Cute Kitty Basket Crochet Pattern – Cat Storage Basket Tutorial

There is something undeniably charming about a handmade storage basket that looks like a little cat. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or someone who has recently caught the fiber arts bug, making a cute kitty basket is one of those projects that delivers maximum satisfaction with a finished piece you will actually want to display in your home. It is functional, adorable, and surprisingly versatile — you can use it to hold yarn, remote controls, small toys, bathroom odds and ends, or even as a cozy display piece on a shelf.

In this tutorial, you will find a complete, beginner-friendly guide to crocheting your very own cat storage basket from start to finish. We will cover every detail, from the materials you need and the stitches involved to shaping the ears, adding the face, and finishing the piece with care. By the time you reach the end of this pattern, you will have a sturdy, adorable kitty basket that you will be proud to show off.

Why You Will Love This Kitty Basket Pattern

Before diving into the how-to, let us take a moment to appreciate why this particular crochet pattern is worth your time. Cat-themed home décor has never gone out of style, and a handmade cat basket adds a personal, whimsical touch that store-bought items simply cannot replicate. Because this basket uses a simple flat base and straight-sided construction, it is also a wonderful project for anyone who wants to practice their crochet in the round technique. The face and ear details give you a chance to practice surface embroidery and simple shaping, making this pattern both practical and instructional.

The basket is worked with a thicker yarn weight, which means it crochets up quickly and produces a naturally stiff, structured fabric when worked through the back loop only. You will be amazed at how fast this project comes together — many crocheters finish it in a single weekend.

Materials You Will Need

Having the right materials makes the entire process smoother and more enjoyable. Here is what you will need to gather before you begin.

Yarn: The ideal choice for this project is a bulky weight yarn (size 5 or 6) in your chosen base color for the basket body. Cotton or cotton-blend yarn works beautifully because it creates a firm, structured fabric that holds its shape. You will also need a small amount of a contrasting color for the inner ears, and black or dark gray yarn for embroidering the facial features.

Hook: A 5.5mm or 6mm crochet hook pairs well with bulky yarn for this basket. If you find your fabric is too loose and floppy, go down a hook size. If your stitches are so tight they are hard to work into, go up a size.

Stitch markers: These are essential for working in the round without losing your place. You will use them to mark the beginning of each round and to count your increases evenly.

Yarn needle: You will need a blunt tapestry needle for weaving in ends and for embroidering the cat’s face details.

Scissors: A sharp pair of embroidery scissors or craft scissors works well.

Optional: Safety eyes (15mm or 18mm) can be used instead of embroidered eyes for a different look. If you use safety eyes, insert them before you finish the basket walls so you can reach the back side to secure them. Black felt and fabric glue are another option for creating the nose and eye details without embroidery.

Gauge and Sizing

For this pattern, gauge is not critical in the way it would be for a garment, but it does affect the final size of your basket. As a general guide, if you use bulky cotton yarn with a 6mm hook, you should aim for approximately 12 single crochets and 14 rows to measure 4 inches. Working through the back loop only (which this pattern calls for on the basket walls) naturally tightens the fabric slightly, giving you excellent stiffness and structure.

With bulky yarn, the finished basket will measure approximately 6 to 7 inches in diameter at the base and stand about 5 to 6 inches tall before the ears, making it a perfect small storage basket for a desk or nightstand. If you want a larger basket, simply use super bulky yarn (size 6) and a 7mm or 8mm hook, or if you want a small decorative piece, use worsted weight yarn and a 4.5mm hook.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Throughout this tutorial, the following standard US crochet abbreviations apply.

ch — chain, sl st — slip stitch, sc — single crochet, sc2tog — single crochet two together (decrease), MR — magic ring, BLO — back loop only, st — stitch, rnd — round, rep — repeat, and sp — space.

The Kitty Basket Pattern: Step-by-Step

Part One: The Base

The base of your kitty basket is worked in the round, starting with a magic ring and increasing evenly to create a flat circle. If you are not comfortable with a magic ring, you can substitute a chain-4 joined into a ring, though the magic ring gives a neater, tighter center.

Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the tail to close the center. You will have 6 stitches. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch to mark the beginning of the round.

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around. You will have 12 stitches.

Round 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st — repeat from to around. You will have 18 stitches.

Round 4: Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st — repeat from to around. You will have 24 stitches.

Round 5: Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st — repeat from to around. You will have 30 stitches.

Round 6: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st — repeat from to around. You will have 36 stitches.

Round 7: Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st — repeat from to around. You will have 42 stitches.

Round 8: Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st — repeat from to around. You will have 48 stitches.

At this point your base should measure approximately 5 to 6 inches across. If you want a larger base, continue adding rounds in the same pattern (adding one more plain stitch between each increase each time). When your base reaches your desired size, stop increasing. Do not fasten off — you will move directly into the sides of the basket.

Part Two: The Basket Walls

This is where the magic of working in the back loop only comes in. By transitioning to BLO at the start of the walls, you create a sharp, defined edge that cleanly separates the base from the sides and gives the basket a professional, structured look.

Round 9 (transition round): Working in BLO only, sc in each stitch around. You will have 48 stitches.

From this point forward, work through both loops as normal unless the pattern specifies otherwise.

Rounds 10 through 22: Sc in each stitch around without any increases or decreases. You will have 48 stitches in every round.

Continue these even rounds until the basket walls measure approximately 4.5 to 5 inches in height from the base. This gives you a basket with enough depth to hold small items securely. If you want a shorter basket, stop a few rounds earlier. For a taller basket, add more rounds.

When the walls have reached your desired height, do not fasten off. You are now ready to add the ears.

