This two-tier hanging basket brings warm mustard-yellow lace to a bathroom wall. Two identical oval baskets hang one above the other. Each one has a natural wooden dowel threaded through it, and sturdy crocheted cords link the two. A single cord loops over a wall hook to hold the whole set.
Each basket starts with a solid single crochet oval base and a short sc wall band. It then opens into three staggered rows of shell fans framed by chain arches, and a scalloped single crochet edging finishes the rim. The look is cheerful and slightly vintage. It is practical enough to hold toiletries in the top tier and spare rolls in the bottom tier.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished basket measures about 10 in (25.4 cm) long, 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide and 4.6 in (11.7 cm) tall. The assembled organizer measures about 19.5 in (49.5 cm) from the hook to its lowest point.
Construction overview:
1. Crochet two baskets in joined rounds from the base up.
2. Add the scalloped edging and block.
3. Thread a dowel through each basket’s short ends.
4. Crochet three cords.
5. Wrap the cords around the dowel ends to stack and hang the tiers.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (each basket): 10 in (25.4 cm) long x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide x 4.6 in (11.7 cm) tall
- Assembled height: about 19.5 in (49.5 cm), hook to bottom
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hooks: 4.5 mm (US 7) for baskets; 5.0 mm (US H-8) for cords
- Number of pieces: 5 crocheted pieces (2 baskets, 3 cords) plus 2 dowels
- Layout: 1 column x 2 tiers, stacked vertically
- Base size: 9.75 in (24.8 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Basket height before edging: 4.35 in (11.0 cm)
- Edging depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Choose a firm, smooth worsted-weight cotton. Cotton holds its shape, copes with bathroom humidity and shows the fan texture clearly. Avoid drapey blends, because the walls will sag.
- Mustard yellow: 200 g / about 306 m (335 yd) total
- Basket 1: 75 g / 115 m (126 yd)
- Basket 2: 75 g / 115 m (126 yd)
- Three cords (worked with two strands held together): 15 g / 23 m (25 yd)
These amounts include about 20% extra for swatching and differences in tension.
Tools:
- 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- 2 wooden dowels, 3/8 in (1.0 cm) diameter x 12 in (30.5 cm) long
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors and tape measure
- Spray bottle, pins, and a foam block or box for blocking
- Sturdy wall hook
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- inc – 2 sc in the same st
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
- Fan: 7 dc in the same st or sp.
- V-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc x 17 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) with the 4.5 mm hook. In the lace, one fan repeat (8 sts) spans 2 in (5.1 cm).
Make one complete basket before starting the second. It serves as your real gauge swatch.
Checkpoints (measure wall heights from the Rnd 9 fold):
- After Rnd 8, the flat base measures 9.75 in (24.8 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).
- After Rnd 14, the sc wall band is 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 15, the wall is 2.05 in (5.2 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 17, the wall is 3.2 in (8.1 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 19, the wall is 4.35 in (11.0 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 20, the wall is 4.6 in (11.7 cm) tall.
If your base is too big, go down one hook size and restart. If it is too small, go up one hook size. Do not change the stitch counts, because the lace repeat depends on 96 sts. If the base cups, loosen your tension at the curves. If it ruffles, tighten it.
Basket (Make 2)
Use the 4.5 mm hook and work in joined rounds. The ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch. Join each round with a sl st in the first st.
Base
Ch 27.
Rnd 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 24 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate and work along the opposite side of the foundation chain: sc in next 24 ch; join. (54 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, [2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (60 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, [(sc in next st, inc) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (66 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, [(sc in next 2 sts, inc) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (72 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, [(sc in next 3 sts, inc) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (78 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, [(sc in next 4 sts, inc) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (84 sts)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, [(sc in next 5 sts, inc) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (90 sts)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, [(sc in next 6 sts, inc) 3 times, sc in next 24 sts] twice; join. (96 sts)
The base is now four equal segments of 24 sts: curved end, long side, curved end, long side. Place a marker in the first st of each segment and check the base measurement.
Wall Band
Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around; join. (96 sts) The unworked front loops form a crisp fold, so the base sits flat.
Rnds 10–14: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join. (96 sts each)
Move the markers up as you go so each segment still holds 24 sts.
Shell Lace
Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in first st, skip 3 sts, fan in next st, skip 3 sts, sc in next st. Rep from * 11 more times, leaving out the final sc on the last repeat; join to first sc. (12 fans + 12 sc = 96 sts) Each segment holds 3 fans.
Rnd 16: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same st, ch 3, sc in center (4th) dc of next fan, ch 3, V-st in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next fan, ch 3. Rep from * 10 more times; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (12 V-sts, 12 sc, 24 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 17: Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same sp, sc in next sc, fan in next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc. Rep from * 10 more times; join to top of beg ch-3. (12 fans + 12 sc = 96 sts) Skip the ch-3 sps; they become open arches. These fans sit between the Rnd 15 fans, which creates the staggered look.
Rnd 18: Sl st in next 3 dc (you are now in the center dc), ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, V-st in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next fan, ch 3, V-st in next sc, ch 3. Rep from * 10 more times; join to first sc. (12 sc, 12 V-sts, 24 ch-3 sps)
Place a marker in the 1st and 7th V-sts. They sit 48 sts apart at the exact centers of the two short ends, and they mark the dowel path.
Rnd 19: Sl st in next 3 ch, sl st in next dc, sl st into ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same sp, sc in next sc, fan in next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc. Rep from * 10 more times, working the final sc into the sc at the base of the beginning sl sts; join to top of beg ch-3. (12 fans + 12 sc = 96 sts)
The wall should now measure 4.35 in (11.0 cm). Do not fasten off; go straight to the Border section.
