Love Heart Belly Basket - Free Valentine's crochet pattern

This chunky belly basket is worked in the round and uses six strands of yarn held together, for a fun and quick make. Finished with heart-shaped pompoms! Scroll down for step by step pictures, instructions and stitch descriptions. 

Please do tag me with #lottieandalbert or @lottieandalbert to show me what you've made on social media!

 

 

Knitcraft Cotton Blend 100g in Pink, Red, White

 

8mm hook

 

5cm pompom maker

 

blo       back loop only

 

ch        chain

 

dc        double crochet (US single crochet)

 

rep       repeat

 

rnd       round

 

slst      slip stitch

 

st(s)     stitch(es)

 

inc       increase (two double crochet in one stitch)

 

dc2tog double crochet two stitches together

 

Slip Stitch: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, pull new loop through first loop on hook

 

Double Crochet: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops

 

Double Crochet Two Together: Insert hook into stitch, without yarning over insert hook in next stich along from front to back, yarn over and pull up a loop through both stitches, yarn over and pull though both loops

 

Taking your three balls of yarn, hold the three strands in your hand, and slowly wind them into a ball of three strands. Continue until you have wound around half of the yarn, or until the new ball weighs around 150g. Now cut your yarn, and hold the three strands of what’s left of your balls, plus the three strands of the yarn ball you just wound, and wind all six strands into a ball. You will now have a six-strand yarn ball to make the blanket with.

 

Work all six yarns together and treat them as one thread.

 

Rnd 1   Create a magic loop and make 6 dc into the loop, pull loop closed (6)

 

Rnd 2   2 dc in each stitch around (12)

 

Rnd 3   *1 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (18)

 

Rnd 4   *2 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (24)

 

Rnd 5   *3 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (30)

 

Rnd 6   *4 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (36)

 

Rnd 7   dc in back loop only of each stitch around (36)

Rnd 8   *5 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (42)

 

Rnd 9   *6 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (48)

 

Rnd 10 *7 dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (54)

 

Rnd 11 *2dc, inc. Rep from * until end of rnd (72)

 

Rnd 12 In BLO *2dctog, 2dc. Rep from * until end of rnd (54)

 

Rnd 13 *7dc, 2dctog. Rep from * until end of rnd (48)

 

Rnd 14 *6dc, 2dctog. Rep from * until end of rnd (42)

 

Rnd 15 *5dc, 2dctog. Rep from * until end of rnd (36)

 

Rnd 16 *4dc, 2dctog. Rep from * until end of rnd (30)

 

Rvd 17 *5 ss, ch 10 and skip 5 sts, 5 ss. Rep from * once more (30)

 

Fasten off and weave in ends

 

 

To make the pompom hearts, use just one strand of yarn at once.

 

Taking your pompom maker and one colour, wrap the pompom maker and create a round pompom as normal. Holding the pompom by the strings at the top, start to shape the bottom of the heart into a pointed cone shape.

 

Now cut a sharp V in the top of the pomp om, being careful not to cut the strings.

 

This will give you the basic heart shape, but will probably look very fluffy! Continue to trim, fluffing and turning the pompom regularly to refine the heart shape.

 

Attach your pompoms to your basket in between the handles and rounds 15 and 16.

 

I hope you have enjoyed this free pattern from Lindsey of Lottie and Albert. Find me on Instagram, Etsy, Ravelry and YouTube as @lottieandalbert, and find more free patterns on lottieandalbert.blogspot.com