Scrap-tastic Crochet Basket: Scrap Yarn Basket

UPDATE 2023:

I’m back with an even larger basket!!  No matter how many of these I make they alway amaze me!!!

For this one I needed a liner for the vintage MCM folding metal basket and worked this one up just like I posted in the pattern below, but since it was a liner and not a standalone basket, I used my size 8mm hook and held 3 strands.  I needed a basket that was 17″ along the bottom so I worked the rounds like below and then just worked straight up until it reached the length I needed.  I will definitely be using this basket!!

Please read all the way through this post for all the details and pattern. This is my most popular blog post.

You can use the ugliest yarn!!  Trust me – just look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 UPDATE: First, I never thought this would reach so many people! My pin on Pinterest for this has caught on like wildfire!  I decided to update this post with a NEW larger basket and it is DONE!!

But, I need better weather and light to photograph so follow this post/blog for more or pin a pin and come back and check out my new scrap-tastic basket because it will be perfect for summer!!

UPDATE: Here it is!!  Isn’t is scrap-tacular!!!  I love this one.  You could fit a toddler in here!

I’ll be adding it to my blog soon, but for now you can get the Cheap PDF on Etsy and Ravelry and it’s a perfect beginner pattern with 10-pages and LOTS of pictures.

PDF in Etsy and Ravelry

This original post was published in 2019 and sometime last year I noticed this pin really started heating up.  Stay tuned for an update.

UPDATE Again!

Look at these fun nesting baskets!

I’ve made a fully written out PDF/pattern for this set of Nesting Baskets for those that requested it.

You can find the full PDF in my Etsy

and Ravelry

 

Nesting Baskets in my Etsy Shop

PDF in my Ravelry

 

YOU CAN FIND AN UPDATED FREE BLOG VERION ON THIS POST – UPDATED FEB 2021

 

Original Post:

I have decided that this is the year that my stash WILL get smaller!

If you are like me you have at least a small stash of leftover yarns from previous projects or half skeins of yarn gifted to you by others or just a hodge podge of miscellany that has accumulated from whereabouts unknown.  It can be very hard to use half skeins of variegated yarn like the above skeins – and some of these vintage skeins (thrifted in large bags of yarn) – are just not too pretty on their own.  So, what is a crocheter to do?

One of my favorite ways to use these skeins is to grab a big bunch and hold 3 strands at once time to make blankets and baskets.  By holding 3 strands together, you mask individual colors and get a more pleasing final result.

Here is my latest.  Hopefully it will inspire you to get those leftover yarns out and get them made into something usable.

This post does contain affiliate links.  I will get a small percentage from any purchase made through my page here, but your price remains the same.  I appreciate any purchase made through my page as I can continue to offer free patterns here on my blog.

These are the hooks that I use. I love my Clover, but I use this off brand for the larger sizes.

To start:

For this basket I used 3 strands held together and my I/5.5mm hook and worked in HDC. You may also find that using a J/6mm hook is best if any of your yarn tends to be in the chunky side.  I began with a chain 2 and then worked in standard increasing rounds.  [6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72] etc.  Just increase until you get to the size bottom you want.  I think I went up to 60 on this one. **UPDATE: this is one of my most popular pins on Pinterest and blog post so I am updating the pattern now with fully spelled out increase rounds.  I work in the continuous round usually, but that is up to you.  Feel free to join and chain up each round if you prefer.  The fully written out increase pattern:

Working in the CONTINUOUS Round:

*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.

This increase pattern goes up to your 15^th round of increasing, but if you prefer more just continue in the established pattern with one extra stitch between increases each round.  As I stated above, in the basket on this post I have increased up to 72 stitches around.

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)

Round 16: (1 sc in next 14 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (96)

You will notice in this photo that the bottom “bowls” up – this is normal.  This is due to having a tight tension – 3 strands of worsted weight yarn and an I hook – you want that for a basket – but, never fear! This is normal and adjustable.  If you have never done any steam blocking with your iron this is the time that you want to practice that.  This is the type of project that is perfect to learn a new technique.  I have gone over steam blocking with my iron right here on this POST.

After the bottom of the basket was steam blocked you can see the huge difference (photo below) in how well it lays flat.  Now, we move on to making the sides.  Once your bottom is the size you want it – you stop increasing and work in regular rounds.  This is how to make sure your basket sides are sturdy and NOT floppy.

*I work in continuous spirals and don’t join, but you can do this no matter which method you use or if you are doing sc, hdc, or even dc.

After your increasing is done, work a round of stitches in the BLO (back loop only) – all the way around.

Once you get back to where you started, continue to work around the same round in the FLO (front loop only) – all the way around.

Once this round is complete you will crochet through both those stitches to join them.  I have a video that I hope can help explain this:

 

Now, there you have it!  When I got the height I wanted I just chained a loop on top and skipped some stitches and came back around with hdc to fill in the chain space for a “hook.”