Pastel Gift Baskets

Designed by Kathy Wigington

Checkered Basket

Finished Size
Basket is 9 1/2"-long and 3 1/2"-tall not including Handle.

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn -- 3 oz. white, 1 oz. each green and yellow
• Two 18" pieces 16-gauge wire
• Sewing thread
• Sewing and tapestry needles
• J crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge
With 2 strands yarn held together, 3 dc = 1"; 3 dc rows = 2".
Notes: Use 2 strands same color yarn held together throughout.
When changing colors, work over dropped color and carry across to each color section.
Fasten off colors when no longer needed.

Basket
Base
Row 1: With white, ch 29, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn (28 sc).
Rows 2-16: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, do not turn, fasten off.

Sides
Rnd 1: Working around outer edge of Base, working in back lps of row 16, join green with sl st in first st, ch 3, dc in each of next 3 sts changing to white in last st made, dc in each of next 2 sts changing to green in last st made, (dc in next 4 sts changing to white in last st made, dc in each of next 2 sts changing to green in last st made) 3 times, dc in each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 3 rows changing to white in last st made, dc in each of next 2 rows changing to green in last st made, dc in next 4 rows changing to white in last st made, dc in each of next 2 rows changing to green in last st made, dc in each of next 3 rows, 2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts changing to white in last st made, continue working in established color pattern around, join with sl st in top of ch-3, fasten off both colors (88 dc).
Rnd 2:Join yellow with sl st in first st, ch 3 change to white, *dc in each of next 2 sts changing to yellow in last st made, (dc in next 4 sts changing to white in last st made, dc in each of next 2 sts changing to yellow in last st made) 4 times, dc in each of next 2 sts changing to white in last st made, dc in each of next 2 sts changing to yellow in last st made; repeat between ( ) 2 more times*, dc in each of next 2 sts changing to white in last st made; repeat between ** one more time, dc in last st, join, fasten off both colors.
Rnd 3: Working in color pattern established in rnd 1, ch 3, dc in each st around changing colors as colors change in rnd 1, join, fasten off both colors.
Rnds 4-5: Repeat rnds 2 and 3.
Rnd 6:Join white with sc in first st; working left to right, reverse sc, in each st around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off.

Handle
Row 1: With green, ch 62, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch across, fasten off (60 dc).
Row 2: Working over one piece of wire (see illustration), join white with sc in last st of row 1, reverse sc in each st across, fasten off.

Row 3: Working in starting ch on opposite side of row 1, repeat row 2.
Fold 1/2" on ends of wire to inside of Handle. Tack Handle to rnds 1-5 centered inside long edges of Basket.

Ruffled Basket

Finished Size
Basket is 4" tall not including handle.

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn -- 2 1/2" oz. each white and green, 1 oz. each yellow and peach
• Three 18" pieces 16-gaugewire
• Craft glue or hot glue gun
• Tapestry needle
• G and J crochet hooks or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge
With J hook and 2 strands yarn held together, rnd 1 = 3/4" across; 3 sc rows = 1".
Notes: Use J hook and 2 strands same color yarn held together unless otherwise stated.
Do not join rnds unless otherwise stated. Mark first st of each rnd.

Basket
Rnd 1: With white, ch 2, 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook (8 sc).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around(16).
Rnd 3:(Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around (24).
Rnd 4: (Sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (32).
Rnd 5: (Sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join with sl st in first sc (40).
Rnd 6: Working this rnd in back lps only, ch 1, sc in first st, hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st, hdc in next st, (sc in each of next 2 sts, hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st, hdc in next st) around to last st, sc in last st, join, fasten off (56 sts).
Rnd 7:Join green with sl st in last hdc made, ch 3, tr next 2 sts tog, dc in next st, hdc in next st, 3 sc in next st, hdc in next st, (dc in next st, tr next 2 sts tog, dc in next st, hdc in next st, 3 sc in next st, hdc in next st) around, join with sl st in top of ch-3, fasten off (64).
Rnd 8: Join white with sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, (sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st) around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off (80).
Rnd 9: Join yellow with sl st in last hdc made, ch 3, tr next 3 sts tog, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, (dc in next st, tr next 3 sts tog, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st) around, join with sl st in top of ch-3, fasten off.
Rnd 10: Join white with sl st in first st, ch 1, sc first 3 sts tog, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, hdc in next st, (sc next 3 sts tog, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, hdc in next st) around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off.
Rnd 11: Join peach with sl st in last dc made, ch 3, tr next 3 sts tog, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, (dc in next st, tr next 3 sts tog, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st) around, join with sl st in top of ch-3, fasten off.
Rnd 12: Join white with sc in last hdc made, sc next 3 sts tog, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, (sc in next st, sc next 3 sts tog, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st) around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off.
Rnd 13: With green, repeat rnd 9.
Rnd 14: Join white with sl st in last hdc made, ch 4, skip next st, (sl st in next st, ch 4, skip next st) around, join with sl st in first sl st (40 ch sps).
Rnd 15: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 1, (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in each ch sp around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off.

