Fall Perfectly Pumpkin Crochet Basket - Free Pattern

Perfectly Pumpkin Fall Basket

My mother was in town recently and we took are usual pilgrimage to JoAnn's to oogle over yarn. I have her to blame for my crochet hobby and subsequent yarn addition. Lucky for us JoAnn's was have a clearance sale on some of their yarn! Many things had been picked over, but I was able to get five skeins of pumpkin colored yarn which gave way to a Fall inspiration.

This summer I learned how to crochet a basket which has been handy -- I made two! But I realized when making the baskets it would be really fun to make one to hold Halloween candy this Fall. It seems like every Halloween I buy tons of candy, but never really have a good candy bowl with which to distribute the candy. So why not make one?!

When I saw the pumpkin colored yarn I knew I had to have it - and it was 50% off the original price!  (All said and done this basket cost me under $10.) Now there is a difference with this yarn than others I used to make baskets: it's the bulky yarn. This particular yarn is Wool Ease Chunky by Lion Brand. It yielded a color hard to photograph, but a very nice basket!

After making the basket I was going to use black yarn and stitch a Halloween pumpkin face on it, but the more I thought about it the cheesier it was looking in my mind. So why not a little embellishment? So I made a leaf and corkscrew which almost looks like a pinecone!

I have written out the pattern along with the little embellishments I made for it below.

Apples! In a pumpkin basket! Cute!

Fall Perfectly Pumpkin Crochet Basket
Yarn: A chunky pumpkin colored yarn - 2 skeins will do. I used Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Chunky yarn in Pumpkin.
You will also need a little bit of green and brown for the embellishments. I had scrap yarn on hand so I just used what I had.
Hook: The hook it calls for is a K or a 6.50mm, but to make the basket you want a tight stitch so I went down to an I or 5.50mm hook.
Pattern notes: So not only are you going with a smaller hook, but you are also going to hold two strands at once. It can be tiresome on the hands, but using two strands is what makes it stiff. Yes, you are decreasing your hook size AND using two strands at once - this will yield a sturdy basket, but it can be troublesome on the hands. Take breaks! Here's a picture of what I mean you have to use two strands at once:



Working with two stands means two skeins as well!

Pattern:To begin chain four, and then make a ring by slip stitching into the first chain you made. Chain three (this does not count as a double crochet).
Round 1: In the ring you made do ten double crochets. When you've made the last double crochet, slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet for that round. This technique will make a nearly invisible seam. Chain three to start the next row.
Round 2: Do two double crochets into the same stitch as the chain three, then do two double crochets into every stitch after that. You should now have twenty double crochets. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet. Chain three and now begins a new "rhythm" to the pattern.
Round 3: Do two double crochets in the same stitch as the chain three, one double crochet in the next stitch, two double crochets in the third, one double crochets in the fourth, two double crochets in the fifth, etc. Repeat this process all the way around, you should now have thirty stitches. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet. Chain three.
Round 4: Two double crochets in the same stitch as the chain three, one double crochet in each of the next two stitches, two double crochets in the next stitch, one double crochet in each of the next two stitches, etc. Repeat till all the way around. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet. Chain three.
Round 5: Two double crochets in the same stitch as the chain three, one double crochet in each of the next three stitches, two double crochets in the next stitch, one double crochet in each of the next three stitches, etc. Repeat till all the way around. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet. Chain three.
Round 6: Two double crochets in the same stitch as the chain three, one double crochet in each of the next four stitches, two double crochets in the next stitch, one double crochet in each of the next four stitches, etc. Repeat till all the way around. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet. Chain three.
Round 7: Two double crochets in the same stitch as the chain three, one double crochet in each of the next five stitches, two double crochets in the next stitch, one double crochet in each of the next five stitches, etc. Repeat till all the way around. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet. Chain three.
Round 8: Now you are finished making the bottom of your basket and it's time to make the sides. The stitch you are going to do is called a back post stitch where you actually crochet around the post of a double crochet. Here is a link to a tutorial on how to do this. It's a really neat stitch actually! If that tutorial doesn't work just search for double crochet back post stitch. Back to the pattern! Do a double crochet back post stitch in the same stitch as the chain two, then do the double crochet back post stitch all the way around. You hand might get tired! Once you've gone all the way around slip stitch into the top of first double crochet and chain three.
Round 9-12: From here on out the usual double crochet in each stitch with continue along with slip stitching into the top of the first double crochet and chaining three. You will do this for the next four rounds before it'll get interesting. And if your basket doesn't look quite right just give it a few rounds to take shape.
Round 13: This round we will create the handles. To do this do a double crochet in the next thirteen stitches, then skip the next nine stitches and instead chain eleven (this is the beginning of your handle). After skipping nine stitches do a double crochet in the next twenty six stitches. Here is the next handle, skip nine stitches and chain eleven. To finish off the round do a double crochet in the next thirteen stitches, slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet and chain three.
Round 14: Last round! Double crochet into each stitch include the chain eleven from the previous round. This will create good sturdy handles.

