Round Nesting Baskets

Free Knitting Pattern

Three cute little round nesting baskets knit bottom up with 2 strands of worsted weight wool yarn at the same time in garter stitch for texture and strength. Small decreases at the bottom and top of the sides give them a sturdy structure. There are so many colour possibilities and tons of different ways to use these baskets. I hope you enjoy this free pattern.

I love mixing colours by working with 2 strands at the same time. This was a true stash buster for me, I started with Cascade 220 highland wool in Pear, a beautiful pale yellow with just the tiniest hint of green. I absolutely love this colour but it had been sitting in my stash for a while, waiting for the perfect pattern. I paired it up with one of my favourites, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (WOTA) Tweed in Olive Heather. These yarns work amazing together, both are an earthy yellow with a slight green tint that really popped when I started knitting them together.

For the colour change about 2 thirds up the sides of the basket I only switched out only one colour for a bit of an ombre look. I replaced the WOTA Tweed Olive Heather with Patons Classic Wool in Aran to lighten things up. Then switched out both yarns to darker colours for a nice contrast on the rim, I used WOTA Tweed in Flagstone Heather mixed with Patons Classic Wool – Mercury which is a flat dark (almost black) gray.

How will you use your baskets?

I have so many ideas for mine, I might have to make a few more sets (in different colours of course). My original intent was to use them for succulent pots. My wonderful, amazing friend just gave me a bunch of succulents for my birthday and I wanted to add a little something to the pots to display them. These will be perfect.

The baskets will also work great in other places:

• A bathroom counter for face cloths, cotton balls, q-tips.
• In a nursery for change table supplies, cloths, socks… I’m trying to think of stuff because these would be adorable in a nursery it’s just been a really long time since I’ve had babies.
• These would be awesome on your bedroom dresser. Maybe to keep some hair accessories, scrunchies and ties.
• How cute would these be on the table in your craft room? I know you’ve got a lot of stuff you can keep inside, little odds and ends, faux fur pompoms, those little balls of leftover yarn waiting for the right stash busting project. And if you don’t have a craft room these would be perfect to place in the other areas of your house that you need to store your supplies.
• And of course, these will make a great gift as well, for a housewarming, wedding, birthday, or just because. Nest them together, add a little something special in the small basket and tie it up with a big bow.

Pattern Notes

Tips

A couple tips so you don’t get lost while in a state of mindless knitting in the round (I get you): You’ll be able to tell if you’re on a knit round or purl round by the direction of the stitch. On the bottom of the basket the knit rounds increase, I’ve included the stitch count at the end of each increase round so you can easily check on the round number and find your place in the pattern (divide by 3 to match the number on each needle).

Needle Options

You will be working most of the baskets on US7 (4.5mm) double point needles. You can switch out to a 16″ circular for the medium and large baskets but wait until you have a few rounds worked up the side of the baskets so you don’t stretch out the bottom.

Finishing

Instructions tell you to wash and shape but I’m going to leave this one up to you. When you’re all done the baskets will be sturdy and stand nicely one their own. Washing will weaken the stitches at first and they will totally fall flat. You’ll need to look around your home for items to help shape them. I found cylinder shaped glass jars that were the perfect size for the small and medium baskets, for the large basket I had to search a little harder. I finally grabbed one of my husbands big beer growlers and it fit like a glove… and kind of looked cool too, do you think he needs a growler cozy for his birthday?

Sizing

If you want to adjust the height of the baskets to fit something specific it is super easy adjust. 1″ = 8 rows (or 4 garter stitch ribs). I have a plant pot on my front porch that I am going to knit up a taller basket for. I’ll post a pic later.

The Pattern

Yarn

Worsted Weight wool yarn – approximately 440 yards total in different colours to complete all three baskets

This is a stash buster, you can mix and match your colours and brands but stick to an even thickness worsted weight for consistency. Here are the 5 colours I used, from the image, top to bottom. The colour changes are indicated in the pattern using this legend.

• E – Patons Classic Wool / Mercury
• D – Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed / Flagstone Heather
• C – Patons Classic Wool / Aran
• B – Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed / Olive Heather
• A – Cascade 220 Worsted / Pear

Needles and Tools

• US7 (4.5mm) Double Point Needles
• US7 (4.5mm) 16″ circular needle (optional)
• Darning Needle

Gauge

• 4″ = 15 stitches and 24 rows in garter stitch

Sizes

• This pattern is written for 3 baskets that nest together.
• The sizes are indicated in the pattern as small (medium, large)

• Approximate Measurements:
• Small – circumference 3.5″ (9 cm), height 3″ (7.5 cm)
• Medium – circumference 4.5″ (11.5cm) , height 4″ (10 cm)
• Large – circumference 5.5″ (14cm) height 5″ (12.5 cm)

Abbreviations

• CO – Cast On
• K2tog – Decrease 1 by knitting the next 2 stitches together
• KFB – Knit Front and Back, increase 1 by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch

Instructions

• CO 3 with yarn A and B at the same time on US 7 (4.5mm) double point needle
• KFB x3, divide these 6 stitches evenly onto 3 needles and join round
• Round 1 – Purl
• Round 2 – [KFB] repeat to end (12 stitches)
• Round 3 – Purl
• Round 4 – [K1, KFB] repeat to end (18 stitches)
• Round 5 – Purl
• Round 6 – [K1, KFB] repeat to end (27 stitches)
• Round 7 – Purl
• Round 8 – [K2, KFB] repeat to end (36 stitches)
• Round 9 – Purl
• Round 10 – [K2, KFB] repeat to end (48 stitches)
• Round 11 – Purl
• SIZE SMALL SKIP AHEAD TO *
• Medium and Large only
• Round 12 – [K3, KFB] repeat to end (60 stitches)
• Round 13 – Purl
• SIZE MEDIUM SKIP AHEAD TO *
• Large only
• Round 14 – [K3, KFB] repeat to end (75 stitches)
• Round 15 – Purl
• *ALL SIZES CONTINUE HERE
• Decrease Round – [[K10 [10, 13] K2tog] repeat to end
• Next Round – Purl
• Next Round – Knit
• Next Round – Purl
• Repeat these 2 rounds (garter stitch) 10 [14, 18] more times
• (total of 12, 16, 10 rounds – or 6, 8, 10 garter stitch ribs)
• Switch yarn B to yarn C, continue working yarn A
• Work 4 [6, 8] more rounds of garter stitch
• Decrease Round – [[K9 [9, 12] K2tog] – repeat to end
• Next Round – Purl
• Switch to yarns D and E
• Next Round – Knit
• Next Round – Purl
• Bind off all stitches

Finishing

• Use a darning needle to join the first and last stitch of the rim.
• Weave in loose ends on the inside of the basket.
• Wash. Use jars or pots to help shape as they dry. I used jars for small and medium and a beer growler (it was perfect!) for the large size.

© 2021 Heather Pelletier – Handknit Hugs
Do not copy, re-distribute or sell this pattern either in whole or in part.
You may sell products made from this pattern – credit would be appreciated.

Thanks so much, I hope you’ve enjoyed this pattern. I would love to see your finished baskets. Share a pic on Ravelry or Instagram @handknithugs #roundnestingbaskets. I’m debating making knit lids for these, what do you think?