This organizer hangs from the headrest posts of a car seat and holds tissues, a wallet, a phone, or snacks within easy reach. It is a soft but structured oval basket with a solid base, an openwork lattice on the walls, a firm solid top band, and two sturdy straps.
The whole piece is worked in one denim blue cotton. A natural linen lining shows through the lattice, so the octagon-shaped openings stand out clearly against the light fabric. One silver shank button on the front of the band adds a small finishing detail.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished basket measures about 11.5 in (29.2 cm) wide, 4 in (10.2 cm) deep, and 7 in (17.8 cm) tall. The straps let it hang about 6.5 in (16.5 cm) below the headrest posts.
Construction is simple. You crochet an oval single crochet base in joined rounds. Then you turn up the walls with a back-loop round, work eight rounds of chain lattice, switch back to solid single crochet for the top band, and finish with a reverse single crochet rim. You crochet the two flat straps separately and sew them to the inside back of the band. Last, you stitch a simple sewn fabric lining in place.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 11.5 in (29.2 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) deep x 7 in (17.8 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted weight (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 3 crocheted pieces (1 basket body, 2 straps) plus 1 fabric lining
- Layout: One oval basket with 2 straps along the back edge
- Base size: 11.5 in x 4 in (29.2 cm x 10.2 cm), 114 stitches around, 28.5 in (72.4 cm) perimeter
- Height before border: about 5.5 in (14.0 cm)
- Border (top band) depth: about 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Strap size: 1.5 in x 16 in (3.8 cm x 40.6 cm) each
Materials
Yarn: Choose a smooth, firmly twisted worsted weight cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the basket shape and shows the lattice clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because the lattice loops will sag.
- Denim blue: 200 g, about 340 m
This amount includes a margin of about 15 percent, which covers a gauge test and sewing. The project itself uses about 175 g.
Tools and notions:
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors and measuring tape
- 1 silver metal shank button, 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- 0.5 yd (45.7 cm) of 44 in (111.8 cm) wide natural linen for the lining
- Optional: lightweight fusible interfacing, same amount as the linen
- Optional: plastic canvas base insert, 11 in x 3.5 in (27.9 cm x 8.9 cm)
- Sewing needle, pins, and thread to match the linen and the yarn
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- BLO – back loop only
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- rev sc – reverse single crochet
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work from left to right (if you are right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops. This makes the rolled, corded rim.
Special stitch – lattice join: (sc, ch 2, sc) worked in the same stitch or the same chain loop. The ch-2 becomes the short vertical link at the top and bottom of each opening, which turns a plain diamond mesh into rounded octagons.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc, worked firmly.
Test one piece first. Work a strap (instructions below) for 18 rows. It should measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 4 in (10.2 cm) long. If the gauge is right, just keep going to finish the strap.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 5 of the base: about 9.7 in x 2.2 in (24.6 cm x 5.6 cm)
- After Round 9 of the base: 11.5 in x 4 in (29.2 cm x 10.2 cm)
- After Round 12: walls about 0.7 in (1.8 cm) tall
- After Round 20 (end of lattice): walls about 5.2 in (13.2 cm) tall
- After Round 28 (end of border): walls about 7 in (17.8 cm) tall
If your piece is too big: go down one hook size, or crochet more tightly. If it is too small: go up one hook size. A loose base will not hold its shape, so slightly tight is better than slightly loose.
Basket Body
Work in joined rounds with the right side facing you. The ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.
Oval Base
Ch 33.
Round 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 30 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate to work along the other side of the foundation chain: sc in next 30 ch. Join with sl st to first sc. (66 sts)
Each round now has 4 sections: End A, Side 1, End B, Side 2. The two sides stay at 30 sts. All increases happen in the ends.
