Get rid of the floppy crochet basket. Use this invisible round to keep your crochet basket sides sturdy and upright. Plus tips to pick the right yarn and hook.
Last Christmas I had an idea to give crocheted gift baskets filled with some of my family’s favorite things. I tried a few crochet basket patterns and every single one turned out to look more like a bowl with rounded sides then a basket. Here’s a full list of crochet gift ideas.
After the holiday season, I was trying to organize the truckload of toys my kids accumulated. I needed new bins and crochet baskets with handles to corral the craziness. I revisited the basket patterns and figured out how to make sturdy baskets.
Why are some crochet baskets floppier than reheated pizza?
A lot has to do with the yarn type and hook size. The key to making a basket, instead of a bowl, is a sturdy base. You want the first round of the basket sides to be thick, tight, and stand up on their own.
The Best T-Shirt Yarn For Crochet Baskets
Your goal is to crochet a tight fabric. A super bulky weight yarn is a must. Some patterns even double up strands of chunky yarn. T-shirt yarn is the superhero for a few reasons.
- Thickness: T-shirt yarn is thicker than most super bulky weight yarn.
- Durable: T-shirt yarn doesn’t get fuzzy & looks the same as the day I made the baskets, even when my 3-year-old uses them for pretend play.
- Choices: The patterns and colors are so fun and modern. I found this shop in the United States that has the best selection and prices.
The Hook
To get a tight fabric, your stitches need to be tight. A smaller hook is a must. When I’m done with a crochet basket my hands are sore from the tension being so tight.
The Invisible Round
The sturdy, thick base is important to getting the crochet basket sides to stay upright on their own.
Here’s how most baskets are constructed.
- Crochet a flat circle for the base.
- Start the body of the basket by crocheting the first round in the back loop.
- Continue crocheting around until your basket reaches your desired height.
Step 2 of crocheting in the back loops is important, but there’s 1 more round you should add. The video tutorial shows you exactly how it’s done. If you prefer written instructions you can find them after the video below
A Sturdy Base For Your Crochet Basket
- After crocheting a flat circle, slip stitch in the back loops only all the way around the circle.
- Single crochet in each stitch around, BUT instead of inserting your hook under the top loops of the slip stitches insert it into the same place as you did in step 1. You will be working over the top of the round you just worked.
This extra step is called an invisible round because you are covering up the slip stitches. You won’t see them anymore. This creates a thick base for the start of your crochet basket sides.
Now you’re ready to test out your new skills. Here are a few patterns that use the invisible round.
The Bottom Line
- Use t-shirt yarn.
- Use a smaller hook than recommended.
- Add the invisible round to your basket sides.
- Don’t reheat your pizza.
For more crochet tips check out the Crochet Stitch Guide.
Now you can make sturdy gift baskets and fill them with the best gifts for crocheters. Share your finished crochet baskets with me on Instagram @sweeteverlyb
Crochet designer//Wanna be knitter// heart of an 80 year old//
When I'm not crocheting you can find me in the kitchen baking with my little ones, drinking iced coffee or watching Gilmore Girls.
I bought bernat maker home dec yarn. It is a t-shirt brand. When I started the circle round and made a few rounds it doesn’t look the finished product will be 12″.
Hi Sue,
I love the bernat maker yarn! It is much thinner than traditional t-shirt yarn. You could hold 2 or 3 strands together to make it thicker. Or if you keep working with this yarn I’d use a smaller hook and expect a smaller basket!
I hope this helps!
Sierra
Any advice for a basket already finished? It is my first basket and it is super floppy. If I can’t find a way to stiffen it otherwise, I’m going to have to have to end up buying wire and fabric to make a interior frame and lining for it just for it to be basket-y.
I accidentally found another way to create a sturdy base, and start sturdy sides. This is a different option, I guess. I’m making a string bag for my son, who is in the Percussion Band at school. He has to carry a drum pad, and multiple sticks and mallets to school with him, and his backpack is already over flowing. I wanted to make a string bag that he could sling over his shoulder, like his back pack, so I needed a base to the bag that I could later ‘attach’ a strap to.
Once I had a round base big enough for the drum pad to fit in, instead of starting my sides by crocheting once in each stitch around, I crocheted a BPHDC in each stitch around. This created a flat rim around the bottom of the bag. I noticed that for the next 3-5 rows, my sides stood straight up, even though I’m crocheting in the Moss Stitch. Of course, my bag isn’t meant to be that stiff, I’m crocheting with worsted weight yarn, but I’m also double stranding it for a mottled affect (two separate colors).
You could use bpsc, then in the next round go through the loops on the base, and your bp stitches to create the same affect, I would expect. believe me, it WILL create a good stiff base to work with.
Thanks for sharing this tip Shera! I love learning new ways to do things. The string bag sounds like it will turn out great.
