This is a cute basket for those that crochet and want to felt a basket without having to knit. The first 2 photos are after felting and the last 2 are before felting (the colors in the felted one are correct since my flash decided to work then).
Materials:
100% wool yarn. I used Wool of the Andes from Knit Pics. Variegated would be nice too.
Size K crochet hook
Measurements: before felting 5” x 8”, after felting 4” x 6” (H x W)
Note: always join the end of a round to the beginning of a round by sl st in ch 1. Then ch 1 to begin next rnd. Sc 2 sts tog: draw up loop in next 2 sts, yo and draw through all lps on hook.
Ch 2.
Rnd 1: work 7 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around.
Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, rep * around.
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, rep from * around.
Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, rep from * around.
Rnd 6: Sc I next 2 sts, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts) 6 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts.
Rnd 7: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, rep from * around.
Rnd 8: Sc in next 3 sts, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts) around, sc in remaining 4 sc.
Rnd 9: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 16 sts, rep from * around.
Rnd 11: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 12: Sc in next 8 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 17 sts, rep from * once, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts.
Rnd 13 - 21: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 22: Sc next 2 sts tog,
Rnd 23: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 24: Sc in next 8 sts, *sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next 16 sts, repeat from * once, sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next 8 sts.
Rnd 25: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 26: *sc in next 4 sts, sc next 2 sts tog, repeat from * around, sc in last 3 sts.
Rnd 27: Sc in each st around.
Handles:
Rnd 28: Ch 12, sk 7 sts, of row 27, sc in next 15 sc, ch 12, sk 7 sts, sc in remaining sts around.
Rnd 29: Sc in each st around. Join and fasten off. Weave in ends well.
Now you will felt your piece. I use the smallest fill cycle and hot water with a cold rinse; before the first hot cycle is done I start it again with a tea kettle or boiling water to reheat the water. Then allow it to finish wit the cold rinse. You can stretch it over a bowl if desired to dry. I liked the shape from the washer so sat tit to dry the way it was. The pic is of it still wet from the washer.
To make a larger basket you can do the same pattern but use 2 strands and an N hook, or 3 strands and a Q hook. If I did this I would do a few extra rounds between rnd 14 and 21 to give it a little height to help with the additional size.
