This hanging basket looks like a spiral seashell washed up on the shore. Small rounded whorls stack down to a pointed tip. A bold ribbed whorl forms the pocket lip, and a tapered back panel lets the basket hang from a wall hook.
The sample is worked in one color, a soft sea-glass sage blue-gray in chunky yarn. The dense fabric gives it a calm, coastal, spa-like look that suits a bathroom, a nursery, or an entryway. Use it for rolled hand towels, washcloths, cotton pads, or small toys.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished basket measures about 18.3 in (46.5 cm) tall including the loop and 16.3 in (41.4 cm) without the loop. It is 7.2 in (18.3 cm) wide across the top whorl when laid flat.
Construction is simple and seamless. You start at the tip with a magic ring and work in continuous rounds, shaping each whorl with increases and a decrease “pinch.” The top whorl is worked in front post stitches for raised ribs. Then you work back-and-forth rows over half the stitches for the back panel. One edging round finishes the opening and also forms the hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 18.3 in (46.5 cm) tall with loop; 7.2 in (18.3 cm) wide flat at the top whorl
- Skill level: Intermediate (front post stitches, shaping in the round)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Bulky (#5)
- Hook: 6.0 mm (US J-10)
- Number of pieces: 1 (worked in one piece, no sewing)
- Layout: Vertical shell body, open pocket at top, back panel with loop
- Piece size: Body 11.9 in (30.2 cm) tall; back panel 4.4 in (11.2 cm) tall above the rim
- Size before edging: 16.3 in (41.4 cm) tall without loop
- Edging depth: 1 round of sc, about 0.4 in (1.0 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth bulky yarn with good stitch definition. Cotton blends and chunky acrylics both work well. Cotton holds the shape firmly. Acrylic is lighter and a bit softer.
- Sea-glass sage blue-gray: about 200 g / 260 m (284 yd) of bulky (#5) yarn
Tools:
- 6.0 mm (US J-10) crochet hook
- 1 locking stitch marker (plus 2 extra for checkpoints)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- About 25 g polyester fiberfill
- Optional: one 3 in (7.6 cm) circle of plastic canvas for a firm pocket floor
- Rust-proof pins and a spray bottle for blocking
The yarn quantity includes a margin of about 15 percent for your gauge swatch and differences in tension.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sc – single crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same st
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- rnd – round
Special stitch – fphdc (front post half double crochet): Yarn over. Insert the hook from front to back to front around the post of the next st. Yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. Worked in every st, it builds raised vertical ribs.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 10 sc and 11 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm), worked in continuous rounds. In fphdc rounds, 8 rnds = 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Test before you commit. Work Rounds 1–6 of the tip whorl and check that the 12-st round lies flat at 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide. If it measures wider, go down to a 5.5 mm hook. If it measures narrower, go up to a 6.5 mm hook.
Checkpoints along the way (flat width = half the circumference):
- After Rnd 6 (12 sts): circumference 4.8 in (12.2 cm), flat width 2.4 in (6.1 cm), height 2.2 in (5.6 cm)
- After Rnd 12 (20 sts): circumference 8.0 in (20.3 cm), flat width 4.0 in (10.2 cm)
- After Rnd 19 (28 sts): circumference 11.2 in (28.4 cm), flat width 5.6 in (14.2 cm)
- After Rnd 22 (36 sts): circumference 14.4 in (36.6 cm), flat width 7.2 in (18.3 cm), height 8.0 in (20.3 cm)
- After Rnd 31: body height 11.9 in (30.2 cm)
- After Back Panel Row 12: total height 16.3 in (41.4 cm)
If your fabric is too big, it will also be too soft to hold the whorls, so change to a smaller hook. If it is too small, the basket will be stiff and short, so change to a larger hook. Aim for tight, firm fabric.
The Shell Body
Work in continuous rounds without joining. Place a marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go. Keep the right side facing out.
Whorl 1 (Tip)
Rnd 1: In MR, work 4 sc. Pull the ring closed. (4 sts)
Rnd 2: [Sc in next st, inc] 2 times. (6 sts)
Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc] 3 times. (9 sts)
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] 3 times. (12 sts)
Rnds 5–6: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
The narrow start and gradual increases create the pointed tip.
Rnd 7 (pinch): [Sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts] 2 times. (10 sts)
This decrease round makes the first waist between whorls.
Whorl 2
Rnd 8: [Sc in next st, inc] 5 times. (15 sts)
Rnd 9: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] 5 times. (20 sts)
Rnds 10–12: Sc in each st around. (20 sts)
Rnd 13 (pinch): [Sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts] 4 times. (16 sts)
Checkpoint: height about 4.7 in (11.9 cm).
Stuff Whorls 1 and 2 firmly with fiberfill now, pushing it down into the tip.
Whorl 3
Rnd 14: [Sc in next st, inc] 8 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 15: [Sc in next 5 sts, inc] 4 times. (28 sts)
Rnds 16–19: Sc in each st around. (28 sts)
Rnd 20 (pinch): [Sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts] 4 times. (24 sts)
Checkpoint: height about 7.3 in (18.5 cm).
Stuff Whorl 3 firmly so the stuffing stops at the Rnd 20 pinch. If you are using the plastic canvas circle, set it on top of the stuffing now. This creates the pocket floor.
