How to make a diy yarn bowl – crochet pattern and tutorial
Owning a yarn bowl is always useful! I know most of us think that there are just another pretty addition to our addiction, but let me tell you otherwise. If you were ever crocheting on your couch and you had your yarn rolling around the house, only to collect dust, guess what. There is actually a way to stop that from happening. Yarn bowls!
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There are so many options out there and omg, are they pretty! From wooden to ceramic to plastic, the choices are endless. Some of them are cheap but some can be very pricey.
Today, I am going to show you an easy way to make your own yarn bowl with materials you probably already have in your house. Even if you don’t have them, it only takes a trip to your local hardware store.
The rope I used is about 1,2 cm in circumference and I had some soft mercerized cotton from another project. It is not really important what yarn and rope you are going to use, as long as you like the outcome. You could use acrylic or wool. This project can be considered a great stash buster.
The only thing I would recommend not to use is thinner cotton rope on rope. I have tried and it really hurts your hands trying to crochet such a strong material on another strong material. Don’t try this at home, people.
I am sharing below the exact instructions I used to make my yarn bowl, but this is mostly a tutorial. Feel free to adjust the measurements to your liking and make your own unique, customizable, yarn bowl.
You will need:
Rope (about 10 m)
Cotton yarn (about 50 gr)
3.5 mm crochet hook
yarn needle
scissors
stitch marker
Abbreviations:
R: round
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
st(s): stitch(es)
sk: skip
Dimensions: 6.5 inches (16 cm) in diameter and 3.5 inches (9 cm) in height.
The pattern is worked in a spiral. Do not join the rounds. You could use the technique I describe in this blog post on how to make a perfect crochet circle. Although, I have found that the rope evens out the result. It’s up to you.
Yarn bowl tutorial
Start by making a slip knot on your crochet hook. Hold the rope and the working yarn with your left hand and place the working yarn under the rope.
Yarn over and pull through. This is the way to attach the yarn on the rope.
Go under the rope, yarn over and pull the yarn in front of the rope. Yarn over and pull through. This is your first sc. Remember to grab the short end of the yarn between the rope and inside the single crochet stitches. This will come in handy in the end of the first round.
Make 8 sc. Push with your fingers to form a circle. This is where the short end of yarn is useful. If you pull it, it helps you bring the ends close together.
Place the hook inside the first sc stitch as you would normally do and under the rope. You will continue making the sc’s this way (by including the rope inside) and following the pattern below.
This is the end of the second round. Don’t forget to add the stitch marker as we are working in a spiral. I continued increasing the stitches until my flat circle was about 6.5 inches (16 cm) wide. Feel free to make it as big as you like.
Yarn bowl crochet pattern
R1: 8 sc (8)
R2: 2 sc in each st around (16)
R3: * sc, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (24)
R4: * sc 2, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (32)
R5: * sc 3, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (40)
R6: * sc 4, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (48)
R7: * sc 5, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (56)
R8: * sc 6, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (64)
R9: * sc 7, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (72)
R10: * sc 8, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (80)
R11: * sc 9, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (88)
R12: * sc 10, 2 sc * repeat from * to * around (96)
R13-23: sc in each st around (96)
R24: sc 12, only around the rope sc 10, sk 3 st(s), sc 4, only around the rope sc 8, sk 2 st(s), sc 26, cut the rope close to the last sc, sc 2 more st(s), sl st, fasten off.
Cut yarn and weave in the ends. You are done!
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You have just created your own customizable yarn bowl. Congrats! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @malloo.knitwear and use the #malloomakers to show off your new project.
Hello, lovely pattern, thank you for sharing! Quick question, though. At the end of Round 4, shouldn’t the final stitch count be 32, not 33?
Yes, Melissa! You are correct! There must be 32 stitches, just a typo on my end. Thanks for picking that up! 😉
Thanks for information about how to make a flat circle.
Glag I could help!
The most brilliant pattern for a really flat base – I am making place mats with this pattern and its wonderful. Many many thanks.
Is there any way I can open up the stitches a little more so that I can see the rope I am crocheting around. I like you pattern vey much but the stitches are a bit close together. Thank you for a brilliant pattern otherwise.
Try not to make so many increases in the beginning. This should push the stitches further apart.
Thank you so much for the inspiration!
I want to make a yarn bowl for my best friend. I could sort of picture it in my mind but couldn’t work out the details.
Although I’m not going to crochet her yarn bowl (I’m going to green craft it from paper yarn weaving), you have inspired me to try one of the Arabic technics I saw on pinterest, similar to crocheting over the rope.
Thank you again and have a wonderful upcoming holiday season!
ARGH! I hate auto correct! Not Arabic technic…. It should have read WEAVING technic… Sorry
Hi, would you be able to tell me what type of rope you used? Thank u
Just regular cotton rope that is sold by the meter. No more info, sorry…
Thank you for sharing this, its brilliant!
This looks great. Thanks for making. 1 question tho. Can I substitute something else for rope?
You can try to use 2-3 strands of worsted yarn but your basket won’t be so sturdy, I think.
Hey, cool pattern! Quick, question, do I have to use the rope? If i don’t use it will it affect the finished sizes? Or does it affect the whole pattern itself? Thanks!
The rope gives its shape and it is sturdier. You may try with thicker yarn instead of rope but you will get a different result.
And what about fort the last row? Since I’m using just one yarn and no rope, will that affect that row? And since it also says “only around the rope” do I just sc like normal? Thanks!
Yes, just sc like normal.
@Grace, It’s not absolutely rigid, but a double strand of a dense 6 weight acrylic yarn and I believe I used a 9mm hook made a sturdy, but pliable basket/bowl.
Is there a particular thickness of rope that you recommend for this bowl?
I can only give you the circumference of the yarn (1,2 cm) which is the only info I had when I bought my rope. It looks like a bulky or super bulky yarn, if that’s more helpful for you. 😉
Just finished my yarn bowl! Such a fun pattern, thanks for sharing your genius!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am glad you liked it.
Hello. This is a nice bowl, I am a beginner, reading the instructions for several times I still confused about the last row (24). Can you please help me, I don’t understand it at all. Do you have a video tutorial? The basket looks great. Thank you.
No, I am sorry, I don’t have a video tutorial for it. I’ll try to explain. The last round is how these little holes are made. The first 12 stitches are exactly how you made them for the whole basket. The next 10 stitches is sc only around the rope. You won’t attach these stitches to the previous round as you did before. Then skip 3 stitches and sc as usual for the next 4 stitches. This is how the first hole is created and half of the round is done. Is it any better now? Do you understand what I mean?
Do you have a video tutorial?
No, I am sorry, I don’t have a video tutorial for it.