Large Knit Basket Pattern | Chunky Storage Basket DIY | Handmade Home Decor
There is something deeply satisfying about making something beautiful and functional with your own hands. Chunky knit baskets have become one of the most beloved DIY home decor projects in recent years, and it is easy to understand why. They are quick to make, endlessly customizable, and they bring a sense of warmth and texture to any space in your home. Whether you want a sprawling floor basket to corral throw blankets in the living room, a tabletop organizer for your entryway, or a sturdy laundry hamper for the bedroom, a large knit basket is the answer.
In this post, we are going to walk through everything you need to know to create your own chunky storage basket from scratch. This includes the materials, the stitches, the sizing options, and tips for getting a clean, professional-looking result even if you are new to arm knitting or using oversized needles. By the end, you will have a complete pattern you can follow and adapt to make as many handmade baskets as you like.
Why Chunky Knit Baskets Are Worth Making
Before we get into the pattern itself, let us talk about why this project is worth your time. Chunky knit home accessories have held their place in interior design trends because they photograph beautifully and work across a wide range of aesthetics, from boho and Scandinavian minimalism to rustic farmhouse and modern eclectic. A large handmade basket has a visual weight and softness that no store-bought plastic bin can replicate.
Beyond aesthetics, the practicality is real. A well-made chunky basket can hold a surprising amount, and because the yarn itself is flexible, the basket can be pushed into corners or tucked under furniture in ways that rigid containers cannot. It also doubles as decor on its own, meaning you get storage and style in a single object.
From a crafting perspective, this is also one of the most rewarding projects for beginners who want visible results quickly. Unlike a fine-gauge blanket or a detailed sweater pattern, a large knit basket can be completed in an afternoon. The scale of the stitches means you can see and feel your progress with every row, which keeps motivation high.
Materials You Will Need
Getting the right materials is the most important step. The oversized scale of chunky knit baskets means that standard worsted weight yarn will not give you the structure or visual impact you are looking for. Here is what to gather before you start.
Yarn: You will need a super bulky or jumbo weight yarn, which falls into yarn weight categories 6 or 7. Look for a label that says “super bulky,” “jumbo,” or a recommended needle size of US 19 (15mm) and above. For a large basket with finished dimensions of roughly 12 inches tall and 14 inches in diameter, you will need approximately 200 to 250 yards of jumbo yarn. Cotton-acrylic blends are excellent for baskets because they hold their shape well, resist pilling, and have just enough stiffness to keep the walls upright. Pure wool can work but tends to be softer and may require double-stranding to get enough body.
Knitting Needles: For this pattern we are using large circular knitting needles, specifically US size 35 (19mm) or US size 50 (25mm) depending on how dense you want your fabric. A 40-inch circular cable length gives you enough room to work the rounds comfortably. If you prefer arm knitting, the technique also works beautifully and produces a looser, slightly more relaxed texture.
Stitch Markers: You will need at least one stitch marker to indicate the start of each round. A few additional markers are helpful when placing increases evenly.
Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and seaming if needed.
Scissors
Measuring Tape
Understanding the Stitches
This pattern uses only a handful of basic techniques, making it accessible to anyone who knows how to cast on, knit, and purl. Here is a quick overview.
Long-tail cast on: This is the recommended cast on for the base of the basket because it creates a firm, clean edge that holds its shape when laid flat. If you are new to the long-tail cast on, practice it a few times before starting your actual project.
Stockinette stitch: The main body of the basket uses stockinette, which is achieved in the round by knitting every stitch in every round. Because you are working in a continuous spiral, you do not need to purl at all.
Garter stitch ribbing: For the top edge, a few rounds of alternating knit and purl rows create a rolled or stabilized cuff that reinforces the opening of the basket and keeps it from flopping over.
Increases (M1L and M1R): The flat base of the basket is created by casting on a small number of stitches and then increasing outward in a circular pattern, similar to the way a raglan sweater yoke is constructed. Make One Left (M1L) and Make One Right (M1R) are the tidiest increase methods for this application because they produce nearly invisible added stitches.
Pattern: Large Chunky Knit Storage Basket
Finished Dimensions (approximate): 14 inches diameter at opening, 12 inches tall, 5-inch base diameter. These dimensions will vary slightly depending on your yarn weight and personal gauge.
Gauge (approximate with US 50 / 25mm needles and jumbo yarn): 4 stitches and 5 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette in the round. This is a loose gauge, which is intentional. It creates a fabric with visible stitch definition and slight give, perfect for a storage basket.
Step One: Cast On and Create the Base
Using the long-tail method, cast on 8 stitches onto your circular needle. Place a stitch marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your cast-on stitches.
Round 1: Knit into the front and back of every stitch (KFB across). You will have 16 stitches.
Round 2: Knit all stitches.
Round 3: (K1, M1L) repeat to end of round. You will have 32 stitches.
Round 4: Knit all stitches.
Round 5: (K2, M1L) repeat to end of round. You will have 48 stitches.
Round 6: Knit all stitches.
At this point your base should measure approximately 5 to 6 inches across when laid flat. If it is smaller, continue increasing in this pattern (adding one additional knit stitch between increases each time) until you reach the desired base size. If you want a wider base, keep going until your flat circle is the diameter you want.
Step Two: Building the Walls
Once the base is the correct size, it is time to turn the work upward and begin knitting the vertical walls of the basket.
