Learn to make the fun, easy, and colorful Handle On Life Baskets from a free crochet pattern set by Divine Debris.

Who’s got a handle on life? Sadly, not me. But I do have the ability to make a couple crochet baskets and that’s almost as good (maybe, sorta 😉 ). And in honor of all of us that don’t quite have life figured out but we can make some fun baskets, I’ve got a new set you might like – the Handle On Life Baskets 😀

You probably know I love a good basket pattern. I’ve been making them for years because they’re super cute and functional. Decorate your vanity with a basket with hearts on it in the colors that match your bathroom. Or maybe make a big squishy basket for your living room, it’ll hold that wip you swear you’re going to get back to (some day, we swear right?).

Usually I make baskets in the round because they’re a bit easier and when the seam travels a bit, it doesn’t disrupt the handles too much. But I wanted to play around with rectangle baskets again because I like the contrast in shape and decided on that for Handle On Life Baskets. But the design is still really simple,worked from the bottom up in 3 sections – the base, the sides, and the handles. The base is worked in rows back and forth (with a ch 1 turn at the beginning) and after that the rest of the sections are worked in the round with a slip st into the first st of the round and each round starts with a ch 1, turn and you begin in the first st. I do note in the pattern that if you do experience your seam traveling, just fasten off and move it back to where it’s supposed to be and it’ll be all good. No worries, tbh, it happens to me too.

In addition to a contrast in color, I the single crochet cluster stitch to add a very simple almost waffle looking texture. If you’re not familiar with this stitch it is described below, no worries. It’s also basically a sc2tog + ch 1 but acting as a stitch. The only downside of this stitch I’ve found is that it can be tighter than a sc, which is why in this pattern I changed hooks a lot (I not that throughout the pattern, no worries) to keep the sides even and standing. Or you can block your final project to even it out, up to you.

I used one of my favorite bulky yarns, Hue + Me by Lion Brand Yarn, for this one. It’s holds up well and makes a really great basket. If you want to adjust your yarn, feel free. Just make sure you use the smallest hooks you’re comfortable with, it keeps the sides tighter. And recently they released this Dirty Chartreuse color and I love it. Wouldn’t it make the best Halloween goo green? Yes, I am already thinking about Halloween (I’m always thinking about Halloween tbh).

Anyway, I hope you like this week’s set of baskets. I love how easy they are to make and customize and how fast they work up. I made mine while re-watching Schitt’s Creek for the 100th time. It’s still so funny, ya know? Thanks so much for following along here friends, I really appreciate it.

Please note: I was provided the yarn for this pattern by Lion Brand Yarn for the purposes of designing a kit and used it for the Handle On Life Baskets crochet patterns, with compensation. I wasn’t provided the yarn with the expectations of positive or negative reviews but I love using Hue + Me for baskets, it works up so well and it’s super sturdy and the colors are fantastic! And I was commissioned to make this pattern and you can buy a kit for this pattern on Lion Brand’s website. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase yarn through any of the links in this post, I may be compensated. And do not make videos using my patterns.

Copyright @ Divine Debris 2025. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author. Sales of finished products are permitted, but the designer requests that you link back to the pattern and credit Divine Debris with the original design under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact info@divinedebris.com.

(this post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I may earn a commission)

If you appreciate my patterns I hope you’d consider purchasing an ad-free pdf of this pattern in my Ravelry sh op and Lovecrafts shop (coming soon)!

Where to purchase the Handle On Life Baskets crochet pattern

[Image description] The smaller Handle On Life Basket sits on top, at an angle, and inside the larger Handle On Life Basket against a white background and on a white counter.

Language

American English

Level

Easy

Materials

US H (5.00 mm) crochet hook
US I (5.50 mm) crochet hook
Size #5 bulky weight yarn
- 2 colors
  - A (green): 12.57 oz/ 390 yds
  - B (white): 4.4 oz/ 137 yds
  - I used Hue + Me by Lion Brand Yarn for this
    - Colors listed in the Notes
Notions: scissors, measuring tape, yarn needle

Gauge

H: 13 sc x 15 rows = 4”

Terms/ Stitches used

Sk: Skip
St: Stitch
Ch: Chain
Rnd: Round
RS: Right side
Sc: Single crochet
BLO: Back loop only
Scc: Single crochet cluster (explained below)

Special Stitches Used

Scc (single crochet cluster): (this stitch is worked into two stitches) insert the hook into the first st, pull up a loop, insert the hook into the next st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on the hook, ch 1. This stitch is worked like a sc2tog and a ch 1 that count together as one stitch. When working into this stitch, you will work into the sc2tog and the ch-1 spaces.

Notes

The pdf for this pattern is available on Ravelry.
The Gauge only lists the H/ 5.00mm hook size because it’s the smaller of the 2 and used more throughout the designs. Try to get as close to that gauge as possible for the design to stand up.
Each pattern is worked from the bottom up in 3 sections: the Base, the Sides, and the Handles. You don’t need to fasten off between the sections, although for the Handles to line up you can if your seam travels.
The Base is worked in rows, back and forth, and then the Sides and Handles are worked in the round (from the Base up) with turns at the beginning of each rnd.
For the first rnd of the Sides you will need to sc all the way around the Base. For this rnd you will need to ch 1 at the corners and rotate your Base a quarter turn or 90 degrees to the right. This may cause some puckering on the base that blocking can fix.
The Sides (both sizes) require you to change back and forth between 5.00 mm and 5.50 mm hooks because the density of the sc rounds is less than the scc/ sc rounds (which is why you go down a hook size for the sc rows). Adjusting hook size can make the stitches tighter and helps sides stand up.
On the Sides you will also be told to “drop color A” because it won’t be used for a few rnds and you can carry it up the inside of the basket. Feel free to fasten off/ weave in ends if you prefer.
The ch 1 at the beginning of the rnds and rows does not count as a stitch.
The samples were with Hue + Me Yarn by Lion Brand in the colors Dirty Chartreuse (color A) and Salt (Color B). You can buy a kit for this pattern from Lion Brand Yarn here.

