Crochet Scrap Yarn Tote Bag and Nesting Baskets

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So exciting! So, excited to be done with all of this big pile of scrap yarn – and some super ugly!

This is the full story:

Back in 2019 just after starting my blog, I wrote THIS POST ON MY SCRAP-TASTIC YARN BASKET.

Well, sometime last year this pin on Pinterest really heated up and has become one of my most popular pinned images with thousands of repins – but, the post itself lacked the really good information!  I wanted to redo the pattern to make it more beginner friendly and adaptable, but I also really needed to clean out my stash closet again.

I get really lucky at my local thrift stores and sometimes find gigantic comforter bags full of yarn – some of this yarn is old and vintage and just plain ugly and not yarn that I can use alone in any project.  The beauty of a scrap yarn project like this is that you can mix up these old ugly skeins of yarn to make something fresh and fabulous!

See those two photos with all that yarn above?  The large oval scrap tote and the nesting baskets used almost ALL of that yarn. I have one more tote in the works with the very last of this yarn pile plus some extra that I needed to finish another tote, but if you want to really clean up your stash/scrap pile and have something that you can use for many years to come this might be a good project for you.

Okay, here are the boring bits:

I want to say thank you for all who stop by to support my patterns and my blog.  I have chosen to NOT do ads on my blog (with the exception of my affiliate links) and offer FREE patterns, but please – if you love my patterns and want to say a little thank you- or just have some good small business karma support points- a purchase now and then or a visit to any of my affiliate links really helps.  It keeps this blog going so I can continue to offer free patterns for all to enjoy.  I also purchase a pattern now and then or visit an affiliate link from my favorite blogs and designers.  Thank you

This pattern is intended for personal use only. This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.

You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer. Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.

If you find any problems with this pattern please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.

Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Okay, so here is the full deal:

Both of these patterns are available as PDF purchases in both my Etsy Shop and my Ravelry. They are only $1.99 each.  I give so much information that this fee is a very good investment and helps me offer free patterns here on my blog.  So, if you would like to support me here are those PDF links:

The NESTING BASKET PDF is in my Etsy SHOP HERE.

and my Ravelry Here

 

The Oval Tote Basket is in my Etsy SHOP HERE

and my Ravelry Here

*this oval version is only available as a pdf and is not on my blog as a free pattern right now

For the large oval bag, I used the orange, the mint, the teal, the bright green and then the blue.  These are all Caron One Pound/RHSS types of yarn.  By switching out the solid colors as they ran out, but keeping the other two strands more consistent, you get a gentle soft striped pattern.

The overall size of my large oval tote is about 20” tall by 27” wide.

Update: Here is the newest color of the large oval tote basket.  Same pattern.

February 2021:

Okay, so, here is the better pattern version for the round nesting baskets, BUT my PDF VERSION HAS WAY MORE INFO on how to adjust and modify these to make larger or smaller baskets.  It also has WAY more pictures and tricks for a nice finish.  This is a stripped down free version.  Thank you for stopping by.

 

UPDATE 2023:

Here is the latest pile of yarn that I magically turned into a useful basket!!

I held 5 strands for this one with my size K hook and went up to 120 stitches around.  It came out to be about 11″ tall and 15″ across.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stitches Guide: *US Terms apply.

Chain: Ch

Stitch: St

Single Crochet: SC

Half Double Crochet: hdc

Inc Sc or Inc or 2sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated

BLO: back loop only/ FLO: front loop only

Materials: This pattern is written as a scrappy yarn project, but you can use any yarns you have for this as long as you keep the overall weight of the yarns being held together the same.  For example, if you start with 3 strands of #4 yarn held together don’t switch in the project to 2 strands of #4 and a strand of #3.  Likewise, you can use 3 strands of #3 yarn held together for a smaller basket.  You can also use 2 strands of #4 and a strand of #3 or a strand of #5.  Whatever you decide to use, stick with that same weight throughout the entire project.

A note on yarns:  If you have crocheted for a while, you will know that not all #4 worsted weight yarns are the same.  For example, Red Heart Super Saver works up very different than Caron Simply Soft, but they are both listed as #4 weight yarn.  Consider this as you work and try to be consistent on your yarn changes.  For example, don’t start with 3 strands of RHSS and then change those out for Caron Simply Soft or your basket will be smaller up top than on bottom.  You can absolutely use them together in this project, but be consistent – if you start with a strand of RHSS, Caron Simply Soft and let’s say Mainstays – as you run out of one type, join the same type.

Hooks:  Your hook selection is largely going to be determined by your yarn choice.  On projects like this when you are using different yarns, you need to select the hook size that gives you a tight, stiff fabric without having all your yarns slip off your hook as you work.  On the largest size basket in this project, I have used my size K/6.5mm hook with the 3 strands that I started with since one of my strands was a #5 yarn.  The medium and small size baskets were made with my size J/6mm hook and used all #4 weight yarns. I have also made baskets similar to this with my size I/5.5mm hook.  *when using my size K hook, one of my strands was a #5 bulky yarn and when using my I/5.5mm hook two of my strands were a smaller sport weight.

