Pin the Santa Basket or Bag to share it with others!

 

 

 

12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hop 2019

This year I’ll be partnering with SIX super-talented blogger friends

and Yarnspirations to sponsor the Blog Hop!

 

 

 

Week 6

 

 

The Santa Basket or Bag is another fun project for your holiday home. I intended this as a basket to place on top of the mantle with the beard hanging over the edge (think Elf on a Shelf with legs dangling), but when I finished making it I realized that it would make a great gift bag or even a cute holiday purse!

Thank you to Yarnspirations for providing the yarn for this sample Santa Basket. I used Super Saver Chunky in 3 colors. You could also use two strands held together, of regular super saver, but the sizing might be slightly different.

The Santa Basket or Bag is worked from the bottom up in a spiral with the handles built right in. The beard is worked separately and sewn in place. I wanted texture to the beard and achieved it by working it in loop stitches. At first I was concerned this might make the Santa Basket a bit tedious, but it actually went very quickly and is a fun stitch to make once you get the hang of it. If you don’t know how to do the loop stitch, you can search on YouTube, there are lots of videos or check out my tutorial HERE. I used a mini bean stitch to make the texture in the hair.

 

 

I used some vintage buttons I had for the eyes and nose, but you could use beads, pompoms or even draw them on. I used fabric pens to add details to the eyes and I touched the cheeks with a bit of blush for that rosy look too!

 

I’m actually going to use my basket to collect Christmas cards as I receive them, and I’d love to hear how you will use yours!

 

 

 

Size: 11” diameter x 8” tall

 

Materials:

• Made with #5 bulky yarn, I used Red Heart Super Saver Chunky (173 yards per skein)
  • Color 1 (Cherry Red) – 1 skeins
  • Color 2 (Soft White) – 1 skein
  • Color 3 (Buff) – 1 skein
• Hook Clover Amour I/5.50 mm
• ¾” Buttons or beads for eyes and nose
• Stitch markers (5)
• Paint pens (optional)
• Tapestry needle

 

Gauge: 12 sc x 12 rows = 4″

 

Abbreviations (US Terms):
BLO – back loop only
ch – chain
hdc – half double crochet
sc – single crochet
sl st– slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
YO – yarn over

 

Bean St: Insert hook in designated stitch, YO, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), YO pull through all 4 loops at once, ch1. Each Bean St counts as 2 sts for the stitch count.

Loop St: Insert hook in designated stitch, wrap the yarn over your index finger to form a loop, hook the yarn in the back of the loop  and the one in front at the same time and pull through the stitch (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through all three loops at once. See tutorial HERE.

Notes:

• Pattern written in US Standard terms.
• The ch1 at the beginning of a round DOES NOT count as a stitch.
• When a number precedes a stitch, it means to work that number of stitches in the designated stitch. Example: 2sc, means you will make two single crochets in the designated stitch.
• When a stitch precedes a number, it means make that stitch in the designated number of stitches. Example: sc 2 means you will make a sc in each of the next two stitches.
• Fasten off at color changes.
• Work rounds in spiral (do not join rounds) unless otherwise noted. You may find it helpful to use a stitch marker to keep track of round count.
• Stitch count is in ( ) at the end of the round and will be the same as previous round unless otherwise noted.

 

 

Base:

Round 1: Color 1, ch4, join with sl st to form ring, ch1, work 8 sc in center of ring, DO NOT JOIN. (8)

Round 2: 2sc in each st around. (16)

Round 3: [2sc, sc 1] around. (24)

Round 4: [2sc, sc 2] around. (32)

Round 5: [2sc, sc 3] around. (40)

Round 6: [2sc, sc 4] around. (48)

Round 7: [2sc, sc 5] around. (56)

Round 8: [2sc, sc 6] around. (64)

Round 9: Working in BLO, sl st in each st around, join with sl st to first st. (64)

Round 10: Ch1, working in same stitches as the sl sts from Round 9, work sc in each st to to encase the sl sts from Round 9. (64)

Round 11: Join Color 2, ch1, starting in same st as the ch1, [Bean St 1, skip 1] to end, DO NOT JOIN.

Rounds 12 to 14: Bean St in each Bean St to end.

Rounds 15: [Bean St 1, skip 1] 17 times, sc 30.

 

• The next few rounds will have two colors within the same round. Work the stitches over the color not in use, and pick up the new color as needed. Work Color 2 into Color 2 sts; work Color 3 into Color 3 sts.

Round 16: Starting with Color 2, sc 34, join Color 3, sc 30.

Rounds 17 to 22: Working BLO, sc in each st keeping the color sequence. Fasten off Color 3 after last repeat.

Round 23: [Bean St 1, skip 1] to end.

Rounds 24 and 25: Bean St in each Bean St to end. Fasten off after last repeat.

 

Top Band and Handles:

Lay your piece down with the Color 3 section (front) facing you and centered. Choose the 10 center stitches and place a stitch marker in the stitch to the left and right of the 10 center stitches.

Using the front as a guide, choose the 10 center stitches in the back and place a stitch marker in the stitches to the right and left of the 10 center stitches.

The 10 center stitches will form the handles. Be sure that you have the same number of stitches (22) on the sides (stitch marker to stitch marker).

Move stitch markers up as you complete each round.

Round 1: Starting at the back, join Color 1 in the first stitch marker to the left of the 10 center stitches; ch1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round. (64)

Rounds 2 and 3: Ch1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round.

Round 4: Ch1, sc in same st (one with the marker), sc in each st to next marker, ch10, skip the 10 center stitches, sc in the next st and each st to the next marker, ch10, skip the 10 center stitches, join with sl st to first sc of round.

Round 5: Ch1, sc in each sc and ch1 space around. (64)

Round 6: Work a round of Twisted SC or crab stitch to finish off the top.

 

Beard:

If you aren’t familiar with the Loop Stitch, you can follow my tutorial HERE.

Row 1: With Color 2, ch4, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and each remaining ch. (3)

Row 2: Ch1, turn, 2 Loop Sts in first st, Loop St in next st, 2 Loop Sts in last st. (5 Loops)

Row 3: Ch2 (counts as hdc throughout), turn, hdc in same st, sc in each st until 1 remains, 2hdc in last st. (7)

Row 4: Ch1, turn, 2 Loop Sts in first st, Loop St in each st until 1 remains, 2 Loop Sts in last st. (9 Loops)

Rows 5 to 14: Repeat Rows 3 & 4. (29 Loops after last repeat)

Row 15: Ch1, turn, sc 13, ch3, skip 3, sc 13. (26 sc + 3 chs)

Row 16: Ch1, turn, Loop St in each sc and ch space to end. Fasten off.  (29 Loops)

Row 17: With front facing you (side with the loops), and leaving a long tail, join yarn in first st, sl st across each st to end. Fasten off leaving a long tail. The tails can be used to attach the beard to the Santa Basket.

 

Assembly:

Place the beard with the points at the bottom edges of the face and tack in place. Sew the beard around the top edge curving it up toward the nose.

Add buttons or beads in place for the eyes and nose. If you prefer you can draw a face with fabric marker. Add eyebrows, lashes or other person touches to the face. I like to take a bit of blush and dab it on the cheeks and lip area too.

 

 

Share the Santa Basket or Bag with your friends – Pin It!

 

 

 

Here’s a preview of next week’s project and supply list!

 

• • • • • Red Heart Hygge Fur – 1 skein
        • Bernat Baby Velvet – 1 skein
        • Hook US H/ 5.00 mm
        • Tapestry needle

 

 

 

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