“ONE SKEIN” CROCHET NESTING BASKETS

I’m not sure what your yarn stash looks like right now, but mine is a bit of a mess! Small odds and ends here and there and lots of single skeins that want some love, yet are all alone without friends to accompany them in to a bigger, more elaborate project.

Thus the inspiration for this One Skein Crochet Nesting Baskets. I wanted to use up some of the single skeins I had but wanted not to be wasteful or end up with more tiny balls. And let me tell you, I played some serious yarn chicken with this design and also had to frog and re-design a little bit just to make sure I got the maximum use out of that skein!

Using the tweed yarn gives it a rustic feel, but any color or style of yarn will work for this project. I used a #6 super bulky (Bernat Softee Chunkee Tweeds) but it could work just fine with a 4 or 5 yarn as long as you don’t mind that the baskets will be a little smaller and you’ll have to adjust your hook accordingly.

I did use a smaller hook size than recommended with this yarn because baskets require a little more rigidity and stability on the sides, so I wanted tighter stitches to help keep its shape.

The great thing about this set is that the sizing is so easily adjusted. Add rounds to the bottom if you want a bigger basket and you can build the height on the sides to your heart’s content. Add a loop to make it a hanging basket or handles if you like.

This is a great beginner project using only slip stitch, single crochet (in the back loop) and double crochet stitches.

And they’re oh-so-handy to have around. Office supplies, hair ties, decorative trinkets, the list is endless. In a quick hour, you can use up some of your odds and ends and be more organized in the doing!

For more basket ideas, take a look at my Belle Bobble Basket, my Farmhouse Basket and my Large Crochet Basket.

LET’S GET MAKING! Scroll down for the free pattern for these crochet nesting baskets OR you can get the Ad-Free, printable version from my Etsy store HERE

SUPPLY LIST

5.5 mm hook Any Category 6 super bulky yarn (Yarn Used: Bernat Softee Chunky Tweeds in True Gray Tweed) Approx yardage: 84 Yards // 77 Metres // 2.8 oz // 80 g Scissors Tapestry needle

STITCHES / ABBREVIATIONS

CH – chain SL ST – slip stitch ST – stitch SC – single crochet SCBLO – single crochet in the back loop only HDC – half double crochet

SIZES

Small basket nests in the large basket

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Small basket is 4.5” in diameter, 2.75” in height Large basket is 5.5” in diameter, 3.25” in height

GAUGE

N/A

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Beginner

PATTERN AND SIZING NOTES

– The bottom of these crochet nesting baskets are done in rounds of HDC and the sides are done in a continuous spiral – Turning Chains count as a stitch for both the bottoms and the sides – Other sizes can be made by adjusting the number of rounds you do for the bottom – All baskets should have a stitch count for the sides in increments of 10 – Stitch counts are given in brackets at the end of each round – For the finishing round of the basket I have chosen not to complete the whole round to give a cleaner look – when you finish the round back at ST 1, I find it leaves a bump which sits higher since it’s done in a spiral.  You can, however, certainly complete the round if you wish. – I don’t recommend washing the baskets, it softens the yarn too much and the baskets may not hold their shape.  Should you need to clean them, I recommend spot cleaning with a damp cloth.

INSTRUCTIONS

Reminder: Turning Chains count as a stitch

SMALL BASKET:

Bottom of Crochet Nesting Baskets:

CH 4 and SL ST to join, CH 2

Round 1: HDC 9 in to the loop created, SL ST to join in the top of the CH 2 (10)

Round 2: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, HDC 2 in to each stitch around, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (20)

Round 3: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, [HDC 1 in the next ST, HDC 2 in the next ST] and repeat [ to ] to the end of the round, ending on 1 HDC in the last stitch, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (30)

Round 4: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, [HDC 1 in each of the next 2 stitches, HDC 2 in the following stitch] and repeat [ to ] to the end of the round, ending on 1 HDC in the last stitch, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (40)

Sides of Crochet Nesting Baskets:

Round 5: CH 1 and mark this stitch with a marker (and keep your first ST in each round marked with this marker as you go), SCBLO in each ST around (40)

Rounds 6 to 11: SCBLO in each ST around (40)

Round 12: SL ST in the next 32 ST, pull your working loop through ST 33, cut a 5” tail and pull it through your working loop and pull tight.  Then weave in your ends. (40)

LARGE BASKET:

Bottom of Crochet Nesting Baskets:

CH 4 and SL ST to join, CH 2

Round 1: HDC 9 in to the loop created, SL ST to join in the top of the CH 2 (10)

Round 2: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, HDC 2 in to each ST around, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (20)

Round 3: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, [HDC 1 in the next ST, HDC 2 in the next ST] and repeat [ to ] to the end of the round, ending on 1 HDC in the last ST, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (30)

Round 4: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, [HDC 1 in each of the next 2 stitches, HDC 2 in the following stitch] and repeat [ to ] to the end of the round, ending on 1 HDC in the last stitch, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (40)

Round 5: CH 2, HDC in to the same ST as the CH 2, [HDC 1 in the next ST, HDC 3 in the next ST] and repeat [ to ] to the end of the round, ending on 1 HDC in the last ST, SL ST to top of CH 2 to join (50)

Sides of Crochet Nesting Baskets:

Round 6: CH 1 and mark this stitch with a marker (and keep your first ST in each round marked with this marker as you go), SCBLO in each ST around (50)

Rounds 6 to 13: SCBLO in each ST around (50)

Round 14: SL ST in the next 42 ST, pull your working loop through ST 43, cut a 5” tail and pull it through your working loop and pull tight.  Then weave in your ends (50)

Voila! A set of adorable, quick, easy crochet nesting baskets that are perfect for your home, or as a gift.