SIDE NOTE:  A project like this can be very tough on your hands so take frequent breaks and don’t try to do a project like this in one sitting.

Ugly Yarns: This is the perfect project for ugly, old yarns.  See the pictures above of what I started with?

The sizes of the 3 round nesting baskets are approximately 9×9, 9×10 and 9×12 and are entirely worked in the round.

A note on working in the round: while working in the round you DO NOT join and chain up.  This prevents that ugly seam.  You just continue to work in a continuous manner.  If you need to know where you specifically start and stop each row, I encourage you to use a stitch marker.  For a project like this, I don’t count rows at all.  I just continue to work until I feel that I am done – but, if you are making nesting baskets as pictured you will want to have roughly the same number of rows. I am a pretty random crocheter on a project like this and use these types of projects to free myself from counting and specifics – AFTER THE BOTTOM ROWS that is.

You will need to count and be specific on the bottom circle so PLEASE USE A STITCH MARKER.

For the smallest basket increase up to round 13 of the pattern below.

For the medium you will increase up to round 15 of the pattern below.

The largest is worked the same way as the medium, you just use your larger hook and ideally at least 1 #5 yarn to account for the larger hook.

Increase pattern:

*I do not join and chain but continue to work in the next stitch. Use a stitch marker for this so you don’t lose your place.

Chain 2.  Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.

Starting in the first sc make 2 sc in that stitch and in each stitch around. (12) *Still work over the starting tail.

After getting done with all 12 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening.  You can now trim that tail or weave it in or just leave it if it will be on the inside of your work.

You want to move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.

Round 3: (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)

Round 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)

Round 5: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)

Round 6: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)

Round 7: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (42)

Round 8: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (48)

Round 9: (1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (54)

Round 10: (1 sc in next 8 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (60)

Round 11: (1 sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (66)

Round 12: (1 sc in next 10 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (72)

Round 13: (1 sc in next 11 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (78)

Round 14: (1 sc in next 12 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (84)

Round 15: (1 sc in next 13 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (90)

Once you get finished increasing your bottom will be done.

The next two rounds are worked in the same stitches – one round in the back loop only (BLO) and the next round worked in the front loop only (FLO).  This creates a sturdy bottom of the sides of your basket which helps hold up the “walls” of the piece.  This is also optional if you just really don’t want to do it, but I find that it helps create and hold a nice shape.  I did a video of this in my first scraptastic basket so HOP OVER TO THIS POST for more if you don’t understand this part.

So, sc in each stitch around in the BLO and then when you get around to the start sc in each stitch around in the FLO. The FLO stitches will be right in front of each BLO stitch.  *there are more photos to help with this in my paid version.

You will have two rows of crochet in the same round.  After the blo and flo rounds you will use the next round to crochet these two rounds of crochet together.  So, you will crochet the corresponding flo and blo together to make one stitch.  Again, there is a photo tutorial in my paid pattern.

**make sure not to miss that very last flo/blo sc together.  The last one can be tricky so count around if you need to.

Now, the rest is EASY! Time consuming, but easy.  Like I said earlier, don’t work a project like this all at one time.  Put it aside and do a bit each day or a few times a week.  You want your hands to have a break when you are working on something as tight as this.

Work in sc around in continuous rounds until you reach the desired height for your basket.

For the baskets in my examples, I worked for about 18-19 rounds and then did the handles.  The handles are made like this:

For the smaller basket that has 78 stitches around, I left 9 spaces/chains for the handle.  So, 78/2=39. With 9 chains/spaces you then have 30 sc between the two handles.  See how that works?

So, chain 9/skip 9 stitches on your basket, sc 30, chain 9/skip 9 on your basket and sc 30 more.  This will put you back to your first handle.  Now, you can choose to do another 2-4 rounds in sc around in each chain and stitch OR you can do a round of sc and then some hdc.  This is completely up to you.  On this smaller basket, I did a round of sc after the handles/chains and then did one round of hdc.

For the medium and large baskets, I also left 9 spaces and made 9 chains. So, 90/2=45.  With 9 spaces you have 36 stitches between the two handles.

So, chain 9/skip 9 and then sc 36, chain 9/skip 9 and sc 36 until you get back to the next handle.

For the medium basket, I did the handle top just like the small one above, but for the larger basket, I made 3 extra sc rows to finish.

Look how cool they are? Even from the inside they are very groovy!

Once you get done finish off and weave in your ends.  I always choose to finish on one of the sides.

And Voila!  Well, maybe not Voila, but you will have an amazing, large, heavy duty crochet basket that you can use for years to come.