Whorl 4 (Ribbed Pocket Lip)
Rnd 21: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] 8 times. (32 sts)
Rnd 22: [Sc in next 7 sts, inc] 4 times. (36 sts)
Rnds 23–30: Fphdc around each st. (36 sts)
Each fphdc sits on top of the stitch below, so the ribs stack into straight vertical columns. The front post fabric bulges outward and gives the shell its rounded, ridged top lip.
Rnd 31: Sc in each st around, then sl st in the first st of the round to level the edge. (36 sts)
Checkpoint: body height 11.9 in (30.2 cm), flat width 7.2 in (18.3 cm).
Do not fasten off.
The Back Panel
Now you work in rows over half of Rnd 31. Lay the basket flat so the slip-stitched st sits at one side fold. The 18 sts on the side facing away from you become the back.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the same st as the sl st and in each of the next 17 sts, turn. (18 sts)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (18 sts)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 14 sts, sc2tog, turn. (16 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 12 sts, sc2tog, turn. (14 sts)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, turn. (12 sts)
Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog, turn. (10 sts)
Row 9: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, turn. (8 sts)
Row 10: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, turn. (6 sts)
Row 11: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (4 sts)
Row 12: Ch 1, [sc2tog] 2 times, turn. (2 sts)
The straight rows lift the back above the rim. Decreasing 2 sts per row then shapes the rounded point. Checkpoint: the panel measures 4.4 in (11.2 cm) above Rnd 31, for a total height of 16.3 in (41.4 cm).
Do not fasten off.
Border (Edging and Hanging Loop)
Edging gauge: 1 sc per row end along the panel sides and 1 sc per st along the front rim. This matches the 10 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) body gauge.
Edging Rnd, Part 1 (top and loop): Ch 1, sc in the first st of Row 12, ch 12, sc in the second st of Row 12. (2 sc + ch-12 loop)
Part 2 (first panel side): Work 12 sc down the side of the panel, 1 sc in each row end. (12 sc)
Part 3 (front rim): Sc in each of the 18 unworked sts of Rnd 31. (18 sc)
Part 4 (second panel side): Work 12 sc up the other side of the panel, 1 sc in each row end. (12 sc)
Sl st to the first sc. Total: 2 + 12 + 18 + 12 = 44 sc plus the ch-12 loop.
Loop reinforcement: Sl st into the ch-12 space, work 16 sc into the space, then sl st to the base of the loop. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Why the math works: The panel has 12 rows, so each side gets exactly 12 sc, one per row end, and lies flat without ruffling. The front rim uses the 18 sts left free on Rnd 31, so 18 back + 18 front = 36, the full round. The top uses the 2 sts of Row 12, which centers the loop on the point. Packing 16 sc around 12 chains keeps the loop firm, so it won’t stretch under the weight of towels.
Final Blocking
- Lightly spritz the whole basket with water until damp, not soaking.
- Fill the pocket with a rolled hand towel so the ribbed lip rounds out evenly.
- Gently pinch each waist (Rnds 7, 13, and 20) with your fingers to define the whorls.
- Shape the tip into a neat point and straighten the vertical columns so they run in line.
- Lay the back panel flat and pin the point, checking the 4.4 in (11.2 cm) panel height.
- Let the basket dry fully, about 24 hours, before hanging it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Total height is about 18.3 in (46.5 cm) with the loop
- Top whorl lies flat at 7.2 in (18.3 cm) wide
- Pinches clearly separate the three small whorls
- Ribs on Whorl 4 run straight and vertical
- Stuffing stops at the Rnd 20 pinch and does not rise into the pocket
- Edging lies flat along both panel sides and the front rim
- Hanging loop is centered and firm
- All ends are woven in securely
Troubleshooting
The whorls look like one long cone. Your pinch rounds are too loose. Work the sc2tog stitches snugly, and stuff each whorl firmly so it bulges out against the waist.
The ribs lean or spiral. This is normal drift in continuous rounds. Make sure each fphdc goes around the post directly below it, and straighten the columns during blocking.
The back panel curls forward. Your rows are tighter than your rounds. Use slightly looser tension on the panel, or pin it flat when blocking.
The edging ruffles. You worked more than 1 sc per row end. Pull it back and work exactly 12 sc per side.
The basket sags when full. Your gauge is too loose or the stuffing is too soft. Add fiberfill to the lower whorls and add the plastic canvas floor.
The loop stretches. Add a few more sc around the loop, or run a strand of yarn through it on the inside for extra strength.
Care
Spot clean with mild soap and cool water, then reshape and air dry. Avoid machine washing, which can flatten the stuffed whorls.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain. The 12-st tip whorl measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) flat, the 20-st whorl 4.0 in (10.2 cm), the 28-st whorl 5.6 in (14.2 cm), and the 36-st ribbed lip 7.2 in (18.3 cm). The body reaches 11.9 in (30.2 cm). The back panel adds 4.4 in (11.2 cm) for a total of 16.3 in (41.4 cm), and the loop brings the finished basket to about 18.3 in (46.5 cm).
Check your gauge on the tip and measure at each checkpoint, and your shell will come out the same shape and size as the sample. Fill it with fresh towels and enjoy a little bit of the seaside every day.
Happy crocheting!