Crochet baskets have the potential to be fun projects, and they are useful in many situations.
So what is the best yarn for a crochet basket? In a nutshell, the best yarn to use for a crochet basket is t-shirt yarn. T-shirt yarn is essentially shredded 100% cotton t-shirts. What makes it a great pick is the thickness and durability which lends perfectly to making a robust basket that won’t fall apart easily.
That being said, t-shirt yarn isn’t the only good option. Acrylic and wool can also make for fantastic crochet baskets too, as you’ll find out later on.
Why Make A Crochet Basket?
So why should you make a crochet basket? Well, whether you want to make one to store your children’s toys, or to give as a gift for a birthday or the holiday period, crochet baskets always come in handy.
A great storage solution that will not only save you from a trip to the store, a homemade crochet basket also has the potential to brighten up the place and add a nice personal touch to your living space.
After all, clutter is a very real problem in modern society. With the rising popularity of shows focussed on space-saving solutions like Marie Kondo ‘tidying up’, and the movement of minimalism, there couldn’t be a better time to get on the bandwagon and clean up your act one small step at a time.
Who knows, maybe this will be the first crochet basket of many, from small ones for stationary to big ones for clothes, there is an endless number of possibilities for this simple craft.
The biggest issue when it comes to making your own crochet basket is making one that will last, and withstand daily use.
That is to say, you’ll want to make sure it is pet-proof, child-proof and generally sturdy. It’s mainly in this light that I’ll evaluate the different yarn options for the job in this article.
With all that said, let’s get straight into the 5 best yarns for the job, and then we can get into details on how to make a crochet basket, and the benefits of different types of yarn.
The 5 Best Yarns For A Crochet Basket
| Rank | Product | Type of Yarn |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn | Wool |
| 2. | T-Shirt Yarn Fettucini Zpagetti Set | Cotton ribbon |
| 3. | Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn | 100% acrylic |
| 4. | Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn | Cotton and nylon blend |
| 5. | T-Shirt Yarn Fettuccini Zpagetti | Cotton |
1. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn
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To start this list of the 5 best yarns for crochet baskets, we have a fantastic offering from the very reputable Lion Brand.
A blend of 86% acrylic, 10% wool, and 4% rayon, this yarn will not only make for a wonderfully homely-looking basket, but will also prove as sturdy as you could hope for.
A thick yarn which is machine washable, this mostly acrylic blend has all the properties needed to ensure your basket lasts a long time. Strong, bulky and perfect for beginners, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
2. T-Shirt Yarn Fettucini Zpagetti Set
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This 100% cotton t-shirt yarn from Bobilon is absolutely worthy of consideration for a crochet basket, if you’re willing to spend a bit more for convenience and quality.
As I mentioned earlier, t-shirt yarn tends to be many people’s favored choice when it comes to making crochet baskets. That’s why I chose this cotton yarn which will undoubtedly serve you well should you go with it.
This product comes in a range of rich and bright colors, so you can make your basket however you want, and to fit with the color scheme and decor of your home.
What’s more, you can be sure that if you choose to use it, you will be satisfied with the end result. A sturdy, stylish basket is exactly what you can expect.
Plus, this yarn is definitely beginner-friendly, so there’s no reason not to give it a go, even if this is your first crochet project.
3. Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn
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Sometimes 100% acrylic yarn is the way to go, and you don’t get much better than this chunky offering from Bernat.
Coming with 2 balls of thick yarn, you’ll have more than enough fabric to work with for your first crochet basket, and beyond!
Being a super-bulky weight yarn, you know this is going to be the ideal yarn for your heavy-duty crochet basket.
Due to the fact that it’s purely made from acrylic, this yarn is available in a wide range of vibrant colors.
This one could be just what you need to add a splash of color to the home along with an awesome storage solution.
4. Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn
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Made from 72% cotton and 28% nylon, this alternative bulky blend from Bernat is a solid choice as far as crochet baskets go.
The main selling point of this yarn could be the fact that it comes in a wide variety of variegated options.
Spanning everything from this pebble beach offering, to more bright color combinations, you can get creative with your crochet baskets and make them a bespoke decoration in your home.
The cotton and nylon composition of this yarn will ensure your crochet basket has everything it needs to become a permanent fixture in the house.
5. T-Shirt Yarn Fettuccini Zpagetti
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Highly rated by all who use it, this cotton t-shirt yarn from FoxYarn is an excellent option for a crochet basket.
What makes it such a great yarn for baskets – aside from the high-quality material it’s made up of – is its thickness (1.5 inches). This means you’ll be able to make the sturdy basket you were hoping for.
Machine washable as well, there’s not much not to like about this yarn. Give it a go yourself and I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy and enjoyable it is to work with.
Selecting The Right Type Of Yarn For Your Basket
Now that you have some solid options for your crochet basket, I’d like to take some time to go over each fabric, to assess their strengths as crochet basket materials.
I also discuss this in my Best Yarns For Crochet Bags article, which is another project you might be interested in doing!
1. Cotton
Starting with the often-favored yarn for most crochet projects, cotton is always a great option, and for good reason. Bear in mind that t-shirt yarn is best for crochet baskets, so this is the type of cotton I’m referring to in this section.
Sustainability
First and foremost, cotton is a sustainable fabric. In this day and age, it is impossible to be unaware of the potentially devastating environmental issues that we are facing.
As a result, we can all try to do our bit by making small choices that favor the environmentally-friendly practice. For example, using cotton yarn, since it is easily harvested, renewable and so also sustainable.
The fact that it’s normally higher quality as well as sustainable makes it even more worthy of mention.
Sturdiness
Thick yarn is best for any crochet basket project you may have in mind, so the fact that t-shirt yarn especially is so bulky, means you have the best chance of making a basket that’ll endure.
Whether it needs to be protected from children, pets, or just general use, you can’t make a basket out of thin yarn and expect it not to unravel at some stage.
What’s more, cotton t-shirt yarn will allow your basket to stand alone, without the risk of falling inwards due to a lack of strength.
2. Wool
Visual appeal
Wool is a great-looking fabric when it comes to making anything homely. From Christmas sweaters to winter scarves and everything in between, wool has an undeniable warmth and coziness associated with it.
Because of this, if you decide to use it for your crochet basket, you can expect the end result to help contribute to a cozy home environment if that’s the vibe you’re going for.
Water-resistant
Wool is an incredibly water-resistant material. The benefits of this with regards to crochet baskets are numerous. The most important of which is the fact that if you happen to spill any liquid on the basket, it isn’t likely to fall apart or lose form.
3. Acrylic
Colors
Acrylic is fantastic for its ability to take on a wide variety of vibrant colors. Since it’s man-made you can expect to find it in every color under the sun.
The advantage of this is that if you’re looking to make a basket that’ll fit in with different color schemes in different rooms, you’ll be pleased with acrylic.
The downside to this is the fact that it’s not a naturally-occurring material like wool and cotton. But nevertheless it makes for some dazzling DIY projects.
Durability
Acrylic is a highly durable material, which as we’ve already been over, should be one of the things you value most when making a crochet basket.
Up Next: How To Make A Crochet Basket Stiff
