FESTIVE GIFT BASKET
Lift the living room this Christmas with this ultra-bright gift basket by Ilaria Caliri
■ Scheepjes Namaste (50% acrylic, 50% wool, 100g/85m), 2 balls of each: Dolphin (606), Crane (601)
1 ball of each: Locust (604), Handstand (620), Garland (612), Eagle (602)
■ A 5mm (US H/8) hook
■ Short length of plastic tube or rope to fit
around rolled top (optional)
■ 30cm square of 5mm thick felt (optional)
■ Stitch marker
TENSION
Tension is not critical for this project but may affect the yarn quantities required
MEASUREMENTS
30cm (11 in) diameter, 25cm (9 ) tall
ABBREVIATIONS
FPdtr (front post double treble) (Yrh) twice, starting from the front, insert hook from front to back to front around post of st in row below, complete as double treble st
6-tr cl (6 treble cluster) *Yrh, insert hook into st, yrh and pull a loop through, yrh and pull through first 2 loops on hook; rep from * 5 times more in same st, yrh and pull through all 7 loops on hook
For a full list, see page 90
NOTES
The Basket is worked in one piece from the base to the top edge.
Parts of pattern are worked using the tapestry method, carrying unused strand and working sts over it to enclose yarn.
If you are left-handed, your patterns will slant in the opposite direction to those shown in the image.
BASKET
BASE
Using Dolphin, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as first tr throughout), 11tr into the loop, ss in top of beg ch-3 to join. [12 sts]
Round 2 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, 2tr in each st around, ss in top of beg ch-3. [24 sts]
Round 3 Ch3, 2tr in next st, (tr in next st, 2tr in next st) 11 times, ss in top of beg ch-3. [36 sts]
Round 4 Ch3, tr in next st, 2tr in next st, (tr in next 2 sts, 2tr in next st) 11 times, ss in top of beg ch-3. [48 sts]
Round 5 Ch3, tr in next 2 sts, 2tr in next st, (tr in next 3 sts, 2tr in next st) 11 times, ss in top of beg ch-3. [60 sts]
Rounds 6-10 Cont increasing 6 sts evenly per round in patt as set. [120 sts after Round 10] Continue with the sides, which are worked in sections.
FIRST SECTION DIAGONAL LINES
First Section is worked in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a ss. You may find it helpful to mark the first st of each round, moving the marker up as you work.
Round 11 Ch1 (does not count as st), dc in bl of each st around.
Round 12 Dc in each st around.
Join Locust and start working over strand until directed to change to it.
Round 13 Using Dolphin dc in first 2 sts, *change to Locust, 2FPdtr around st 2 rounds below and 1 st to the right, skip 2 sts behind FPdtr, change to Dolphin, dc in next 8 sts; rep from * 11 times more omitting final 2 sts.
Rounds 14-15 Using Dolphin, dc in each st around.
Pick up Locust and start working over strand until directed to change to it.
Round 16 Using Dolphin dc in first 4 sts, *change to Locust, FPdtr in each of FPdtr below, skip 2 sts behind FPdtr, change to Dolphin, dc in next 8 sts; rep from * 11 times more omitting final 4 sts, change to Crane, ss to beg dc. [120 sts]
Fasten off Dolphin and Locust.
SECOND SECTION DOTS
Continue in Crane in joined rounds.
Rounds 17-18 Ch2 (counts as htr throughout), htr in each st around, ss to top of beg ch-2. [120 sts]
Join Handstand and start working over strand until directed to change to it. Carry Crane behind bobbles.
For Rounds 19 and 21, use Crane for each htr and Handstand for each bobble.
Round 19 Ch2, htr in next 5 sts, (6-tr bobble in next st, htr in next 9 sts) 11 times, 6-tr bobble in next st, htr in next 3 sts, ss in top of beg ch-2. Do not fasten off Handstand. Continue in Crane.
Round 20 Ch2, htr in each st around, ss to top of beg ch-2.
Pick up Handstand and start working over strand until directed to change to it.
Round 21 Ch2, (6-tr bobble in next st, htr in next 9 sts) 11 times, 6-tr bobble in next st, htr in next 8 sts, ss to top of beg ch-2.
Round 22 As Round 20.
Round 23 As Round 19.
Fasten off Handstand and continue in Crane.
Rounds 24-25 As Round 20.
Fasten off.
THIRD SECTION ARROWS
Third Section is worked in a continuous spiral as for First Section.
Join Garland.
Rounds 26-27 Dc in each st around.
Join Eagle and start working over strand until directed to change to it.
Round 28 Using Crane, dc in next 3 sts, *change to Eagle, FPdtr in st 2 rounds below and 3 sts to left, skip st behind FPdtr, change to Garland, dc in next 7 sts; rep from * 14 times more omitting final 3 sts.
Do not fasten off Eagle. Continue in Garland.
Round 29 Dc in each st around.
Pick up Eagle and carry it as before.
Round 30 (Dc in next 7 sts, change to Eagle, FPdtr inserting the hook into the top of the FPdtr below, skip st behind FPdtr) 15 times. [120 sts]
Do not fasten off Eagle. Continue in Garland.
Round 31 As Round 29, ss in first dc.
Fasten off Garland.
FOURTH SECTION TRIANGLES
Using Eagle and carrying Locust, work in joined rounds.
Round 32 Ch2, change to Locust, htr in next 8 sts, (change to Eagle, htr in next 2 sts, change to
Locust, htr in next 8 sts) 11 times, change to Eagle, htr in next st, ss in top of beg ch-2. [120 sts]
Round 33 Ch2, htr in next st, change to Locust, htr in next 6 sts, (change to Eagle, htr in next 4 sts, change to Locust, htr in next 6 sts) 11 times, change to Eagle, htr in next 2 sts, ss in top of beg ch-2.
Round 34 Ch2, htr in next 2 sts, change to Locust, htr in next 4 sts, (change to Eagle, htr in next 6 sts, change to Locust, htr in next 4 sts) 11 times, change to Eagle, htr in next 3 sts, ss in top of beg ch-2.
Round 35 Ch2, htr in next 3 sts, change to Locust, htr in next 2 sts, (change to Eagle, htr in next 8 sts, change to Locust, htr in next 2 sts) 11 times, change to Eagle, htr in next 4 sts, ss in top of beg ch-2.
Fasten off .
FIFTH SECTION EDGE AND HANDLES
Third Section is worked in a continuous spiral as for First Section.
Join Handstand in first st.
Round 36 Ch1 (does not count as st), dc in next 26 sts, ch18, skip next 18 sts, dc in next 42 sts, ch18, skip 18 sts, dc in next 16 sts. [120 sts]
Round 37 Ss in fl of each st and ch around.
Rounds 38-47 Ss in bl of each st around.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
TO FINISH
Roll the edge outwards and reinforce with a plastic tube or rope if desired. Sew the final round to the first round of the Fifth Section. Cut a 30cm diameter circle from 5mm thick felt to use as a base for the Basket, and sew or glue in place.
Weave in all ends.