Stay cozy,
Sierra
Would there be any way to fix a basket already made?
Thats what we do. We freeze left over pizza then when we want it again, heat a pan large enough for the pizza to fit. Add just a little evoo to help keep the crust moist while browning the crust! Yummy
That sounds good and sounds like an excellent plan. Hehe
Yes, if you can match the yarn just weave in the new yarn about half inch out from the hole and crochet to the next hole and half inch out. Start on bittom riw and work up, weave in the ends
This is great – thanks for the yarn resource too! One small disagreement – you can reheat pizza on the stove in a non-stick pan and you can get that nice crispy bottom 😉
Thanks for the pizza tip! I’m going to give this a try 🙂
Thats what we do. We freeze left over pizza then when we want it again, heat a pan large enough for the pizza to fit. Add just a little evoo to help keep the crust moist while browning the crust! Yummy
Really find the tip about T-shirt yarn not getting fuzzy-looking the best I’ve learned today. I agree that you have to crochet tightly on this project. I made two baskets with regular yarn months ago and experimented with the tension to see how much a difference it’d make. The sides were stiffer with a tighter stitch. Really can’t wait to start another with the T-shirt yarn and that hidden stitch of yours. Have you made any baskets in a larger diameter than 12 inches?
Hello!
You’ll love having a basket made out of T-shirt yarn. The best way to learn is to just try it! The largest basket I’ve made was about 18″ diameter. It was still nice and sturdy.
You mentioned you have dealt with a couple of stores that sell T-shirt yarn. Could you tell us or is it a secret? Ssshhhh 😙
In item #3 Choices above, she has a link to the Etsy shop she uses; click on the word “shop.”
Hello,
Is there a trick to fixing the bottom of a basket? Mine is not laying flat but instead it’s curling. I must have added too many stitches somewhere along the way. I don’t want undo it if I can help it.
Hi Dhvani,
Depending on the yarn you’re using, you can block it to lay flat before you start the sides. If the yarn you’re using won’t take to blocking I’d recommend pulling out a few rounds of the base to see where it starts to curl. Here’s how I tell if you need to add more or take away stitches.
If it’s curling up like a bowl: Increase faster, more stitches in each round, or try a larger hook.
If it’s wavy like a potato chip: Increase slower, less stitches in each round, or try a smaller hook.
I hope this helps!
Sierra
I have made many baskets with t-shirt yarn and doubles and triples of worsted yarn. I have crocheted over closthesline rope, plastic oxygen tubing, and anything I can find to stiffen the walls of the basket. I can’t wait to try this. Thanks for the great idea!
Whoa Melissa! You have tried it all! The oxygen tubing is a unique idea. I hope the tip helps!
Sierra
WOW, what a great tip, will be trying this next time i make baskets, Also i have to add, those wooden handles, SO GREAT! they just add that little something extra. Did you buy at hardware store? Or will i be spending my weekend raiding the woods?? haha
Hello Shelly,
I bought the birch sticks from Hobby Lobby and my husband cut them to this size. They were about 3 feet long to start with. He’s also cut them into buttons for me 🙂 Regular sticks will work too if you don’t mind hunting them down!
Stay Cozy,
Sierra
Love your crochet baskets. Just wondering what size hook you used and do you have instructions for the base of the basket?
Thank you very much!
Karen
Hi Karen!
You can get the pattern for both sized baskets here. The hook size is and written instructions are included.
I hope this helps.
Sierra
Where do you buy the t-shirt yarn? And how much do I need for a large size basket?
Hi Marty!
I love this T-shirt yarn.
I used 2 skeins of yarn for the large basket.
I hope this helps!
Sierra
Do you have a video showing how to knit the bottom and sides of the wine bottle?? I am new at crocheting. Much appreciated.
Pat
Hi Pat!
Here’s the pattern for the wine bottle cover.https://sweeteverlyb.com/crochet-wine-bottle-cover/
I don’t have a step by step video for this one, but the written pattern is beginner friendly.
I hope this helps!
Sierra
*This* has to be the most helpful crochet tip I’ve read in a long time! I saw this as I was about to crochet a dog bed and adding this invisible row made a huge difference! Thank you…and yes, I agree, YOU ROCK!!
Yay! The simple things sometimes make the biggest difference.
Stay cozy,
Sierra
I’m so glad I found your video because I love making t-shirt yarn baskets!! This is really going to make a difference in them. Thanks so much for posting this!
Hello Diane,
T-shirt yarn baskets are the BEST! I’m so happy you found this tip helpful. It’s the little things that help make project perfect.
Stay Cozy,
Sierra
I bought the brand bernat maker home dec yarn. It’s t-shirt yarn. Will that work?
You rock! Thanks for sharing.
Hey Kristyn,
Thank you! I love the patterns you are sharing on your site. I need to try Tunisian crochet soon so I can make those potholders 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for shating your patterns