North Star {Knit Entrelac Basket}

This is the nineteenth post in my North Star November series….a soul centered discussion about depression.  Each day this month, I’ll be sharing a piece of my soul’s journey, along with a free pattern to thank you for taking part in such an important conversation!  Catch up by reading Day 18Skip forward to Day 20.

man looking at landscape

Sit with your feelings

Here’s the cool part about being able to sit with these feelings.

It’s uncomfortable.  It makes us feel vulnerable.  It’s unpleasant to recognize that life is cyclical and there’s often a “down” side.

However….when you remind yourself (from your deeper, wiser center) that none of these things will kill you….or even hurt you…you can start to look for the deeper need buried underneath.

There’s a reason you’re experiencing this feeling.  Until you give the feeling attention, it’s completely impossible to look for, and the fulfill the deeper need that it represents.

YOU are important!  YOU have needs!  That’s ok.

butterfly on flowers

See Life Differently

More than ok, this is actually where life starts to get interesting!

When you regularly ask yourself what the deeper need buried under your feelings might be, you start to experience the world in a whole new way.

Asking yourself what you need, filling the need when possible, or simply holding space for the need when it can’t be filled right away is like taking back your power!  It’s a potent form of self care.

Comment and tell me…

What could the deeper need under your sticky feelings be?

When I first started to think about identifying the needs hiding beneath my feelings, I had a really hard time even naming my needs.  Honestly, I’d never given them thought!  This list of needs was super helpful to get my brain thinking on the right lines.  They also have a great list of feelings available.

{Though I do try to check all comments here on my blog regularly, it is not monitored 24/7.  If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help!  This suicide hotline is available 24 hours a day to support you: 1-800-273-8255}

knit basket

Entrelac Basket Knitting Pattern

Today I’m sharing another one of my best selling patterns – my knit Entrelac Basket Pattern.  I have some great videos available to go along with this one.  It’s a gorgeous design to use as a newborn photo prop or to hold yarn and other crafty supplies.  Enjoy!

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Entrelac Basket Knitting Pattern

Materials:

  • Yarn: Approximately 550 yards (275 of color 1, and approx. 90 of colors 2, 3, and 4) of super bulky (6) or bulky (5) weight yarn (whichever weight you can achieve gauge with) (I used Katiea Odisea)
  • Knitting Needles: Size 9.0 mm (US 13) Circular Needles (24 inch work well) and Double Pointed Needles (DPNs) (or use the magic loop method).
  • Yarn or Tapestry Needle

Gauge

6 sts and 8 rows = 2 inches in stockinette st.

Be sure to check your gauge along the base of your finished project as you work the project up.  Entrelac knitting can be looser than normal knitting, and your basket may turn out the wrong size if you don’t continue to check your gauge

***It is important to check your gauge!***

Abbreviations

  • BO: Bind off
  • CO: Cast on
  • Sl: Slip the next stitch as if to purl
  • TW: Turn Work
  • SSK: Slip the next two stitches as if to purl, and then knit them off of the right needle through the back loops (This is demonstrated in Video 3)
  • SSSK: Slip the next three stitches as if to purl, and then knit them off of the right needle through the back loops
  • P2tog or P3tog: Purl two or three stitches together as stated
  • WS: Wrong Side (Purled Side)
  • RS: Right Side (Knit Side)
  • **: Repeat section between the stars as specified

Video Links:

Base Triangles – Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udx_UqyLtHE

Tier 1 – Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3FOpAp3e4E

Tier 2 – Video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DZ6ECn4Pv0

***This is a photography prop only and should not be used without proper supervision and spotting from a professional photographer.***

 

Knit Basket Pattern:

CO 120 sts onto circular needles with color 1 yarn (tan)

Join in the round

Rounds 1&2: *K6, P6* Repeat around

Round 3: *K2, BO next 2 sts, K2, P6* Repeat around

Round 4: *K2, CO 2 sts, K2, P6* Repeat around

Rounds 5&6: *K6, P6* Repeat around

 Base Triangles (Reference Video 1 for step by step tutorial on this section):

*Row 1: K1, TW

Row 2 and all WS Rows: Purl all sts in that section, TW (1 st for row 2, 2 sts for row 4, 3 sts for row 6, 4 sts for row 8, 5 sts for row 10

Row 3: Sl1, K1, TW

Row 5: Sl1, K2, TW

Row 7: Sl1, K3, TW

Row 9: Sl1, K4, TW

Row 11: Sl1, K5, Do not turn work*

Repeat from * to * to end of round.

Cut yarn leaving a 7-8 inch tail.

Tier 1 (Reference Video 2 for step by step tutorial on this section):

Turn work so WS is facing.  Pick up a second strand of color 1 yarn.

*Row 1: Pick up and purl 6 sts along the edge of next triangle (be sure to pick up both legs of the V   in the stitch along the edge) from top to bottom of the triangle.  Slip last stitch picked up onto left       needle and P2tog, TW

Row 2: K6, TW

Row 3: Sl1, P4, P2tog, TW

Rows 4-11: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.  At the end of row 11, do not turn work*

Repeat from * to * to end of round

Cut yarn leaving a 7-8 inch tail.

Tier 2 (Reference Video 3 for step by step tutorial on this section):

Turn work so RS is facing.  Pick up color 2 yarn (brown).

