Kids = Mess. Bear Baskets = Cute Organization. 

Meet Buddy the Bear Basket. Fully equipped to take on that annoying scattered mess and transform it into something orderly. Maybe your kids will be more diligent in picking up their toys if they want Buddy to be nice and full.  

My big sister requested I make her one of these baskets so why not write up the pattern to share while I’m at it right? 

They are so cute! They fit perfectly on cube shelves. If I had more time I would crochet one for every cube.  Maybe that’s something you’d like to undertake. I’d LOVE to see a picture! 

Like the cube shelves? I got them off Amazon, and wasn’t sure how they were going to be. But so far I love them. They look nice and neat, add instant organization. And so far have been durable. They are incredibly light weight so I can move them easily. And I can set them up however I want. I have these 6 downstairs and the rest set up as a whole different shelf in my boys bedroom. I recommend them! 

As for the basket construction, the bottom of the basket is worked with 2-strands of yarn, and then we switch to a larger hook and crochet the sides with 4-strands.  This gives it some nice stability. This is why you’ll need 2 different hook sizes.  

Materials You’ll Need Are : 

• 3 skeins of Bernat Yarnspiratons in Café Au Lait – Medium 4 weight (Approximately 900 yards)
• A small amount of black medium 3/4 yarn for the eyes and nose
• 5.5 mm and 7 mm crochet hooks
• Small amount of stuffing for the nose
• Darning Needle

Gauge: This is really only important if you want to ensure it fits nicely into a cube shelf, though it may conform to the cube okay a bit bigger fine, I just haven’t tested it.

Don’t know how to check your gauge? CLICK HERE!  I’ll teach you. You can also find some cool  FREE PRINTABLE GAUGE CHECKERS there.  

Gauge = 4sts and 3.25 rows in an inch

Size: When finished the basket measures approximately 10.5″ in diameter, and 10″ high including the ears. 

Let’s get crocheting! 

Basket 

You’ll start with a magic circle. Don’t know how to make the magic circle? CLICK HERE to see the tutorial, you’ll be so glad you did! It’s easy! 

With 2-strands of your brown yarn and 5.5 mm hook, or whatever hook you required to meet gauge. Make a magic circle. 

I prefer to make the first stitch of the round in the same stitch as the chain. The chain doesn’t count as a stitch. 

Round 1 – Ch1. Make 8sc in the circle. Tighten the circle. Join. (8sts)

Round 2 – Ch1. 2sc in each stitch around. Join. (16sts)

Round 3 – Ch1. *Sc1, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (24sts)

Round 4 – Ch1. *Sc2, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (32sts)

Round 5 – Ch1. *Sc3, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (40sts)

Round 6 – Ch1. *Sc4, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (48sts)

Round 7 – Ch1. *Sc5, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (56sts)

Round 8 – Ch1. *Sc6, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (64sts)

Round 9 –  Ch1. *Sc7, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (72sts)

Round 10 – Ch1. *Sc8, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join.  (80sts)

Round 11 – Ch1. *Sc9, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (88sts)

Round 12 – Ch1. *Sc10, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (96sts)

Round 13 – Ch1. *Sc11, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (104sts)

Round 14 – Ch1. *Sc12, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (112sts)

Round 15 – Ch1. *Sc13, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (120sts)

Round 16 – Ch1. *Sc14, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (128sts)

Round 17 – Ch1. *Sc15, 2sc in the next st. * Repeat * to * around. Join. (136sts)

Add another 2 strands to your working yarn now, and switch to the 7mm hook. 

Round 18 – Ch1. *Sc1, Skip1.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (68sts)  

You can either continue in rounds or move to a continuous round. 

Make 18 more rounds of sc, or until your basket is at least  8″ high. 

Final round – Ch.1. Crab stitch around. Join. Tie off and weave in ends. 

Ears – Make 2

With 2 strands of yarn and 5.5mm hook.

Make a magic circle. 

Round 1 – Ch1. Sc10 into the circle. Close the circle. Join. (10sts)

Round 2 – Ch1. *Sc1, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (15sts)

Round 3 – Ch1. *Sc2, 2sc in the next  st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (20sts)

Round  4 – 9 – Ch1. Sc around. Join. (20sts)

Tie off leaving a long enough tail to sew the ear onto the basket. Tighten and knot the magic circle opening so it doesn’t open up.  Sew the ear onto the basket. I sew mine on the inside, and at the bottom of the crab stitch round. 

Snout 

With 2 strands of yarn and a 5.5mm hook. 

Make a magic circle.  

Round 1 – Ch1. 8sc into the circle. Tighten the circle. Join. (8sts) 

Round 2 – Ch1. *2sc in each of the next 2sts. 2hdc in each of the next 2sts.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (16sts) 

Round 3 – Ch1. Sc2, 2hdc in each of the next 4sts, sc4, 2hdc in each of the next 4sts, sc2. Join. (24sts) 

Round 4 – Ch1. Sc4, 2hdc in each of the next 4sts, sc8, 2hdc in each of the next 4sts. Sc4. Join. (32sts) 

Rounds 5 & 6 – Ch1. Sc around. Join. (32sts) 

Tie off with a long enough tail to sew onto the basket. Before sewing it on, make and attach the nose. And remember to stuff with stuffing before you finish sewing it on.  

Nose  

With 2 strands of black and 5.5mm hook.  

Make a magic circle.  

Round 1 – Ch1. 6sc in ring. Join. Tighten the ring and tie off.  

Sew onto snout.  

Eyes

With 1 strand of black an 5.5 mm hook. 

Make a magic circle. 

Round 1 – Ch1. 6sc in the ring. Tighten. Join. 

Tie off and tie onto the basket. 

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