This three-tier hanging basket brings vintage pineapple lace into a modern bathroom or kitchen. You make three half-round baskets that sit flat against the wall. Each one has a solid base and an openwork pineapple wall with a scalloped rim. Crocheted cords and wooden beads join them under a natural wood ring.
The sample uses one soft chambray blue cotton, so the lace stands out against white tile or wood. The wooden ring and beads add warmth, and the tiers look the same whether they hold toilet rolls, washcloths, or a few plants.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The organizer hangs about 37 in (94.0 cm) long. The largest basket measures 12.5 in (31.8 cm) wide at the rim, and every basket stands 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
To make it, you work each base in turned rows as a half circle, then edge it all the way around. The lace wall goes up in joined rounds from that edge, and two scallop rounds finish the rim. After that you make eight slip-stitch cords and attach them with the ring and beads.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 37 in (94.0 cm) hanging length
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: US G-6 (4.0 mm)
- Number of pieces: 11 (3 baskets, 4 top cords, 4 connector cords)
- Layout: 1 column of 3 tiers, small on top, large at the bottom
- Base sizes: Small 7 x 3.5 in (17.8 x 8.9 cm); Medium 9 x 4.5 in (22.9 x 11.4 cm); Large 11 x 5.5 in (27.9 x 14.0 cm)
- Wall height before rim border: 2.75 in (7.0 cm)
- Rim border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Rim sizes: Small 8.5 x 4.5 in (21.6 x 11.4 cm); Medium 10.5 x 5.5 in (26.7 x 14.0 cm); Large 12.5 x 6.5 in (31.8 x 16.5 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth, firmly plied 100% cotton or a cotton blend with little stretch. Cotton keeps the lace crisp and stands up to a damp bathroom. Avoid acrylic, because it lets the baskets sag under weight.
Yarn, color Chambray Blue:
– Small basket: 55 g / 85 m
– Medium basket: 75 g / 115 m
– Large basket: 95 g / 145 m
– Cords: 20 g / 30 m
– Total: 245 g / 375 m
These quantities include a margin of about 15% for gauge swatches and differences in tension.
Tools and notions:
– US G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook
– 1 natural wood ring, 3 in (7.6 cm) across
– 4 wooden beads, 3/4 in (1.9 cm), with holes at least 1/4 in (0.6 cm) wide
– Stitch markers (at least 4)
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors and a measuring tape
– Spray starch or fabric stiffener (optional)
– Bowls or containers for shaping
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- BLO – back loop only
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
– V-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same st or sp.
– Shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same sp.
– Large shell: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp.
– Fan: 5 dc in the same st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in the base fabric. Each dc row adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the radius.
Cord gauge: 4 sl sts = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make the Small basket first, because it works as your gauge test.
Checkpoints:
– Base, Row 4: 4 in (10.2 cm) along the straight edge, 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.
– Finished base: check the sizes listed above for your basket.
– Wall, end of Rnd 6: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall from the base fold.
– After the border: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
If your base is too big, go down half a hook size. If it is too small, go up half a hook size. A base that ruffles means you’re working too loosely. A base that cups means you’re working too tightly. Fix the base before you start the wall, because every stitch count in the wall depends on it.
Basket Base (Make 1 of Each Size)
Each base is a half circle worked in turned rows. The row count (n) sets the size: Small n = 7, Medium n = 9, Large n = 11. Row n always has 6n dc.
Row 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 5 dc in the ring and pull it closed. Turn. (6 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the first st, 2 dc in each st across. Turn. (12 dc)
Row 3: Ch 3, dc in the first st, dc in the next st, *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * across. Turn. (18 dc)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in the first st, dc in the next 2 sts, *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts; rep from * across. Turn. (24 dc)
Rows 5 to n: Keep adding 6 sts per row. Work one more plain dc between increases each row. Turn at the end of every row.
