Cinco de Mayo Basket & Sombrero Hat

I'm a few hours late getting my project completed in honor of Cinco de Mayo. I've been a little busy here this week. But, I guess better later than never.  In addition to multiple projects I'm working on, I'm also working on my new website -- my own domain!!!  It's kinda exciting and has been a whirlwind of confusion trying to get my new site ready to launch.  My address:  rilla2u.com. How easy is that to remember?  So, come visit and check it out once I have it up and running.  I have some great new projects that I'm saving to launch on my new blog. But, for now, here is another freebie.

So, here's my Cinco de Mayo small storage basket with a cute sombrero hat for the topper -- home or office; many options in choosing a place to use it.  Free Pattern below:

And, here's a pic with the hat glued to the jar lid; I wrapped the side of the lid with red yarn and glued it in place:

Sombrero Hat and Basket Pattern

Materials:

- 3.5mm hook

- #4 cotton yarn in vanilla, sage, red, buttercup and blue

- baby food jar (optional)

- small amount of polyfil (optional)

- tapestry needle for weaving

Abbreviations:

Ch: chain

Sl st: slip stitch

Sc: single crochet

HDC: half double crochet

BLO: back loops only

St: stitch(es)

MR: magic ring

FO: fasten off 

Difficulty Level:  Easy

Note:  I worked the basket in the round, so place a stitch marker at the first stitch and move it up to each new round.  If desired, you can Sl st st to first st to join and Ch1 after each round.  

Directions:

Basket

1.  With vanilla yarn, 6 sc into MR. Pull tail to tighten to form ring.  (6)

2.  2 sc in each st around.  (12) 

3.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next.  Repeat around.  (18)

4.  1 sc the BLO of each st around.  (18) -- this is the only round that is in the back loops

5.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 st.  Repeat around.  (24)

6-9.  1 sc in each st around.  On the last st of Round 9 before completing, join sage yarn and fasten off vanilla yarn.  (24)

10-11.  With sage yarn, 1 sc in each st around.  On the last st of Round 11 before completing, join red yarn and fasten off sage yarn.  (24)

12.  With red yarn, 1 sc in each st around.  On the last st, before completing join buttercup yarn and fasten off red yarn.  

13-14.  With buttercup yarn, 1 sc in each st around.  On the last st, sl st to first st to join.  FO.  Weave ends.  

[I made my basket for a baby food jar to nestle inside.  However, you can use this basket without the jar.] 

Sombrero Hat:

1.  With vanilla yarn, 5 HDC into MR.  Sl st to first st.  Ch1.  Pull tail to tighten.  (5)

2.  In this round, in any st, add 1 extra HDC st.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (6) 

3. In this round, in any st, add 1 extra HDC st.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (7) 

4.  In BLO, 1 HDC in each st around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (7) 

5.  2 HDC st in each st around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (14)

6.  2 HDC st in first st, 1 HDC st in next st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (21)

7.  2 HDC st in first st, 1 HDC st in next 2 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (28)

8.  1 HDC st in each st around.  Sl st to join and FO.  Weave ends.  Then turn inside out to make sure right side is on the outside.  (28)

I used red and blue yarn and my tapestry needle, to embroider the yarn around the top portion of the hat.  I then embroidered sage yarn, in and out of the stitches of the final row.  

Optional:  I added a small amount of polyfil into the top portion of the hat to stiffen it.  Also, you can glue the hat to the jar lid, if you so desire!!!!  

That's it!!! Quick, simple, decorative and useful!!!

Happy Crocheting!!!

Legal:

--use pattern freely

--don't use my pics as your own

--don't claim pattern as your own

--link back to my blog and credit me as the designer