Round 2: Ch 1, inc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 30 sts, inc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (72 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, [sc in next st, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next st, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (78 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, [sc in next 2 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next 2 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (84 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, [sc in next 3 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next 3 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (90 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, [sc in next 4 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next 4 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (96 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, [sc in next 5 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next 5 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (102 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, [sc in next 6 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next 6 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (108 sts)
Round 9: Ch 1, [sc in next 7 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts, [sc in next 7 sts, inc] 3 times, sc in next 30 sts. Join. (114 sts)
Each end now has 27 sts and each side has 30 sts: 27 + 30 + 27 + 30 = 114. Place a marker in the first st of each section so you can find the front, back, and curved ends later.
Checkpoint: the base lies flat and measures 11.5 in x 4 in (29.2 cm x 10.2 cm).
Lower Wall
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join. (114 sts) The unused front loops form a neat ridge where the wall turns up.
Rounds 11–12: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (114 sts)
Lattice Section
The lattice has 19 repeats of 6 sts around: 19 x 6 = 114. The front and back each show about 5 openings. The rest wrap around the curved ends.
Round 13 (lattice foundation): Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, ch 7, sk next 5 sts; rep from * 19 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (19 ch-2 sps and 19 ch-7 loops)*
Round 14: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, sl st in next sc, sl st in next 3 ch. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the ch-7 loop, ch 7; rep from * 19 times. Work the first repeat into the loop you are already in, and each later repeat into the next ch-7 loop. Join with sl st to first sc. (19 ch-2 sps and 19 ch-7 loops)*
Each new join sits at the center of a loop below, so the openings shift by half a repeat every round. Where the loops meet, the ch-2 links make the short vertical bars, and the shared joins form the small X-shaped crossings.
Rounds 15–20: Rep Round 14. (19 ch-2 sps and 19 ch-7 loops each round)
You now have 8 lattice rounds. Checkpoint: with the loops gently stretched upward, the wall measures about 5.2 in (13.2 cm) from the base ridge.
Conversion Round
Round 21: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in ch-2 sp, 5 sc in next ch-7 loop; rep from * 19 times. Join. (19 sc in the ch-2 sps + 95 sc in the ch-7 loops = 114 sts)*
The count matches the base again, so the top band will sit straight above the base without flaring out or pulling in. Checkpoint: height before border is about 5.5 in (14.0 cm).
Make All Pieces
- Basket body: 1, denim blue (about 135 g)
- Straps: 2, denim blue (about 20 g each)
Strap (make 2)
Ch 7.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (6 sts)
Rows 2–72: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sts)
Edging: Ch 1, work 72 sl sts evenly along one long edge (1 per row), sl st in each of the 6 sts across the short end, then work 72 sl sts along the other long edge. Fasten off, leaving a 20 in (50.8 cm) tail for sewing.
Checkpoint: each strap measures 1.5 in x 16 in (3.8 cm x 40.6 cm).
Strap Layout
Count the stitches along the back side in Round 27 of the band (worked in the Border section). The back side has 30 sts, with a 27-st curve at each end.
curve |<------------------- back side, 30 sts ------------------->| curve
2 sts | 4 sts | 22 sts | 4 sts | 2 sts
[ Strap A: 6 sts ] [ Strap B: 6 sts ]
Each strap covers 6 sts: 2 curve sts plus 4 back sts. There are 22 back sts between the straps. The strap centers are 28 sts apart, which is 7 in (17.8 cm). That spacing fits the headrest posts on most car seats.
Joining
The straps are sewn to the inside of the back band, not crocheted on. Sew them on after the border and the lining are finished.
- Remove the headrest, or thread each strap around its post.
- Fold the strap in half around the post.
- Lay both strap ends on top of each other against the inside of the back band. They should overlap the band by 1.5 in (3.8 cm), which is about 7 strap rows.
- Whipstitch the edges of the strap ends to the band. Then stitch one line across the strap at the top of the band and one at the bottom.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Each of the 6 strap stitches sits over 1 band stitch, so the strap lies flat and nothing ruffles.
Tension: Sew firmly, but don’t pull so hard that the band puckers. Run the needle through the inside layer only, so the stitches stay hidden from the outside.