- Row 5: 30 dc
- Row 6: 36 dc
- Row 7: 42 dc (Small ends here)
- Row 8: 48 dc
- Row 9: 54 dc (Medium ends here)
- Row 10: 60 dc
- Row 11: 66 dc (Large ends here)
Stagger the increases on alternate rows so the curve stays round.
Edging Rnd: Do not turn. Ch 1, rotate the work, and work 2 sc in each row end along the straight edge (4n sc). Then sc in each dc across the curved edge (6n sc). Join with a sl st to the first sc.
- Small: 28 + 42 = 70 sc
- Medium: 36 + 54 = 90 sc
- Large: 44 + 66 = 110 sc
Place markers in the two sc at the back corners, where the straight edge meets the curve.
Lace Wall
The lace repeat uses 10 sts, which gives 7 repeats on the Small, 9 on the Medium, and 11 on the Large. The wall runs continuously around the whole D, so the back panel against the wall is lace as well. Join every round with a sl st to the top of the beginning chain.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the BLO of each st around. (70 / 90 / 110 dc) Working in the BLO makes a crisp fold, and the wall turns upward.
Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in the same st (first V-st). Ch 2, sk 4 sts, Fan in the next st, ch 2, sk 4 sts, V-st in the next st. Rep from * around, ending the last rep at *. (7 / 9 / 11 V-sts and Fans)
Rnd 3: Sl st into the first V-st sp. Ch 5, dc in the same sp. Ch 2, dc in the first dc of the Fan, (ch 1, dc in the next dc) 4 times, ch 2, V-st in the next V-st sp. Rep from * around, ending at *. Each Fan now has 5 dc and 4 ch-1 sps.
Rnd 4: Sl st into the V-st sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same sp (first Shell). Ch 3, sc in the first ch-1 sp of the Fan, (ch 3, sc in the next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 3, Shell in the next V-st sp. Rep from * around, ending at *. Each pineapple has 4 sc and 3 ch-3 loops.
Rnd 5: Sl st into the Shell sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same sp. Ch 3, sk the ch-3, sc in the first pineapple loop, ch 3, sc in the next loop, ch 3, sc in the last loop, ch 3, Shell in the next Shell sp. Rep from * around, ending at *. Each pineapple has 3 sc and 2 loops.
Rnd 6: Sl st into the Shell sp. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp (first Large Shell). Ch 4, sc in the first pineapple loop, ch 3, sc in the next loop, ch 4, Large Shell in the next Shell sp. Rep from * around, ending at *. Each pineapple has 2 sc and 1 tip loop.
As the shells grow and the side chains lengthen, the wall flares. Checkpoint: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall.
Make All Pieces
Baskets (Chambray Blue): 1 Small, 1 Medium, 1 Large.
Top cords (make 4): With 2 strands held together, ch 43. Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (42 sl sts). Each cord is 10.5 in (26.7 cm) long.
Connector cords (make 4): With 2 strands held together, ch 33. Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (32 sl sts). Each cord is 8 in (20.3 cm) long.
Leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail at both ends of every cord.
Layout:
[ RING ]
/ / \ \ 4 top cords, 9.5 in (24.1 cm)
[ SMALL BASKET ]
| | 2 connectors, 7 in (17.8 cm)
o o beads
[ MEDIUM BASKET ]
| | 2 connectors, 7 in (17.8 cm)
o o beads
[ LARGE BASKET ]
Joining
Top cords: Wrap 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of each top cord around the ring and sew it back onto itself with the tail. Space the cords as two pairs on the ring.
On the Small basket, sew the other end of each cord to the inside of the wall at Rnd 6, using 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of cord. Put one cord of each pair at a marked back corner. Put the other in the next Large Shell toward the front. That leaves 9.5 in (24.1 cm) of each cord visible.
Connectors: Sew the top 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of a connector to the edging round at each back corner of the Small basket. Thread a bead onto each connector and slide it down. Sew the bottom 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the inside of the Medium basket’s wall at Rnd 6, at the marked back corners. The bead rests on the rim and 7 in (17.8 cm) stays visible. Repeat between the Medium and Large baskets.
