a pattern that makes sense to anyone but myself) so go easy on me. And please leave comments if anything is confusing or doesn't work for you!

Okay I'll stop rambling now and on to the tutorial!

CROCHET BASKET TUTORIAL

Abbreviations used:

ch - chain

sc - single crochet

hdc - half double crochet

What you will need:

4 skeins of super bulky yarn (400 ish yards)

Size N (9mm) crochet hook

(**Note: I started using a size L hook. Creates a tighter stitch but it's more challenging to keep both loops on the hook.)

Tutorial:

Okay so we are going to be working two strands at the same time here. Grab both of your strands and ch 3. Work 7 hdc into the first ch (our first multiple of 8). Slip stitch into the top of the beginning ch 3.

For the next row, simply ch 2 and place 2 hdc into each stitch and slip stitch into the beginning ch (16 hdc total).

From there, you ch 2, * hdc, 2 hdc into same stitch, hdc, 2 hdc into same stitch * repeating from the * until you reach the beginning ch. Slip stitch into the top of the ch 2. (24 hdc total)

Here's the pattern for the next five rows. (They are incredibly similar to the first three so I figured pictures weren't necessary.)

Row 4: Ch 2, * hdc, hdc, 2 hdc into same stich * repeating from the * until you reach the beginning ch. Slip stitch into beginning ch. (32 hdc total)

Row 5: Ch 2, * hdc, hdc, hdc, 2 hdc into same stich * repeating from the * until you reach the beginning ch. Slip stitch into beginning ch. (40 hdc total)

Row 6: Ch 2, * 4 hdc, 2 hdc into same stich * repeating from the * until you reach the beginning ch. Slip stitch into beginning ch. (48 hdc total)

Row 7: Ch 2, * 5 hdc, 2 hdc into same stich * repeating from the * until you reach the beginning ch. Slip stitch into beginning ch. (56 hdc total)

Row 8: Ch 2, * 6 hdc, 2 hdc into same stich * repeating from the * until you reach the beginning ch. Slip stitch into beginning ch. (64 hdc total)

I stopped at row eight for my basket bottom but the awesome part about making these baskets is you can make them any size you want! Smaller or larger!

Here's what mine looked like.

Once the basket bottom is the size you want, you are ready to get going on the sides! The sides are the best because you are finally done counting. (Yay for mindless crocheting while watching hulu!)

So just flip the piece over, ch 1, and sc in each stitch around.

Darling Be Brave crochet basket tutorial

Darling Be Brave crochet basket tutorial

Once you get to the beginning, place a stitch marker and sc in the beginning sc and keep on sc around, moving your stitch marker up with each new row.

Helpful hint: try not to sc in the ch 1 (it will make your count slightly off when placing the handles but I'll be honest, I've messed this up before and it's totally fine, there will just be one extra sc on one side than the other, not a big deal).

Sc in a continuous loop until your basket is just about as tall as you'd like. My basket was 13 rows tall before I added in the handles but once again, this is totally customizable to your own personal taste.

When your skein runs out of yarn, don't panic. I've discovered the perfect way to start a new skein without having to weave in ends later. I just pull the new strand of yarn through with the old strands. Once it's looped through, place both of the loose ends on the top of my piece and sc on over them. So easy.

Okay so now that you've got the sides all finished (I ended mine at 13 sc side rows) you are ready to make the handles! Yay! So exciting!

To make the handles, all you do is once you've reached the stitch marker on your desired row, ch 10, skip 10 stitches, sc 22 across, ch 10, skip 10, and sc 22 across.

Well that is if you've done everything perfectly. I'll be honest and admit I somehow made a mistake here with the basket I took pictures of for this tutorial. Even though I've counted it a million times and swear I only did eight rows on the bottom, so I somehow ended up with a stitch count of 72 as if I did 9 rows :/ If this happens to you, don't panic.

The formula for where to place the handles is so simple. All you do is take your total number of stitches for the row, subtract 20 (10 per handle), and then divide by two. This formula gives you the number of sc stitches between handles so that your handles will line up on both sides.

For example, since my stitch count ended up being 72, I subtracted 20, leaving me with 52. I divided 52 by two and ended up with 26. So I ch 10, skipped 10 stitches, sc 26 across, ch 10, etc.

Now that you've got your first row for the handles finished, we are on to your last and final row! All you need to do is sc 11 times around the previous row's ch 10, sc across to the next ch 10, sc 11 times around the ch 10, and then sc across to the end of the row.

Man that's a nice handle.

Once I reach the end of the row, I like to slip stitch into the next stitch just to ease the transition a bit.

Then you just fasten off and weave in the ends. I took a large embroidery needle, and pulled the yarn through the handle like so and trimmed the loose ends.

And here's the final result!

I seriously love these baskets so much. I hope you guys are able to understand this tutorial and can fill your home with these cute little things :D

MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

Here are a couple of links to the products I used in this tutorial. (These are affiliate links. If you'd like to learn more about how affiliate links work, click here.)

I couldn't find a link for the right color of yarn but this will help guide you in the right direction. (I used the color Oatmeal for this basket.) This is seriously the best yarn guys. It's pretty much the only yarn I use in my shop and it's what I love to use year round. It can get pricy when you can't find a good sale but the quality is so worth it. I haven't tried any other types of yarn to make these baskets yet but I get asked all the time what yarn I use because baskets aren't turning out quite right so here you guys go! Secret is out ;) Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn makes for super sturdy baskets.

Also, if any of you would rather have a quick, condensed version of the pattern for reference, I've got it listed below. Enjoy!

CROCHET BASKET PATTERN

Bottom of Basket

Row 1: Taking two strands of super bulky yarn, ch 3. Work 7 hdc in the first ch. (Counting ch 2 you'll have 8 hdc total)

Row 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each stitch around, slip stitch into beginning ch. (16 hdc total)

Row 3: Ch 2, * hdc, 2 hdc into same stitch * Repeat from * then slip stitch into beginning ch. (24 hdc total)

Row 4: Ch 2, * 2 hdc, then 2 hdc into same stitch *, Repeat from * then slip stitch into beginning ch. (32 hdc total)

Row 5: Ch 2, * 3 hdc, then 2 hdc into same stitch *, Repeat from * then slip stitch into beginning ch. (40 hdc total)

Row 6: Ch 2, * 4 hdc, then 2 hdc into same stich *, Repeat from * then slip stitch into beginning ch. (48 hdc total)

Row 7: Ch 2, * 5 hdc, then 2 hdc into same stitch *, Repeat from * then slip stitch into beginning ch. (56 hdc total)

Row 8: Ch 2, * 6 hdc, then 2 hdc into same stitch *, Repeat from * then slip stitch into beginning ch. (64 hdc total)

Sides of Basket

Row 9: Flip bottom over, ch 1, sc in each stitch around

Rows 10-22: When you reach beginning, sc in beginning stitch and keep sc around in a continuous loop (I recommend using stitch marker to keep track of a new row)

Handles of Basket

Row 24: Ch 10, skip 10 stitches, sc in the next stitch, sc in next 22 stitches, ch 10, skip 10 stitches, sc in next stitch, sc in next 22 stitches

Row 25: Work 11 sc around ch's from previous row, sc in next 22 stitches, work 11 sc around ch's from previous row, sc in next 22 stitches

Bind off and weave in ends.

Happy Easter my friends!

- Megan xoxo

P.S. If any of you would like to use this pattern to make baskets to sell in your shop, feel free to! I just request you give me fair credit and link this page in the description. Thanks!