I love these little fabric nesting baskets! They are perfect for organizing your office, counter tops, baby’s room, or anywhere else you need an attractive storage solution. The fabric yarn used to make these baskets gives them a cozy charm and makes them more durable to use for storage than baskets made from regular yarn. You can make your own fabric yarn with my tutorial Making Fabric into Yarn. Or if you prefer you can just as easily work these up in T-shirt yarn.
Fabric Nesting Baskets
Here’s what you need:
- approx. 200 yd fabric or T-shirt yarn
- US M-13 / 9 mm crochet hook
- tapestry needle and scissors for finishing
This free pattern is written in U.S. crochet terms and abbreviations. Stitch counts are provided at the end of each round to help you keep on track.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.
Finished baskets measure as follows: Small = approx. 6 in. x 2½ in.; Medium = approx. 7 in. x 3 in.; Large = approx. 8 in. x 3½ in.
Tip: Use a stitch marker to keep track of rounds.
Small
Ch 2
Foundation Round: Work 6 sc in furthest ch from hook, do not join — 6 sts.
Round 1: Work 2 sc in each st around, do not join — 12 sts.
Round 2: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, do not join — 18 sts.
Round 3: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, do not join — 24 sts.
Round 4: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join and turn — 30 sts.
Round 5: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 30 sts.
Rounds 6 through 9: Repeat Round 5.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Medium
Ch 2
Foundation Round: Work 6 sc in furthest ch from hook, do not join — 6 sts.
Round 1: Work 2 sc in each st around, do not join — 12 sts.
Round 2: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, do not join — 18 sts.
Round 3: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, do not join — 24 sts.
Round 4: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join and turn — 30 sts.
Round 5: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * around, join and turn — 36 sts.
Round 6: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 36 sts.
Rounds 7 through 11: Repeat Round 6.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Large
Ch 2
Foundation Round: Work 6 sc in furthest ch from hook, do not join — 6 sts.
Round 1: Work 2 sc in each st around, do not join — 12 sts.
Round 2: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, do not join — 18 sts.
Round 3: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, do not join — 24 sts.
Round 4: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join and turn — 30 sts.
Round 5: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * around, join and turn — 36 sts.
Round 6: *Work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, rep from * around, join and turn — 42 sts.
Round 7: Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 42 sts.
Rounds 8 through 13: Repeat Round 7.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Do you know the approx length of strips needed for each of the sizes individually? I’d like to use some of my smaller stash pieces that won’t give me the 200 yds you specify, which I assume is the length needed to make one each of all 3 sizes.
Kara, I just made the small one using Bernat Baby Blanket and an N hook. Came out SO cute. Going use for a gift with some sample size goodies, powder lotion, etc. Thanks for the pattern its super easy.
Love this pattern! I recently discovered several basket patterns that I want to do. Crocheting with fabric is new to me but as a quilter It looks like so much fun!
Hi!
I was curious how you would make this larger, to put a newborn in.
I know this tutorial and the comments have been out there a while, but I am hoping someone will see my question. I am very new to crocheting….have only crocheted a couple of rectangular rag rugs.
At the end of nearly every step it says “do not join” or it says “join and turn”….what does that mean?
Where it says “do not join” you are crocheting in a continuous circle, you will crochet in the next stitch. It’s a good idea to mark the beginning of the row so you know where you started.
“Join and turn” means when you reach the beginning of the row you will join the last stich to the first stitch with a slip stitch, chain one, and turn the project so you are starting back the way you just came.
Good luck on your project.
Sikke en super ide. En meget personlig gave til f.eks dåb/navngivning eller fødselsdag så kan man slippe for alt det pingel pangel folk giver, som man aldrig får brug for læs små sølvdåser og dyr:-)Synes det er sjovt med stjernetegn:-)nogle gange passer det, andre gange ikke.
