Basket of Flowers Retro Brooch

Basket of Flowers Retro Brooch by Rustyfish

What is Being Made

This is a small, wearable brooch inspired by vintage 1950s sewing basket pins. The design features a crocheted basket filled with decorative flowers, finished with a brooch back for wearing on clothing or accessories. The finished piece measures approximately 45x50mm, making it compact enough for everyday wear while maintaining detailed construction.

Craft and Technique Overview

The Basket of Flowers Retro Brooch is created using crochet techniques at an intermediate difficulty level. This project demonstrates classic crochet construction methods combined with embellishment techniques. The small scale of the finished brooch requires precision and attention to detail, making it suitable for crocheters with foundational skills and some experience working with specialty materials.

Stitches and Crochet Techniques Used

• Treble (Tr) – the primary stitch forming the structural base of the basket
• Back Post Treble (bptr) – creates textured, dimensional elements by working around the post of previous stitches
• Front Post Treble (fptr) – adds additional texture and visual interest through post-based construction
• Chain (Ch) – used to establish the foundation row for the basket

Materials and Tools

This brooch is constructed using embroidery threads rather than traditional yarn, which allows the finished piece to remain delicate and appropriately sized for a wearable brooch. The embroidery thread palette includes five colors: brown (A), yellow (E), red (D), blue (B), and green (C), enabling detailed color work and realistic flower representation.

Additional materials include a 2.5mm crochet hook, scissors, a needle for finishing and assembly, felt in brown and green for backing or support, and a brooch back for attachment. Optional embellishments include three flower beads and one seed bead to add sparkle and dimension to the completed design.

Design Flexibility

The pattern encourages creative customization by suggesting that makers can substitute their favorite flower varieties into the basket design. The small scale is intentional and important to the brooch format; however, the designer notes that enlarging the pattern could transform the piece into a purse or bag accessory, offering versatility for different project goals.

Pattern Publication

This design was originally published in Inside Crochet, Issue 47, October 2013, and is credited to designer Kirsty Taylor of Rustyfish.