Crochet a Basket
One of my favorite crochet books is Simple Crochet by Erica Knight (it's in my sidebar under "Favorite Crafting Books") Her designs are easy and uncomplicated but produced from unusual fibers that really emphasize texture. One of the fibers she uses is jute and I've been wanting to try it out and make a basket. It's not very comfortable to work with, obviously scratchy, but not too bad for a small project. The basket is my design - just single crochet worked in the round. I filled it with our latest rock collecting finds - the black rocks are obsidian!
I love that book. I found it on Trade Me (New Zealand's Ebay) and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I couldn't believe it when it arrived in pristine condition, full of patterns for gorgeous things. I was truely blessed by the auction fairy that day.
I really like the way she uses different materials for her projects. I made the round cushion with parcel string and it's actually lovely and soft.
Posted by:Sarah | 03/07/2008 at 04:25 PM
Beatiful!
Posted by:isabel | 06/11/2007 at 02:26 AM
Love the basket! I was just doing an online search for ideas and found your blog. Could you share the pattern?!
Posted by:Julie | 05/16/2007 at 11:17 AM
It's REALLY SPOOKY because I was crocheting jute baskets (in England) exactly when you were and I posted about them on 28th! A couple of people did mention that they'd seen some elsewhere in blogland. Amazing how ideas drift around the universe for us to pick up as and when...........
Mine are here: http://simmy.typepad.com/echoesofadream/2007/04/well_it_was_won.html
BTW yours are lovely and much nicer.
Posted by:Simmy | 05/09/2007 at 03:09 PM
lovely baskets. i have met erica knight, she was quite heavily involved with rowan when i was working for coats crafts uk and we had a design meeting where she gave a very interesting talk about trends, design processes and commercialism.
Posted by:lucykate crafts | 05/07/2007 at 02:43 PM
cool idea!
Posted by:kelly sime | 05/01/2007 at 06:36 PM
That is a LOVELY! basket. It never occurred to me that rocks can look so good on the table! You have such a good eye for beauty and are extremely talented. I am your BIG fan :)
Posted by:Evelyn Lum | 04/30/2007 at 08:41 AM
What a wonderful basket made of natural fibre, to hold natural earth made things. I wish that I could crochet a lot better than I do, and then I could try to make something so cute too.
Posted by:Sue | 04/29/2007 at 04:29 PM
The basket is so pretty!!
Posted by:audrey | 04/29/2007 at 12:22 PM
What a great basket. I really love your blog so I have linked to it from mine.
Alison.
Posted by:Alison | 04/29/2007 at 11:47 AM
The basket is lovely!
Posted by:Chara Michele | 04/27/2007 at 06:44 PM
What a beautiful basket. It really shows off that great rock collection! Would never have thought of using jute. Definitely something I'd like to do in the future!
Posted by:brandy | 04/27/2007 at 06:45 AM
Is there anything you CAN'T do? Next thing we know you'll be carving arrowheads out of that obsidian. Welcome back! Hope you're well.
Posted by:Nina | 04/27/2007 at 06:24 AM
I love the basket! I don't know hot to crochet yet but it's things like your basket that inspire and encourage me to learn.
Posted by:June | 04/27/2007 at 06:01 AM
Gorgeous! I recently rediscovered a couple I made a few years ago and think I need a few more now!
Posted by:Kate | 04/27/2007 at 01:13 AM
That is GORGEOUS!! I have always wanted to know how to crochet...not I'm very inspired to get off my arse and make a 'rock basket' too!!
Posted by:kirsten | 04/26/2007 at 06:25 PM
Love that basket! I have some jute around here, too. I just don't know if I could handle the roughness of it. Maybe I'll give it a try (while wearing gloves, maybe?)!
We are collectors of rocks over here, too. We live at the beach so our rocks are a bit different than yours but we have a fun little collection. Those rectangular ones you have there are great.
Posted by:Amber | 04/26/2007 at 01:43 PM
Great color and texture. I have a soft spot for baskets. Love the stacked rocks of 'soap' in front.
Posted by:Ellen | 04/26/2007 at 12:41 PM
looks very beautiful!! I was thinking about making a basket with wool and felt it. thanks for the inspiration!!
xox
Posted by:ruthie | 04/26/2007 at 11:28 AM
The basket is wonderful!
I have a craft book (the name escapes me right now) that uses jute to cover old glass bottles so they can be used as pretty vases. I've been really wanting to work with jute...thanks for the extra inpiration.
Posted by:Taryn Domingos | 04/26/2007 at 10:24 AM
Mmm, I love that book too, I have it on my bookshelf and just love looking through it, I should try and make something else from it. Your basket is really nice, I like the texture of it.
Posted by:hannah | 04/26/2007 at 09:54 AM
Oh, I love that!
Posted by:Anina | 04/26/2007 at 08:53 AM
Cassie, I love the basket. Did you do decreases to make the ends stand up. Nice going. dd
Posted by:deedledumpling | 04/26/2007 at 08:41 AM
Your basket is beautiful. I love your rock collection. :)
Posted by:futuregirl | 04/26/2007 at 08:32 AM
I can crochet but am just preoccupied with sewing. I think this would be great in someone's Etsy shop...
Posted by:Miss Sassy | 04/26/2007 at 07:43 AM