Crochet Basics: How To Make A Basket

February 25, 2020 · Delia 20 Comments

Would you believe I made each of these baskets for just $6?

Crochet Basics: How to work in the round and make a basket! // video tutorial for beginners // www.deliacreates.com

Gotta love it when a craft project doesn’t actually cost more than it would be to buy it finished. 😉

This is probably my favorite project from my Crochet Basics series, because it’s so practical too!

If you’re new to my Crochet Basics series, it’s a set of video tutorials that breaks down the basics of crochet for the utmost beginner. The first video shows you how to hold your hook, what yarn to use, and then the lessons progress through foundational stitches like chaining, single crochet, and double crochet; all the while showing you a fun project that you can make with each lesson.

For this lesson, I teach you how to move from working in rows, to working in the round. Instead of sharing just one project though, I’m sharing three! Because working in the round opens up so many different project possibilities.

They all start the same and are even all worked in basic double crochet, but with three very different results:

Basic beanie.
Simple beret (which also includes decreasing).
And this basket project!

If you have never worked in the round before, I suggest starting with the basic beanie post. The process, at least in the beginning, is nearly identical between all the projects, but I take a little more time to explain things in the beanie post and it’s the easiest project of the three.

For these baskets, I have you working with three balls of yarn at the same time. Using three strands helps you fake a thicker yarn for a much smaller price tag (I got my yarn for $2 a ball!), and it creates a nice sturdy finish. It can be tricky managing all the strands together though, which is why I suggest you practice working in the round with a smaller project first, before tackling this one.

One interesting thing about these baskets, is that both sizes use about the same amount of yarn!

By making the base one round smaller, there is more yarn left to also make it taller, creating a different look and basket that can nest inside the wider basket.

Let’s get started.

Materials

3 balls of category 4 or worsted weight yarn, at least 280 yards for each ball
N/15 or 10.00 mm hook

Materials Notes

This is one project when using a cheaper yarn is better. You want it to be a little scratchy, stiff, and have no drape. As I explain in the first Crochet Basics post, within each yarn size, there is a spectrum of thicknesses and substrates. You want to try to steer clear of the softer, drapey-er yarns or your basket won’t hold up as well.
Both the wide and narrow basket sizes use about the same amount of yarn. If you don’t want to have to tie in a new ball of yarn, make sure you get 280 yards for each ball.
You can use the same color for all three strands, or mix it up for a heathered or marled look. For my mixed color basket, I used 2 balls of tan/putty grey and 1 ball of black yarn.

Abbreviations

ch = chain
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch

Gauge

4 x 4 inch square = 9 dc x 5 rows*

*Even though the baskets are worked in rounds, if you plan on making a test swatch, it is easier to do so in rows. For more information on gauge, see THIS POST.

Video Tutorial

Music credit: Pleasant Pictures Music Club.

Written Pattern

Wide Basket (tan)

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 2, 9 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch 2. (Total stitch count = 10, including ch 2).

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next 8 stitches, 1 dc at the base of ch 2, sl st to to the top of ch 2. (20)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (30)

Round 4: Ch 2, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 1dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (40)

Round 5: Ch 2, 1 dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 1dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (50)

Round 6: Ch 2, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 1dc, 1dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (60)

Round 7: Ch 2, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 1dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (70)

Round 8: Ch 2, 1dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 1dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (80)

Base of basket complete. Remaining rows will create sides of the basket.*

Round 9: Ch 2, dc in posts from previous round. Sl st to the top of the ch 2. (80)

Round 10: Ch 2, dc in each stitch in the round. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (80)

Rounds 11 – 17: Repeat Round 10.

Round 18: Ch 2. Dc 15 times, ch 10, skip 9 stitches, work dc in 10th stitch from where left off/started ch 10. Dc 30 times. Ch 10, skip 9 stitches, work dc in 10th stitch from where left off/started ch 10. Dc 14 more times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (62 stitches, including ch 2, but not including 10 ch spaces/handles)

Round 19: Ch 2. Dc 15 times, work 13 dc in ch space, work dc around post of first stitch after ch space. Work dc under top two loops of same stitch. Work 30 more dc. Work 13 dc in next ch space, work dc around post of first stitch after ch space. Work dc under top two loops of same stitch. Work 14 more dc. Sl st to top of ch 2. (90)

Tie off and weave in ends. It helps to weave in each strand one at a time.

Narrow Basket (black and tan mix)