Easter egg basket

This is a simple little basket, doll sized. By changing the yarn/thread size and the hook size you can adjust the size of the basket. Materials Needed: Thread, steel hook, Foam Plastic Ball, Small silk flowers (optional) Fabric stiffener, Straight Pins, Wax Paper

To begin: Ch 6, join with a sl st in first ch.

ROW 1: Ch 4, dc in ring, make (ch 1,dc in ring) 10 times, ch 1 and join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 4. (DO NOT TURN AT BEG OF ROWS 1-12)

ROW 2: St st into next sp, ch 6, dc in next sp. *Ch 3, dc in next sp, repeat from * 9 times, ch 3, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 6.

ROW 3: Ch 5, dc in next sp. *Ch 2, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next sp, rep from * 10 times, ch 2, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 5.

ROW 4: Ch 6, sk next sp, dc in next dc. *Ch 3, sk next sp, dc in next dc, rep from * around. Skip last sp, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 6.

ROW 5: Rep row 4

ROW 6: Ch l, sc in same st where last row was joined. *Make 3 sc in next sp, sc in next dc, rep from * around. Make 3 sc in last sp, join with a sl st in first sc.

Row 7:Ch 5, make (dc, ch 2, cd, ch 2, dc) in st where last row was joined.*sk next 7 sc, make dc, ch 2, dc, ch 2, dc, ch 2, dc in next sc (shell make) rep from * around. Sk last 7 sc, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 5.

ROW 8: Sl st in next sp, next dc, and next sp, ch 5, make (dc, ch 2, dc, ch 2, dc)indc, ch 2,dc in center sp on next shell (shell made), rep from * around, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg 5.

Rows 9-12:Rep row 8

Row 13 TURN St st in sp between shells, ch 5, dc in same sp. *Make a shell in middle sp of next shell, make (dc, ch 2, dc) in next sp between shells, rep from * around. Make a shell in middle sp of last shell, join with a sl st in 3rd of beg sh 5.

BASKET HANDLE

Row 1: Leave a 12" tail for sewing handle to basket later. Ch2, make (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in first ch. ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Make (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in sh 2 sp of last row. Ch 1 turn.

ROW 3-40: Rep row 2. End off leaving a 12" tail

STIFFENING AND BLOCKING

Dip the basket and the handle into fabric stiffener. Squeeze out any excess stiffener and shape the basket over a form that will give you the appropriate size. Block the handle separately. Cover an ironing board with wax paper. Place the basket, upside down, on top of the wax paper. Shape and pin the points of the last crochet row to the ironing board.

After the basket and handle dry, remove the form from the basket and sew the handle to the inside of the basket. Place the 1/2 foam plastic ball on the bottom of the basket. Cut the flower stems to the desired height and place them into the foam.