Size checkpoint: Each strap is 16 in long. Taking away 2 x 1.5 in of overlap leaves a 13 in (33.0 cm) loop. Folded around the post, that gives a 6.5 in (16.5 cm) drop from the rim to the post. If you want the basket to hang lower, add 9 rows (about 2 in, 5.1 cm, of strap) for each extra 1 in (2.5 cm) of drop.
Border
The border is the solid top band plus the corded rim. Work it directly from Round 21.
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the base. Measure the front side after Round 23: its 30 sts should measure 7.5 in (19.1 cm).
Before you start, mark the sections in Round 21 to line up with the base below: front side 30 sts, curve 27 sts, back side 30 sts, curve 27 sts.
Rounds 22–27: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (114 sts: 30 front + 27 curve + 30 back + 27 curve)
Round 28: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around. Join and fasten off. (114 sts: 30 front + 27 curve + 30 back + 27 curve)
Why the math works: The base perimeter is 114 sts, which is 28.5 in (72.4 cm) at 4 sts per inch. Every wall round comes back to 114, including the conversion round. Because no stitches are added or removed, the walls rise straight and the band is the same size as the base. The 6-st lattice repeat divides 114 exactly into 19 repeats, so there is no partial repeat at the start of a round.
Button: Sew the button to the center of the front side, between sts 15 and 16, on Round 24 or 25 (the middle of the band).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the inside. Run each tail through at least 2 in (5.1 cm) of solid stitches.
- Mist the basket and straps lightly with water until they are damp but not dripping.
- Stuff the basket firmly with a towel so the walls stand straight and the base stays flat.
- Gently pull each lattice opening upward and outward so the octagons are even. The ch-2 links should stand straight up.
- Pin the straps flat on a towel at 1.5 in x 16 in (3.8 cm x 40.6 cm).
- Let everything dry completely, about 24 hours.
- Lining: Cut a base oval 12.5 in x 5 in (31.8 cm x 12.7 cm) and a side strip 29.5 in x 7.5 in (74.9 cm x 19.1 cm). If you are using interfacing, fuse it on now. Sew the short ends of the strip together with a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) seam, then sew the strip to the base. If you are using the plastic canvas insert, put it in the bottom of the basket. Set the lining inside. Fold the top edge under 0.5 in (1.3 cm) and slip stitch it to the inside of Round 26, just below the rim.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Base measures 11.5 in x 4 in (29.2 cm x 10.2 cm) and lies flat.
- Every wall round has 114 sts or 19 lattice repeats.
- All lattice openings are about the same size, with no twisted loops.
- Top band is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep and does not flare.
- Rev sc rim is even all the way around.
- Button is centered on the front band.
- Straps are 7 in (17.8 cm) apart, center to center, and sewn on securely.
- Lining is smooth, with no bunching at the base.
Troubleshooting
Base curls up into a bowl: The ends need more room. Check that each round has 6 increases. If it does, go up a hook size for the base only.
Base ruffles at the ends: Your tension is loose around the curves. Go down a hook size, or stagger the increases in each end.
Lattice sags or looks stringy: Your chains are too loose. Try ch 6 loops instead of ch 7, and keep 19 repeats.
Lattice pulls the band in: Your chains are too tight. Try ch 8 loops, and still work 5 sc into each loop in Round 21 to keep 114 sts.
Band flares: Recount Round 21. It must have 114 sts.
Straps stretch over time: Sew a strip of cotton twill tape to the back of each strap.
Care
Hand wash the organizer in cool water with mild soap. Reshape it and dry it flat, stuffed with a towel to hold its shape.
Final Notes
The measurements build step by step. Gauge is 16 sc x 18 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm). The base grows from 66 to 114 sts in 9 rounds and reaches 11.5 in x 4 in (29.2 cm x 10.2 cm). The walls keep 114 sts, the lattice splits them into 19 repeats of 6, and the conversion round brings the count back to exactly 114. The border adds 1.5 in (3.8 cm) for a total height of 7 in (17.8 cm). Two 16 in (40.6 cm) straps hang the basket 6.5 in (16.5 cm) below the headrest posts.
Check your measurements at each checkpoint, and the top of the basket will match the base you started with.
Happy crocheting!