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| Photo above © Winnie Marie Designs |
Photo above © Winnie Marie Designs
Sandhills Basket by Winnie Marie Designs is a chunky knitted storage basket with a wonderfully substantial handmade look. Designed with extremely thick material and oversized needles, it creates a soft and flexible basket with enough structure for practical storage.
The original Sandhills Basket pattern is still available free, making this a great project if you want to explore knitting beyond garments, blankets and accessories.
Sandhills Basket is currently available as a free knitting pattern through the designer's official Ravelry listing.
Sandhills Basket at a Glance
Designer: Winnie Marie Designs
Craft: Knitting
Category: Storage basket / container
Yarn Weight: Jumbo
Needles: US 50 (25 mm) circular needles
Gauge: 2.5 stitches and 4 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Construction: Bottom-up, worked in the round
Sizes: Small and Large
Availability: Free pattern
Finished Basket Sizes
The pattern includes two sizes, so you can make a smaller catch-all basket or a much larger storage basket.
- Small: approximately 32 inches (81 cm) circumference, 12 inches (30.5 cm) diameter and 10 inches (25.5 cm) high.
- Large: approximately 47 inches (119 cm) circumference, 15 inches (38 cm) diameter and 13 inches (33 cm) high.
What Makes the Sandhills Basket Different?
One of the most interesting things about this design is the material. Instead of relying only on conventional knitting yarn, the original baskets use thick cotton upholstery piping.
That substantial material creates the oversized stitches visible in the photographs and gives the finished basket a soft but useful structure.
The designer also notes that the idea can be adapted using jumbo yarn, two strands of super-bulky yarn held together, or suitable upholstery cording.
How Is the Basket Constructed?
Sandhills Basket begins with a circular base. The original design uses smaller cording for the base, which is finished before the thicker sides of the basket are worked.
The body is then worked in the round with much larger material. This creates the dramatic vertical stitches that give the basket its recognizable chunky appearance.
The designer even provides flexibility in how the project can be made: the body can be worked using very large circular knitting needles or hand-knitted without needles.
Working With Jumbo Materials
This is not ordinary lightweight knitting. The original pattern uses US 50 (25 mm) needles, and working with thick upholstery cording can require noticeably more effort from your hands than regular yarn.
Take breaks when needed rather than trying to complete large sections in one sitting. The designer specifically notes that the heavy material can be challenging to work with.
The pattern is adaptable, so once you understand the basic construction, you can experiment with the basket dimensions and materials to create storage for yarn, blankets, craft supplies or everyday household items.
Get the Free Sandhills Basket Pattern
The complete Sandhills Basket instructions belong to Winnie Marie Designs. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's row-by-row pattern. Use the authorized pattern listing below for the complete instructions and materials information.
Get the Free Sandhills Basket Pattern →
More Textured Knitting Ideas
If you enjoy projects where the knitted texture becomes an important part of the design, explore these Amazing Knitting guides next:
Pattern credit: Sandhills Basket was designed by Winnie Marie Designs. Amazing Knitting provides an independent project guide and directs knitters to the authorized original pattern. Complete copyrighted pattern instructions are not reproduced here.