Arcade Nesting Baskets

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Thank you for checking out the free crochet pattern for the Arcade Nesting Baskets! Scroll down for the pattern and design notes.

My fiance and I just moved into a new house, and I find myself thinking a lot about baskets. Like, A LOT. Wishing I had a basket or twenty for all the random things that float around (this particular inspiration was batteries for my fiance’s X-box controllers), hoping I could find something just right at Marshall’s or Target or somewhere… but then I remembered that I have a LOT of acrylic yarn (hi, sales at Joann Fabrics!) and these baskets were born! Plus, baskets can be pricey, and these cost way less than buying three baskets at the store. 😉

The baskets are made using the beautiful arcade stitch. I absolutely love this stitch – it’s so versatile and always looks kinda intimidating and fancy, even though it’s SO EASY. (Check out my wine cozy pattern here that uses arcade stitch!)

Even though the arcade stitch is beautiful on its own, I wanted something to give these baskets a more finished look. So I decided to order a roll of faux leather strap online for handles. I also ordered a rivet kit to attach the handles to the baskets . I’m so in love with how the end product turned out, and I am so excited to share the pattern with you!

Disclaimer: I can’t speak for all cats, but my cat is OBSESSED with these baskets, and he thinks I made them for him to lay in. You have been warned if you have cats 😉

Scroll down for the free pattern!

Materials Needed:

• Size H – 5.00 mm crochet hook (I use these – they’re awesome!)
• Five (198 g/7 oz, 333 meters/364 yards) skeins of Redheart Yarn Super Saver in White (or color of your choice) or similar medium/weight 4 category acrylic yarn
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• One roll of faux-leather strip (3/4″ width; 72″ length roll)
• One leather hole punch tool (Optional but recommended)
• Leather rivet kit

Finished Measurements:

Note: Measurements are done in inches.

Large Basket: Long side panel 12″ width/7″ height; Short side panel 10″ width/7″ height; Bottom Panel 10″ width/12″ length

Medium Basket: Long side panel 10″ width, 6.5″ height; Short side panel 8.5″ width/6.5″ height; Bottom Panel 8.5″ width/10″ length

Small Basket: Long side panel 8.5″ width/5.75″ height; Short side panel 6.75″ width/5.75″ height; Bottom Panel 6.75″ width/8.5″ length

Handles: 12″ in length, with two holes on either end of the strap. Holes should be about 2″ apart on either end, with about 5.5″ in the middle of the strap

Gauge Information:

Note: Gauge depends on a variety of factors, including tension, hook size, and yarn. If you are having trouble meeting the measurements noted above, try adjusting your tension or hook size.

Bottom Panel Single Crochet = 4×4 = 12 stitches by 12 rows

Each arcade stitch arch should measure 1″ tall and 2″ wide.

Stitches Used:

• Arcade Stitch
• Single Crochet
• Double Crochet

Abbreviations (US):

• ch = chain
• dc = double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• sk = skip
• st(s) = stitch(es)

Pattern Notes:

• This pattern is worked using two strands of yarn held together. This creates a thick, sturdy fabric.
• Turning chains do not count as stitches unless otherwise noted.
• Pattern is worked in multiples of 6 sts + 2 sts at the end of the chain.
• Baskets are soft-sided; they will stand on their own and hold your stuff, but may take the shape of items inside. I recommend using them as project baskets or for towels or other lightweight items. If you want your baskets to be stiffer, try using a fabric stiffening spray.
• The rivet kit linked above comes with a hole-punching tool that you have to hammer in order to punch a hole. I couldn’t figure it out so I bought a leather hole punch tool and it was a game changer. Plus, now I can add loops to belts and punch holes in anything! I definitely recommend this route if you have trouble with the other method.
• I recommend adding the straps prior to basket construction as opposed to after – I did it both ways for each basket and it is much easier to add the straps flat instead of bending and folding the assembled basket to add the handles.

Pattern:

Large Basket:

One bottom panel, two long panels, two short panels

Ch 38 for long panel; Ch 32 for short panel

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc in 1st st, sc in next, *ch 3, sk 3, sc 3*. Repeat ** to end of row. 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc in 1st st, sk next st, *7 dc in ch 3 space, sk next st, sc 1, sk next st*. Repeat ** to last ch 3 sp. Sk next st, sc in last st. Do not ch, turn.

Row 4: Ch 4, sk next 2 sts, *3 sc, ch 3, sk next 5 sts*. Repeat ** to last 3 sc. After last 3 sc, ch 1, sk next 2 sts, dc in last st. Do not ch, turn.

Row 5: Ch 3, 3 dc in ch 1 sp, *sk next st, 1 sc, sk next st, 7 dc in ch 3 sp*. Repeat ** to last ch 4 sp; 4 dc in ch 4 sp. Ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc in 1st st, sc in next st, *ch 3, sk 5, 3 sc*. Repeat ** to the end of the row. Sc in last dc, sc into the top of ch 3. Ch 1, turn.

Row 7-14: Repeat rows 3-6 two more times, ending on row 14. At the end of row 14, ch 3, turn.

Row 15: Dc in 1st st, dc in next st, *3 dc in ch 3 sp, 3 dc*. Repeat to the end of the row. 1 dc in each of last 2 sts.

Tie off yarn, weave in ends.

Bottom panel:

Ch 32.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2-38: Sc in 1st st, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Tie off yarn, weave in ends.

