Free Crochet Pattern: Felted Scrap Basket to Use up and Organize your Yarn Scraps

Some bits of craft leftovers and some remaining yarn on a cone = felted basket goodness. Without having weave in all those ends because of the felting, it’s the perfect thing to use up all those scraps. I’m going to use my basket for one of three things: project basket, weaving supply basket, under the coffee table basket for coasters, remotes, and magazines. I think the last option might just be the one because we are in need of something for that for sure.

I’ve dug up the original pattern and put it all straight into this original post. But, if you’d like a tablet or printer friendly pdf version and to support this and other Craft Leftovers patterns finding their way back online…

Support the Craft Leftovers pattern archive restoration project by purchasing the PDF on here on Craft Leftovers or Ravelry.Etsy.

Kristin M Roach

Ingredients

• 7 oz of shetland wool (wool that will felt, many scraps of yarn, fabric strips and ribbon, each piece at least 12 inches long)
• Size G (4.25 mm) Hook
• Top loading washer

I ran my basket through two times, but it’s not quite all the way felted. I ran out of time before work and I ran out of quarters, haha. So I’m going to run it with the towels and rugs and etc until it’s all nice and felted. The main thing is I

Directions

Throughout the basket, pick up and crochet scraps in with the shetland wool. Don’t drop the wool, just pick the scraps and crochet the two “strands” at the same time. Then drop the scrap when you get to it’s end.

Don’t worry about weaving in ends, after felting you will be able to just trim it all down.

Bottom

Chain 23 with shetland wool

Row 1: Skip 2 chain sts, 1hdc into next chain; 1hdc in each chain stitch to end, turn.

Row 2: Chain 2 (counts as first hdc), 1hdc in each chain stitch to end, turn.

Rep 2nd row until the fabric is a square. Cut yarn, pull through loop, and weave in all ends.

Sides (make 4)

Chain 23.

Row 1: Skip 2 chain sts, 1hdc into next chain; 1hdc in each chain stitch to end, turn.

Row 2: Chain 2 (counts as first hdc), 1hdc in each chain stitch to end, turn.

Rep 2nd row until the fabric is 6 inches tall. Cut yarn, pull through loop, and weave in all ends.

Assembly

Single crochet the pieces together. Sides to the bottom and then the sides together.

Felting

Toss in the washer on a hot wash and a cold rinse. You see, the hot opens up the barbs in the fibers, they agitate all together, then the cold rinse shocks them closed again.

At the laundry mat “colors” was the right setting for me. Not “bright colors”, but just “colors”. It’s a good idea to take it out and check its progress after the wash cycle and before the rinse cycle.

If it’s not felted enough, just start the wash cycle over again.

It can take anywhere from 1 to 4 washes depending on your machine.

Pull over a box and let it dry that way, it will help to keep it’s shape better that way.

Once fully felted (fulled), cut two 4 inch slits 1 inch from the top of two sides for the handles, only if you want them though.

I ran my basket through two times, but it’s not quite all the way felted. So I’m going to run it with the towels and rugs and etc until it’s all nice and felted. The main thing is I want to loose the stitch definition so I can cut the straps without it unraveling. It’s really important that when you cut it (when I cut it) it’s felted enough so it doesn’t unravel.

So how can you tell when it’s felted enough? When you can see stitch definition anymore. It’s that simple.

Support the Craft Leftovers pattern archive restoration project by purchasing the PDF on here on Craft Leftovers or Ravelry.

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I’ll see you all on Monday folks! Keep it crafty in the meantime!

Kristin M Roach