These little coral baskets turn spare toilet rolls into a tidy, pretty display. Each basket has a sturdy cream base, a cream band at the bottom and coral shell stitches above it, finished with a soft scalloped rim. Mount three of them on a triangular wall board and you have a bathroom accent that looks good and is easy to use.
The palette is warm coral and soft cream. Tight single crochet keeps the base firm, and the shell rows are lighter and more open, so each basket holds its shape without feeling heavy. The look is cottage-style, with clean scallops and an even texture.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished basket is about 5 in (12.7 cm) across and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall, which fits a standard roll with about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of extra room.
Construction is simple. You work a flat circle in the round, turn it up into a straight side with a back-loop round, and then switch to coral for four rounds of staggered shells. A row of seven-stitch fans and a single-crochet outline finish the rim. You make three identical baskets and mount them on the board. They are not crocheted together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (one basket): 5 in (12.7 cm) diameter × 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy–Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 3 identical baskets
- Layout: Pyramid, with 1 basket on top and 2 below
- Piece size: 5 in (12.7 cm) diameter, 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall
- Size before border: 5 in (12.7 cm) diameter, 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight 100% cotton or a cotton blend. Cotton keeps its shape, handles bathroom humidity well and shows the shell texture clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy acrylic, because the side walls may sag.
- Color A (Cream): 100 g, about 190 m (208 yd), for the bases and bottom bands
- Color B (Coral): 150 g, about 285 m (312 yd), for the shell bodies and scalloped rims
These quantities cover all three baskets and include a margin of about 15% for gauge swatches and differences between yarns.
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Spray bottle and pins for blocking
- A toilet roll or a 4.5 in (11.4 cm) jar to use as a blocking form
- Optional: a triangular wooden wall board, about 12 in (30.5 cm) wide × 11 in (27.9 cm) tall, with 6 small screws or cup hooks
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- BLO: back loop only
- MR: magic ring
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd(s): round(s)
Special stitches:
- Shell: 5 dc in the same stitch.
- Fan: 7 dc in the same stitch. Fans are used only in the rim.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 sc and 20 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in single crochet.
Make one complete basket before starting the others. It works as your gauge swatch and shows you how the finished size will turn out.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 9 (54 sts): The base measures about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across.
- After Rnd 12 (72 sts): The base measures 5 in (12.7 cm) across and lies flat.
- After Rnd 17: The cream side band is 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 21: The coral shell section is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall, and the body before the border is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 23: The basket is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
If your basket is too big: Go down to a 3.75 mm hook. Do not take out increase rounds, because the shell pattern needs exactly 72 stitches.
If your basket is too small: Go up to a 4.5 mm hook. Keep the stitch counts exactly as written.
If the base ruffles: Your tension is loose. Go down one hook size for the base only.
If the base cups: Your tension is tight. Go up one hook size for the base only.
Basket Base (Color A, Cream)
Work in continuous spiral rounds. Mark the first stitch of each round and move the marker up as you go.
Rnd 1: In the MR, work 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (36 sts)
Rnd 7: Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (42 sts)
Rnd 8: Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (48 sts)
Rnd 9: Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (54 sts)
Checkpoint: the base is about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across.
Rnd 10: Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (60 sts)
Rnd 11: Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (66 sts)
Rnd 12: Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (72 sts)
Checkpoint: the base is 5 in (12.7 cm) across and flat.
Tip: Moving the increase to a different spot in the repeat on each round keeps the circle round instead of six-sided. For example, on Rnd 8 you could work 3 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc. The total count stays the same.
Cream Side Band (Color A)
Rnd 13 (turning round): Sc in BLO of each st around. (72 sts)
This round leaves a crisp ridge where the base meets the side, so the wall stands upright.
Rnds 14–17: Sc in both loops of each st around. (72 sts each round)
At the end of Rnd 17, sl st to the next st to smooth out the step from the spiral. Fasten off Color A.
Checkpoint: the cream band is 1 in (2.5 cm) tall and the wall is straight, not flared.
Shell Body (Color B, Coral)
From here on, work in joined rounds. 72 divides evenly into 12 repeats of 6 stitches.
Rnd 18: Join Color B in any st.
– Ch 1, then sc in the same st.
– Skip 2 sts, shell (5 dc) in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 10 more times.
– Skip 2 sts, shell in next st, skip 2 sts, and sl st to the first sc.
Count: 12 shells (60 dc) + 12 sc = 72 sts.
Rnd 19 (offset round):
– Ch 3 (counts as dc), then 2 dc in the same st as the join. This is half a shell.
– Sc in the center dc of the next shell, shell in the next sc; repeat from * 10 more times.
– Sc in the center dc of the last shell, 2 dc in the first sc of the round to complete the first shell, and sl st to the top of the ch-3.
Count: 12 shells + 12 sc = 72 sts. Each shell now sits above an sc of Rnd 18, between the shells of the round below.
Rnd 20:
– Ch 1, then sc in the same st. The top of the ch-3 is the center stitch of the first shell.
– Shell in the next sc, sc in the center dc of the next shell; repeat from * 10 more times.
– Shell in the next sc, then sl st to the first sc.
Count: 12 shells + 12 sc = 72 sts.
Rnd 21: Repeat Rnd 19. (72 sts)
Checkpoint: the coral section is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall and the body is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall overall. Slide a toilet roll in now. It should go in easily without stretching the shells.
