This is something I made to put yarn into when I was using up yarn ends or yarn that I didn't really like. When I made the first one I only used three different skeins of worsted weight yarn. The basket can hold a cat, but when the dog (40-pound beagle mix) sat on it it didn't come back. I made a second still using three strands of yarn. On the third basket, I started with three strands of worsted weight yarn but added one strand of sock weight yarn and one strand of sport weight yarn. The bottom is soft and flexible, the sides are stiff.
On the fourth, I used 3 strands of worsted weight yarn, one strand of sock weight yarn, and one strand of sport weight yarn. It is stiff and better for cat weights (or small dogs weighing about 20 pounds or less).
Another thing that I learned, sides can be higher or lower according to the usage. If you want it for cats or dogs, it can be lower. If you want it to hold yarn or toys or something else, it can be higher.
This pattern is for stash busting or using up ends. I know that I have a lot of yarn that people gave me to use up because they couldn't figure out what to do and I was making things using up ends. This basket can and will use up a lot of yarn.
Cat Basket:
You will need lots of yarn. I used 3 strands of worsted weight, 1 strand of sock weight and 1 strand of sport weight. You just need to figure out what you have and the colors and how you want them to work.H Crochet Hook
Chain 4 or 5 - whichever works best for you. I was able to get 12 dc in a circle created from a chain 4, but it was tight. Join to form a circle.
Row 1: Place 12 dc in the circle. Connect and chain 3 up.
Row 2: Put 2 dc in each dc (24)
Row 3: * 1 dc, 2 dc, repeat from * around (36)
Row 4: * 1 dc in two, 2 dc, repeat from * around (48)
Row 5: * 1 dc in three, 2 dc, repeat from * around (60)
Row 6: * 1 dc in four, 2 dc, repeat from * around (72)
Row 7: * 1 dc in five, 2 dc, repeat from * around (84)
Row 8: * 1 dc in six, 2 dc, repeat from * around (96)
Row 9: * 1 dc in seven, 2 dc, repeat from * around (108)
Row 10: * 1 dc in eight, 2 dc, repeat from * around (120)
Row 11: * 1 dc in nine, 2 dc, repeat from * around (132)
You can continue in this way for two more rows or until the circle starts to turn upwards. You are adding 12 every round.
When you have the circle the size you want, put 1 dc in each dc around but only on the inside half of the stitch. This starts forming your side.
On the next row and all subsequent rows, you want to put one dc in each dc stitch and continue until the side is as high as you want it.
Keep adding in your yarns as they use up. You can use any method of attaching to the project that you are most comfortable with. I use a weaver's knot and put the ends under the dcs as I form them.
dc = double crochet
When it is as high as you like, finish off, sew in ends and start using.
