Happy Friday Everyone!
I’ve decided January us ‘finish all projects before starting a new one’ month.
I’m doing quite well, finished a ahem… Christmas jumper, bordered my granny square blanket and finally finished my shadow blanket. Now onto this: my stupid basket! I nought the wooden base and ot was quite easy although it dies hurt the fingers a bit. No pattern, just told to single crochet. You can see from the pictures that it’s squishy and goes in at the middle. What have I done wrong?
I am a self taught beginner by the way so it will definitely be something I’ve done!
Crocheted basket gone wrong!
I apologise for the spelling errors! Using my phone and rushing!
You’re doing nothing wrong. This is what crochet does. Working very tightly helps but doesn’t fix it. There are various ways of making crochet baskets stand up. I’d probably find something that will fit inside it and somehow attach the crochet basket to that. I’m lazy. If you look online for how to stiffen crochet you’ll find different techniques. I know glue painted over the crochet has showed up a lot in my research. I remember thinking how great a crocheted basket would be and being disappointed in the results the first time. I’ve tried again and again, same results. I decided they’re not for me. Once in a while I’ll try again but have never had results I was satisfied with. I’m sorry I can’t offer real help. I am impressed that you worked into a wooden disk. That’s really something!
Let’s see. Do I have more thoughts? Yarn choice - some yarns work up stiffer than others. Tunisian crochet - unless worked with a larger hook TC has the reputation of being like cardboard and I have considered doing a tight TC piece flat and seaming the side; one day I might try it. TC tends to make my hands and wrists hurt. TC might stand up on its own. Crocheting in a spiral over clothesline or rope - I have the stuff to try this so maybe I should. Line it with plastic canvas or something else stiff with holes for stitching and stitch it into place.
I see all those lovely crocheted baskets and have patterns for some but my past experience doesn’t make me eager to spend the time on them.
I wish you the best of luck in finding a solution and hope to see your FO standing straight with info on how to do it.
Dang. This isn’t the kind of reply I like to do. I like to offer something that might actually help.
Good going to finish all those projects including this basket. In addition to GG’s advice, it looks to me like your tension changed from tighter tension near the base of the basket to looser tension near the rim (expecially the 4 rows closest to the rim). It could be that the photo is accentuating that but you can measure the stitches per inch in both places to check.
Thank you both. I thought maybe I ran before I could walk but maybe I just chose a tricky project.
I will pull it back and try again. Maybe just half way down and redo the top half.
I hope it works to your satisfaction. You did pick a tricky project. Your crochet overall looks really good. We walk, run, stumble, walk a little more, run again. It’s an ongoing process and there’s always something to learn or techniques to improve. Try not to be discouraged. This is just part of advancing your skills and abilities. At the worst you’ve created a learning experience. Creating a learning experience is good, much better than saying I messed up. I practice saying that every time I frog.
Doing your stitches with a yarn under rather than a yarn over might help some.
I dont see anything wrong. It looks great to me. Kudos for finishing your projects.
I agree with the other posts, it’s looks good, crochet baskets do tend to flop without something to hold them up and the tension looks like it went a bit uneven.
These are really hard to make in a way where they look how you expect, and even then they will likely sag and bend over time and with use.
They are nice for covering for plant pots which support the fabric too.
I have a few shop bought baskets, fabric, wicker, tapestry type, they all have an inner of cardboard and a fabric lining. They look very sturdy but they are basically fabric covered cardboard boxes. I have some of the larger ottoman type boxes for toys, these are strong enough to sit on if the lid is in place but the box itself is just made of thin hard board covered in fabric.
As GrumpyGramma said, having something inside will help - although that kind of goes against what we hope for and expect from a hand made basket.
Well done you for getting back to those unfinished projects.
Ah thank you for the encouragement. It was intended for my hairproducts, hairspray, brushes etc, so thinking about it it will be rammed anyway. I’d definitely try another one but much shallower.
I’m currently on the weaving in of my 7th market bag then onto a new project: a chunky cardy methinks. Thanks guys!
All of the above. It helps a LOT to use a smaller hook than the yarn calls for. Cotton yarns often work up to be more stiff than other yarns and are easy to stiffen later with starch or white glue (thinned with a bit of water). This type of yarn made with fabric won’t want to stiffen, so an inner liner is a great idea. You might also have inadvertantly added stitches where it starts to flare. Putting a marker every few stitches can help keep your count consistent. Use a different type of marker for the start of the round. For crochet, I like to use short lengths of a contrasting yarn for markers…then I don’t have to stop to unfasten / refasten it. Just flip the yarn forward or back and keep crocheting!
Thats a great tip, thank you