Maja basket

Maja Basket by Malloo

What Is Being Made

The Maja basket is a large, structured container designed for storage and organization. This crocheted basket measures 13.5 x 13.5 inches (34 x 34 cm), making it a substantial piece suitable for holding yarn, blankets, toys, or other household items. The project combines two colors—white (Color A) and black (Color B)—to create visual interest and definition in the finished piece.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a crochet project, classified as beginner-friendly despite its finished size. The basket is worked in the round using joined rounds, which means each round is completed and connected with a slip stitch before moving to the next round. This construction method creates a seamless, structured container with clean edges and a professional appearance.

Crochet Stitches and Abbreviations Used

The pattern employs fundamental crochet stitches that make it accessible to beginners:

• Single crochet (sc)—the basic stitch that forms the foundation of the basket's structure
• Half double crochet (hdc)—used to create texture and height variation
• Chain stitches (ch)—used to create foundation chains and transition points
• Slip stitch (sl st)—used to join rounds and create seamless transitions
• Increases (inc)—used to expand the basket's dimensions
• Decreases (dec)—used to shape and structure the basket walls
• Magic Ring (MR)—the starting technique for working in the round

The pattern also incorporates specialized techniques such as third loop only (tlo), front loop only (flo), and back loop only (blo) stitching, which add textural depth and visual definition to the finished basket.

Materials and Tools

The Maja basket requires super bulky yarn in two colors. Specifically, the pattern calls for 550 meters (600 yards) or 6 skeins of yarn in white (Fisherman) for Color A, and 180 meters (196 yards) or 2 skeins of yarn in black (Fisherman) for Color B. The designer used Lion Brand Fisherman yarn for this project.

Two crochet hooks are needed: a US N/10 mm hook and a US P/11.5 mm hook. The pattern specifies holding two strands of yarn throughout the entire project, which creates a thicker, more durable fabric and contributes to the basket's structural integrity.

Additional materials include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors for cutting yarn, and a piece of cardboard measuring 4 x 5 inches (likely used as a reinforcement or template during construction).

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern establishes a gauge of 7 stitches and 7 rows measuring 4 inches when worked in single crochet with the 10 mm hook. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the basket to reach its intended finished dimensions of 13.5 x 13.5 inches (34 x 34 cm).

Pattern Notes and Construction Details

The pattern is written in US crochet terminology and worked in joined rounds, meaning each round is completed and connected before beginning the next. An important construction note states that the first stitch of every round is worked in the same stitch as the slip stitch and does not count as a stitch—this is a key detail for maintaining proper stitch counts throughout the project. The two-strand yarn technique used throughout adds weight, warmth, and durability to the finished basket, making it sturdy enough for practical storage use.