Argyle Nesting Baskets Duo: Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

These Argyle Nesting Baskets are a cozy, practical pair you can finish in a weekend and use every single day. The small 4-inch basket tucks neatly inside the large 6-inch one, so they store beautifully on a shelf or counter when empty. Worked in moss stitch with chunky t-shirt yarn, the texture is bumpy, slightly open, and wonderfully sturdy, while the burgundy and gold stripes give them a warm, classic argyle feel. Each basket gets a crocheted diamond-style appliqué on the front, making them special enough to gift and simple enough for a confident beginner to love making.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: T-shirt yarn, approximately 5–7 mm wide, in burgundy (A) and gold (B). Small basket: 30 yd burgundy, 20 yd gold. Large basket: 70 yd burgundy, 50 yd gold.
• Hook: 8 mm (US L-11).
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure.
• Finished size: Small: 4" diameter x 4" tall. Large: 6" diameter x 6" tall.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain
• sc — single crochet
• inc — increase (work 2 sc in the same stitch)
• sl st — slip stitch
• sk — skip
• sp — space
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• MR — magic ring
• rep — repeat

Gauge

8 sts and 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in moss stitch. Work a small swatch in moss stitch and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if you have more or fewer stitches than 8 per 4 inches.

Tips Before You Start

• T-shirt yarn has little stretch, so keep your tension relaxed and even; tight stitches make the basket stiff and hard to work.
• Use a stitch marker at the start of each round so you always join in the right place.
• Carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the basket rather than cutting it each time you change stripes.
• Count your ch-1 spaces at the end of each side round; the moss stitch grid should stay at 24 (small) or 36 (large) spaces.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Small Basket (A = burgundy, B = gold)

Base (A):

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48 sts). Join with sl st to first sc (48 sts).

Sides:

Rnd 9: ch 1, sc in same st, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st] rep around, join with sl st to first sc (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps).

Rnds 10–12: sl st into first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, [ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp] rep around, join with sl st to first sc (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 13–16: rep Rnds 10–12 (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnds 17–20: rep Rnds 10–12 (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 21–24: rep Rnds 10–12 (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnds 25–28: rep Rnds 10–12 (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 29–32: rep Rnds 10–12 (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnd 33: rep Rnds 10–12 (24 sc, 24 ch-1 sps). Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Large Basket (A = burgundy, B = gold)

Base (A):

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48 sts).

Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54 sts).

Rnd 10: [8 sc, inc] x6 (60 sts).

Rnd 11: [9 sc, inc] x6 (66 sts).

Rnd 12: [10 sc, inc] x6 (72 sts). Join with sl st to first sc (72 sts).

Sides:

Rnd 13: ch 1, sc in same st, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st] rep around, join with sl st to first sc (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps).

Rnds 14–16: sl st into first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, [ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp] rep around, join with sl st to first sc (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 17–20: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnds 21–24: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 25–28: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnds 29–32: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 33–36: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnds 37–40: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to B.

Rnds 41–44: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Change to A.

Rnd 45: rep Rnds 14–16 (36 sc, 36 ch-1 sps). Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Diamond Appliqué (make 2, one for each basket, using A)

With A, ch 2.

Row 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook (2 sts).

Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc in each st across (4 sts).

Row 3: ch 1, turn, [sc, inc] x2 (6 sts).

Row 4: ch 1, turn, [2 sc, inc] x2 (8 sts).

Row 5: ch 1, turn, [3 sc, inc] x2 (10 sts).

Row 6: ch 1, turn, [4 sc, inc] x2 (12 sts).

Row 7: ch 1, turn, [5 sc, inc] x2 (14 sts).

Row 8: ch 1, turn, [6 sc, inc] x2 (16 sts).

Row 9: ch 1, turn, [7 sc, inc] x2 (18 sts).

Row 10: ch 1, turn, [8 sc, inc] x2 (20 sts).

