Black Purl Magazine | Sharing the passion and soul of needlecrafts

QUICK CLICKS
Home
About Us
Search
Share
Blog
Subscribe
Contact Us
Advertise
Submit
Media Room
Patterns
Archives

Stylish Square Hat/Basket
Designed by Carol Ventura

Depending upon which way it is turned, this project is a trend-setting hat or a functional basket. The square hat/basket begins in the center, then spirals outward. A flat square base is crocheted first, then when the diameter of the base is no longer increased, the edges move upwards to form the sides. The stitches at the rim are then gradually decreased to achieve a perfect fit!

Hook:
Steel crochet hook size 1 (2.75 mm.) or the size that will give an acceptable gauge

Gauge:
7 stitches equals 1 inch
7 rows equals 1 inch

Size:
7 1/2” wide by 4 3/4” high (23” circumference)

Materials:
One skein (100 grams/245 yards) each of Bordeaux and Clay Orchid Line (mohair, silk, and wool blend) by Harrisville Designs;

Safety pin or thread counter for counting the rounds.

Round 1: Starting with the bordeaux yarn, make a slip knot (leaving a six-inch tail), then chain 5 stitches. Join the ends together to form a ring by working a slip stitch into the first chain stitch. Single crochet 8 stitches loosely into the ring (while carrying the tail of the yarn). The piece should have a total of 8 stitches when you finish this round. This piece is worked as a spiral, not in concentric rings, so it is difficult to tell where each round ends. To keep track of where each round ends, slip a safety pin or stitch counter into the top of the last stitch of the round. You will remove the safety pin or stitch counter from the last stitch as you come to it again and slip it into the new last stitch at the end of each round.

Round 2: Continue to carry the tail. Increase by crocheting 2 stitches into each stitch. The spiral should have a total of 16 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 3: Cut the tail flush and start to carry the clay yarn. To keep the piece flat, you will increase each round by 8 stitches; 2 stitches at each corner. Each of the four edges are the same, so repeat the following sequence four times: crochet 2 stitches into the first stitch, 2 stitches (one in each stitch), then 2 stitches the last stitch of the side. Each corner should have 2 increases: one from the first part and one from the last part of the sequence. The piece should have 24 stitches when this round is finished.

Round 4: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 4 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 32 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 5: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 6 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 40 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 6: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 8 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 48 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 7: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 10 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 56 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 8: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 12 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 64 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 9: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 14 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 72 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 10: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 16 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 80 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 11: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 18 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 88 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 12: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 20 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 96 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 13: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 22 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 104 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 14: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 24 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 112 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 15: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 26 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 120 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 16: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 28 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 128 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 17: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 30 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 136 stitches when you finish this round. Don’t worry if your piece is not flat, it will become flat after blocking.

Round 18: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 32 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 144 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 19: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 34 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 152 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 20: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 36 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 160 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 21: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 38 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 168 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 22: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 40 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 176 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 23: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 42 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 184 stitches when you finish this round.

Round 24: Increase in the first stitch, crochet 44 stitches, then increase in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence three more times. The piece should have 192 stitches when you finish this round.

Begin sides and motif:
Round 25: Rounds 25 through 36 correspond to the illustrated motif (read from right to left and bottom to top). You will now begin to do the tapestry crochet stitch. Remember, that to do a tapestry crochet stitch, colors are switched while 2 loops are still on the hook; yarn over with the next color and pull it through the loops to prepare for the tapestry crochet stitch. Tapestry crochet 1 clay and 11 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around. The number of stitches will now remain constant from round to round.

Round 26: Tapestry crochet 2 clay and 10 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 27: Tapestry crochet 3 clay and 3 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 28: Tapestry crochet 4 clay, 3 bordeaux, 2 clay, and 3 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 29: Tapestry crochet 5 clay, 3 bordeaux, 1 clay, and 3 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 30: Tapestry crochet 6 clay and 6 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 31: Tapestry crochet 3 clay, 1 bordeaux, 3 clay, and 5 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 32: Tapestry crochet 3 clay, 2 bordeaux, 3 clay, and 4 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 33: Tapestry crochet 3 clay and 3 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 34: Tapestry crochet 10 clay and 2 bordeaux stitches. Repeat around.

Round 35: Tapestry crochet 11 clay and 1 bordeaux stitch. Repeat around.

Round 36: Tapestry crochet around with clay, while carrying the bordeaux.

Repeat rounds 25 thorugh 36 one more time.

Rim Round A: Decrease in the first stitch with clay, then crochet 10 clay stitches. Repeat around.

Rim Round B: Decrease in the first stitch with clay, then crochet 9 clay stitches. Repeat around.

Rim Round C: Decrease in the first stitch with clay, then crochet 8 clay stitches. Repeat around. (Please continue rim rounds until the hat fits snugly.)

Edge: Crochet around with the clay and bordeaux threads joined together, then slip stitch, cut the threads (leaving a 6 inch tail) then yarn over and pull the clay and bordeaux threads all the way through the loop. Work in the ends for 2 inches to secure them, then cut them flush. Block the hat/basket with a steam iron.

Carol Ventura has explored the design potential of tapestry crochet, developed a system of diagramming patterns, and created a variety of flat and three-dimensional projects, which she shares in her tapestry crochet books and video. For more information about her books or tapestry crochet, please look at www.tapestrycrochet.com.

<<Back to patterns>>