MATERIALS: Lily Skytone Mercerized Crochet Cotton—1 ball Cream and 2 balls Skipper Blue (or other desired colors). Lily Pearl Cotton Size 3—1 ball each Yellow and Lt. Green. Crochet Hook size 3.BASE: Using 2 strands of Blue, ch 43, 4 dc in 5th st from hook, dc in next 37 sts, 9 dc in end st, in other side of chain, dc in next 37 sts, 4 dc in next st, sl st in top of starting chain.
ROW 2: Ch 3, turn, dc in same st, * (2 dc in next st) 4 times, dc in 37 dc, (2 dc in next st) 4 times, * 3 dc in next st. Repeat from * to *. Dc in next st, sl st in 1st 3-ch.
ROW 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in same st, * (dc in next st, 2 dc in next) 5 times, dc in 35 dc, (2 dc in next, dc in next) 5 times, * 3 dc in next. Repeat from * to *. Dc in next st, sl st in 1st 3-ch.
ROW 4: Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in next dc, holding final 2 loops on hook, draw 2 strands of Cream thru these 2 loops, completing dc. Working over Blue and starting end of Cream, * 2 dc in next dc, dc in next, 2 dc in next, * pull up Blue taut and thru final 2 loops of last dc and repeat from * to *, working over Cream. Make 3 more blocks, alternating colors. (With Blue, dc in next 5 dc, with Cream, dc in next 5 dc) for 7 more blocks. Alternating colors, repeat from * to * for 11 more blocks. Continue in same way. End with 2 Blue dc, sl st in 1st 3-ch, joining Cream.
ROW 5: With Cream, ch 3, turn, dc in next 2 dc, then alternating colors, make a 5-dc-block in Blue over each Cream block and a Cream block over each Blue block. End with 2 Cream dc, sl st in 3-ch. Fasten off Cream. (Turn and make dc around in Blue, widening at ends to keep work flat) for 4 rows, then a row of sc. Fasten off. Steam and press on back.
LID: Repeat Base but add edge: Ch 1, (hdc in next sc, 2 dc in next, dc in next, hdc in next, sc in next) around. Fasten off.
SIDES: with 2 strands of Blue, ch 240 and join, ch 3, 239 dc on chain, sl st in 3-ch.
ROW 2: Ch 3, dc in next 4 dc, (5 dc in Cream, 5 dc in Blue) around. With Cream, sl st in 1st 3-ch.
ROW 3: Ch 3, dc in 4 dc, (5 dc in Blue, 5 dc in Cream) around. With Blue, sl st in 1st 3-ch. Fasten off Cream.
ROW 4: With Blue, ch 3, dc around and join, sl st in next dc.
ROW 5: Ch 3, 8 Blue dc, then using 1 strand of Pearl Cotton, make (5 Yellow dc, 2 Blue dc, 4 Green dc, 9 Blue dc) around. With Green, sl st in 3-ch.
ROW 6: Ch 3, 2 Green dc, (4 Blue, 3 Yellow, 1 Blue, 1 Green, 1 Blue, 3 Yellow, 4 Blue, 3 Green) around. With Blue, sl st in 3-ch.
ROW 7: Ch 3, 2 Blue dc, (4 Green, 2 Blue, 5 Yellow, 9 Blue) around. With Blue, sl st in 3-ch. Fasten off Yellow and Green. Repeat Row 4 three times, then a row of sc. Fasten off. Sew lower edge to Base.
BRACELET: With Yellow, ch 2, 9 sc in starting st, sc in back loop of each sc around and around for 8 1\2″. Fasten off. Lap ends and sew together. Make a 2nd ring in Green. Sew 1\4″ apart crosswise on center of lid.
BUTTON: With Blue, ch 2, sc in starting st. In back loops, (2 sc in each sc) 6 times, (sc in next, 2 sc in next) 3 times, sc in each sc for 2 rows, (sc in every 2nd st) 10 times, stuff hard with cotton and close top with sl sts. Sew to center-front 1\2″ below top. Make a chain in Blue to fit loosely over button, skip last st, sl st in each remaining st. Sew under edge of lid above button.
Stiffen basket by rubbing and patting with a cloth dipped in hot, thick, cooked starch. Cut a heavy white cardboard oval to fit inside base, and weight down. Weight down Lid too, to keep it flat. Cut a long strip of thin cardboard and roll to fit inside the basket to brace sides. Fasten another strip snugly around outside. Pull sides up to an even height . When perfectly dry, sew lid to sides between 8 scallops across back edge. Give 3 coats of White Shellac.