Row 11: ch 1, turn, [9 sc, inc] x2 (22 sts).

Row 12: ch 1, turn, [10 sc, inc] x2 (24 sts).

Row 13: ch 1, turn, [11 sc, inc] x2 (26 sts).

Row 14: ch 1, turn, [12 sc, inc] x2 (28 sts).

Row 15: ch 1, turn, [13 sc, inc] x2 (30 sts).

Row 16: ch 1, turn, [14 sc, inc] x2 (32 sts).

Row 17: ch 1, turn, [15 sc, inc] x2 (34 sts).

Row 18: ch 1, turn, [16 sc, inc] x2 (36 sts).

Row 19: ch 1, turn, [17 sc, inc] x2 (38 sts).

Row 20: ch 1, turn, [18 sc, inc] x2 (40 sts).

Row 21: ch 1, turn, [19 sc, inc] x2 (42 sts).

Row 22: ch 1, turn, [20 sc, inc] x2 (44 sts).

Row 23: ch 1, turn, [21 sc, inc] x2 (46 sts).

Row 24: ch 1, turn, [22 sc, inc] x2 (48 sts).

Row 25: ch 1, turn, [23 sc, inc] x2 (50 sts).

Row 26: ch 1, turn, [24 sc, inc] x2 (52 sts).

Row 27: ch 1, turn, [25 sc, inc] x2 (54 sts).

Row 28: ch 1, turn, [26 sc, inc] x2 (56 sts).

Row 29: ch 1, turn, [27 sc, inc] x2 (58 sts).

Row 30: ch 1, turn, [28 sc, inc] x2 (60 sts).

Row 31: ch 1, turn, [29 sc, inc] x2 (62 sts).

Row 32: ch 1, turn, [30 sc, inc] x2 (64 sts).

Row 33: ch 1, turn, [31 sc, inc] x2 (66 sts).

Row 34: ch 1, turn, [32 sc, inc] x2 (68 sts).

Row 35: ch 1, turn, [33 sc, inc] x2 (70 sts).

Row 36: ch 1, turn, [34 sc, inc] x2 (72 sts).

Row 37: ch 1, turn, [35 sc, inc] x2 (74 sts).

Row 38: ch 1, turn, [36 sc, inc] x2 (76 sts).

Row 39: ch 1, turn, [37 sc, inc] x2 (78 sts).

Row 40: ch 1, turn, [38 sc, inc] x2 (80 sts).

Row 41: ch 1, turn, [39 sc, inc] x2 (82 sts).

Row 42: ch 1, turn, [40 sc, inc] x2 (84 sts).

Row 43: ch 1, turn, [41 sc, inc] x2 (86 sts).

Row 44: ch 1, turn, [42 sc, inc] x2 (88 sts).

Row 45: ch 1, turn, [43 sc, inc] x2 (90 sts).

Row 46: ch 1, turn, [44 sc, inc] x2 (92 sts).

Row 47: ch 1, turn, [45 sc, inc] x2 (94 sts).

Row 48: ch 1, turn, [46 sc, inc] x2 (96 sts).

Row 49: ch 1, turn, [47 sc, inc] x2 (98 sts).

Row 50: ch 1, turn, [48 sc, inc] x2 (100 sts). Fasten off. Weave in ends. Make 2.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew one appliqué onto the front of each basket using A, stitching around the edges with small, even stitches. If you prefer a true diamond, fold the triangle in half along its center and stitch the two halves together before attaching. Weave in all remaining ends on the inside of the baskets. Block lightly by misting with water and shaping each basket over a bowl or jar of the right diameter; let dry completely. The small basket should slip easily inside the large one.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the stripe colors for any two shades you love—cream and rust or navy and mustard look just as sharp.
• Add a simple sc border around the top edge in A for a more finished rim.
• Make a third, even smaller basket by stopping the base at 36 sts and working 12 side rounds for a tidy trio.