I know you used an old sheet for the material used but, how wide did you make the strips of fabric and did you tie them at the ends or just worked the ends in? I also plan to tea-dye the fabric first. (using an old white sheet). I plan to make handles on the baskets and use the basket for my crocheting.y
I cut the strips about an inch wide and made a continuous ball of yarn with it. You can see the link in the pattern for a tutorial on how I did it 🙂
These are similar to what we called rag rugs, same principle you folded a strip of material in thirds so that the exposed edge was on the inside and them you sewed three strips together and started to braid. It was a great use of old material/clothes/sheets/curtains etc and the cost, free can’t get much better than that.
So pretty and such a great idea. I noticed that you allow pinning so I pinned from this page.
You can never have enough cute baskets around! So awesome that you made them recycled linens, that’s my favorite part, of course!
Thanks so much for linking up at my greener linky party! I’ll probably be linking to your fabric yarn tutorial later this week for my reusing linens and clothes post 🙂 Have a great weeekend.
Oh this is great! Love the colors and the fact that’s repurposing old fabric. I’d love if you’d link this up to my Hookin On Hump Day party! I see you have a party, too. I’ll have to link up!
http://www.mymerrymessylife.com/2012/06/hookin-on-hump-day-3-link-party-for.html
Great work! Do you just cut the sheet into strips? How wide? Would love to try this.
Thanks, Chris! You can just cut the fabric into strips, but I did it this way to have one continuous length of fabric: http://www.petalstopicots.com/2012/03/green-crocheting-making-fabric-into.html
Thank you!!
I love these. How do you clean them though?
Hmmmm … I haven’t tried yet. I assume you could throw them in the washing machine though.
I have made one set and am starting a second. Great tutorial! I am sharing my baskets in a post along with a link here: http://wp.me/pTDbZ-1d2
How can I follow you on Pinterest?
Thank you for your interest! I am at http://pinterest.com/petalstopicots/ 🙂
So cute and functional. Thanks for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
Rachel
adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com
I love the color you chose! One day I hope to have the talent to create something like this. I am having a red, white and blue party on my blog to celebrate Memorial Day and July 4th. I’d love it if you’d link these up!
http://teaganstravels.blogspot.com/2012/04/stars-and-stripes-party.html
Blessings!
Michelle
These bowls are so pretty! Gorgeous color too!
Thank you, Kim!
I’m so glad you linked up. It’s a fabulous project.
That is so cute. I am very into crochet projects at the moment and I am adding this to my list. I’d love for you to link up to my party that opens at 8pm EST. Hope to see you there.
Thanks for the invite, Judy!! See you later 🙂
What a great tutorial, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Wendy! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment 🙂
Those look great! Would love to make some of these. I keep seeing awesome crochet projects, but my ability with the crotchet hook is nonexistent (though not through lack of trying, lol). Pinning anyway for when I figure crochet out! 🙂
I am glad you like them 🙂 I have a few Learn to Crochet tutorials at this link that might be able to help you out: . I am sure you will figure it out!
Oh my those are so cute. I would love to learn to crochet. I have needles and toy around a little, but, those are so cool. Rhonda
I bet you could do these 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful! Great work.
Thank you, Mindie!
These are way too cute! Go girl!
Awww, thank you so much!!
Those are great! I am definitly going to make a set.
You;ll have to let me know how they come out 🙂
Very nice!
Also,I am presenting you with the The Liebster Award. Please read all about it here: http://philwife.blogspot.com/2012/03/liebster-award.html. Feel free to participate if you wish, but seriously, no pressure! Love the blog!
Thank you so much, Rachel!
Cute…thank for sharing…
Hug
Anna
Thank you, Anna!
OMG I literally was thinking today of crocheting with fabric! I have pinned your baskets, I hope you don’t mind, I’m also asking for permission to pin in the future. This baskets would be good made out of plarn wouldn’t they, I’ve been cutting some bags up. Thank you so much for sharing!
How funny!! I don’t mind at all. Pin away 🙂 Thanks for visiting!! Let me know how you make out with the plarn baskets.
I’m actually working ona plarn version. It’s the first pattern i’ve fpund thatactually works for plarn! 🙂
It’s awesome! I want one.