Crochet Bear Basket – Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

Learn how to crochet a cute bear basket using 5 mm BIGcord and a 12 cm wooden base. This detailed beginner-friendly tutorial combines a full video with a written step-by-step pattern, including clean colour changes, an invisible join and simple crocheted ears.

This crochet bear basket is a small, playful storage basket made with 5 mm BIGcord recycled cotton cord. The project is suitable for beginners because the basket is worked mainly in single crochet, with the video showing the details that are easier to understand visually.

Turn on the subtitles in the YouTube player and choose the language you need.

Watch the full video tutorial

What you will need

12 cm wooden base
approx. 50 m of 5 mm BIGcord in Cappuccino – about half a ball
approx. 25 m of 5 mm BIGcord in white for the muzzle and ears
6 mm crochet hook
safety eyes
safety nose
needle with a large eye or crochet hook for weaving in the ends

This tutorial is also designed for our DIY Bear Basket Set, which contains the materials you need to make the basket. The DIY sets will also be available at our stand at Abilmente Vicenza 2026.

Abbreviations

SC – single crochet
Sl St – slip stitch
CH – chain

Step 1 – Prepare the wooden base

Start by working slip stitches around the wooden base to cover the holes.

Finish the round by pulling the starting tail through the loop, creating what looks like one more slip stitch.

Step 2 – Crochet the first round around the base

Start crocheting around the base with single crochet stitches.

Work 1 SC into each hole, but in every 4th hole work 2 SC into the same hole. This prevents the basket from narrowing as you crochet upwards and helps keep the sides straight.

Work 2 SC into the last hole as well.

Finish the round as shown in the video to create an invisible join.

Step 3 – Continue the basket sides

Continue with the second round. From now on, work 1 SC into each stitch.

Step 4 – Change colour for the bear muzzle

When changing colours in a single crochet, work the first part of the stitch with the first colour, then pull the final loop through with the second colour. This creates a clean, smooth colour transition.

Step 5 – Crochet the bear face colour pattern

Round 1: work the entire round in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Round 2: 12 SC in Cappuccino, 5 SC in white, 10 SC in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Round 3: 11 SC in Cappuccino, 7 SC in white, 9 SC in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Round 4: 10 SC in Cappuccino, 9 SC in white, 8 SC in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Round 5: 11 SC in Cappuccino, 7 SC in white, 9 SC in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Round 6: 12 SC in Cappuccino, 5 SC in white, 10 SC in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Rounds 7–8: work both rounds entirely in Cappuccino.

Round 9: 8 SC in Cappuccino, 3 SC in white, 7 SC in Cappuccino, 3 SC in white, 6 SC in Cappuccino. Finish with an invisible join.

Step 6 – Final round and bear ears

In the final round, work slip stitches only and crochet the ears as you go.

When you reach the first white section, remove the hook from the Cappuccino loop and start crocheting with white: 3 SC, CH 1, turn your work, then 2 SC.

Switch back to Cappuccino and crochet around the ear with slip stitches.

Continue with slip stitches until you reach the second ear, repeat the same steps, then continue with slip stitches to the end of the round.

Step 7 – Finish the bear face

Weave in all yarn ends. Add the bear’s safety eyes and nose, then embroider the face.

We ended up changing both the size and placement of the eyes. As you can see in the video, even a small change in eye size or position can completely change the bear’s expression, so feel free to adjust the face until you like the result.