Make All Pieces
Make 3 identical baskets in total.
| Color | Per basket | For 3 baskets |
|---|---|---|
| A (Cream) | about 28 g | about 84 g |
| B (Coral) | about 42 g | about 126 g |
Layout (pyramid, front view):
[ Basket 1 ]
[ Basket 2 ] [ Basket 3 ]
Joining (Mounting)
The baskets are not crocheted to each other. Each one stays separate and is attached to the board on its own, so you can take any basket down to wash it.
Method: Hold each basket against the board with the beginning of its rounds facing the board. Fix it to the board through the cream band at 2 points.
- Stitch-to-stitch logic: Count 18 sts from the round start and mark that st, then count 36 more and mark that one. The 2 marked sts are 1/4 of the way around in each direction from the round start, so the round start sits centered between them against the board. Pass a cup hook under the Rnd 15 st at each mark, or tie a 6 in (15.2 cm) cream yarn tail through it and around a screw.
- Tension: Pull the ties just snug. If you pull too hard, the round base turns oval.
- Spacing: Leave 0.5 in (1.3 cm) between the two lower baskets, and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) between the bottom of the top basket and the rims of the lower baskets.
- Size checkpoint: The lower row measures 5 + 0.5 + 5 = 10.5 in (26.7 cm) wide. The stack measures 3.75 + 0.5 + 3.75 = 8 in (20.3 cm) tall.
Border: Scalloped Rim (Color B)
Border gauge: One fan plus its sc is about 1.33 in wide across the top. Twelve fans spread the rim out to about 5.25 in (13.3 cm) across, which gives the edge a slight flare.
Rnd 22 (fan round):
– Ch 1, then sc in the same st, which is the center of the first shell.
– Fan (7 dc) in the next sc, sc in the center dc of the next shell; repeat from * 10 more times.
– Fan in the next sc, then sl st to the first sc.
Count: 12 fans (84 dc) + 12 sc = 96 sts. This equals the 72 positions of the 6-stitch repeat plus 24 extra (2 extra dc in each of the 12 fans).
Rnd 23 (outline round):
– Do not chain.
– Sc in each of the next 7 dc, sl st in the next sc; repeat from * around, working the last sl st into the joining sl st.
Count: 84 sc + 12 sl st = 96 sts. This is 96 worked one per existing stitch, plus 0 extra.
Fasten off and weave in all ends on the inside of the cream band, where they won’t show.
Why the math works: The 72-stitch base divides into 12 repeats of 6, so the shells line up at the start of every round and nothing is left over. Each shell round keeps 12 shells and 12 anchor sc, so the walls go straight up. Rnd 22 adds exactly 24 stitches, all of them inside the fans, so the rim flares evenly while the anchor points still stack over each other. Rnd 23 adds nothing. It firms up the edge so the scallops keep their curve.
Checkpoint: the border adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm), so the finished height is 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
Final Blocking
- Mist each basket lightly with water until it is damp all the way through but not dripping.
- Slide a toilet roll or a 4.5 in (11.4 cm) jar inside, so the cream band sits straight and snug around it.
- Press the base flat against the table with your palm.
- Shape each scallop with your fingers, rounding the 7-dc fans evenly.
- Pin the tops of the scallops if they curl inward, keeping all 12 at the same height.
- Let the basket dry fully on the form, about 12–24 hours.
- Take it off the form and measure: 5 in (12.7 cm) across and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] The base lies flat with no ruffles or cupping.
- [ ] Each basket has 72 sts at Rnd 12 and through Rnd 21.
- [ ] Each basket has 12 shells per shell round, staggered between the shells below.
- [ ] Each basket has 12 fans and 96 sts in the border.
- [ ] The cream band is 1 in (2.5 cm) tall on all three baskets.
- [ ] All three baskets are 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall, within 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of each other.
- [ ] Ends are woven in on the inside.
- [ ] A toilet roll slides in easily.
- [ ] The baskets are mounted level with even 0.5 in (1.3 cm) gaps.
Troubleshooting
Shells lean or spiral: You probably worked into the wrong stitch at the start of a round. Check that each round begins at a shell center or an anchor sc, exactly as written.
The wall flares outward: Your dc tension is loose. Go down half a hook size for Rnds 18–21.
The wall pulls inward: Your shells are tight. Relax your tension or go up half a hook size for the coral rounds.
The stitch count is off at Rnd 18: Recount Rnd 17. It must be exactly 72.
Scallops look flat: Make sure Rnd 23 uses sl st, not sc, in the anchor stitches. Then block the scallops again over your fingers.
The baskets are different heights: Your tension changed between baskets. Block the shortest basket while stretching it gently upward on its form.
Care
Hand-wash in cool water with mild soap, then reshape the basket on a roll and let it air-dry. Do not tumble-dry, because the shells can lose their shape.
Final Notes
Everything in this pattern follows one measurement chain. A 72-stitch base gives a 5 in (12.7 cm) circle. Five cream rounds add a 1 in (2.5 cm) band. Four shell rounds bring the body to 3 in (7.6 cm), and the scalloped border adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) for a finished height of 3.75 in (9.5 cm). Check your first basket at each checkpoint, then repeat it twice and mount the set in a pyramid.
Happy crocheting!