Medium Basket:

One bottom panel, two long panels, two short panels

Ch 32 for long panel; Ch 26 for short panel

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc in 1st st, sc in next, *ch 3, sk 3, sc 3*. Repeat ** to end of row. 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc in 1st st, sk next st, *7 dc in ch 3 space, sk next st, sc 1, sk next st*. Repeat ** to last ch 3 sp. Sk next st, sc in last st. Do not ch, turn.

Row 4: Ch 4, sk next 2 sts, *3 sc, ch 3, sk next 5 sts*. Repeat ** to last 3 sc. After last 3 sc, ch 1, sk next 2 sts, dc in last st. Do not ch, turn.

Row 5: Ch 3, 3 dc in ch 1 sp, *sk next st, 1 sc, sk next st, 7 dc in ch 3 sp*. Repeat ** to last ch 4 sp; 4 dc in ch 4 sp. Ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc in 1st st, sc in next st, *ch 3, sk 5, 3 sc*. Repeat ** to the end of the row. Sc in last dc, sc into the top of ch 3. Ch 1, turn.

Row 7-12: Repeat rows 3-6. Your last row repeat should be row 4 repeated in row 12. At the end of row 12, ch 3, turn.

Row 13: 3 dc in ch 4 sp, *dc in next 3 sts, 3 dc in ch 3 sp*. Repeat ** to the end of the row.

Tie off yarn, weave in ends.

Bottom Panel:

Ch 26.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2-32: Sc in 1st st, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Tie off yarn, weave in ends.

Small Basket:

One bottom panel, two long panels, two short panels

Ch 26 for long panel; Ch 20 for short panel

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc in 1st st, sc in next, *ch 3, sk 3, sc 3*. Repeat ** to end of row. 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc in 1st st, sk next st, *7 dc in ch 3 space, sk next st, sc 1, sk next st*. Repeat ** to last ch 3 sp. Sk next st, sc in last st. Do not ch, turn.

Row 4: Ch 4, sk next 2 sts, *3 sc, ch 3, sk next 5 sts*. Repeat ** to last 3 sc. After last 3 sc, ch 1, sk next 2 sts, dc in last st. Do not ch, turn.

Row 5: Ch 3, 3 dc in ch 1 sp, *sk next st, 1 sc, sk next st, 7 dc in ch 3 sp*. Repeat ** to last ch 4 sp; 4 dc in ch 4 sp. Ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc in 1st st, sc in next st, *ch 3, sk 5, 3 sc*. Repeat ** to the end of the row. Sc in last dc, sc into the top of ch 3. Ch 1, turn.

Row 7-10: Repeat rows 3-6. At the end of row 10, ch 3, turn.

Row 11: Dc in 1st st, dc in next st, *3 dc in ch 3 sp, 3 dc*. Repeat to the end of the row. 1 dc in each of last 2 sts.

Tie off yarn, weave in ends.

Bottom Panel:

Ch 20.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2-26: Sc in 1st st, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Tie off yarn, weave in ends.

Adding Handles:

Cut six faux leather strips about 12″ long. Make a dot on each end of the leather strip, about 5-5.5″ away from each other.

Fold the end of the strap over to make a loop that we will use to attach the handles, as shown below. Make sure the end of the strap overlaps with the dotted portion of the strap end.

Using your leather hole punch tool set on the smallest hole punch size, punch a hole through both layers of faux leather as shown below.

Repeat this process on each end of each strap.

Grab your short basket panel and put the handle ends through the space between the last row of the panel and the spaces created by the arcade stitch arches. There should bee one arch space between each handle. Make sure to put the end of the leather strap on the wrong side of the panel/the side of the panel that will be facing in. Should look like this:

Next, grab your rivets. I used gold, but the kit I linked above has silver and black rivets as well. I used the medium size rivets. You will need 12 rivets total for the six handles. You will need a rivet post and rivet cap for each handle side.

Fold the handle end against the handle body, making sure the holes you punched align. The handle will now be looped through the short panel arch space, folded over, ready for the rivet post to be stuck through the holes. Push the rivet post through both holes. It should look like this:

Next, lay the short panel flat and attach the rivet cap. You can either use the tool that came with the rivet kit to push/hammer the rivet closed, or you can use the leather hole punch to smush the rivet closed (note: this is dangerous and could result in pinched fingers. Be careful.).

Repeat on each handle side and for each short panel of each basket. That’s two handles per basket, six total 🙂 You’ll end up with lovely, professional-looking handles, like this!

Basket Construction:

The baskets are assembled using single crochet seams, with your yarn held double for extra seam sturdiness. I prefer the single crochet seams to invisible seams because they add to the structure and stability of the baskets. It helps to single crochet the side panels to the bottom panel first, then seam the sides together after.

To begin, I placed the wrong sides of the panels against the bottom panel and seamed them one by one.

Each short side panel has the same number of stitches as the bottom panel (width-wise) and each long side panel has the same number of stitches as the bottom panel (row-wise), so it’s very easy to seam together stitch by stitch and stitch by row. Make 3 single crochet stitches in each corner seam.

Your basket should look like this when all the sides have been seamed to the bottom panel:

Next, line up each side and single crochet them together. I started at the top and single crocheted each side together, ending with a single crochet in the center corner single crochet from the bottom seam.

Your seams should like the photo above. Repeat these steps for each basket.

Tie off yarn, weave in all ends. Enjoy your new baskets! 🙂

I hope you found this free crochet pattern helpful! As always, please feel free to e-mail or comment with questions. You can share your finished projects with me via Instagram – just tag @SarahFaithCrafts or use #sarahfaithcrafts!

Happy crafting!

xo,