Here's a close up of the handles:

Embellishments:
Like I said earlier I debated putting a cute Halloween face on the basket, but I instead decided a little green leaf and corkscrew might look nice. Here are the patterns. Before you do any of these though I'd like to recommend to keep a long tail so that you have something to sew with when you attach to the basket.
Leaf:
Chain 14. In the second chain from the hook do one single crochet, in the next stitch do a half double crochet, then in the next three stitches do a double crochet in each. Then in the next three stitches do a triple crochet in each. Next you will reflect what you just did. Double crochet in the next three stitches, half double crochet in the next stitch and single crochet in the last.
Then you will chain three to make a bit of a stem. Slip stitch in to the third single crochet from your hook - this makes the tip of the leaf.
You just made one side of the leaf with the foundation chain representing the middle of the leaf. For the next part you will make the other half of the leaf which is a reflection of what you just did.
So working into the other side of your foundation chain single crochet in the first stitch of the chain, double crochet into the next one, then one double crochet in the next three stitches, triple crochet in the next three stitches, double crochet in the next three stitches, half double crochet in the next stitch, and then finally a single crochet in the last stitch. Fasten off and you have your leaf.
Corkscrew:
These are super easy! Just chain however long you want it to be - I did 25 because it seemed like a nice number. Then do two double crochet into the fourth chain from the hook. Then in every chain after that do three double crochets till you reach the end. Leave this tail long do you can use it to sew into the basket.
Sewing on the embellishments:
I used the long tails from the stem of the leaf and the corkscrew with a yarn needle to connect them to each other and then connected it to the basket. The leaf kept on rolling up on me so I took another strand of the green and sewed through the middle of the leaf onto the basket so it would hold. There's really no right or wrong way to do all this, just experiment and know that you can always rip it out if it doesn't work.

Here's a close up of the embellishments. I tried to rotate the photo, but technology is not being my friend.



Leaf and corkscrew. The green color did not photograph well, but I promise you it's a pretty color!

Now you should have a lovely fall basket! What shall you use it for? A centerpiece for fruit on your dining room table? A festive catch-all for the season? Fill it with pinecones, pumpkins, and other seasonal goodies? Or Halloween candy like I will?! The possibilities are endless!

If you have any questions just let them in the comments!

 

 

 

Variation on Chunky Crocheted Basket

This week I took two tries at a new pattern: chunky crocheted basket!

My second attempt and I think it turned out very pretty and functional! 

 

I have always wanted to learn how to crochet a basket. I would always giggle seeing crocheted baskets on sale at Target or other home decor stores because I thought, "I could make something like that." Since I'm I between projects I found this cute pattern on (you guessed it!) Pinterest from Crochet in Color's blog.

Chunky Crochet Basket Pattern

http://crochetincolor.blogspot.ca/2012/02/chunky-crocheted-basket-pattern.html

I read the pattern and it called for the super bulky yarn I had just finished using on the afghan blanket I just finished (see previous post). Since I had some of the yarn left over I thought I'd give it a go. However, there were a few things this pattern called for that I didn't have: a size L or 8.00 mm hook. I had an N or 10.00mm and a K or 6.50mm hook. 