Tension: Use small whipstitches through both strands of the cord and through solid stitches (sc or dc), never through chains alone. Sew each attachment twice. Pull snug, but don’t pucker the rim.
Size checkpoint: Hang the piece from the ring. Each basket should hang level, and the full length should be about 37 in (94.0 cm): 9.5 + 3.5 + 7 + 3.5 + 7 + 3.5 = 34 in (86.4 cm) of cords and baskets, plus the 3 in (7.6 cm) ring. If a basket tilts, move one connector over by one stitch.
Finish the rim border on every basket before you join anything.
Border (Scalloped Rim)
Border gauge: each finished scallop is about 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep.
Border Rnd 1 (Scallops): Sl st into the first Large Shell sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 8 dc in the same sp. Ch 2, sk the ch-4, sc in the pineapple tip loop, ch 2, sk the ch-4, 9 dc in the next Large Shell sp. Rep from * around, ending at *. Join.
- Small: 7 scallops (63 dc) + 7 sc
- Medium: 9 scallops (81 dc) + 9 sc
- Large: 11 scallops (99 dc) + 11 sc
Border Rnd 2 (Edging): Ch 1. *Sc in each of the 9 dc of the scallop, 2 sc in the next ch-2 sp, sk the tip sc, 2 sc in the next ch-2 sp. Rep from * around. Join and fasten off. (13 sc per repeat)
- Small: 7 x 13 = 91 sc
- Medium: 9 x 13 = 117 sc
- Large: 11 x 13 = 143 sc
Why the math works: The base edging round has 10 sts per repeat, so all of the wall and border counts scale with the same repeat count. Skipping the tip sc pulls a small dip between scallops, which makes the pointed pineapple tips. The rim lies flat against the wall on the straight back edge, and the curved front edge flares outward.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along solid stitches. Leave the cord tails until joining is complete.
- Soak each basket in cool water for 10 minutes. Press the water out in a towel without wringing.
- Stand each basket over a bowl or container about the size of its base. A cut-down box works well for the straight back.
- Pull the scallops into shape and open each pineapple loop with your fingers.
- Mist with spray starch or brush on diluted fabric stiffener if you’d like a firmer basket.
- Let it dry completely for 24 hours, then attach the cords.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Base sizes match: 7 / 9 / 11 in (17.8 / 22.9 / 27.9 cm) wide.
- Edging counts are 70 / 90 / 110 sc.
- Each wall has 7 / 9 / 11 complete pineapples.
- Border Rnd 2 counts are 91 / 117 / 143 sc.
- Every basket stands 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
- All eight cords are attached with double whipstitching.
- The beads sit just above each lower rim.
- The organizer hangs level at about 37 in (94.0 cm).
Troubleshooting
The base ruffles: Use a smaller hook, or work 2 fewer sts per row on the curve, then recheck the edging count.
The base cups: Use a larger hook. Make sure every row ends with exactly 6n dc.
The pineapples twist: Check that each round starts with a sl st into the V-st or Shell sp, not into a chain.
The wall leans inward: Your chains are too tight. Loosen them, or add 1 ch to each side chain in Rnds 5 and 6.
A basket sags under load: Stiffen it, or move the connectors one stitch farther inward.
Cords stretch over time: Work the cords tighter, or use a smaller hook for them only.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the water, and reshape over a bowl to dry flat. Re-starch after washing if you need firmer baskets.
Final Notes
Every measurement depends on the first one. The 4 in (10.2 cm) gauge sets the bases at 7, 9, and 11 in (17.8, 22.9, and 27.9 cm). The edging rounds give 70, 90, and 110 sts, which divide into 10-st pineapple repeats. Six wall rounds bring each basket to 2.75 in (7.0 cm), and the scallop border adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Measure at each checkpoint and the three tiers will hang together neatly.
Happy crocheting!