CROCHET BASKETS

You can find the free pattern below the photo.

CROCHET BASKETS

Size 4 mm crochet hook
Worsted weight cotton yarn

Bottom of basket
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring, Do not join.
Round 2: Sc 2 in each sc from previous round. Do not join. (12 st)
Round 3: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in next sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (18 st)
Round 4: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in each of next 2 sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (24 st)
Round 5: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in each of next 3 sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (30 st)
Round 6: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in each of next 4 sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (36 st)
Round 7: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in each of next 5 sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (42 st)
Round 8: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in each of next 6 sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (48 st)
Round 9: Sc 2 in first sc, sc 1 in each of next 7 sc. Repeat 5 more times. Do not join. (54 st)
(End of increasing for small size. For medium, continue increase in the same manner to 66 stitches and for large to 78 stitches.)

Side of basket
Round 1: Working in back loops, sc1 in each sc around. Do not join. (54 st)
Round 2: Working in both loops (for this round and the rest), sc 1 in each sc. (54 st)
Round 3-4: Repeat round 2.
(For medium size, repeat round 2 two more times for a total of 6 rows of sc.
For large size, repeat round 2 four more times for a total of 8 rows of sc.)

Round 5: Sl st in first sc and ch 3. Dc 4 in same st. Remove hook from loop, insert hook in ch 3, replace loop from last dc on hook and pull through. Ch 1. *Dc in next st. Dc 5 in next stitch, remove hook from loop, insert hook in first of 5 dc, pull loop through. Ch 1. Repeat ending with dc in last stitch. (27 popcorns and 27 dc)
(For medium size, 33 popcorns and 33 dc. For large, 39 popcorns and 39 dc.)

Round 6 - 9: Repeat Round 2.
(For medium size, repeat round 2 two more times for a total of 6 rows of sc.
For large size, repeat round 2 four more times for a total of 8 rows of sc.)

Round 10: Repeat Round 5.

Round 11-12: Repeat Round 2. Join with sl st in first sc.

Round 13: Sl st all around. Fasten off and weave in ends.

MORE THAN A YARN STORE

Recently, a friend of mine told me about a yarn shop opening in our hometown. Pretty exciting news, as fellow knitters and crocheters will surely understand. Up to now, I was limited to purchasing yarn at the big retailers and big box craft stores - I could not wait to see what goodies I would find almost on my doorstep.

Well, I was in for a treat! On April 1st, day of the opening, I went searching for 43 Queen Street and to my disappointment, I found a real estate office... Double-checking the address on my phone, I see that I had missed that the entrance was on Chapel Street. Two minutes later, I see this:

Ah, ah! I found it! Not in any way turned off by the graffiti, I ventured inside and found the ultimate "girl cave"! A yarn shop with a knitting corner!

But also, lots of eye candy... Yarn everywhere! Yarn I had only dreamed about before, right there in front of me. I was in yarn heaven!

I went searching for the owner of this little paradise and found one of the most interesting person I had met in a long time: Rikki Rumball. As she proudly gave me a tour of her shop, I learned the story behind this shop and many of its treasures. But you will have to go visit and find out for yourself.

Odds & Sods Wool Shoppe is a lot more than a yarn store. It also carries work by local artists and crafters, all creatively displayed. After a few visits, I soon felt more like I was visiting a friend's house than browsing in a store. Apparently, many customers instinctively take their shoes off at the door.

When the weather warms up, watch for a new mural to beautify Chapel Street and the Odds and Sods sign to go up on Queen Street. A few others projects are also in the works, but I have been sworn to secrecy...

Odds & Sods is located in Bolton, Ontario, north-west of Toronto. They are opened from 11 am, Tuesday to Saturday. More information and directions are on their website at www.oddsandsods.org