Make All Pieces
- Baskets: 2, mustard yellow, 75 g each
- Hanging cord: 1, mustard yellow, two strands held together
- Connecting cords: 2, mustard yellow, two strands held together
- Dowels: 2 (not crocheted)
Layout grid:
[ WALL HOOK ]
/ \
hanging cord hanging cord
/ \
o=====[ BASKET 1 ]=====o dowel 1
| |
connecting connecting
cord cord
| |
o=====[ BASKET 2 ]=====o dowel 2
Cords
Use the 5.0 mm hook with two strands held together. Cord gauge: 7 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm).
Hanging cord: Ch 91. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and in the back bump of each ch across. Fasten off, leaving 8 in (20.3 cm) tails. Length: 26 in (66.0 cm).
Connecting cords (make 2): Ch 42 and work as for the hanging cord. Length: 12 in (30.5 cm).
The sl st row firms the chain into a rope-like cord that resists stretching under load.
Joining
All joining uses the dowels and cords. No stitches are added to the baskets.
Step 1 – Thread the dowels. On Basket 1, push a dowel in from the outside between the two dc posts of the marked 1st V-st of Rnd 18, just below the Rnd 19 fan. Carry it across the inside of the basket. Push it out between the posts of the marked 7th V-st on the opposite end. Center it so 1 in (2.5 cm) sticks out past each end. Repeat for Basket 2.
Why this works: in a 96-st round, the two marked V-sts are 48 sts apart. They sit exactly opposite each other, so the basket hangs level.
Step 2 – Attach the connecting cords. Wrap one end of a connecting cord twice around the left end of dowel 1, right against the basket wall. Each wrap uses about 1.2 in (3.0 cm), so two wraps use 2.5 in (6.4 cm). Sew the tail through the wraps and the cord several times. Wrap the other end twice around the left end of dowel 2 and secure it. Repeat on the right side with the second cord. Each cord leaves a 7 in (17.8 cm) span between the dowels.
Step 3 – Attach the hanging cord. Wrap one end twice around the left end of dowel 1, outside the connecting cord wraps, and secure it. Repeat at the right end. This leaves 21 in (53.3 cm) of cord: two legs of 10.5 in (26.7 cm) that meet at the hook.
Tension advice: Wrap snugly, but don’t stretch the cord thin. The wraps should not slide when you tug them. Keep them close to the basket walls so the baskets cannot shift along the dowels.
Size checkpoint: Hang the set. Dowel 1 should sit about 9 in (22.9 cm) below the hook, and dowel 2 should sit 7 in (17.8 cm) below dowel 1. If a tier tilts, rewrap the low side.
Border
The border is the scalloped edging on each basket’s rim, worked right after Rnd 19.
Border gauge: 10 edging sts per fan repeat, which covers 2 in (5.1 cm) of rim.
Rnd 20: With the 4.5 mm hook, ch 1, sc in same st as join and in next 2 dc, 3 sc in center dc, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next sc, sc in next 3 dc, 3 sc in center dc, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next sc. Rep from * 10 more times; join. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Count: 96 sts worked 1 per st + 24 extra sts (2 extra at each of 12 fan centers) = 120 sts.
Per side: each of the 4 segments (two curved ends and two long sides) holds 3 fan repeats = 30 sts. 4 x 30 = 120.
Why the math works: The rim is 24 in (61.0 cm) around and is made of twelve 2 in (5.1 cm) repeats. Along the sides of each fan, one sc per st keeps the edge from flaring or pulling in. The 3 sc at each fan center turn the peak without bunching it. The single sc in each valley holds the dip. The result is twelve even scallops, three per segment.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends.
- Remove the dowels if you have already threaded them.
- Spray each basket until damp, not soaking.
- Stuff it with a foam block, rolled towel or box about 9.75 in (24.8 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Pull the walls straight up. Pin each scallop peak so the rim measures 10 in (25.4 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
- Spread each fan with your fingers so all 7 dc open evenly.
- Let the baskets dry completely, then rethread the dowels and hang.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rnd 8 counts 96 sts, and the base lies flat at 9.75 in (24.8 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).
- The Rnd 9 BLO fold is visible all the way around.
- Rnds 15, 17 and 19 each have 12 fans.
- Rnd 20 counts 120 sts, 30 per segment.
- Both baskets are 4.6 in (11.7 cm) tall.
- Each dowel sticks out 1 in (2.5 cm) past both ends.
- Each dowel passes through the 1st and 7th V-sts of Rnd 18.
- The cord wraps are secure and do not slide.
- Both tiers hang level, 7 in (17.8 cm) apart.
Troubleshooting
Base cups like a bowl: Your tension is too tight at the curved ends. Go up a hook size or loosen the increases.
Base ruffles: Your tension is loose or you added extra increases. Each round must add exactly 6 sts.
Fans do not line up: Recheck Rnd 15. Each repeat uses exactly 8 sts: sc, skip 3, fan, skip 3.
Walls sag: Use a firmer cotton, go down a hook size, or starch lightly.
Basket tilts: The dowel is not going through opposite V-sts. Count 48 sts between them.
Cords stretch: Work the sl st row into the back bumps with two strands held together.
Scallops look flat: Make sure the 3 sc go into the 4th dc of each fan.
Care
Remove the dowels, hand wash in cool water with mild soap, and dry the baskets flat over a form.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A gauge of 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 96-st base that measures 9.75 in (24.8 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm). Those 96 sts become twelve 2 in (5.1 cm) fan repeats, three per segment. The wall rises to 4.35 in (11.0 cm) before the edging, and Rnd 20 adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) for a finished height of 4.6 in (11.7 cm). Two dowels and three cords stack the tiers 7 in (17.8 cm) apart, making an organizer about 19.5 in (49.5 cm) tall.
Check each number as you go, and both baskets will match.
Happy crocheting!