Crochet Puppy Easter Basket Tutorial

Looking to add a touch of cuteness to your Easter celebration? Consider creating a crochet puppy Easter basket! This charming project combines the whimsy of a puppy with the practicality of a basket, making it a delightful addition to your holiday decorations. Using soft pastel yarns and simple crochet techniques, you can craft a basket that is as adorable as it is functional.

Materials

• For the basket: Red Heart “Cafe Latte” (2 strands held together for thickness) or Bernat Softee Chunky.
• For ears and muzzle: dark brown Lion’s Brand Yarn.
• For nose and eyes: Caron Simply Soft in black and white.
• Hook: J hook for basket and handle; G hook for the rest.
• Plastic canvas (optional): cut an 8″ circle for stability.
• Needle for sewing on parts; small amount of stuffing for muzzle.

Abbreviations Used

• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• st = stitch
• ch = chain
• tog = together
• BL = back loops
• Inv dec = invisible decrease
• hdcFP = half double crochet front post

Basket Instructions

(Use J hook)

With 2 strands held together of 4 ply yarn or using chunky yarn for basket and handle:

• Row 1: Ch 6, join with sl st in first ch to form ring, Ch 2, 12 hdc in ring (12). Chain 2 does not count as a stitch. Join with sl st in 1st st.
• Row 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st around, join as before (24).
• Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st around, join (36).
• Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st around, join (48).
• Row 5: Ch 2, hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st around, join (60).
• Row 6: Ch 2, hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st around, join (72).
• Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st around, join (84).
• Row 8: Working in BL, Ch 2, hdc around, join (84).
• Row 9: Working through both loops, Ch 2, hdc in next 5 sts, hdc next 2 sts tog around, join (72).
• Row 10: Ch 2, hdc around, join (72).
• Row 11: Ch 2, hdc in next 4 sts, hdc next 2 sts tog around, join (60).
• Rows 12-16: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join (60).
• Row 17: Ch 2, hdcFP in each st around. Fasten off. Weave in end.

Yarn over, insert hook around post of stitch, pull through and finish off as hdc.

Handle Instructions

(Use J hook)

Leave a long tail at beginning and end of handle for sewing to basket.

• Row 1: Ch 4, sc 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn (3).
• Rows 2-52: Ch 1, sc across, turn. Do not turn at the end of row 52. Ch 1, sc evenly in the end of each row and st around. Join with sl st. Fasten off.

Sew each end of handle to sides of basket on the inside of row 17.

Ears Instructions

(Use G hook)

Make 2. Do not join. Mark 1st st of each round.

• Row 1: 6 sc in magic circle or Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (6).
• Row 2: 2 sc in each st around (12).
• Row 3: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st around (18).
• Row 4: sc around.
• Row 5: sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st around (24).
• Row 6: sc around.
• Row 7: sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next around (30).
• Rows 8-9: sc around.
• Row 10: sc in next 3 sts, Inv Dec in next around (24).

Invisible Decrease: Insert hook in front loop of the 1st st, do not yarn over, but insert hook into front loop of the 2nd st, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through last 2 loops.

• Row 11: sc around.
• Row 12: sc in next 2 sts, Inv Dec in next st around (18).
• Rows 13-14: sc around.
• Row 15: sc in next st, Inv Dec in next st around (12).
• Rows 16-20: sc around. Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing.

Sew to each side of the basket in the same position as the handle but on the outside of the basket.

Muzzle Instructions

(Use G hook)

Do not join rounds.

• Rnd 1: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 3 chs, 3 sc in last ch, work on the other side of ch, sc in last 5 chs (12).
• Rnd 2: 2 sc in 1st st, *sc next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* Repeat between * (16).
• Rnd 3: 2 sc in 1st st, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next* Repeat between * (20).
• Rnd 4: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts around (24).
• Rnd 5: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts around (28).
• Rnd 6: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts around (32).
• Rnds 7-8: sc around. Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing.

Sew to the middle front of the basket about 1-2 rows up from the bottom of the basket. Stuff lightly before closing.

Nose Instructions

(Use G hook)

• Row 1: Ch 4, sc 2nd ch from hook and each st across, turn (3).
• Row 2: Ch 1, sc 1st 2 sts tog, sc in next st (2).
• Row 3: Ch 1, sc next 2 sts tog (1). Do not turn. Ch 1, sc evenly around nose. Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing. Sew to upper part of muzzle. Embroider mouth lines under nose.

Eyes Instructions

(With white, Use G hook) (Make 2)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring, or Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (6).
• Rnd 2: 2 sc in 1st 3 sts. Leave rest of sts unworked. Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing. Join the same brown as ears and muzzle, sc in the 6 sts of row 2 only. Fasten off.

(With black, Use G hook) (Make 2)

• 6 sc in magic ring, or Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st in 1st st. Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing. Sew these to eye whites. Then sew eyes to basket above muzzle about 1 row down from the top of the basket.