One thing I loved as a kid were holiday crafts. Easter brought paper bunnies and decorated Easter eggs. As a child, my sisters, brothers and I would spend hours investing in coloring Easter eggs, arguing over who got to use which color when, trying to figure out who was hoarding the clear wax crayon and I especially remember my sister Stacy mixing the dark dye into the lighter colored dyes and causing a muddy color for the rest of us to work with. (Ugh!) Grandma always gave each of us a Fanny Mae milk chocolate bunny and the Easter bunny came with gifts of his own for all 5 of us. Those were the days.
Seeing I haven’t done an Easter craft project in well over a decade, I decided this was the year! My most favorite medium these days is yarn, and I have an increasingly growing stash that desperately needs to be busted through. Seeing Easter is right around the corner, I wanted something quick, not gauge specific and a project that required little yarn to make the most of the bits an pieces that I haven’t been able to part with.
These super easy mini Easter baskets work up in less than an hour and are big enough to hold a few candies or egg for someone in your life who needs a little Easter cheer.
Materials
- Size G crochet hook
- Worsted Weight yarn
- Yarn needle
Pattern
Bottom of basket:
Set-up: Using the magic loop method, single crochet 6 stitches into the loop and pull tight.
Join in the round with a slip stitch, chain 1
Row 1: 2 single crochet in each chain around, sl st to join, chain 1 (12 stitches)
Row 2: *(sc, sc, 2 sc in next stitch) *repeat to the end, join with slip stitch, ch 1 (18 stitches)
Row 3: 2 sc in first stitch, sc, sc, *(2 sc, sc, sc) *repeat around, join with slip stitch, chain 1 (bottom of basket should measure 2″ in diameter)
Sides of basket:
Row 4: Working in the back loops of the bottom of the basket, increase 1 in the first stitch by single crocheting twice in the first loop, single crochet in back post around, join with sl st, chain 1 (25 stitches around)
Rows 5- 7: Working in both loops, single crochet around, join with sl st, chain 1
Handle:
Row 8: sc 2, ch 1 turn
Row 9: sc 2, ch 1, turn
Row 10: sc 2, ch 1, turn
Row 11: single crochet 2 together, chain 1, turn
Rows 12- 18: sc 1, ch 1, turn
Row 19: 2 single crochet in stitch, chain 1, turn
Row 20: sc 2, ch 1 turn
Row 21: sc 2, ch 1 turn
Row 22: sc 2, ch 1 turn
Join the end of handle half way around basket and slip stitch in place. Tie off an weave in ends.
Abbreviations
sc – Single Crochet
sl st – Slip Stitch
ch- chain
The baskets are super cute!
As for the pattern, I’m confused on two things. I’ve never heard of a magic loop method in my decades of crocheting. What is it? Also, row 4, “increase 1 in the first stitch” sounds more like knitting than crocheting. How do I increase? Single crochet? Chain 1? Two stitches on same post?
Hi Kelly- Great questions!
The Magic Loop is also called the Magic Ring or Adjustable Ring. The technique allows the stitches to be pulled into a tight circle. I have included a link to a tutorial in the pattern instructions in the post. I’m sure you’re not the only one with that question!
Alternately, you can elect to begin the basket by chaining 2 and single crocheting 6 in the second chain from the hook. You would join the first and 6th stitch with a slip stitch, chain 1 and follow the instructions starting with Row 1 in the pattern above.
To answer your other question, in row 4 you should increase by single crocheting two stitches in the first stitch (working in the back of the loop.)
I hope this helps, and hope that you give the magic loop/ring etc method a try! It’s one of my favorite techniques and have found it to be super versatile and improved my crochet skills! 🙂
Happy Crocheting!