Little crochet storage basket

I haven't crocheted anything, ever, other than crocheting a chain when I was a kid. But I was tempted to have a go at this simple looking little basket...good for storing bits in the bathroom, or sitting room, or full of felt pebbles like mine here!

Photo by Sarah Ryan

A workshop was advertised at "Gather Handmade", a giftshop in Liverpool St, so I went along to have my first real go at crocheting.
Giant sized wool was used and a huge crochet hook - making it possible to make the whole thing in about 1 and 1/2 hrs.

 

                                             Photo by Sarah Ryan                                           Photo by Sarah Ryan

After doing the chain for about 5 stitches, the more confusing part started, which was crocheting back into the stitches, to make the bottom section.  Hook in, loop round with wool, through and off, then loop wool round again and loop both stitches off. At least being chunky wool it was fairly forgiving of any inconsistencies, (or perhaps the odd little error...)

 

                                            Photo by Sarah Ryan                                           Photo by Sarah Ryan

This might have been called double crochet but nobody knew for certain... and as well as that, you did two an extra stitch every second time so the basket would go up. You had to keep your wits about you, and just like with this workshop, I don't think it would be possible to teach more than 8 students at a time, so not an option for a class project. It would be a good individual project though if it was something a student was motivated to learn.

                                             Photo by Sarah Ryan                                           Photo by Sarah Ryan
Louise at Gather provided this tutorial for more specific instructions.

How to Make a Crochet Basket
So excited to be able to share this video on how to make a small basket using our felted wool, available at Gather in lots of beautiful colours!
Posted by Gather Handmade Hobart on Tuesday, June 2, 2015

I think it would look great with a little pot-plant in it too, so long as something waterproof was put in the bottom to stop any water from rotting the wool.