Easy Knit Easter Basket

 Easter is just around the corner so it’s time to start looking for Easter Knitting patterns. I wanted to knit something special for my granddaughter Gracie. She is too young for chocolate so I decided to knit an easter basket and fill it with little easter friends for her to play with.

Easter Basket


Materials
Double Knitting type yarn (worsted weight or 8ply)
4mm size needle

Main part: Cast on 96 sts and knit two rows.

 *3rd row: (k4, P4) to end of row. Repeat 3rd row three times.

 7th row: (P4, k4) to end of row. Repeat 7th row three times.**

Repeat from* to ** once more.

 Knit 2 rows. Cast off all sts.

Base: Cast on 18sts and knit 60 rows. Cast off all sts.

Handle: Cast on 60sts and knit 3 rows. Cast off all sts.

MAKING UP:

Main part: Oversew side edges from cast on edge to cast off edge. With right side of work facing  pin the cast on edge of base to cast off edge of main part and oversew edges together.

 Handle: Sew the ends of handle, 1cm (1/2") to inside and centre of the main part of basket. (See photo for 

placement) 

Once the basket is complete decorate as desired.

Flower:

Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 4 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (40 sts)Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (20 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (10sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, purl 3 together, prul 2 together, purl 3 together

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends.


For the smaller flower I used finer yarn (3ply) and size 3mm needles made as flower above but only three petals.


Leaf:

 make as many as you’d like.
Cast on 3 stitches and work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
Row 3 K1, yrn, K1, yrn, K1 (5 sts)
Rows 4, 6, 8 and 10 K1, P to last st, K1
Row 5 K2, yrn, K1, yrn, K2 (7 sts)
Row 7 K3, yrn, K1, yrn, K3 (9 sts)
Row 9 K4, yrn, K1, yrn, K4 (11 sts)
Rows 11, 13, 15, 17 Knit
Row 12 K1, P3, sl1 p-wise, P2tog, psso, P3, K1 (9 sts)
Row 14 K1, P2, sl1 p-wise, P2tog, psso, P2, K1 (7 sts)
Row 16 K1, P1, sl1 p-wise, P2tog, psso, P1, K1 (5 sts)
Row 18 K1, sl1 p-wise, P2 tog, psso, K1 (3 sts)
Row 19 Sl1, K2 tog, psso, fasten off the remaining stitch.




Arrange on the side of the basket in desired design and sew into place.


There’s just something about  Easter chicks, bunnies and baskets that are so cute! These don’t take all that long to make so you still have time!


Free pattern for easter friends to follow.

Knitted Flowers- Free Pattern

Flowers are fabulous fun to knit. Completed in a short amount of time, with a small amount of yarn -a great way to use up your leftover scraps. Knitted flowers can add a beautiful touch to many pieces and since I've started knitting flowers, I catch myself thinking: "Ooh that could use a nice flower!" maybe embellish a knitted hat or bag or blanket, add a few at the ends of a scarf, put one on at collar of your sweater, knit a dozen to cover a scatter cushion. They can be chokers, wristlets, key chains, headbands, and scrunchies or made into a brooch .I’m sure there are lots of other uses too, they can add a beautiful touch to many pieces

While they may look difficult they are really very simple.

Here i have 3 patterns for large, medium and small flowers.

Large Flower

Cast on 12 stitches
Row 1. Slip 1, knit 11
Row 2. Slip 1, purl 11
Row 3. Slip 1, *k1, yo, repeat from* to last st ,knit 1,
Row 4. Slip 1, purl to end
Continue in stocking stitch (sliping the first st of every row) for 14 more rows.
Row 19. knit 2 tog twice, knit to last 4sts, knit 2 togr twice
Row 20.purl

Repeat row 19 & 20 3times more.

Row 27. knit 2 tog 3 times.
Row 28. Purl

Row 29. knit 3 together fasten off.

Arrange pettals as desired and sew into place.

Medium Flower

Cast on 8 stitches.
Row 1. knit
Row 2. Purl
Row 3.knit 2, knit front & back of all stitches to last, knit 1
Row 4. purl
Knit 10 rows stocking stitch
Row 15. Knit 2 together twice, knit to last 4 sts, knit 2 together twice
Row 16. Purl

Row 17. Knit 2 tog, knit to last 2 sts. Knit 2 tog

Row 18. Purl
Repeat row 17 & 18 3times more
Row 25. knit 2 together. Fasten off

Repeat to make 5 petals. Arrange petals as desired and sew into place.

Small Fower

Cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6 (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 4 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (40 sts)
Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (20 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (10sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, purl 3 together, prul 2 together, purl 3 together

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends.

You can finish off flowers by adding beads, buttons or anything you wish in the center as shown in photo. All flowers can be made smaller or larger by using finer or thicker yarn and needles.


While it is my pleasure to be able to share these patterns with you free of charge, I ask you to spare a thought for the Syrian refugee children. LILY- Love In the Language of Yarn is a non profit organisation I founded in the memory of Lily my grand daughter, we provide blankets and warm clothing to orphans and Syrian refugee children. If you could make a small donation to help towards transportation of these items it would be greatfully appreciated. Thankyou.