Andee Graves is a brilliant designer, with patterns in a variety of magazines and books, on yarn sites, and on her blog Mamas2Hands Designs. And today she is sharing her pattern for Hyperbolic Easter Grass in a guest post here on Moogly! Thank you so much, Andee! Be sure to also check out the linked pattern below for the basket!
Disclaimer: This pattern is copyright Andee Graves, used with permission. This post may include affiliate links.
Easter is right around the corner. It’s a very popular holiday at my house. Dying eggs, hiding eggs and a fun morning of egg hunting. But the most loved tradition is digging thru Easter baskets filled with chocolate goodies and toys.
My kids are older now, my youngest will officially be a teenager by the end of this month. I thought a few years ago that they were getting too old for the egg hunt and baskets, but I was firmly corrected. A last-minute rush to the local shops to find appropriate chocolates and goodies made me realize I’d better be prepared until they at least graduate High School. I’ve been feeling nostalgic about the days when they were little, so I’m rather glad they still want to keep up with our Easter traditions.
As with most everything in my life, crochet gets incorporated. One of my least favorite things about Easter baskets is the shiny plastic “grass”. Seems like bits of it get everywhere and it is a hazard for our pets. Early on I crocheted “grass” for the kids’ baskets.
I used multiple strands of green yarn and tried a couple of different crochet stitches to create the grass. I crocheted these in the evening before Easter morning, so it was a bit willy nilly and haphazard. You can see the fluffy little grasses that I created above. I’ve used these same “grasses” for the last 7 years. The best bit is I can toss them in the washing machine when they get sticky from candy and chocolates.
Since those days I’ve crocheted a few more Easter baskets as gifts and came up with a better way of making the “grass” for my baskets. I utilized one of my favorite geeky crochet techniques: Hyperbolic Planes worked in the Round. Fortunately, you don’t need to know anything about advanced math to crochet hyperbolic planes. You only need to have a consistent increase happening as you create the rounds.
For the grass, pictured above, I simply worked 2 single crochet stitches in each stitch of the round. I also only worked 5 rounds this way before working the chain lengths that create the grass look. The pattern is below with some additional information on making larger diameter grasses. I’ve included photos of each round so you can see how the ruffling of the edges starts to happen. Keep in mind if working larger grasses that crocheted hyperbolic planes can really eat up your yarn.
If you want a sturdy little crocheted basket that this “grass” will fit into nicely, CLICK HERE for the pattern for the “Happy Spring Basket” on my blog.
Hyperbolic Easter Grass
Designed by Andee Graves - Copyright 2019
Yarn: Red Heart “With Love” worsted weight, 100% acrylic (7 oz/198 g; 370 yds/ 338 meters)
Sample used .658 oz/ 18.6 g; 35 yds/ 32 meters yarn in Color #1562 Jadeite
Hook: Size I (5.5mm)
Notions: lockable stitch marker, yarn needle to weave in ends.
Gauge: First 2 rounds = 1.25” diameter
Size: Finished project is approximately 5.25” in diameter to fit a 4.25” diameter basket.
Pattern Notes
The project begins with an adjustable slip knot. All rounds are worked continuously in a spiral. Place st marker in last st of the round to keep track of stitches.
INSTRUCTIONS
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 7 sc in second ch from hook, place st marker in last st of round. [7 sc]
Rnd 2: 2 sc in next 7 sts, move st marker to last st of round. [14 sc]
Rnd 3: 2 sc in each st around, move st marker to last st of round. [28 sc]
Rnd 4: Repeat Rnd 3. [56 sc]
Rnd 5: Repeat Rnd 3. [112 sc]
Rnd 6: *Ch 12, skip next st, sc in next st*, Repeat from * to * until 1 st remains unworked before marked st, ch 12, skip next st, slip st tightly in marked st. Fasten off and weave in tails.
If you want to make your grass to fit a larger basket you can modify this pattern a couple of ways. If you continue to work rounds following the increase rate in the pattern your circle will ruffle so much it almost becomes a sphere. Instead, work additional rounds, but change the increase rate starting in Rnd 3 to be: “sc in next st, 2 sc in next st”. You can also make the chain lengths in your final round longer than 12 stitches. Play with the basic pattern above to get the result you like.
What do you think? Will you crochet reusable Easter grass for your family this year? I think this is a brilliant idea, and I can't wait to make some for my own three kids!
If this pattern inspires you to make your own Easter grass, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog and #mooglyblog, and Andee at @andee.graves so we can see what you make. And don't forget to grab that free crochet Easter basket from Andee's blog!
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr! Thank you to Andee Graves for writing this guest pattern and post – all opinions and copyright are hers, used here with permission.
Laura Comas
Fantastic idea!!! I absolutely HATE Easter grass.
JeanneGreenEyes
Such a fun and creative idea! Thank you for sharing!!