Part Three: The Cat Ears

The ears are the most distinctive feature of the kitty basket, and they are formed by creating two small triangular points directly onto the top edge of the basket. There are two common methods: crocheting the ears as a continuation of the basket edge in the same round, or crocheting them separately and sewing them on. Both approaches work well, but building them directly into the edge gives a cleaner, more integrated look.

Ear placement: Divide the top opening of your basket into four equal sections. The two ears should sit at approximately the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions when looking down at the basket from above. Mark the starting stitch for each ear with a stitch marker before you begin.

Top edge and ear round:

Start at any point and sc around the top opening. When you reach the stitch 3 stitches before your first ear marker, you will begin the ear shaping.

For each ear:

Skip 1 stitch, sc in next st, ch 2, turn. Sc in next 4 sts, ch 2, turn. Sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog (you will have 3 sts), ch 2, turn. Sc2tog, sc in remaining st (you will have 2 sts), ch 2, turn. Sc2tog. Fasten off and leave a tail for weaving in.

Repeat this ear construction for the second ear, making sure to position it symmetrically on the other side of the basket opening.

After completing both ears, join yarn at any point along the top opening and work a single round of sc all along the top edge, working around the base of both ears to neaten the edging. Sl st to join. Fasten off.

Part Four: The Inner Ears

For extra cuteness, adding a contrasting-colored inner ear gives the kitty basket even more dimension and character. Cut two small triangles from pink felt or crochet two small triangle shapes in pink or light yarn and stitch them inside each ear, centered and slightly smaller than the ear itself.

To crochet small inner ear triangles: With your contrast color, ch 4. Row 1: sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 2 chs (3 sts). Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in last st (2 sts). Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc2tog (1 st). Fasten off leaving a long tail. Use the tail to sew the inner ear shape to the front of each ear.

Part Five: The Cat Face

The face is what brings the whole basket to life. You have several options for how detailed and expressive you want your kitty to be. At minimum, you will want two eyes, a small nose, and a simple mouth. Adding eyebrows or blush cheeks is optional but adorable.

Positioning the face: The face goes on what you designate as the front of the basket — the section directly below and between the two ears. Before you start stitching, use pins or stitch markers to plan out your placement. Center the nose about halfway down the front panel of the basket, and place the eyes an inch or so above and slightly to either side of the nose.

The eyes: If using safety eyes, insert them now through both loops of the fabric and secure the washers on the inside. For embroidered eyes, thread a yarn needle with black yarn and create a small oval or circle shape using satin stitch. Work several parallel stitches close together to fill in a solid oval shape approximately 1 to 1.5 inches wide. For a more stylized cat eye, make your ovals slightly pointed at the outer corners.

The nose: Use a small amount of pink yarn to embroider a tiny triangle nose just at the center of the face. Three or four diagonal stitches meeting at a point is all you need.

The mouth: From the bottom point of the nose, bring your needle straight down about a quarter inch, then branch out to either side in a shallow V or a gentle curved line on each side. This gives the classic cat smile shape.

The whiskers: Optional but very charming. Use white or light gray yarn and bring long straight stitches horizontally out from each side of the nose, three on each side. If you prefer, thin craft wire threaded through the fabric can create stiffer whiskers that hold their position.

Cheek blush: A soft optional touch — use a small amount of pink yarn to make several small diagonal stitches in a cluster on each cheek, or use a pink felt circle glued lightly in place.

Part Six: Finishing

Once you are happy with the face details, it is time to finish the basket cleanly and weave in all remaining ends. Thread each tail through your yarn needle and weave it in and out of the stitches on the inside of the basket for at least an inch in two directions, then trim the excess. This keeps ends from working their way loose over time.

Give the basket a gentle blocking if desired. For cotton yarn, dampening it slightly and reshaping it with your hands before letting it dry flat will help the basket sit evenly and look its best. Avoid blocking yarn that contains a high percentage of acrylic, as heat and moisture can affect its texture.

Tips and Variations

One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it adapts. You can make a whole family of cat baskets in different sizes and color combinations — a gray tabby, a classic orange cat, a sleek black kitty, or a calico with patches of multiple colors. For a calico effect, carry two strands of different colored yarn held together and alternate which one you pull through for your loops every few stitches, creating a natural variegated look.

You can also adapt the basket shape by adding a flat handle on each side if you want a tote-style cat basket, or by making the base oval instead of circular for a longer basket suited to a bathroom counter or bookshelf.

If you are making this as a gift, consider lining the inside of the basket with a circle of stiff craft felt or thin cardboard to give the base extra structure. This is especially helpful if you plan to store heavier items in the basket.

For those who want to use this as a baby gift, choose a soft, non-scratchy cotton yarn in pastel tones and use embroidered features rather than safety eyes, which are not suitable for very young children.

Caring for Your Kitty Basket

If you used cotton or cotton-blend yarn, your kitty basket is machine washable in cold water on a gentle cycle. Reshape it while damp and allow it to air dry to maintain its structure. Avoid putting it in a hot dryer, as heat can cause cotton to shrink and may distort the shape of the ears. If the basket loses some of its stiffness over time, a light misting with water and a gentle reshaping will usually restore it.

A Handmade Piece Worth Keeping

Crocheting a kitty basket is one of those projects that genuinely rewards the time you put into it. The steps are logical and build naturally on one another, the techniques involved are accessible even to relatively new crocheters, and the finished piece is something you will genuinely use and enjoy for years. Whether you keep it for yourself, give it as a gift, or even sell it at a craft fair, a handmade cat storage basket made with care is something that brings a smile to everyone who sees it.

Now gather your yarn, find a comfortable seat, and get started — your new favorite kitty basket is only a few rounds away.