free crochet pattern: no-sew easter/spring basket

Good morning, everyone!  Today, I have an adorable crocheted Spring/Easter basket for you to play with before Easter arrives on Sunday:

It requires no sewing  - aside from weaving in ends (and you don't even have to do that - just stuff the ends into the basket and cover with grass!)

This pattern takes very little time to work up, so they make for great favors at your dinner party.  Put an egg or two inside filled with some treats and you're ready to celebrate.

I hope you enjoy this pattern; definitely let me know if you've made anything out of it because I'd love to see your version! Visit the pattern page on Ravelry to add yours!

Materials
Size H8/5mm crochet hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends

BASKET

Row 1: Ch 12; Sc in second chain from hook and in next 10 sts; 3 sc's in next ch; sc in next 9 sts on opposite side of chain; 2 scs in last st; join in first sc

Row 2: Ch 1; 2 scs in same st; sc in next 9 sts; 2 sc in next st; sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; sc in next 10 sts; sc in next st; join to first sc

Row 3: Ch 1; sc in same st; 2 dcs in next st; sc in next 10 sts; 2 scs in next st; sc in next 2 sts; 2 scs in next st; sc in next 11 sts; 2 scs in next st; sc in next st; join to first sc

Row 4: Ch 1; sc in same st; 2 scs in next st; sc in next 10 sts; sc in next 4 sts; 2 sc in next st; sc in next 11 sts; 2 scs in next st; sc in next 2 sts; join with a slip
stitch around (behind) first sc

Row 5: Ch 2; Bpdc around; join to top of ch 2

Rows 6-10: Ch 2; *Fpdc, dc* around; join to top of ch 2

Row 11: Ch 1, *Bpsc around*; join to first sc; fasten off


BLANKET

Change colors

Row 12: Working in front loops only of Row 11, join new color with sc;, sc around; join to first sc

Row 13: Ch 2, dc around, join to top of ch 2

Row 14: Ch 2, turn, dc around, join to top of ch 2; DO NOT TURN

Row 15: *Sk 2 sts, 5 dcs in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st* around; join with sl st to first st

Push Rows 12-15 down so that they are arranged like a little blanket in the basket

HANDLE

Pick up original color again

Decide where you'd like to place the handles and join oiginal color to any stitch from Row 11 in the back loop; sc in next 2 sts

Rows 16-45: Ch 1, sc aross

Join to 3 back loop sts from Row 11 on opposite side with slip stitch, fasten off

Weave in ends or stuff in basket

My Review: Knit- and Crochet-Pattern-A-Day Calendars 2010

Because I promised!

These guys arrived very quickly after placing my order last week - no surprise there, having ordered them from Amazon.  I was still a little miffed at Barnes & Noble for not carrying the calendar selection they usually have, thus having to pay full price for the one calendar (plus shipping!!!!), but whatever.

I now have the Knitting Pattern-a-Day: 2010 Calendar sitting on my desk at work, and the Crochet Pattern-a-Day: 2010 Calendar at home, so I've had a chance to take a deep look at them over the past few days.  Here are some of my conclusions:

The Good:

• Design: The Pattern-A-Day calendars have really grown up for 2010.  You'll notice that the cover design is different and includes multiple pictures of those patterns you'll find inside.  Though the Marketing side of me is thinking that was done as a better way to advertise what you're getting, the Buyer side really enjoys seeing how the year is gonna go down creatively.  And overall, it's a more mature look.
  
  
  
  The photos are also really nice to look at, and much more professional than in past years.
  
  
  
• Indestructible: In past calendars, you couldn't help but destroy the daily pages if you removed them from the box.  I keep finding them in my stash pile, actually, and they're crumpled-up messes.  It makes me sad because when I find a pattern I like, I probably want to make it again, but I was always too lazy to laminate the pages.  The newer pages are much thicker.  I mean, they're still paper, so you don't want to set them on fire or let your cat bat them around, but you don't feel bad about leaving them on the couch for a couple days while you work with them.

The Bad

• Lack of patterns: This "bad" isn't much different than what people have complained about in the past, but it seems 2010 is lacking in patterns even more severely than past years.  This might not actually be true, as past patterns that lasted for several days would have their own pages for that day, whereas this year, each page has two days on it.  In all actuality, it probably evens out, but it just seems like there are less.
  
  But... each month also gets a bonus pattern, so that kind of helps.
  
  If the problem is that they're lacking pattern submissions, I am more than happy to volunteer some of my pattern ideas in the future :)  I have so many ideas floating around in my head, and I actually have some patterns written down that I've never typed up to sell, that it might be another venture worth looking into.

Take that as you will.  I think they're worth getting if just to take a mental break from daily life and look over to see things like "[K1, inc] twice, K1".  It just makes me happy.  Yes, I know that probably makes me strange.

If you're about as crazy as I am, you can check out both items in my Amazon Associates store.  Because you can never have enough patterns!  :)