Crochet Owl Basket

True story:

I was crocheting in the car and Dave asked what I was making, I said an owl basket. 

Dave: why?

Me: why? Uh, 'cause - hello, owl basket! Why wouldn't I? Duh. 

I'm not going to reprint the instructions, you can find them on bhg.com or click here. For the record, the headline reads "this easy crochet owl basket is the perfect project for beginners" and I beg to differ. I've been crocheting for years and had to google a couple of things - I've never heard of a picot stitch and even after googling not sure I did it correctly but the owl looks cute so am not going to overthink it. I also didn't know how to hdc dec (half double crochet decrease) or what a 'double treble' stitch is, thank goodness for google and youtube hahaha. I could not figure out the instructions for the left eye so I just made 2 right eyes and turned it so it was placed like the sample picture/instructions. 

Isn't it cute?! 

Here's the directions in case the link doesn't work:

Step 1: Crochet the Basket 

The basket is worked in a spiral, so joining rounds is not necessary. Mark the beginning of each round.

Rnd 1: With 2 strands of yarn held together, chain or ch 3 (2 chs counts as half double crochet or hdc), hdc 7 times in beg ch (8 hdc).

Rnd 2: Hdc-inc in each stitch or st (16 hdc).

Rnd 3: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next st; rep from * 7 more times (24 hdc).

Rnd 4: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 2 sts; rep from * 7 more times (32 hdc).

Rnd 5: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 3 sts; rep from * 7 more times (40 hdc).

Rnd 6: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 4 sts; rep from * 7 more times (48 hdc).

Rnd 7: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * 7 more times (56 hdc).

Rnd 8: * Hdc-inc, hdc in next 6 sts; rep from * 7 more times (64 hdc).

Rnds 9-17: Hdc in each st around (64 hdc).

Rnd 18: *Hdc-dec, hdc in next 6 sts; rep from * 7 more times (56 hdc).

Rnd 19: *Hdc-dec, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * 7 more times (48 hdc).

Rnd 20: *Hdc-inc, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * 7 more times (56 hdc).

Rnds 21-26: Hdc in each st around (56 hdc).

Single crochet or Sc in next st, slip stitch or sl st in next st to finish off. Fasten off, and weave in ends.

Buy It: Plastic Crochet Hook Set ($12, Michaels)

Step 2: Make the Eyes 

Each eye is worked in a spiral, so joining rounds is not necessary. Mark the beginning of each round.

First Eye

Rnd 1: With 2 strands of yarn held together, ch 2 sc 6 times in beg ch (6 sc).

Rnd 2: *Sc 2 times in each st; rep from * 5 more times (12 sc).

Rnd 3: *Double crochet or dc 2 times in each st; rep from * 11 more times (24 sc).

Rnd 4: *Dc 2 times in next st, dc; rep from * 5 more times, treble crochet or tr, dtr, picot; fasten off.

Second Eye

Rnds 1-3: Rep First Eye instructions.

End 4: Picot, dtr, tr, *dc, dc 2 times in next st; rep from * 5 more times, hdc, sc, sl st to finish off eye; fasten off and weave in ends.

Step 3: Add Eyes to Basket 

Position the right eye on the basket at the point of the last st. Using two strands of yarn and a tapestry needle, tack down the center of the eye; using the center hole as a guide, bring the needle up through the center and then back down in the first round of stitches. Continue until the center is secure.

Using two strands of yarn and the outside stitches of the eye, tack down the eye securely, leaving the picot stitches unsewn. Weave in all ends. Repeat with the left eye.

Buy It: Large-Eye Blunt End Needles-6/Pkg ($7, Walmart)

Step 4: Add the Beak 

Using two strands of yarn and long straight stitches, embroider a beak between the bottoms of the eyes. Once you've mastered the technique, you can modify the basket to make it as big or tall as you desire by adding or subtracting stitches. The finished design makes a heartfelt DIY gift or keep it for yourself and use it to stash office accessories or crafts supplies.