KITTY BASKET
My friend gifted me this yarn and I wondered
what I could do with it.. just one ball of yarn and this lovely extra thick
yarn.. so I started scouring the net to see what would work best. Coincidentally my friend (yes, the same one
who gifted this yarn) has a cat – so I thought this would make an ideal kitty
cat basket .. whatchathink?
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Materials used : One ball of this stunningly thick and super bulky Alpaca with a 6 mm crochet hook ; a little embroidery thread ; embroidery needle
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; macrame yarn ; Silk yarns as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well
General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
As this is a kitty basket, I'd say softness was essential - so I'd choose a bulky yarn. In case you do not have a bulky yarn, I'd suggest holding 2-3 strands of a thinner soft yarn together.
International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.
I remembered (almost too late) to take a photo of the yarn
Skill level : Easy
Stitches used :
Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern. For your convenience there video tutorials through the blog too
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.
This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.
I loved how soft and super bulky this yarn was,
but with one ball, I could not figure out what to do. My friend has cats – so I thought this would
be the best thing to make.. now to get lovely photos of the kitties enjoying
this
Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg
Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8
Start Round 1 :
with a magic circle and 8 hdc in it.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Now each round we will increase 8 sts.
Round 2 : 2 hdc in
the first hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (16
sts)
Round 3 : 2 hdc in
the first hdc ; hdc in the next hdc ;
(2 hdc in the next hdc ; hdc in the next hdc) ;
rep (to) all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (24
sts)
Round 4 : 2 hdc in
the first 2 hdc ; hdc in the next hdc ;
(2 hdc in the next 2 hdc ; hdc in the next hdc)
;
rep (to) all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (32
sts)
So this is the way you will increase 8 sts each
round. Just work this till you have a
base round as large as you want for your kitty.
Why am I not specifying how many rounds ? Well,
I worked with this super bulky yarn, but this is not specific for this
pattern. You can make this basket using
any yarn – so I may reach my required diameter in 10 rounds, but you may need
more with a regular 4 or 6 ply yarn.
What can you do to make your yarn super bulky?
Well, the simplest thing I would do is hold 2-3 strands together.
I have also used this technique to bulk up my
yarn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7mug_y4BZM&feature=youtu.be
Right, so once you have the base round done to
the diameter you want, I worked one round of sc-blo
Single crochet back loop only (sc-blo) : https://youtu.be/TaQI3Vu9VRQ
Working a round of sc-blo gives a ‘rim’ to your
base.
From here on, just work 1 hdc in each st all
around, without increase.
This
will take your project straight up and give it the flat side edge that you need
for your basket.
Continue working without increase till you have the side length you need (or you run out of yarn ;) )
Finish off with a round of sc or crab stitch (if
you have the yarn – crab stitch uses more yarn than sc) for a neat finish.
Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk
I hope you had as much fun as I did.. have a
great day too.
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