Hi, just finished up knitting some baskets, I would like to find out from “Knitting Help” if there is a way to make them stand up and be actually like a basket, I would hope there is some way to do this which isn’t too involved. I saw a you tube video that was dealing with doilies ,not sure if that would work for a basket. hope someone can help.
The only solution I’ve thought of is to make them fit over some container of the same shape. I’ve used round containers like cottage cheese cartons inside small baskets. I didn’t figure out how to secure the inside container to the knitted basket. I decided that unless I had a real plan I’d not knit more baskets. I’ve been playing in the back of my mind with an idea to knit rectangular pieces that I can stitch onto plastic canvas to make square baskets. The handle would need something stiff inside so it would have to be a tube of some sort. If made of feltable wool I think that might make them stand up. Sorry I have no real help to offer.
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I’ve used buckram (a stiffened cotton fabric) to line conical clown or witches hats. You’d have to attach it to the basket however.
Knitting baskets at a very tight gauge or crocheting them will work for small baskets. Perhaps starch in the final wash?
What size baskets do you have?
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Hi, I knit up the smallest basket from Yarnspiration website,Knit one and done Four basket set. It doesn’t mention how to stiffen ,they all seem to have plants in them (inside a plastic container) .I have seen many knitted/crochet basket patterns but none seem to tell how to make them stand up, someone suggested using a glue and water mixture but I would think that the knitted item would have to be soaked in the glue mixture and not guessing how long it would take to dry?
https://www.yarnspirations.com/bernat-knit-one-and-done-four-basket-set/BRK0504-031038M.html
Nice!
My sister has used fabric stiffener for other uses but here’s a video using it on knit baskets
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I used glue - water mix to stiffen snowflakes, make all wet, block it on piece of styrofoam and let it dry. It was perfect and firm. Didn’t try on baskets, sorry.
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Great video. Thanks for the share.
You could try dipping the basket in a starch solution and then stuffing it to hold its shape while it dries.
You can buy sachets of starch or make your own, I think.
This might not work with certain types of yarn.
Cute baskets!
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PVA wood glue from a DIY shop will work like fabric stiffener or modge podge and can be bought in a larger quantity for a lower price. PVA wood glue is not the same as general lower cost PVA glue, wood glue is better. And you can go up again in quality to a water resistant PVA.
In terms of application and forming (keeping it in the correct shape whilst it dries) the video posted by salmonmac is very helpful. A light painting or coating of the surface would not be enough.
If that’s too involved and too time consuming then as GrumpyGramma said, making knitted container covers is a solution so the knitted item is always supported by the container.
I have knitted covers for a ceramic planter I didn’t like the colour of to cover it up, and quite a few tin can covers to put plants in. I used recycled food cans and made the knitting the right size so it stretched onto it and didn’t fall down.
I have also made glass jar covers, again recycled or Mason jars from a shop.
My son and I made a whole bunch and planted them up for his teachers.
It’s possible to buy cylindrical card containers (boxes with lids) from art and craft suppliers and these would make an ideal inner to a knitted container but only for dry items obviously, not plants.
Recycling plastic tubs as GrumpyGramma said is also a great option although if you are giving as gifts you might not want the tub visible perhaps? Tubs can be covered in attractive fabric or decoupage with water resistant pva or wood pva to disguise their previous life.
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Thanks for the reply, I am trying homemade glue mixture right now to see if this might work before I knit up any more baskets. Oddly enough ,there are many knitted and crochet basket patterns but there are none that let us know how to make them stand up.I tried various websites and then I thought there would be help here on KnittingHelp and ,you sure were, thanks again.
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Let us know how your experiments turn out. It’s a good question and I’m sure it’ll come up again.
Thanks for the post.
This is a really old idea from the 1950’s but my family used to use sugar water.
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You usually want a pretty tight gauge, so going down a couple of needle sizes would probably help. Crochet stitches are more dense, so crochet baskets tend to be sturdier. I’ve never needed to stiffen one. Cotton yarn tends to be stiffer than wool or acrylic. Hope this helps for your next one!
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Thought of that but wondered if it might attract bugs ?
I will try going down needle size next one, I wish i knew how to crochet, would make my life easier with this project.
Hi
Can you suggest patterns for knitted baskets?
Thank you
Vtay
If your yarn is cotton you could try shrinking it a lot.
If your yarn has wool in it you could felt it.
For either one you would have to knit very large and plan for the shrinkage. Set project over bucket or plastic up to shape as it dries.
Either would be washable. Haven’t used the stiffeners. Not sure they would stand up to washing.
Go back and knit up samples, make lots of notes on needle sizes and dimensions and do a few washings to see how far you can shrink to get what you want. If you don’t know how to felt then that is another project to explore.
If you don’t want to place final project over a plastic container then you have trials and errors to work through perhaps.
Have you contacted Yarnspirations for suggestions? They sold the project kit, yes?
Next time knit with needles 2-3 sizes smaller as another option. Make a sample, even with kits.
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Many basket patterns here:
https://www.yarnspirations.com/row-en/patterns?prefn1=patternSkillTypeString&prefv1=Knit&prefn2=patternProjectType&prefv2=Baskets
Googling knit basket patterns will bring up more from other sources too.
I learned to crochet first in primary school. I found patterns in the magazines my mom had. Most were doilies. My mom would soak a doily in liquid fabric starch and block it.
White, PVA glue dries clear while wood glue dries a yellow/tan. Both are more resistant to water dissolving them. I think they can be washed out in the laundry.
My point is this, the use and uses of fabric starch many be lost with the aging of the boomer generation. 
I mean how often does anyone in gen Y or Z starch a collar or other clothing items? 
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Thank you 