Penguin Gift Basket – Crochet Pattern

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Looking for a cute, handmade way to gift things to your friends and family this holiday season? Then you will love this quick, easy, and fun Penguin Basket crochet pattern! It represents the arctic chill of winter in the cutest way possible, and would make a great place to start with a themed gift basket (i.e. hot cocoa, cozy accessories, etc.). And it’s not just for Christmas – this would be so cute in a baby nursery or kids’ room as fun storage / decor! The possibilities are endless!

Penguin Gift Basket

When designing my holiday patterns this year, I wanted to include some quick and easy patterns that were great for gifting. Plus, with all of the staying at home we have been doing throughout this year, it never hurts to design a pattern that can double as a gift basket and home storage piece! That’s when I decided to make this cute little penguin. If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I love making Amigurumi (cute stuffed animals – see more of my Amigurumi patterns HERE!). So why not bring all the cuteness of Amigurumi to this gift basket?! I think it would be especially cute for gifting a few mugs and a cocoa kit, some cozy socks and pajamas, or another set of comfy winter-themed items. You can customize it however you’d like!

It’s no secret that Lion Brand Hometown USA is one of my favorite yarns to work with! Naturally, when trying to choose a bulky and versatile yarn that comes in an array of colors, I turned to this yarn again. All you need is a ball of white, a ball of black, and a little bit of orange to make this fun basket! And you can find that yarn on Amazon below:

Looking for the ad-free PDF copy of this pattern? You can purchase one in my shop HERE!

Supplies
Size L-11 / 8 mm crochet hook
Size J-10 / 6 mm crochet hook
1 skein of Lion Brand Hometown USA (super bulky) in New York White (almost full skein used)
1 skein of Lion Brand Hometown USA (super bulky) in Oakland Black (almost full skein used)
Lion Brand Hometown USA (super bulky) in Syracuse Orange (about 25 yds used)
Yarn needle with large eye
Scissors

Abbreviations
Beg = beginning
BLO = back loop only
Ch = chain
Rep = repeat
Rnd(s) = round(s)
Sc = single crochet
Sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
Sc3tog = single crochet 3 together
Sk = skip
Sl St = slip stitch
St(s) = stitch(es)

Gauge
Exact gauge is not essential to this project.

Size
About 5 inches length by 10 inches wide 

How to Make This

Instructions
Basket
This piece is worked in continuous rnds; do not join. You may wish to use a st marker and move it up at the beg of each new rnd.
Rnd 1 – With white yarn and L hook, make a magic ring. 6 sc in ring (6 sc)
Rnd 2 – 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep around. (18 sc)
Rnd 4 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep around. (24 sc)
Rnd 5 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep around. (30 sc)
Rnd 6 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; rep around. (36 sc)
Rnd 7 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep around. (42 sc)
Rnd 8 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts; rep around. (48 sc)
Rnd 9 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts; rep around. (54 sc)
Rnd 10 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts; rep around. (60 sc)
Rnd 11 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts; rep around. (66 sc)
Rnd 12 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next 10 sts; rep around. (72 sc)
Rnd 13 – working in BLO, sc in each st around. (72 sc)
Rnds 14 – 18 – sc in each st around. Attach black yarn in last st of Rnd 18. (72 sc)
Rnds 19 – 28 – sc in each st around. (72 sc)
Fasten off, weave in ends.

Handles
Count 13 sts in from last st of Rnd 28 of Basket (first photo below); attach black yarn, with L hook, ch 11 (second photo). Sk next 10 sts, sl st in next st (third photo). Sl st in next st. Ch 1, turn.
Row 1 – sc in each st across. Sl st to next st on Rnd 28 of Basket. (Fourth photo below shows finished Handles.) (10 sc)

Fasten off. Repeat to make second Handle, counting 13 sts in the other direction from where you fastened off Rnd 28 of Basket. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Eyes (make 2)
This piece is worked in continuous rnds; do not join. You may wish to use a st marker and move it up at the beg of each new rnd.
Rnd 1 – With black yarn and J hook, make a magic ring. 5 sc in ring. (5 sc)
Rnd 2 – 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to next st. (10 sc)
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing. (First photo below shows finished Eye.)
Eye Shimmer
With white yarn, sew several vertical lines, as well as a few other vertical or horizontal lines, onto Eye for Eye Shimmer. (Second photo below shows finished Eye Shimmer.)

Beak
With orange yarn and J hook, Ch 2.
Row 1 – 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Ch 1, turn. (3 sc)
Row 2 – Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (3 sc)
Row 3 – 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
Rows 4 – 6 – Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
Row 7 – sc2tog over next 2 sts. Sc in next st. Sc2tog over last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn (3 sc)
Row 8 – Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (3 sc)
Row 9 – Sc3tog over next 3 sts. Ch 1, turn. (1 sc)
Edging
Sc evenly around entire piece, making 2 sc at each tip.
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Finishing
Fold Beak in half and sew to center of Basket near Rnds 17 and 18. Line up Eyes on either side of Beak and sew in place. (Photo below shows placement.)

Attach black yarn anywhere on top of Basket, ch 1 and loosely sl st in each st around. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Here is the finished basket!

I hope you enjoyed crocheting this basket along with me! If you love fun, free patterns like this one, then be sure to subscribe to my email list to keep up to date with all my latest designs:

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And you can find that ad-free PDF HERE!

Happy Crocheting!

COPYRIGHT:  This pattern is owned by Crafty Kitty Crochet (Melissa Moore). Any reselling or distribution of this pattern is prohibited. Sale of items made using this pattern is welcomed, but I do ask that credit/a link be provided back to my site, craftykittycrochet.com.