Rainbow Nesting Bowls

I've been seeing a lot of nesting and stacking crochet baskets lately. I also have a lot of yarn in my probably too big stash. I figured what better way to start using it up than to make my own set of baskets!

I love baskets and bins for storing all the things big and little. The great thing about these baskets is they can also be given to kids to help them learn their colors. I've also yet to come across a child who doesn't like to stack things up and knock them over. Repeatedly.

Any worsted weight yarn can be used to make these fun baskets, but I chose Red Heart. It isn't my typical go-to yarn, but since I have an abundance of it, I'm trying to use it up. A stiffer yarn like Red Heart combined with the stitches used in these baskets seem to make them a bit sturdier. Plus it's easy to care for.


The sides of these baskets are made using the linen stitch. I've also heard it called the moss stitch. I love the look this stitch adds. To make the linen stitch.....


1. Make an even number of chains
2. Sc in the second chain from the hook, chain 1, skip the next stitch.
3. Repeat step 2 across, ending with a sc in the last chain.

For the next row, ch. 2, skip next stitch, *sc in next, ch. 1, skip next stitch *, repeat to end

Your chain 2 counts as (sc, ch. 1)

When working in the round, you want to join the yarn into the ch. 2 space. Begin the next round by chaining 2 and placing a sc in the first ch.1 space of the previous round. * Ch. 1, skip the next stitch, sc in the next ch. 1 space *. Repeat this to the end of the round.


I used a G-hook (4.0 mm) to make these baskets, but you can use whatever hook you feel comfortable with. Just remember that changing hook size will also change the size of your baskets. The measurements for my baskets are listed below the pattern.


Smallest Basket (Red)

Round 1. 6 sc into magic ring
(alternately: chain 2, 6 sc in the second chain, join to the fist sc)

Round 2. Ch. 1, 2 sc into the same stitch and in each stitch around, join - 12

Round 3. Ch. 1, sc into the first stitch, 2 sc in next, * sc in next, 2 sc in next *, repeat from * to * around, join - 18

Round 4. Ch. 1, sc into the first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next, * sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next *, repeat from * to * around, join - 24

Round 5. Ch. 1, sc into the first 3 stitches, 2 sc in next, * sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next *, repeat from * to * around, join - 30


Round 6. Ch. 1, sc in BLO around - 30


Round 7. Ch. 2 (counts as sc, ch. 1), skip next stitch, * sc in next, ch. 1, skip next *, repeat from * to * around, join in the ch. 2 space - 15 sc, 15 ch. 1 spaces

Round 8. Ch. 2 (counts as sc, ch. 1), skip the first sc, * sc in the chain 1 space, chain 1 *, repeat from * to * around

Rounds 9-10. Repeat round 8, Fasten off


For each subsequent basket, you want to add one more increase round and two more rounds of linen stitch.

Orange - 6 increase rounds (36), 12 total rounds
Yellow - 7 increase rounds (42), 14 total rounds
Green - 8 increase rounds (48), 16 total rounds
Blue - 9 increase rounds (54), 18 total rounds
Purple - 10 increase rounds (60), 20 total rounds
Pink - 11 increase rounds (66), 22 total rounds

Red - 2½ inches in diameter, 1¼ inches deep

Orange - 3 inches in diameter, 1½ inches deep

Yellow - 3½ inches in diameter, 1¾ inches deep

Green - 4 inches in diameter, 2 inches in deep

Blue - 4½ inches in diameter, 2¼ inches deep

Purple - 5 inches in diameter, 2½ inches deep