I also realized that I didn't have enough yarn because what the pattern asks you to do is to use two strands of the same color as once. 

If you have never used two strands of yarn at once it is really cool. You'll need a slightly bigger hook for it, but it yields results that give you a heathered look. The picture below is a shawl I started making I which I first used this technique. The yarn was red heart soft left over from a previous project and I used a K or 6.50mm hook.

Shawl I started making using two strands at once. A little tiresome for the hands, but pretty results. 


So I had some decisions to make since I didn't have enough yarn for two strands and I didn't have the right size hook. If you read in the pattern you need a smaller hook than the N (10.00mm) I had because the tighter stitch will give the basket the ability to hold shape and stand up stiffly. 

So what I concluded, I would use my super bulky yarn I had left over (Lion's Brand Thick and Quick) and use my K (6.50mm) hook since I was using only on strand. I didn't know if I'd have enough yarn to hold two and I didn't think a K hook could hold two super bulky yarns any way.

For my first try it turned out pretty good! It wasn't ask stiff which I concluded could be fixed with having multiple strands rather than the size of the hook. I rushed when I made the one above and added in a few stitches, but it still turned out pretty and functional.

My first go at it! I like the coloring of this basket too. This yarn is the super bulky lions brand thick and quick.



Since I gave the basket away, I was itching to try to pattern again, but this time I took a different approch. I didn't have enough of the super bulky yarn, so I picked up my cheap yarn.

I keep around a few skeins of cheap yarn like Caron's yarn by the pound. It's not the softest or the best colors, but I use it to practice new stitches or try out a little project. 

I picked up a dark red color, and a grey color I had along with my K (6.50mm) hook and started the pattern again.

Here is a link to the pattern: http://crochetincolor.blogspot.ca/2012/02/chunky-crocheted-basket-pattern.html
I do not want to copy and paste it because it is not my work. But I will share with you some of the changes I made.

What would soon be my new variation on the chunky basket.


For my basket (above) I went seven rounds for the base of the basket (one more than in the pattern) because I wanted a larger basket. Keep in mind, the larger the base of your basket, the longer it will take to make the side of the basket.

After round seven, follow the pattern (her round seven, my round eight).  I thought the way she described this round was interesting and I've interpreted it a few ways, but when I made these baskets I interpreted it as a back post stitch like I did in my previous afghan blanket. So that's what I did and it worked! 

I'm still not 100% certain that's what the pattern says, but it worked for me. I will caution you, that as you do this back post stitch and then start the next few rounds it doesn't look like a basket. It really isn't until you're about four rounds in that it takes shape so be patient. 

In the pattern she trades off with single crochets and half double crochets and works in the back loops (back post stitch). I didn't want to experiment with that yet so I just did a half double crochet all the way around. 

For the side of the basket I did twelve rounds before I made the handles. The handles in the pattern came out a bit smaller than I liked the first time I did the project so I made a few modifications again.

In the original pattern it says to chain 7 and skip 5 spaces. I chained 11 and skipped 9. I also had to do a little math because my basket is one round larger. So I took the number of stitches I had in a round (let's say 58), divided it by two giving you one side of your basket (58 divided by 2 is 29), then subtracted 9 (29 - 9 = 20) then divde that number by two (20 divided by 2 is 10). That's how many stitches I would do, then chain 11 skipping 9 spaces. 

So in the example above I would do 10 hdc, chain 11 skipping 9, hdc 20, chain 11, skip 9, hdc 10.

If I recall correctly my numbers didn't come out all the pretty, but it works more or less. I will probably always be making modifications and improving this pattern to my liking. 

The last thing I changed is in the original pattern she has you do another round after making the handles to make the handles more sturdy. I actually did another two rounds to make them extra sturdy and I think it turned out beautifully. 

I have to say I like the larger handles. 

Sorry if some of the pictures were dark, it's been rainy here, but I'm not complaining! Rainy days are the best days to crochet.

By the way, you may be asking, what do I do with this basket when I'm done? I keep it by my sofa and it's what the remotes and cell phones go into while we're watching a movie. I hate having to relocate cell phones and remotes during a movie at home - now they're all in one place!  

Leave me comments and questions!