Changing Leaves Basket

The Changing Leaves Basket turns the crocodile stitch into a cascade of falling leaves in all the beautiful colors of autumn. A celebration and decoration for all things fall!

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So many possibilities!

This basket is a great stash-buster - especially after you've finished up the Happiest Blanket Ever! Or you can use all your various shades of green for something springy and summery! I think the Changing Leaves Basket perfectly captures both a modern, clean look, and a whimsical gnomes and fairies look - two of my favorites!

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Changing Leaves Basket

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US-I, 5.5 mm hook - Furls Fiberarts

410 yds Lion Brand Vanna's Choice (Aran/yarn symbol “4”/UK: 10 ply; 145 yds; 3oz)
Color A - Chocolate (115 yds)
Color B - Fern (40 yds)
Color C - Kelly Green (40 yds)
Color D - Mustard (40 yds)
Color E - Honey (40 yds)
Color F - Rust (40 yds)
Color G - Terracotta (40 yds)
Color H - Cranberry (55 yds)

Gauge: 3.5" diameter after Round 3

Finished Size: 8" diameter x 6" tall

Helpful Video Tutorials: magic circle, crocodile stitches

SPECIAL STITCH:

Crocodile Scale Stitches (see linked tutorial above): *starting at the first dc in a pair of dc sts, work 5 fpdc sts around the first dc moving from the top of the post to the bottom, ch 1, work 5 fpdc sts around the second dc moving from the bottom of the post to the top, sl st in next single dc st; repeat from * around, join to 1st dc (starting point for the round) with a sl st.

NOTES:

• This basket is made in two parts that are then joined together. This creates a sturdier, more solid basket.
• The handles are written in the style shown, but feel free to adjust them to your own taste, or omit them altogether.

Changing Leaves Basket Instructions

LINER INSTRUCTIONS (make 1st):

Round 1: With Color A, make a magic circle, ch 2 (does not count as a st here and throughout), work 12 dc into the ring; join to 1st st with a sl st. (12 dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around; join. (24 sts)

Round 3: Ch 2, *dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st; repeat from * around, join. (36 sts)

Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts; repeat from * around, join. (48 sts)

Round 5; Ch 2, *dc in the next 3 sts, 2 dc in the next st; repeat from * around, join. (60 sts)

Round 6: Ch 2, *dc in the next 4 sts, 2 dc in the next st; repeat from * around, join. (72 sts)

Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 5 sts; repeat from * around, join. (84 sts)

Round 8: Ch 2, dc in each st around; join and break yarn. (84 sts)

Round 9: With Color B, repeat Round 8.

Rnd 10: With Color C, repeat Round 8.

Round 11: With Color D, repeat Round 8.

Rnd 12: With Color E, repeat Round 8.

Round 13: With Color F, repeat Round 8.

Rnd 14: With Color G, repeat Round 8.

Round 15: With Color H, repeat Round 8. Set liner aside.

OUTER BASKET INSTRUCTIONS:

Round 1 - 8: With Color A, repeat Rounds 1-8 of liner.

Round 9: With Color B, join to any st of Round 8, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), skip 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, skip 2 sts, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, skip 2 sts; repeat from * around, join to 3rd ch of ch-4. (42 dc)

Round 10: Work Crocodile Scale Stitches around (see special stitch and linked tutorial above); break yarn. (14 crocodile stitch scales)

Round 11: With Color C, join to center of any crocodile stitch scale, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), 2 dc in next sl st (the single dc st), ch 2, *dc in center of next scale, ch 1, 2 dc in next sl st, ch 2; repeat from * around, join to 3rd ch of ch-4. (42 dc)

Round 12: Repeat Round 10.

Rounds 13 and 14: With Color D, repeat Rounds 11 and 12.

Round 15 and 16: With Color E, repeat Rounds 11 and 12.

Round 17 and 18: With Color F, repeat Rounds 11 and 12.

Rounds 19 and 20: With Color G, repeat Rounds 11 and 12.

Round 21 and 22: With Color H, repeat Rounds 11 and 12, do NOT break yarn.

ASSEMBLY AND HANDLE INSTRUCTIONS:

Round 23: Insert liner into outer, wrong sides together. Continuing with Color H, ch 1, sc through 1st st and any inner st, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp of Round 21 (working behind the Round 22 scale) and next 2 liner sts, sc in center of next scale and next liner st, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp of Round 21 (working behind the Round 22 scale) and next 2 liner sts, *sc in next Round 21 sl st/dc and next inner st, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp of Round 21 (working behind the Round 22 scale) and next 2 liner sts, sc in center of next scale and next liner st, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp of Round 21 (working behind the Round 22 scale) and next 2 liner sts; repeat from * around, join. (84 sts)

Round 24: Ch 1, sc in 1st 7 sts, ch 10, skip 10 sts, sc in next 32 sts, ch 10, skip 10 sts, sc in last 25 sts; join. (84 sts including chs)

Round 25: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch around; join. (84 sts)

Round 26: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join. (84 sts)

Round 27: Sl st in each st around; join and break. (84 sts)

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And that's the Changing Leaves Basket! So pretty filled with apples, Halloween candy, or just those odds and ends that need a home! I hope you enjoy this free crochet basket pattern, and have a wonderful autumn season!

The Fine Print

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2016, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!