*Row 1: Pick up and knit 6 sts along the edge of next square (be sure to pick up both legs of the V          in the stitch along the edge) from the top to bottom of the triangle.  Slip last stitch picked up onto    left needle and SSK, TW

Row 2: P6, TW

Row 3: Sl1, K4, SSK, TW

Rows 4-11: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.  At the end of row 11, do not turn work*

Repeat from * to * to end of round

Cut yarn leaving a 7-8 inch tail.

Tier 3:

 Pick up color 1 yarn

Repeat Tier 1 instructions

Tier 4:

Pick up color 3 yarn (orange)

Repeat Tier 2 instructions

Tier 5:

Pick up color 1 yarn

Repeat Tier 1 instruction

Tier 6:

Pick up color 4 yarn (red)

Repeat Tier 2 instructions

Tier 7:

Pick up color 1 yarn

Repeat Tier 1 instructions

Tier 8:

Turn work so RS is facing.  Pick up color 2 yarn

*Row 1: Pick up and knit 6 sts along the edge of next square (be sure to pick up both legs of the V          in the stitch along the edge) from the top to bottom of the triangle.  Slip last stitch picked up onto    left needle and SSSK, TW

Row 2: P6, TW

Row 3: Sl1, K4, SSSK, TW

Row 4: P6, TW

Row 5: Sl1, K4, SSSK, do not turn work*

Repeat from * to * to end of round.

Cut yarn leaving a 7-8 inch tail.

Tier 9:

Turn work so WS is facing.  Pick up color 3 yarn

*Row 1: Pick up and purl 3 sts along the edge of next square (be sure to pick up both legs of the V   in the stitch along the edge) from the top to bottom of the triangle.  Slip last stitch picked up onto    left needle and P3tog, TW

Row 2: K3, TW

Row 3: P2, P3tog, TW

Row 4: K3, TW

Row 5: P2, P3tog, do not turn work*

Repeat from * to * to end of round.  You should now have 60 total sts on your needles.

Place stitch marker

Round 1: *K2tog, 10* Repeat around (55 total sts)

Round 2: *K2tog, K9* Repeat around (50 total sts)

Round 3: *K2tog, K8* Repeat around (45 total sts)

Drop color 3 yarn and pick up color 4 yarn

Round 4: *K2tog, K7* Repeat around (40 total sts)

Round 5: *K2tog, K6* Repeat around (35 total sts)

Round 6: *K2tog, K5* Repeat around (30 total sts)

Round 7: *K2tog, K4* Repeat around (25 total sts)

Round 8: *K2tog, K3* Repeat around (20 total sts)

Round 9: *K2tog, K2* Repeat around (15 total sts)

Round 10: *K2tog, K1* Repeat around (10 total sts)          

Do not bind off. Cut yarn with a 7-8 inch tail. Using your yarn needle, remove sts from needles as if to purl.  Pull the yarn tail through the sts to cinch the bottom of the basket. Secure and weave in the ends.  Right side of work should be facing out when basket is in use. Cut 3 long pieces (long enough to go around the entire top of the project and make a bow) of yarn used in your project and braid them.  Then weave this braid through the holes you have made in the top of your project.  Tie a bow.

This design, a written work and images are a copyright of
©MelodysMakings and may not be copied or reproduced in any way.

You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but please leave a link to my website, www.melodys-makings.com, in your product listing specifying that I am the designer of this pattern.  Thank you for supporting me as a work at home mother!

 

11 Comments On “North Star {Knit Entrelac Basket}”

  1. Melody, I too suffer with depression. I think I have had it off and on my whole life for one reason or another. I have had treatment in the past, but some worked, some didn’t. This time I had genetic testing–which was a simple mouth swab–to see what drugs would work for me. Surprise, I had always been given the wrong one! Now I am feeling better, but still have bad days. I love the symbol of the North Star and am going to add it to my wall on my desk which is my vision board. Right now what I need to fill this empty space is people who care about me. I am a nurse and have been a caregiver all my life. Now at the age of almost 70 I am burned out and need care for me. Thanks for posting and blogging, I will continue to follow along.

    • Glad you’re looking to fill your needs, and thrilled to hear you’ll be adding a north star to your vision board. Thanks for joining in the discussion! It’s inspiring to see so many working to care for themselves a bit more.

  2. Women especially are caregivers, always putting others needs in front of their own. This is a great post. We need to take care of ourselves before we can care for others. How can one share an empty bucket with others?
    I take very good care of myself now. I put my needs first. I spent this past Friday in the mountains, it was a cold crisp day. It was invigorating and lovely. I was the first one down one of my favorite back roads after an overnight snowfall, that alone is so exciting to me. I visited my favorite falls and some of my favorite trees. It was an awesome wonderful day of doing what I wanted to do.

    • Awesome!! Yes – caring for ourselves first allows us the much needed energy to care for others. Your day sounds great!

  3. Thanks for the beautiful pattern! It looks like it will be such fun to make.

  4. To not worry about things-persons that don’t matter-exist and to take care of my household always first!

  5. Those are amazing lists and hit a lot of nails right on the head! I’ve had a great few weeks, but at the same time feel completely unsettled in some areas of life. I think seeing the list of needs as well as the list of feelings actually helps put names to what is going on. Now to address those things…I’m working on that as well. Thank you, Melody!

    • Yay, yay, yay! That’s exactly how I felt when I checked out the lists. It was like “OH….THAT’s what I need!!!”. Glad you found some insight there too 🙂

  6. Thank you for the beautiful pattern! I appreciate your sharing.

  7. I need rest! And I need to be honest with myself about needing and getting that rest.

Comments are closed.