Handy Crochet Basket in Bernat Maker Outdoor - Downloadable PDF

Handy Crochet Basket in Bernat Maker Outdoor – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern

This free downloadable crochet pattern from Bernat, made in partnership with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, guides you through creating a sturdy, stylish Handy Crochet Basket worked in the round from the bottom up. The finished basket measures approximately 10 inches [25.5 cm] in diameter and 11 inches [28 cm] tall, making it a practical and attractive storage solution for the home, patio, or outdoor living space.

What You Will Make

The project is a crocheted cylindrical basket designed for use as a container — ideal for storing yarn, plants, blankets, magazines, or household essentials. Its generous dimensions make it functional as well as decorative. The two-color design in Black (99004) and Sandy Beach (99002) gives the basket a clean, modern aesthetic that suits both indoor and outdoor settings.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Bernat Maker Outdoor in chunky weight (8.8 oz / 250 g; 249 yds / 228 m per ball)
• Contrast A: Black (99004) — 2 balls required
• Contrast B: Sandy Beach (99002) — 1 ball required
• Crochet Hook: U.S. size G/6 (4 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• Additional Tools: Stitch marker

Bernat Maker Outdoor is specifically engineered for projects that may be exposed to the elements, making this basket particularly well-suited for patio, garden, or poolside use. Its chunky weight works up quickly and produces a thick, durable fabric with excellent structure — important for a container that needs to hold its shape.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 15 single crochet stitches and 17 rows to 4 inches [10 cm]. Achieving the correct gauge is especially important for this project, as it directly affects the final diameter and height of the basket. Crocheting a gauge swatch before beginning is strongly recommended.

Techniques and Construction Method

The basket is constructed entirely in the round, beginning at the base and working upward to form the sides. This seamless, circular construction is a classic approach for crocheted containers and produces a smooth, continuous fabric without visible seams. Each round is joined with a slip stitch to the first single crochet of that round, keeping the edges neat and well-defined.

• Starting the base: The basket begins with a magic ring technique — specifically, a chain-2 start with 8 single crochets worked into the second chain from the hook, forming a tight, closed center circle.
• Increasing rounds: The flat circular base is shaped through a series of evenly spaced increase rounds. Each increase round adds 8 stitches, expanding the circle outward in a consistent, hexagonal-style pattern. This method of regular increases is fundamental to crocheting flat circles and ensures the base lies flat without ruffling or cupping.
• Transitioning to the sides: Once the base reaches the desired diameter, the increases are stopped and the work continues straight upward, forming the tall cylindrical walls of the basket.
• Two-color design: The pattern uses two contrasting colors — Contrast A (Black) and Contrast B (Sandy Beach) — to create visual interest. Color changes are worked into the rounds to produce a striped or color-blocked effect.

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch) — used at the start and at the beginning of rounds
• Single crochet (sc) — the primary stitch throughout the entire basket, used for both the base and the sides
• Slip stitch (sl st) — used to join each round neatly
• Increase (inc) — working 2 single crochets into the same stitch to expand the base circle

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated beginner level,