Stashbusting Crocheted Basket

I’m notorious for gathering and saving those little shampoos and soaps from hotel rooms.  Why?  I have no idea.  It’s not like I do a ton of traveling where having a stock pile of tiny soaps would be beneficial to me, but for some reason I just like collecting them…I like knowing I have them should the need for a little conditioner arise.

Ironically, these little shampoos have taken up more space in my closet than a full bottle of shampoo…so I needed to find some way to store these supplies that was convenient and space-friendly.

Enter the amazingly large, easy and cute Stash Buster Tote!  This crocheted tote can literally hold tons of stuff…and the V-stitch allows it to keep its shape while you stuff it with anything and everything you can imagine.

Made with 2 strands of yarn, this tote is durable and strong…and it works up quickly, so it’s a great project for a weekend or a rainy or snowy day spent inside.

This tote would also be great for storing fruit and veggies, craft supplies, toys, jewelry, makeup, and other little essentials.  You can make them in different sizes and shapes by altering the pattern just slightly.  Continue round 5, just increase an additional dc in each round (so the next round would be ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 4 sts) for a bigger basket, and omit round 5 for a smaller one.  You can also make the basket walls as high as you’d like by continuing or halting rounds when you get to round 7.

d

Stash Buster Tote

Materials:

• 2 balls Red Heart Super Saver yarn
• 6.5 mm [US K-10 ½] crochet hook
• Yarn Needle

f

Special Abbreviations:  V st:  (dc, ch 1, dc) all in the same st. or ch.  As you can see, you’ll be making little V’s all around the basket.
k

d

Instructions:
This pattern requires holding two strands of yarn.  Ch 2 does NOT count as a st.  Ch 4 does count as dc and ch 1.

1. With 2 strands of yarn held together, ch 4, sl st in first ch to create ring.
2. Round 1:  Ch 2, 12 dc in ring, join with sl st to first dc.  (12 dc)
3. Round 2:  Ch 2, 3 dc in each st around, join with sl st to first dc.  (24 dc)
4. Round 3:  Ch 2, (2 dc in first st, dc in next st) 12 times, join with sl st to first dc. (36 dc)
5. Round 4:  Ch 2, (2 dc in first st, dc in next 2 stitches) 12 times, join with sl st to first dc.  (48 dc)
6. Round 5:  Ch 2, (2 dc in first st, dc in next 3 sts) 12 times, join with sl st to first dc.  (60 dc)
7. Round 6:  Chain 4, dc in first st, sk 1 st, (V-st, sk 1 st) 29 times, join in 3^rd ch of ch-4.   (30 V-st)
8. Rounds 7-15:  Sl st into first ch 1, ch 4, dc in same ch 1, (V-st in next ch 1) 29 times, join in 3^rd ch of ch 4.  (30 V-st) if you want your basket to be higher, you can continue this for five more rounds, for a total of 20.  I thought 15 was plenty for me.
9. Round 16:  Ch 3 dc in each dc from previous round, join in top of ch 3.
10. Weave in ends.

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.