Approx Finished Product Details for the Handle On Life Baskets crochet pattern

Small	Large
Height (not including handles): 6” – 6.15” Across (laid flat): 14” Base Diameter: 4.15” x 9”	Height (not including handles): 9” – 9.1” Across (laid flat): 18” Base Diameter: 6” x 10.6”

[Image description] The smaller Handle On Life Basket sits in front of the larger Handle on Life Basket against a white background on a white counter.

Handle on Life Baskets Crochet Pattern Instructions

[image description] An eye-level angle photo of the Handle on Life Basket in the small size against a white background on a white counter.

Small Basket

Base
With 5.00 mm hook
Row 1: A: Ch 15, sc into the 2nd ch from the hook and across – 14 sc
Rows 2 – 34: Ch 1, turn, sc across – 14 sc
Do not fasten off, move onto the Sides. The round numbers will start over at Rnd 1.

Sides
With 5.50 mm hook
(RS) Rnd 1: A: Ch 1, turn, sc into the next 14 sts, ch 1 and rotate at the corner, sc into the next 34 row ends, ch 1 and rotate at the corner, sc into the next 14 sts of the other side of Row 1 of the Base, ch 1 at and rotate at the corner, sc into the next 34 row ends, ch 1 and join at the corner – 96 sc
Rnd 2: Ch 1, turn, sc around (skip the ch 1 at the corners), join – 96 sc
Rnd 3: Ch 1, turn, scc around, join – 48 sc
Rnd 4: Ch 1, turn, sc around (into both the sc2tog and ch 1 of the previous rnd’s scc), join – 96 sc
Drop color A, switch to color B.
With 5.00 mm hook
Rnds 5 – 7: B: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 96 sc
Fasten off color B, switch to color A.
With 5.50 mm hook
Rnd 8: A: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 96 sc
Rnds 9 – 16: Repeat Rnds 3 – 4, 4 more times.
Drop color A, switch to color B.
With color 5.00 mm hook
Rnds 17 – 19: B: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 96 sc
Fasten off color B, switch to color A.
Rnd 20: A: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 96 sc

Handles
With 5.00 mm hook
Please note: If your seam has traveled from lining up with the corner, feel free to fasten off and move it so it lines up, otherwise your handles may be off-center on the longer sides of the basket.
Rnd 21: A: Ch 1, turn, sc into the next 25 sts, ch 20, sk 12 sts, sc into the next 36 sts, ch 20, sk 12 sts, sc into the next 11 sts, join – 72 sc, 2 ch-20 spaces
Rnd 22: Ch 1, turn, sc around (into each st and ch), join – 112 sc
Rnd 23: Ch 1, turn, slip st BLO all the way around, join – 112 slip st
Fasten off, weave in all your ends.

[image description] A low angle photo of the Handle on Life Basket in the large size against a white background on a white counter.

Large Basket

Base
With 5.00 mm hook
Row 1: A: Ch 21, sc into the 2nd ch from the hook and across – 20 sc
Rows 2 – 40: Ch 1, turn, sc across 20 sc
Do not fasten off, move onto the Sides. The round numbers will start over at Rnd 1.

Sides
With 5.50 mm hook
(RS) Rnd 1: A: Ch 1, turn, sc into the next 20 sts, ch 1 and rotate at the corner, sc into the next 40 row ends, ch 1 and rotate at the corner, sc into the next 20 sts of the other side of Row 1 of the Base, ch 1 at and rotate at the corner, sc into the next 40 row ends, ch 1 and join at the corner – 120 sc
Rnd 2: Ch 1, turn, sc around (skip the ch 1 at the corners), join – 120 sc
Rnd 3: Ch 1, turn, scc around, join – 60 sc
Rnd 4: Ch 1, turn, sc around (into both the sc2tog and ch 1 of the previous rnd’s scc), join – 120 sc
Rnds 5 – 6: Repeat Rnds 3 – 4, once more.
Drop color A, switch to color B.
With 5.00 mm hook
Rnds 7 – 11: B: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 120 sc
Fasten off color B, switch to color A.
With 5.50 mm hook
Rnd 12: A: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 120 sc
Rnds 13 – 22: Repeat Rnds 3 – 4, 5 more times.
Drop color A, switch to color B.
With color 5.00 mm hook
Rnds 23 – 27: B: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 120 sc
Fasten off color B, switch to color A.
Rnds 28 – 29: A: Ch 1, turn, sc around, join – 120 sc

Handles
With 5.00 mm hook
Please note: If your seam has traveled from lining up with the corner, feel free to fasten off and move it so it lines up, otherwise your handles may be off-center on the longer sides of the basket.
Rnd 30: A: Ch 1, turn, sc into the next 12 sts, ch 24, sk 16 sts, sc into the next 44 sts, ch 24, sk 16 sts, sc into the next 32 sts, join – 88 sc, 2 ch-24 spaces
Rnd 31: Ch 1, turn, sc around (into each st and ch around), join – 136 sc
Rnd 32: Ch 1, turn, slip st BLO around, join – 136 slip st
Fasten off, weave in your ends.

You can pick up the Handle On Life Baskets Crochet Patterns pdf in my Ravelry shop. Or buy the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.

Tada! There they are, the Handle On Life Baskets crochet pattern! I hope you love it and use the hashtag #DivineDebris on Instagram and I’ll share it in my stories!