Tiny Knitted Basket Tutorial

Quite a while ago, back in the spring, I knitted up these tiny baskets.  I said at the time that I would write out a pattern, and then I just got away from knitting and distracted with summer.  Today I thought I'd get that post finally finished up with the photos (it's been sitting in draft form for quite some time!).  So if you're interested, here you go.

 

 

Tiny Knitted Basket
(blue & white basket in above photo)

Size:  approx. 2 inches high (not including handle) and 2.5 inches across

 

Yarn:  cotton 4 ply (I used Bernat)

Needles:  set of 5 DPNs ... 3.75 mm (US 5)

 

Basket:

• cast on 4 sts
• kfb of each stitch using a separate needle for each stitch (ie.  ending up with 2 sts on each of 4 needles)  8 sts
• join to knit in the round
• kfb of ea st  16 sts
• k one round
• *kfb, k1, repeat from * to end  24 sts
• k one round
• *kfb, k2, repeat from * to end  32 sts
• k one round
• *kfb, k3, repeat from * to end  40 sts
• k one round
• p one round
• continue straight knitting until piece is about 2 inches high
• With Cuff:  If you want to knit a cuff to fold over at the top of the basket, purl for another 7 rounds or so and then bind off
• Without Cuff:  p one more round and then bind off

Handle:

• cast on 4 sts on DPN
• k
• p
• k
• p
• now continue knitting in I-cord until handle is approximately 5 inches long
• turn
• p
• k
• p
• bind off
• attach handle to sides of basket using whip stitch 

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Teeny Tiny Knitted Basket

Size:  approx. 1.5 inches high (not including handle), and 1 inch across

Yarn:  cotton ... I used some that was about sock yarn weight ... double strands
Needles:  set of 5 DPNs ... 3 mm (US 3)

Basket:

• Using double strands of yarn, cast on 4 sts
• kfb of each stitch using a separate needle for each stitch (ie. ending up with 2 sts on each of 4 needles) 8 sts
• join to knit in the round
• kfb of ea st  16 sts
• k one round
• *kfb, k1, repeat from * to end  24 sts
• k one round 
• p one round
• continue knitting in the round until the basket is the desired height (mine were about 1.5 inches high) 
• on last round before binding off, p one round
• bind off

Handle:

• Using double strands of yarn, cast on 3 sts on one DPN
• k
• p
• k
• now continue knitting to make an I-cord until handle is about 3.5 - 3.75 inches in length
• turn; p
• k
• p
• bind off

Each end of the handle should have a couple of rows in flat stockinette stitch.  Lay the flat ends on either side of the basket and whip stitch around to secure it to the basket.

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Obviously, there are many ways to vary these patterns.  You can change the stitches along the way to add some interest to the basket.  I added a couple of rounds of seed stitch on some, and a round of purl on others.  You can change the yarn to add stripes as well.

Enjoy!

 

Wendy