Denim & Cream Loop Stitch Cylinder Basket Free Pattern

Denim & Cream Loop Stitch Cylinder Basket — Free Beginner Crochet Pattern

Introduction

If you have never held a crochet hook before, this is the perfect first project to make something you will actually use every single day. This minimalist cylinder basket is worked flat in simple rows, then seamed into a tube — so there is no fiddly working in the round and no complicated shaping to worry about. A smooth cream base grounds a denim blue body covered in rows of fluffy loop stitch, giving you a dense, textured, modern-looking basket that stands up on its own. The finished piece is about 8 inches (20 cm) tall and 6 inches (15 cm) across, with soft, even 1-inch loops facing outward that feel plush and look far more advanced than the stitches really are. It is the ideal beginner project: only two stitches to learn, a small amount of yarn, and a finished item you will be proud to show off on a shelf, desk, or bathroom counter.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (weight category 4) cotton yarn, approximately 180 yards total — 40 yards cream and 140 yards denim blue. Cotton is recommended because it holds its shape and gives the basket structure.
• Crochet hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8).
• Stitch marker (optional but helpful for keeping track of rows).
• Tapestry needle (a large-eyed, blunt-tipped needle for seaming and weaving in ends).
• Scissors.
• Finished size: Height 8 inches (20 cm); diameter 6 inches (15 cm); circumference approximately 19 inches (48 cm).

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

• ch — chain. Make a loop with the yarn, then pull a new loop through it. Each chain looks like a little "V." Chains form your starting foundation.
• sc — single crochet. Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over (wrap the yarn around the hook), pull up a loop (you now have 2 loops on the hook), yarn over again, and pull through both loops. One single crochet made.
• sl st — slip stitch. Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull the yarn straight through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. It creates a nearly invisible joining stitch.
• loop st — loop stitch. A single crochet that traps a long loop of yarn on the back of the work. Full instructions are in the Special Stitch section below.
• st / sts — stitch / stitches. One completed unit of crochet.
• yarn over (yo) — wrap the working yarn over your hook from back to front.
• turn — flip your work over so you can crochet back along the row you just made.
• fasten off — cut the yarn a few inches from your work, then pull the tail all the way through the last loop to lock it.
• whipstitch — a simple seaming stitch: pass the needle over the edge and back through, over and back, in small even stitches along the seam.
• right side — the "outside" or public face of your work. For this basket, the loop side is the right side.

Gauge

Gauge: 14 single crochet stitches x 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Loop stitch rows measure approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall per row.

Why gauge matters: Gauge is how many stitches and rows fit into a set measurement. If your stitches are bigger than the pattern's, your basket will come out wider and shorter; if they are smaller, it will be narrower and taller. Matching gauge means your finished basket will match the measurements listed above.

How to make a gauge swatch: With your 5.0 mm (H-8) hook and your yarn, chain 24. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across (23 sc). Work 18 rows of single crochet, turning at the end of each row. Lay the swatch flat and measure a 4-inch (10 cm) square in the middle. Count how many stitches across and how many rows tall fit in that square. If you have more than 14 stitches, your tension is tight — try a slightly larger hook. If you have fewer than 14, your tension is loose — try a slightly smaller hook.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Count every row. Because this basket is worked flat in rows, it is very easy to lose your place. Place a stitch marker at the end of every 5th row, or keep a simple tally on paper.
• Do not pull the yarn too tight. Beginners tend to crochet tightly, which makes the fabric stiff and hard to work into. Keep your loops relaxed and even.
• Keep your loop stitches the same size. Wrap the yarn around your finger (or hold a small ruler against the hook) to make each loop approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. Even loops are what make this basket look professional.
• Remember the loops go on the back. The loop stitch pushes the loop to the back of the fabric. That is correct — when you fold and seam the basket, the loop side becomes the outside.
• Work the first stitch of each row into the very last stitch of the previous row. It is easy to accidentally skip it, which will make your basket narrower row by row.
• Change colors cleanly. When you switch from cream to denim blue, finish the last single crochet of the cream section by pulling the new blue yarn through the final two loops. Leave a 6-inch tail of cream to weave in later.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Special Stitch: Loop Stitch (loop st)

Insert your hook into the next stitch. Wrap the working yarn around your finger to create a loop approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, holding the loop against the hook. Yarn over and draw through the stitch (you now have 2 loops on the hook, plus the held loop). Yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook to complete the stitch. The long loop stays on the back side of the work. Keep every loop the same size for an even texture.

Base (worked in cream)

Row 1: Ch 22. Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (21 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (21 sc)

Rows 3–20: Repeat Row 2. (21 sc per row; 20 rows total; base measures approximately 6 x 5.5 inches / 15 x 14 cm)

Do not fasten off. Change to denim blue.

Body (worked in denim blue)

Row 21: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (21 sc)

Row 22: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 loop st in each st across. (21 loop sts)

Row 23: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (21 sc)

Rows 24–51: Repeat Rows 22–23. (21 sts per row; 14 loop stitch rows total; body measures approximately 7 inches / 18 cm from the base)

Fasten off, leaving a 24-inch (60 cm) tail for seaming.

Seaming

Fold the piece in half with right sides together (loop side facing in). Using the long tail and a tapestry needle, whipstitch the short sides together to form a tube, matching row for row. Fasten off securely and weave in ends.

Base Edge (optional)

With cream yarn, join to the bottom edge of the tube with a sl st. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the bottom edge to reinforce. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly and Finishing

Seam the tube: With the piece folded right sides together, thread the 24-inch tail onto your tapestry needle. Starting at the bottom corner, bring the needle through both layers, then pass it over the edge and back through in small, even stitches (about 1/4 inch / 6 mm long) all the way up the side. Pull snugly every few stitches but not so tight that the seam puckers. When you reach the top, take one extra stitch and fasten off securely.

Weave in ends: Thread each yarn tail onto the tapestry needle and run it through the inside of several stitches (about 2 inches / 5 cm), then reverse direction and run it back through a few more stitches to lock it. Trim the excess close to the fabric.

Turn and shape: Turn the basket right side out so the loops face outward. Gently shape the cylinder with your hands, pressing the seam flat and easing the base into a round shape.

Blocking: If desired, steam lightly to set the shape, being careful not to flatten the loops. Hold a steam iron a few inches above the fabric (never press it directly onto the loops) and let the basket air-dry in shape.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the color story. Swap the denim blue for charcoal, sage green, or mustard for a completely different look. You can also work the base and body in the same color for a seamless, tonal basket.
• Adjust the size. To make a wider basket, add chains to Row 1 in multiples of 2 (each extra 2 chains adds about 1/2 inch / 1.3 cm of circumference). To make it taller, simply work more repeat rows in the body — each loop stitch row adds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of height.
• Try a different yarn. A cotton-blend or a sturdy acrylic works well too. Just check your gauge again, since different fibers behave differently, and avoid fuzzy yarns that hide the loop texture.
• Add a contrasting rim. Work the final row of the body in cream instead of denim blue for a crisp, modern two-tone finish that echoes the base.