Crochet “GAIA” basket
Easy, fast, and modern crochet basket. The newest pattern on our blog. Continue reading for my inspiration, design process, yarn choice, or scroll down for the free pattern.
The Design + inspiration
A few months ago I renovated one of our rooms and turned it into my home office and craft space where I can sit and just enjoy a good coffee, some chill music, or a movie while I crochet. I am a bit messy person by nature and it is challenging to keep the small stuff in place without them being lost in the process.
While searching for some decoration for my new craft room, I came across a few baskets, and instead of buying them, I decided to DIY a few myself. That is how I made the “Gaia” crochet basket pattern. This crochet basket can be a lifesaver- you can put candies inside and always have a few treats on your table, or you can put your make-up products, or you can put yarn and hooks as I did with mine.
I also happened to have an obsession while crocheting small projects. It seems I can not make only one of them. In the end, I tend to make three pieces- I don’t know why. So I have made three different sizes. While I was taking pictures, I realized that the smallest basket is a perfect fit for my latest flower pot, so they can even be used as a pot cover—one pattern for so many purposes.
The Yarn
For this crochet basket pattern, you can use a different type of yarn. I specifically used acrylic yarn as it is durable, washable, and easier to maintain. I had the perfect yarn in my stash for a long time as I only had 3,4 colors and only 1-2 skeins of each color. This basket is ideal for your leftover yarns or one skein-project, which can be made just overnight.
For this project, I used Lionbrand Color made easy- It is perfect for making this crochet basket, and I will tell you why- It is shiny, durable, thick enough, and has a variety of colors.
The most important thing for this yarn and project is that it is washable as it is acrylic yarn. It is durable compared to baby acryl or other acryl brands, which will lead you to have a basket that will last for years and can be used without stressing how to wash and maintain it. You can also use worsted-weight yarn instead of bulky-weight.
For the upper part of the “Gaia” crochet basket, I used Lionbrand Go for Faux yarn – this heavenly squishy, soft yarn will add the perfect modern and final touch to your basket.
What about other types of yarns?
Cotton yarn- It is also suitable for this project as it is equally durable and shiny. It will not stretch after washing. You can even use thinner/ different weight yarn but remember that the rope will be visible between the stitches if you use the thinner yarn. It is another reason I chose to work with bulky weight yarn, as I wouldn’t say I liked how the rope was peaking through the stitches.
Wool blends- I don’t think wool blend yarns are suitable for this project as they are not always machine washable, less durable, and easily torn. After washing, your basket can lose shape, although there is a rope that we will use to work around so the crochet basket will maintain its shape.
Pattern Description
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Materials:
- Bulky weight acryl yarn – 50-80gr (depends on the size of your crochet basket)
- Fancy yarn- 20-30 gr (depends on the size of the crochet basket)
- Polyester rope 5-6mm thick
- Crochet hook size – 6mm / US crochet hook size J
- stitch marker
- pair of scissors
- hot glue gun (not necessary)
- wool needle with big loop (as we are working with bulky weight yarn)
Pattern notes
- The pattern is written using US crochet terms.
- The basket is worked in continuous rounds. We will not join the rounds in the end, so you will need a stitch marker to indicate your first stitch for each round. If you don’t have a stitch marker, you can use a piece of yarn.
- The whole basket is worked around the polyester rope. Only the first round is not. We will attach the rope in 2nd round and continue working around it until the crochet basket’s end. It uses the same technique as we used in the crochet “Checkmate” pocket scarf- you can see how to carry on the rope HERE.
- When we start in the beginning, there will be a small end of the rope, which will be visible later. It will be glued with the hot glue gun, but if you wish, you can leave it or use a needle and your main color yarn and work over it to not be visible.
- You can use different fancy yarn as well or not use one at all. Just continue with your main color yarn till you reach your desired height.
- When you start the last two rounds, which are worked with fancy yarn, keep in mind that it could be thicker than your main color yarn, and the upper part of the crochet basket could turn out bigger. If you don’t want it to look bigger, just skip one stitch in every 3-4 stitches or pull the rope a little to tighten it and keep your shape the same as your base.
- After you finish your crochet basket, leave a long tail of the faux fur yarn for sewing and hiding the rope. Take a needle and hide the rope while using the faux fur yarn.
- Final measurements – small crochet basket – 12cm/4.7inc diameter; medium crochet basket-16cm/6.3 inches; big crochet basket- 20cm/7.8inc
Crochet basket pattern – small size
Rnd 1: Start with MR, secure with slip knot, make 10 sc into the ring (10)
Now take the rope and make the first stitch and every other stitch of rnd 2 around the rope. The rope must be aligned with your stitches (see pics above)
Rnd 2: make 2 sc in each st around (20)
Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (30)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (40)
Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (50)
The next round is worked in BLO
Rnd 6: sc in each st around (50)
Rnd 7-10: sc in each st around (50)
Switch to faux fur yarn/your fancy yarn
Rnd 11-12: sc in each st around (50)
Fasten off the rope and just make sc in each st till the rope is hidden.Make sl.st in the last st. Leave longer tail of the fancy yarn and hide the last part which is visible of the rope.
Crochet basket pattern- medium size
Rnd 1: Start with MR, secure with slip knot, make 10 sc into the ring (10)
Now take the rope and make the first stitch and every other stitch of rnd 2 around the rope. The rope must be aligned with your stitches
Rnd 2: make 2 sc in each st around (20)
Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (30)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (40)
Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (50)
Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (60)
The next round is worked in BLO
Rnd 7: sc in each st around (60)
Rnd 8-10: sc in each st around (60)
Switch to faux fur yarn
Rnd 11-12: sc in each st around (60)
Fasten off the rope and just make sc in each st till the rope is hidden.Make sl.st in the last st. Leave longer tail of the fancy yarn and hide the last part which is visible of the rope.
Crochet basket pattern- big size
Rnd 1: Start with MR, secure with slip knot, make 10 sc into the ring (10)
Now take the rope and make the first stitch and every other stitch of rnd 2 around the rope. The rope must be aligned with your stitches
Rnd 2: make 2 sc in each st around (20)
Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (30)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (40)
Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (50)
Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (60)
Rnd 7: *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (70)
Rnd 8: *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st* rep from * to * 10 times (80)
The next round is worked in BLO
Rnd 9: sc in each st around (80)
Rnd 10-12: sc in each st around (90)
Switch to faux fur yarn
Rnd 13-14: sc in each st around (80)
Fasten off the rope and just make sc in each st till the rope is hidden.Make sl.st in the last st. Leave longer tail of the fancy yarn and hide the last part which is visible of the rope.
Abbreviation:
sc- single crochet
BLO- back loop only
MR- magic ring
**- repeat the stitches in the ** indicated times
the number in the () – indicates the total stitch count at the end of each round
IF YOU PREFER VIDEO TUTORIAL INSTEAD OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS I GOT YOU COVERED. WATCH BEGINNER FRIENDLY TUTORIAL ON HOW TO MAKE CROCHET BASKET “GAIA” HERE.
