The Simple Crochet Gnome Basket is a big, chonky, easy, and free crochet pattern on Moogly! Featuring Bernat Plush Big, this pattern is perfect for holiday decor and gift giving - and it works up in one afternoon, with less than 3 skeins of yarn!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Yarnspirations.
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Make the Simple Crochet Gnome Basket with the 2023 Giftstravaganza Blog Hop!
How the 2023 Giftstravaganza Blog Hop Works
Every day during the Giftstravaganza Blog Hop, a new permanently free crochet pattern will be released. Each pattern fits a theme or recipient of the week and is made with 1-3 skeins of yarn. Here are the themes - as you can see, this is Gifts for Home week!
1st Week: November 1-7 Gifts for Home
2nd Week: November 8-14 Gifts for Women
3rd Week: November 15-21 Gifts for Babies, Kids, and Teens
4th Week: November 22-28 Gifts for Anyone (gender neutral/unisex, gifts for teachers and neighbors, "gift closet" ideas)
5th Week: November 29-30 Last-Minute Gifts (can be made in an evening/afternoon)
How To Join the 2023 Giftstravaganza Blog Hop
- Sign up for Crochet Along updates and the Underground Crafter newsletter to get regular updates, including an update as each CAL pattern and coupon code is released. Includes special bonuses - click through for more details!
- You can join in by crocheting the projects as you have time.
- Share your progress and post pictures of your finished projects. Tag your projects and posts #GiftstravaganzaCAL on all social media.
- If you’d like to chat with other crafters, join the Underground Crafters Facebook group.
We’ve also partnered with some of our favorite companies to get some great prizes for you. Go to Underground Crafter (and scroll all the way to the bottom) to enter the giveaway for your chance to win one of 9 prizes by Monday, December 4, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Prizes are provided by Cutpie Studio, GlassEyesOnline, KennyClayCo, KnitPal, Knitter's Relief Balm, Ophireco, and Walnut Farm Designs!
Grab your favorite shades of Bernat Plush Big
One of the rules for the Giftstravaganza Blog Hop is that we could only use 3 skeins of yarn or less - and this one fits the bill! One skein of Bernat Plush Big makes the hat, another makes the body, and a little bit of a third makes the beard. Which colors you pick are up to you (though I do recommend white or off-white for the beard)!
Of course, you can make this pattern with any yarn - like Bernat Plush! You'll get the same look with this yarn, but a much smaller finished project. You can get an idea of the size differences by looking at the Plush Pumpkin Basket! If you switch out the yarns, be sure to use a hook that is a size or two smaller than what's recommended on the label, for a nice firm fabric.
Fill It With Goodies... or Hide the Mess!
One of the things I'm excited about for this project is the way I worked Rnd 4 of the Base. This has created the most stable crochet-only basket base I've ever made, and I see myself using this technique a lot in the future. The edge is nice and "sharp" and the stability is unmatched - I can't wait to hear what you think! It should stand up to whatever you stuff in it!
The Simple Crochet Gnome Basket is a generous size, perfect for gifting as is, or filling with special treats. Or if you're like me, you'll put all those odds and ends in it that tend to clutter up the table. Make a whole crew to keep your counters clean for you this season! If only they did the actual holiday cleaning...
Simple Crochet Gnome Basket
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US-Q, 16.0 mm hook, Susan Bates
90 yds Bernat Plush Big (#7 Jumbo; 100% Polyester; 250 g/8.8 oz, 41 m/45 yds)
Colorways Shown: Brick, Frosted Leaf, Storm Blue, Off White
Yardage: Base - 45 yds; Top - 35 yds; Beard - 10 yds
Gauge: 5 sts x 4 rows = 4" (10 cm) in hdc
Size: approx 7" across x 13" tall assembled
HELPFUL LINKS AND TUTORIALS
Simple Crochet Gnome Basket Tutorial
CSDC - Chainless Starting Double Crochet
SPECIAL STITCH:
3-dc popcorn - work 3 dc in indicated st, remove hook from active loop, insert hook in top of first dc made, insert hook in active loop, pull active loop through top of dc st.
NOTES:
Rnds of Base and Top are worked in a spiral.
Do not ch 1 at the beginning of a rnd or join any rnds with a sl st unless specifically directed in the pattern.
Move a stitch marker along the first st of each rnd as you work to keep track of your progress.
Be sure to read the additional Notes below for each specific section.
Simple Crochet Gnome Basket INSTRUCTIONS:
Base of Gnome Basket
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, sc in the ring, hdc 9 in the ring. (10 sts)
Rnd 2: Work 2 hdc in each st around. (20 sts)
Rnd 3: *Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. (30 sts)
Rnd 4: Hdc in BLO and back 3rd loop of each st around.
Rnds 5 and 6: Hdc in each st around.
NOTE: Yarn is sold by weight, not yardage. Some skeins have more yardage than others due to the difference in dye weights. If needed to complete the pattern, eliminate Rnd 6.
Rnd 7: *Hdc2tog, hdc in next 8 sts; rep from * around. (27 sts)
Rnd 8: Hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 11 sts, 3-dc popcorn in next st, sc in next 13 sts, sl st in first st of rnd, break yarn and seamless join to second st of rnd.
Beard of Gnome Basket
NOTE: Leave a long tail at the beginning and end of this piece for sewing later.
Row 1: Ch 4, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the last ch; turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: CSDC in the first st, hdc in the next st, sc in the last st; turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first st, hdc in the next st, dc in the last st; turn.
Rows 4 - 9: Rep Rows 2 and 3. After Row 9, break yarn and finish off.
Add the Beard to the Base
Using the long tails left on the beard, sew the sides of Row 1 and Row 9 of the beard along the top of the basket, going around the nose, as shown below.
Top of Gnome Basket
NOTE: Rnd 2 - 12 of the Top are all worked in the BLO.
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, sc 3 in the ring. (3 sts)
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around. (6 sts) Weave in the first end now.
Rnd 3: *Sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * around. (9 sts)
Rnd 4: *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 2 sts; rep from * around. (12 sts)
Rnd 5: *Sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st; rep from * around. (15 sts)
Rnd 6: *Sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around. (18 sts)
Rnd 7: *Sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * around. (21 sts)
Rnd 8: *Sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around. (24 sts)
Rnd 9: *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 7 sts; rep from * around. (27 sts)
Rnd 10: *Sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 6 sts; rep from * around. (30 sts)
Rnd 11: *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around until 2 sts rem, sc in the last 2 sts. (37 sts)
Rnd 12: Sc in the next st, sl st in the next st, break yarn and seamless join in the next st. Place on top of the basket as the lid!
Ready to go Gnome for the Holidays?
Ready for your next project? Check out the Moogly Free Patterns Page or Ravelry! And don't miss the Quick Gnome Candy Ornaments, and Hello Gnome Mittens!
If the Simple Crochet Gnome Basket pattern inspires you to make your own project, and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag #GiftstravaganzaCAL and @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too!
The Fine Print
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram! Thank you to Yarnspirations for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2023, 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.
Kelly Clark says
This is so cute! I've attempted it twice so far and struggle with getting the hat right. I noticed your blog states that a tutorial is coming soon. I was wondering when that might be? Thank you so much!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Kelly! It's today!! https://www.mooglyblog.com/crochet-gnome-basket-tutorial/ Great timing! 😉
Kelly Clark says
Awesome! I just started another last night so now I'll know if I'm actually doing it correctly lol thank you very much for your reply and your patterns!