Handle
For each piece, with G hook and 2 strands yellow held together, join with sc around one piece of wire, sc around wire covering completely, fasten off.
Glue sc on each end of wire to secure. Repeat with green and peach on remaining wires. Braid all 3 pieces together, tack ends to rnd 9 on inside of Basket.

Tulip Basket

Finished Size
Basket is 8" across bottom and 4" tall not including handle.

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn -- 3 oz. white, 1 oz. each green and yellow, small amount pink
• 1" x 20" piece of plastic canvas
• 22" pink 1/4" satin ribbon
• Pink sewing thread
• Sewing and tapestry needles
• G and J crochet hooks or sizes needed to obtain gauges

Gauges
With G hook and 2 strands held tog, 4 sc = 1"; 4 sc rows = 1". With J hook and 2 strands held together, 3 sc = 1"; 3 sc rows = 1".

Basket
Notes: Use 2 strands same color yarn held together unless otherwise stated.
Use J hook unless otherwise stated.
Rnd 1: Starting at bottom, with white, ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (6 sc).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around(12).
Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around (18).
Rnd 4: (Sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (24).
Rnd 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (30).
Rnd 6: (Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (36).
Rnd 7:(Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (42).
Rnd 8:(Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (48).
Rnd 9:(Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (54).
Rnd 10:(Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (60).
Rnd 11:(Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (66).
Rnd 12:(Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off (72).
Rnd 13: Working this rnd in back lps only, join green with sc in first st, sc in each st around, join with sl st in first sc, fasten off.
Rnd 14: Join yellow with sc in first st, sc in each st around, join.
Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join, fasten off.
Rnd 16: Join white with sc in first st, sc in each st around, join.
Rnds 17-21: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. At end of last rnd, fasten off.
Rnds 22-23: Repeat rnds 14-15.
Rnd 24:Join green with sc in first st; working left to right, reverse sc in each st around, join, fasten off.
For trim, with bottom facing you, working in front lps of rnd 12, join green with sl st in any st, sl st in each st around, join with sl st in first sl st, fasten off.

Tulip (make 9)
Note: Use G hook and one strand of yarn for reminder of pattern.
Row 1:With pink, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in last ch, turn (2 sc).
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in last ch, *sl st in next st on row 2, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in last ch; repeat from *, sl st in same st on row 2, fasten off.

Leaf (make 9)
With green, ch 12, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 4 chs, 3 sc in next ch, sc in next 4 chs, sl st in last ch, fasten off.
Sew Tulips and Leaves evenly spaced around rnds 17-20 as shown in photo.

Handle Side (make 2)
Row 1:With green, ch 82, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn, fasten off (80).
Row 2: Join yellow with sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn, fasten off.
Row 3:Join white with sl st in first st, ch 3, skip next st, hdc in next st, (ch 1, skip next st, hdc in next st) across, turn, fasten off (41 hdc, 40 ch sps).
Row 4:Join yellow with sc in first ch sp, sc in each hdc in each ch sp across, turn, fasten off (80).
Row 5:Join green with sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 6:Working this row in back lps, ch 1, sc in each st across, turn, fasten off.
Row 7:Repeat row 2.
Row 8: Join white with sl st in first st, ch 2, hdc in each st across, turn, fasten off.
Row 9: Repeat row 2.
Row 10: Repeat row 5, fasten off.
Weave ribbon through hdc of row 3 on one Side. Turn ends under; tack in place. Holding Sides wrong sides together with plastic canvas strip between, matching sts, sew long edges together. Tack Handle ends to rnds 13-23 on inside of Basket.