Turning Round: Work one full round without any increases. On the next round, instead of laying your knitting flat, you are going to begin pulling the walls upward so that subsequent rounds stack on top of each other rather than radiating outward. This transition happens naturally as you work in a tighter tension.
Rounds 7 through 20 (approximately): Knit every stitch in every round without any increases or decreases. This creates the smooth, clean walls of the basket. Continue until the walls measure approximately 10 to 11 inches from the point where you made the transition from base to wall.
As you work these rounds, check periodically that your basket walls are standing upright. If they are leaning or collapsing, try going down one needle size or working with slightly tighter tension. If the fabric feels too stiff, move up one needle size or loosen your grip.
Step Three: The Top Edge
The top edge is what gives your basket a finished, polished look. Without it, chunky knit fabric tends to curl inward, especially in stockinette.
Round 21: Purl all stitches.
Round 22: Knit all stitches.
Round 23: Purl all stitches.
Round 24: Knit all stitches.
Bind Off Round: Bind off all stitches loosely using a stretchy bind off method. The easiest option is to knit two stitches, then insert the left needle into the two stitches on the right needle and knit them together, then knit one more stitch and repeat. This gives a bind off edge with a little give that will not pucker or draw in the opening of the basket.
Finishing the Basket
Cut your yarn leaving an 8-inch tail. Thread the tail through the tapestry needle and weave it invisibly through several stitches at the top edge of the basket, making sure it is secure. Weave in the cast-on tail through the base stitches, pulling it slightly to close any small gap that may have formed at the center of the base.
Block your basket by dampening it with a spray bottle or a brief soak in cool water, then gently shaping it and allowing it to dry. Stuffing the inside of the damp basket with plastic bags or a rolled towel while it dries will help it hold the correct cylindrical shape.
Customizing Your Basket
One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it adapts to different sizes and styles. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
Go taller for a laundry hamper. Simply keep knitting the wall rounds until you reach a height of 20 to 24 inches. For laundry use, a cotton yarn is especially practical because it washes easily. You can add simple rope handles by cutting two lengths of thick cotton rope, threading them through the top edge on opposite sides, and knotting them securely on the inside.
Go shallower for a coffee table tray or catchall. Work only 3 to 4 inches of wall height for a low, wide basket that can sit on a coffee table or countertop and hold remotes, keys, fruit, or small plant pots.
Add color with stripes. Join a new color yarn at the beginning of any round and knit two or three rounds in the new color before switching back. The dramatic scale of chunky knit makes even simple color blocking look intentional and modern.
Try a handled shopping basket shape. Work the handles by casting on a short bridge of stitches at two opposite sides of the basket opening when you reach the desired height, then continue working in the round to create a gap. This is a slightly more advanced modification but produces a classically beautiful result.
Experiment with natural fibers. Unspun merino roving, cotton rope yarn, and wool-blend jumbo yarns all behave differently and produce different textures. Rope yarn gives the crispest, most structured result. Unspun roving is the softest and most casually boho-looking but is also the most delicate.
Tips for a Clean, Professional Finish
A few habits and techniques make the difference between a basket that looks handmade in the best way and one that looks messy.
Keep your tension as even as possible, especially on the increase rounds in the base. Uneven tension in the base translates to a base that does not lie flat, which makes the whole basket wobble.
When you join a new skein of yarn, do so at the back of the basket where it will be less visible. Leave tails at least 8 inches long and weave them in along a seam or fold line rather than through the middle of a visible panel.
Count your stitches at the end of every round in the base section. At that scale, it is easy to accidentally skip a stitch or work two stitches together, and catching errors early saves you from frogging (unraveling) large sections.
If your basket wants to flare outward at the top rather than staying straight, try decreasing one stitch at four evenly spaced points around the circumference a few rounds before your cuff. This very subtle shaping pulls the opening in slightly and makes the top edge look crisper.
Do not skip the blocking step. Chunky knit projects transform dramatically when blocked. The fibers relax into their positions, the stitches even out, and the structure becomes noticeably more solid.
Where to Display Your Chunky Knit Basket
The last step, of course, is finding the perfect spot for your finished creation. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
A large floor basket in a neutral tone beside a sofa is the classic choice, filled with rolled blankets or extra pillows and finished with a small potted plant or a candle on top. In a nursery, a cluster of two or three baskets in different heights creates a sweet and practical storage system for toys, books, and cloth diapers. In the bathroom, a large knit basket for rolled towels adds an instant spa-like quality without any renovation required. On a kitchen counter, a shallow version makes a beautiful fruit bowl or bread basket.
If you are making these as gifts, a handmade chunky knit basket filled with artisan candles, a cozy blanket, or bath products makes an incredibly personal and impressive present for weddings, housewarmings, or holidays.
Final Thoughts
Making a large knit basket is one of those projects that delivers an outsized sense of accomplishment relative to the time it takes. A few hours of focused work and a skein or two of beautiful chunky yarn can produce something that genuinely elevates a room. The pattern above is designed to be a starting point, not a rigid rulebook. Every change you make to the size, yarn, color, or finishing technique is an opportunity to make something that is entirely your own.
If you make this pattern, share your finished basket and tag it so others can see what you have created. The chunky knitting community is warm, generous, and full of people who love seeing the same pattern interpreted in dozens of different ways. Happy knitting.
