Get hooked!

This delightful penguin basket will keep your things in order—crochet it with this easy pattern!

This crocheted penguin basket is a playful decorative element that helps keep small items organized. The adorable basket is sure to delight in any child’s room!

Author Marja Rautiainen

Images Hanna Sandström

November 14, 2025Lue suomeksi

Size: 22 cm × 18.5 cm (8.75″ × 7.25″).

Crocheted penguin basket—supplies:

Lankava Lilli tube yarn (80% recycled cotton, 20% polyester, 1 kg = 220 m), 540 g black (20) and 130 g white (1)
For the beak and flippers, Moi braided yarn (80% recycled cotton, 20% polyester, 500 g = 300 m), 20 g brown (54) or orange (58)
2 buttons
needle
sewing thread in the color of the beak
multi-purpose glue
crochet hook 4.5 mm (US G-7) and metal hook 8 mm or to match your gauge.

Gauge: 6.5 sts and 8 rnds = 10 cm of knit stitches.

Abbreviations:

st = stitch
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet.

Crocheted penguin basket—pattern:

Basket

Using the larger hook, first crochet the basket’s circular base. Make a starting ring around your finger with the thicker yarn.

Round 1: Ch 1 and work 8 sc into the ring. Continue in a spiral without joining rounds. Mark the beginning of each round and shift the marker at the end of the round. Close the starting ring by pulling the yarn tail, and crochet it inside the stitches on the next round.

Round 2: 2 sc in each st = 16 sts.

Round 3: *1 sc, then 2 sc in the same st*, repeat from * to * another 7 times = 24 sts.

Round 4: *2 sc, then 2 sc in the same st*, repeat from * to * another 7 times = 32 sts.

Round 5: 1 sc, *2 sc in the same st, 3 sc*, repeat from * to * another 6 times, 2 sc in the same st, 2 sc = 40 sts.

Round 6: *4 sc, then 2 sc in the same st*, repeat from * to * another 7 times = 48 sts. Steam the finished base. Begin the sides of the basket in knit stitch.

Round 7: Bring in the white yarn, work 48 sc by inserting the hook through the middle of the stitch below, making sure the hook goes under the horizontal strand on the wrong side. Carry the white yarn inside the stitches. Start working tapestry crochet in knit stitch according to the pattern and chart. Switch colors by working the final yarn-over of the stitch with the new color.

The colorwork interior of the penguin basket. — In tapestry crochet, both yarns are carried along, even though only one is visible at a time.

Round 8: Work 20 sc in black while carrying the white yarn inside the stitches. Complete the 20th st with white yarn and work 8 sc, carrying the black yarn inside the stitches. Complete the 8th st with the black yarn and work 20 sc. Make sure the carried yarn is tight enough to keep the shape of the basket even and to avoid loose loops on the wrong side. The white yarn will show through slightly on the wrong side.

Round 9: 19 sc in black, 10 sc in white, 19 sc in black. Remember to change color at the last yarn-over of the stitch.

Round 10: 18 sc in black, 12 sc in white, 18 sc in black.

Rounds 11–18: Crochet following the chart.

Round 19: 48 sc in black, carrying the white yarn inside the stitches. Cut the white yarn and fasten off by imitating a stitch. Weave in ends on the wrong side.

Round 20: Sl st in the back loop of each st around, then 2 additional sl sts over the round’s join = 50 sts. Fasten off by imitating a stitch, and weave in ends on the wrong side with the smaller hook.

Wings

Make 2 identical pieces. With black yarn, ch 10. Leave about 10 cm (4″) of yarn at the beginning for attaching the wing.

Row 1: Sl st in the 2nd ch from hook, sl st in the next ch, 2 sc, 3 hdc, 2 dc. Leave about 10 cm (4″) of yarn at the end as well.

Beak

Using the smaller hook and Moi yarn, make a starting ring. Leave about 10 cm (4″) of yarn at the beginning for stuffing the beak.

Round 1: Ch 1, 5 sc in the ring, then sl st in the first ch. Pull the ring closed.

Round 2: Ch 1, *1 sc, 2 sc in the same st*, repeat from * to * once more = 9 sts. Turn.

Round 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in the same st, *2 sc, 2 sc in the same st*, repeat from * to * once more, 2 sc, sl st in the first ch = 12 sts. Leave a tail of about 15 cm (6″) for stuffing the beak.

Feet

Using the smaller hook and Moi yarn, ch 6.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc, 1 hdc, 5 hdc in the last ch. Continue along the underside of the chain with 1 hdc, 3 sc, then turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sl st, 3 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 3 sts, 3 sc, 2 sl st, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sl st in each st across. Break the yarn, pull it through the last st, and leave about 15 cm (6″) for sewing. Weave in the beginning yarn end.

Finishing

Sew the buttons in place for eyes. Thread the yarn tail of the beak inside the basket so that the round join is hidden behind the beak. Bring the yarn out and, together with the other yarn tail, use it to stuff the beak. Sew the beak on by hand with sewing thread. Attach the wings to the sides of the basket by pulling the beginning and ending yarn tails through to the inside, and weave them through the stitches in opposite directions. Sew on the feet at the bottom edge of the basket with the yarn tails you left. Weave in the ends on the wrong side. Finally, apply a water-and-glue mixture to the woven-in ends so they won’t unravel.