Crochet Owl Basket.
Materials:
Two 5-ounce skeins worsted weight yarn: gray (such as Red Heart Super Saver in Grey Heather) I used grey and tan.
Size J crochet hook
Blunt-end yarn needle Gauge:
6 rows and 8 hdc = 3"
Basket height is about 8" and bottom is about 9"diameter.
A glossary of crochet abbreviations is at the end of the instructions.
Crochet the Basket:
Note: The basket is worked in a spiral, so joining rounds is not necessary, Mark beginning of each round.
Rnd 1: With 2 strands of yarn held together, ch 3 (2 chs counts as hdc), hdc 7 times in beg ch (8 hdc).
Rnd 2: Hdc-inc in each st (16 hdc).
Rnd 3: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next st; rep from * 7 more times (24 hdc).
Rnd 4: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 2 sts; rep from * 7 more times (32 hdc).
Rnd 5: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 3 sts; rep from * 7 more times (40 hdc).
Rnd 6: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 4 sts; rep from * 7 more times (48 hdc).
Rnd 7: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * 7 more times (56 hdc).
Rnd 8: * Hdc-inc, hdc in next 6 sts; rep from * 7 more times (64 hdc).
Rnds 9-17: Hdc in each st around (64 hdc).
Rnd 18: *Hdc-dec, hdc in next 6 sts; rep from * 7 more times (56 hdc).
Rnd 19: *Hdc-dec, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * 7 more times (48 hdc).
Rnd 20: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * 7 more times (56 hdc). Rnds 21-26: Hdc in each st around (56 hdc).
Sc in next st, sl st in next st to finish off. Fasten off, and weave in ends.
Make the Eyes:
Note: Each eye is worked in a spiral, so joining rounds is not necessary. Mark the beginning or each round. First Eye
Rnd 1: With 2 strands of yarn held together, ch 2 sc 6 times in beg ch (6 sc).
Rnd 2: *Sc 2 times in each st; rep from * 5 more times (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *Dc 2 times in each st; rep from * 11 more times (24 sc).
Rnd 4: *Dc 2 times in next st, dc; rep from * 5 more times, tr, dtr, picot; fasten off.
Second Eye
Rnds 1-3: Rep First Eye instructions.
End 4: Picot, dtr, tr, *dc, dc 2 times in next st; rep from * 5 more times, hdc, sc, sl st to finish off eye; fasten off and weave in ends.
Add Eyes to Basket:
Position the right eye on the basket at the point of the last st. Using two strands of yarn and a tapestry needle, tack down the center of the eye; using the center hole as a guide, bring the needle up through the center and then back down in the first round of stitches. Continue until center is secure.
Using two strands of yarn and the outside stitches of the eye, tack down the eye securely, leaving the picot stitches unsewn. Weave in all ends. Repeat with left eye.
Add the Beak:
Using two strands of yarn and long straight stitches, embroider a beak between the bottoms of the eyes.
Crochet Abbreviations:
beg beginning
ch chain
dc double crochet
dtr double treble
hdc half double
crochet inc increase
lp loop
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
sc single crochet
sl st slip stitch
st(s) stich(es)
tr treble crochet
yo yarn over
hdc-inc, dc-inc, sc-inc work two of the designated st in one stitch.
hdc-dec (Yo, insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a lp) twice, yo and draw through all 5 lps on hook.
picot ch 5, sl st in top of first st.
