Crochet Jingle Bells Basket

GAUGE: Rounds 1-4 = 3½” (9 cm) in pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Basket measures 7” tall x 8” diameter across bottom (18 x 20.5 cm)

Special Stitches

sm shell (small shell) = 3 dc in same st.

lg shell (large shell) = 5 dc in same st.

bell sc = Drop standard hook; with steel hook, pull up a loop through bell hole, transfer loop back to standard hook, sc in indicated st.

Notes

1. Divide each skein into 3 equal balls. Hold 3 strands together unless instructed otherwise.

2. Basket is worked from bottom up in joined rounds with right side facing at all times.

BASKET

With 3 strands of A held together, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 1, 8 sc in ring; join with slip st in first sc—8 sc.

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around—16 sc.

Round 3: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times; join with slip st in first sc—24 sc.

Round 4: Ch 1, [sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times; join with slip st in first sc—32 sc.

Round 5: Ch 1, [sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times; join with slip st in first sc—40 sc.

Round 6: Ch 1, [sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times; join with slip st in first sc—48 sc.

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 8: Ch 1, [sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 10 times; join with slip st in first sc—60 sc.

Rounds 9–13: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off.

With 3 strands of B held together, draw up a loop in 31st sc of Round 13.

Round 14: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 15: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *skip next sc, sm shell in next sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * to last 3 st, skip next sc, sm shell in next sc, skip last sc; join with slip st in first sc—15 sm shells and 15 sc.

Round 16: Ch 3 (counts as first dc of first sm shell), 2 dc in same sc as joining (first sm shell made), *sc in 2nd dc of next sm shell, sm shell in next sc; repeat from * to last sm shell, sc in 2nd dc of last sm shell; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3.

Round 17: Slip st in next dc, ch 1, sc in same dc, *sm shell in next sc, sc in 2nd dc of next sm shell; repeat from * to last sc, sm shell in last sc; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 18: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, hdc in next dc, dc in next sc; repeat from * to last sm shell, hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, hdc in next dc; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—15 dc, 30 hdc, and 15 sc.

Round 19: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join with slip st in first sc—60 sc. Fasten off.

With 3 strands of C held together, draw up a loop in 31st sc of Round 19.

Round 20: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 21: Repeat Round 20; join with slip st in first sc. Drop 2 strands of C to wrong side.

Note: Work next round loosely with one strand of C.

Round 22: Bell sc (see Special Stitches) in first sc, sc in next 5 sc, *bell sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc; repeat from * around; pick up 2 strands of C and join with slip st in first sc—10 bells added.

Round 23: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 24: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *skip next 2 sc, lg shell in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * to last 5 sc, skip next 2 sc, lg shell in next sc, skip next 2 sc; join with slip st in first sc—10 lg shells and 10 sc.

Round 25: *Ch 3, (slip st, ch 3, slip st) in 3rd dc of lg shell, ch 3, slip st in next sc; repeat from * to last lg shell, ch 3, (slip st, ch 3, slip st) in 3rd dc of lg shell, ch 3; join with slip st in first ch of beginning ch-3. Fasten off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS

A, B, C = Color A, Color B, Color C, etc.; ch= chain; dc = double crochet; hdc = half double crochet; sc = single crochet; sp(s)= space(s); st(s) = stitch(es); ( ) = work directions in parentheses into same st; [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.