Free DIY Basket Pattern you can Knit up in a Flash

This cute DIY basket can be knitted in about an hour even if you’re a slow knitter.  Since this project uses jumbo yarn (size 7), it does not require a lot of stitches.

There are no complicated stitches in this project either if you can knit stitch and single crochet, you’ll be able to create this knitted basket.

I am always amazed at how fast jumbo and chunky yarns knit up.  It’s perfect for someone as impatient as I am, plus I like the look of the big knit projects.

The basket is 10 inches across and 6 inches high and only uses a single skein of jumbo yarn (with a bit left over).  I am a very loose knitter.  If you are a tight knitter, your baskets may only be 8 inches wide.  The gauge of knitting will play a role in how wide your baskets will be when you finish.   I knitted 3 of these baskets.  One was 10, one was 9 3/4 and one was 9.   A friend of mine knitted hers and she ended up with an 8.25-inch wide basket.  Your mileage here will vary depending on how tightly you knit. 

This is a perfect project for someone who knows how to knit and single crochet but wants to create something a bit more exciting than a scarf.

A quick note about knitting in the round

When you knit in the round, your knit pattern becomes a stockinette stitch.   It’s the magic of knitting in the round.

stockinette stitch is what I consider a true knit look.  It’s basic, and easy, but creates a very pretty punctuated pattern with jumbo yarn.

Stockinette stitch does have a downside.  It creates a top that will want to naturally curl in on itself.   This is why this knit basket has a simple crochet top in cotton cording.  The cording is stiff and opens the basket up, stopping that curl from happening altogether.

Materials and Tools to knit One DIY Basket

I completely winged this project because I could not find simple instructions on how to create a flat bottom.  Eventually, I figured it out but no lies, it took a few tries.

I’ve knitted up this pattern several times now, and I know there are no issues or snags.  It’s super easy, doesn’t require a lot of fussing, and uses only the simplest of stitches.

~This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click one and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.  I only ever recommend what tools or materials I use for my projects.  I also test all my projects before publishing and if something doesn’t work, I don’t share it!  ~

Materials

• One skein Red Heart Grande Yarn, Oatmeal
• Macrame Cord Natural Cotton 3mm

I have a full blog post dedicated to jumbo yarns.  It’s a good reference if you don’t like the recommended yarn for this project.   A nice alternative would be Bernat Mega Bulky Yarn.

Tools

• Circular 24-inch (60cm) Knitting Needles; Size US 19 (15.0mm)

You can also use 16-inch circular knitting needles, your stitches will be a bit crowded, but it does work and may work better for some of you.  

Important:  I’ve had a few comments about 24 inch needles being too long. 

The recommended yarn has a gauge of 4 inches per 6 stitches –  with 32 stitches this would create a circumference of 21.5.   This can be knitted on 24-inch circular needles.  

I knit loose and my gauge for this yarn was 4.5 inches (give or take)  per 6 stitches making a 24-inch circular needle a  really good fit.   I had no problem at all joining in the round or knitting up my baskets on 24-inch needles.  It actually felt a bit crowded for me until I got to the reduction rounds. 

I never considered my knitting gauge when I took the measurements of the baskets. 

BUT…If your knitting gauge usually runs lower because you are a tighter knitter you may actually find the 24-inch needles too long. 

Your knitting gauge will also determine the width of these baskets.   I had folks report anything from 8 inches to 11 inches  – knitting gauge apparently is wildly variant.  

If you use any other yarn with any other gauge, I cannot tell you how these will knit up.  Even if you use a different jumbo yarn there is no guarantee because gauge on those jumbo yarns varies as wildly as well. 

• Crochet Hook, 7mm

Step 1

Cast on 32 stitches on your size 19 knitting needles.

Step 2

Knit 13 rows in the round.  I use a simple safety pin to mark the start of my round and move it to the next round each time.

Step 3

At row 14 stitch two together for the full round.  You will have 16 stitches remaining on your needles.

Step 4

At row 15  stitch two together for the rest of the round.  It gets a bit tight here; your needles will take a bit of pushing and pulling because your stitches are now very close together.  This will leave eight stitches on your knitting needles.

Step 5

Gently remove your knitting needles, keeping your last eight stitches loops intact.

Weave your tail through the last eight stitches and give a gentle pull, your bottom should like the photo below.

Step 6.

The top of your DIY basket will be a bit curly; it won’t stand up straight.  We rectify this by crocheting a simple trim around the top.

Single crochet into the single top stitch with your 3mm cording and a 7mm crochet hook  (as shown in the photo below), go two full rounds and tie off.

Don’t crochet too tightly, leave your crochet stitches loose enough to bridge between your knit stitches.

If you crochet too tightly it will create a top that is too narrow, so watch your stitches.

Related: Is crochet needle sizing a bit of a mystery to you? Check out our beginners guide to crochet needles sizes!

Finishing up your DIY Basket

This DIY basket is soft and collapsible.   You can fold your DIY baskets down and tuck them away, or stand them up somewhere on display. They stand up on their own just fine, but they are not stiff.

If you want a stiffer basket I recommend using Bernat Maker Big Yarn, it’s a T-shirt yarn but knits up stiff and tight and will give these DIY baskets rigid sides.

You can also weave a cord, or ribbon through the top knitted loops to create drawstrings.

I initially made one DIY basket, and I liked it so much I knitted a set for my new office.  They are a cute way to sort small office supplies.