4 Strands? Whaaaaaat? How To Work With Multiple Strands
The Owl Basket pattern above uses four strands of bulky yarn at once to make huge stiff stitches. I’ve had a couple of requests on the best way to crochet like this, so I made a video.
The tutorial below will show you not only how to work with multiple strands of yarn, but will help those wanting their Owl Basket to be as stiff as possible. It also gives some other reasons why you might want to work with multiple yarns in your own projects. So watch on!
35 Comments
molly191
Finished my basket – thank you for the detailed instructions that enabled me to do this. Mine doesn’t quite look like yours, it is a bit saggy at the bottom. However, it still looks good. 🙂
Annette Margavage
I’m confused with this pattern. I know all the stitches but at what row does the bottom end and sides start to take shape. The decrease and increase should they be made any special way. Also the rounds are confusing. I can do 16 and double again for 32. Skipping the row with 24. A crochet along would be helpful.
Deja Jetmir
Sorry for any confusion. The basket will start to cup up around RND 10 or 11 (when the stitches stop increasing, but it takes a couple of rounds before it shows) The increases and decreases are made like normal increases and decreases, nothing special. 🙂 The rounds for the bottom of the basket need to be made as written to make a flat bottom. I have tutorials available on increasing in half double crochet while working in a spiral if you need help with that portion (as well as tutorials on increasing and decreasing in half double). 🙂
Annette Margavage
Thank you. I have one more question. Do we make the stitches in the space or top of the stitch?
Deja Jetmir
Also the top of the stitch unless it says otherwise. 🙂
Rebecca
I have only crocheted a few times so I am confused with the instructions. Rnd 2 says “each” stitch and the rounds after that says ” next” stitch. Is this not the same thing? (each and next). Also, in Rnd 3 it says HDC 2 times in next stitch, HDC. Does this just mean to HDC 3 times in each stitch?
Deja Jetmir
Hi there, next can be used instead of each, but each cannot be used for next. So for RND 2 you could say either, but it has to be “next” for all rounds after. For the RND 3 instruction, It is HDC 2 times in the next ST (so you are increasing), then the comma between that instruction and the next (HDC) means to move to the next ST of the RND below. So you HDC 2 times in one stitch, then HDC once in the next ST and repeat that pattern all the way around. 🙂
Rebecca
Hello again. Now I am confused by the RND “below”. Does in RND 3 where you say move to the next stitch of the round “below” does that mean the next stitch in RDN 2? As I said I am fairly new at crocheting so I apologize for asking so many questions.
Rebecca
Correction….I meant RDN 1, which would be below RDN 2. So confused…LOL
Deja Jetmir
Yes, you are correct. The RND below is the round before. 🙂
Rebecca
Hi Deja. I promise this will be my last question. Thank you for your responses. I watched your tutorial for HDC stitches. In the beginning of EACH round do I CH 2 for the 1st HDC? In RND 3 does the 1st HDC start in the 2nd stitch in RND 2?
Deja Jetmir
Lol. 🙂 Don’t worry about asking questions. The basket is being worked in spirals, so you want to put a marker (a piece of yarn if you don’t have a marker) at the beginning of each round. You won’t join so there will be no CH 2s. You only do CH 2s when joining your rounds. The spiral will make your stitches kind of overlap and make like a staircase effect, so as long as you count while making your stitches you should end each round where your marker was placed at the beginning of the round. Then just move your marker up to the new round and start making your next ST. So your first ST of RND 3 will still be in the 1st ST of RND 2. 🙂
Laurie Bodner McKenna
I have been working on this basket and I must be doing something wrong. My circumference is correct, but my basket is only about 6″ tall. I am following the pattern and I am at the row that increases again before the last row. Am I correct in assuming that each spiral round is only done 1 time. So each HDC row (2 HDC 2 times in next ST, HDC in 5 Sts) for example, is done 1 time? How many total rows are done for the basket. Thank you for your time.
Deja Jetmir
Hi there, there are 26 total rounds. Some of the instructions give instructions for a few rows at a time. For example RND 9-17: HDC in each ST around. 64 STS means do this for rounds 9 through 17 so a total of 9 rounds.
Laurie McKenna
That is the problem. I feel like an idiot. The PDF I printed was only in black and the round numbers didn’t print out since they are in blue on the document. Thank you for responding.
Deja Jetmir
Oh no! Sorry about that. I’m glad we got it figured out though. 🙂
Katelyn
I just purchased this pattern and am excited to try it! I will probably use the balkier yarn and do it with 2 strands. I wanted to know if I do the basket with 2 strands would I so the eyes with 1 strand or 2?
Thank you.
Deja Jetmir
Do one strand on the eye if you are going super bulky yarn> 🙂
agnes
What does TR. TjDR. Mean forth the owl basket
Deja Jetmir
TR is treble crochet and DTR is double treble crochet. 🙂
Kathryn Mathews
Hi!
My daughter has asked me to consider making this owl basket for her, but I am an ‘extreme beginner’. I have two questions – 1) Can I buy this pattern directly from you and is there a less expensive, but still sturdy, yarn I can substitute (since I sm such a beginner), and 2) Do you have any chic scarf patterns for a true beginner to help develop skills and confidence?
Thank you,
Kathryn
Deja Jetmir
Hi there, you can buy it directly under the “shop” link. 🙂 A good substitute is any acrylic yarn. You can use two strands of Lion Brand Hometown USA super bulky instead of four strands of bulky. This will be half the yardage and the yarn is very inexpensive. As for beginner patterns, all of the free pattern workshops are good for beginners, especially the bias scarf, plus there are videoss you can follow along. 🙂
Annette
I have a question about the eyes. Do I use the 10mm for the eyes also?? I did not see a mention to change it
crocheteverafter
Hi there, Yes you will use the 10mm with two strands. That will make the eyes less stiff than the basket. 🙂
Bonnie
The sound on the video is low that I could not hear it.
crocheteverafter
Did you try watching it on a different device/computer? I haven’t heard from anyone else that the sound is low and it plays at normal volume when I try it?
Sue
I am watching your tutorials on how to start the basket, and you seem to hold the crochet hook in your left hand, which totally confuses me, am I missing something here?
crocheteverafter
Are you watching a left handed video? I have right and left handed versions for most of my videos.
Carol
when you say bulky yarn, what is the weight? a 5? I did make this basket, but before the tutorial, so I did it with 2 strands of 6 weight, and then washed it, soaked it in starch and shaped it inverted over a 5 gallon pail. Came out great, but I will do it again with the 4 strands, and I mean soon. so please advise on the weight and fiber content you use
crocheteverafter
Hi there. 🙂 Yes, 5 is what you want to use for four strands. 2 strands is good for size 6 yarn. That is what I would do with size 6 as well.
Anniem
I just finished making a bath mat with 4 strands, and BOY did it take quite a while b/c it hurt my poor hands. However, IT WAS WORTH IT!
Rachel
Cool, I actually have this pattern but haven’t made it yet because of all the yarn it takes to make it! I’ll be sure to check out the tutorial.
crocheteverafter
Let me know if you need anymore help. 🙂
Annette
Thank you, thank you for doing this!! I took your advice regarding the kit Craftsy is doing on the owl basket. My yarn is due to be delivered tomorrow. You can bet I will be studying this tutorial before I begin. Thank you so much Deja !!
crocheteverafter
Very cool. Thanks so much!!