Size: 5.5 inches wide x 4.7 inches tall

Stitch Glossary & Abbreviations: st. (Stitch), sts. (Stitches), ch. (Chain), sl st. (Slip Stitch), rnd. (Round), sc. (Single Crochet), Wc st. (Waistcoat Stitch), incT. (triple increase, 3 waistcoat stitches in the same base stitch), Magic Ring, dc. (Double Crochet), dctog. (Double Crochet closed together), Magic Ring, Invisible Round Closure (Slip the loop off the hook, insert it into the first stitch of the round, pull the loop through, and remove it from the hook, setting it aside for the next step. Insert the hook into the middle of the stitch formed, yarn over, and pull it to the front. Insert the hook into the reserved loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops at once.).

Instructions:

Chart 1 - Bottom

With the Carmine yarn, start with a magic ring. Work in circular rounds, closing each round with an invisible round closure.

1- 8 sc. inside of magic ring

2- (1 wc st., 1 incT.) x4 (16)

3- 2 wc st. (1 incT., 3 wc st) x3, 1 incT. 1 wc st. (24)

Continue following chart 1, working in rounds and closing all the rnd. with an invisible closure until you reach the 6th rnd.

7- On the wrong side of the piece, work 1 sl st. for each base st.

Fasten off.

Set the yarn aside.

Chart 2 – Lateral

The lateral of the basket uses the tapestry crochet technique. In this technique, work with 2 or more yarns in the same round, changing colors as indicated by the chart. To change colors, finish the last 2 loops on the hook with the new color, and hide the unused yarn over the previous round, weaving it between the stitches of the new color.

Join the White yarn.

1- Work taking the sl st. from the last round: 48 wc st.

2- 48 wc st.

3- Join the Rose yarn and extend it over the base round. With the White yarn, make 18 wc st., change to Rose yarn, 2 wc st., change to White yarn, 9 wc st., change to Rose yarn, 2 wc st., change to White yarn, 17 wc st. (48)

Continue following chart 2, working in circular rounds, making the appropriate color changes.

Fasten off all the yarns.

Chart 3 – Hat

Join the Carmim yarn on the right side of the basket, keeping Santa Claus's face at the front.

1- 13 sc.

2- 1 sl st., 11 sc.

3- 1 sl st., 9 sc.

Continue following chart 3, working in back-and-forth rows, making the appropriate color changes.

Embroidery: Embroider the eyes with the Grey Resin yarn, and the nose with the Rose yarn. For the mouth detail, cut the Carmine yarn in half, following the drawing in chart 2.

Chart 4

Join the Carmine yarn at the top part of the basket.

1- Work 1 sl st. for each base st., working all the way around the top of the basket. Fasten off the yarn.

Designer: Rosana Recchia