How to Crochet -- Basket Weave stitch

Are you ready for a new crochet stitch? The Basket Weave Stitch is great for a full size afghan done in worsted weight yarn, or for a baby blanket done in sport weight. It has nice texture and turns out to be very warm and cozy. The stitch itself is just double crochet stitches done around the posts of the stitches in the previous row alternating from the front and from the back. It is one of my favorite stitches to use for a big project because once you have the pattern set, you really don't have to think about it. Here's how to do it and some pictures of the afghan I have in progress using the basketweave stitch...

Stitch the beginning chain in a multiple of six, then add one more chain stitch. For example, my sample chain is 18+1 stitches, but my full size afghan chain was something in the neighborhood of 210+1. You would make it however long you want the width of your piece to be, as long as the number is a multiple of six plus one extra chain stitch.


For the first row, work one double crochet into the fourth chain from the hook as shown above. Continue across the row working a double crochet into each chain stitch.



This is what your first row will look like.



Chain two and turn. Row 2: Skip the first double crochet of the previous row. Work a double crochet around the post from the front by yarning over and then inserting your hook between posts of the first and second double crochets from the front to the back, then bringing your hook forward between the second and third double crochets as shown above. In this way, you pick up the post of the second double crochet from the front. Draw up a loop of yarn and finish your double crochet as usual. Do this with the next two stitches as well so you have three double crochets made around the posts from the front.


Next, yarn over and insert your hook from the back in the space before the next stitch as shown above.


Then bring your hook to the back of your work after the next stitch so that you have captured the post of the next stitch from the back. Continue the double crochet as usual. Work two more double crochet stitches in this manner so that you have three double crochets made around the post from the back.

Continue across the row, working three double crochets around the post from the front then three from the back until you get to the end of the row. Work one double crochet into the top of the turning chain. Chain two and turn.



This is what your piece will look like from one side after the first row of the pattern is worked.



And this is what it will look like from the other side. You can see the opposite effect already taking shape in the pattern.

I find that the hardest part of making an afghan or any piece really is establishing the pattern in the first four or five rows. Until I have at least that many rows worked, I really don't have much to hold on to and there isn't a lot of weight to hold the piece down. So don't give up too early on a new piece. It gets easier after the pattern is established and there is some weight to the work!


Row 3: Work the same as row 2. Always skip the last double crochet of the previous row since the turning chain is already worked in that. Work three double crochets around the posts from the front, then three from the back until you get to the end of the row. Double crochet into the top of the turning chain from the previous row. Chain two and turn.



This is what your piece will look like after the third row.

Rows 4 and 5 are worked using the same method except that you begin with three double crochets worked around the post from the back and continue alternating across the row. This is what makes the basket weave effect.

Continue working rows 2 through 5 until your piece is as big as you want it, then finish it off with any kind of border you like.


This is what your piece will look like after working a few more rows.



And this is the other side. I like this stitch for an afghan because it really doesn't have a right or wrong side like with some stitches.


This view shows you the texture this stitch has once you get it going. It creates almost a double layer by having the stitches worked around the posts instead of into the tops of the stitches. Very cozy!


This is a close-up of the afghan I am working on right now for a friend of mine. I chose Red Heart worsted weight yarn in Ranch Red. I thought it would show off the pattern quite well, and I am happy with the result. When it is the size I want it to be, I will finish it off with one round of single crochet just to stabilize the edges and give it a more finished look.


And here it is in all its unfinished glory! I was hoping to have it finished before the hot weather arrived here in New England, but my timing was a little off! I work on it when we have a cool evening, but I am afraid it won't have a chance of actually getting finished until our beautiful fall weather rolls around again. That's OK though, because there is no deadline for this project!

What's your favorite stitch to use for an afghan?

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