Crochet Koala Bear Basket with Bernat Beyond

Meet my new favorite yarn! Bernat Beyond is Yarnspirations newest super bulky yarn that has a unique twist to the fibers which allows you to quickly achieve a higher-end look and stitch definition. Plus it comes in 24 vibrant solid and variegated shades! I immediately had to get this yarn on my hook and came up with what might be my new favorite project! This Koala Bear Basket turned out so cute and it’s functional! The small basket (measures about 4 inches tall and 14 inches around) is perfect storage for a skein or two of yarn, your crochet hooks, or use for trinkets, toys, and more! Also a fun pieces for a nursery or kids bedroom! You could also leave off the basket and leave the Koala as a cute little stuffy to snuggle with 🙂

Materials:
– Bernat Beyond Yarn in Smoke (2 skeins), Slate (1), Cream (1), Emerald Green (1). Shop yarn at Yarnspirations.com.
– Size K crochet hook
– Polyfil Fiber Stuffing
– Large Tapestry Needle
– 12 mm safety eyes

Finished size: Koala is about 8 inches tall (sitting) and basket + bear is about 8 inches wide.

Basket:
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 10 SC in ring, join to first SC, chain 1

Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (20 SC)

Round 3: 2 SC in first, SC in next, repeat around, join, chain 1 (30 SC)

Round 4: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (30 SC)

Round 5: 2 SC in first, SC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 1 (40 SC)

Round 6: in back loops only, SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (40 SC)

Round 7-17: working in both loops, SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (40 SC)

Round 18 (optional): Slip stitch in each stitch around to give basket more of a finished edge.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Head:
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 8 SC in ring, join to first SC, chain 1

Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (16 SC)

Round 3: 2 SC in first, SC in next, repeat around, join, chain 1 (24 SC)

Round 4: 2 SC in first, SC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 1 (32 SC)

Round 5-9: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (32 SC)

Round 10: SC decrease, SC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 1 (24 SC)

Round 11: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (24 SC)

Round 12: SC decrease, SC in next, repeat around, join, chain 1 (16 SC)

Round 13: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (16 SC)

now is good time to sew on nose and 12mm safety eyes

stuff firmly with polyfil

Round 14: SC decrease, SC in next 2, join, chain 1 (12 SC)

Round 15: SC decrease until closed.

Nose:
Chain 5, SC in second chain from hook, SC in next two, 3 SC in last, now working on other side of chain, SC in each stitch across, join to first SC, chain 1 (10 SC)

Round 2: SC in first 3, 2 SC in next 4, SC in last 3, join to first SC.

Fasten off leaving long tail and sew onto head.

Ears (make 2):
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 5 SC in ring, join to first SC, chain 1

Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (10 SC)

Round 3: 2 SC in first, SC in next, join, chain 1 (15 SC)

Round 4-6: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (15 SC)

Fasten off, leaving long tail

Inner Ear (make 2):
Magic Ring, chain 2 and make 6 HDC in ring, DO NOT JOIN, pull tight. You should now how a half circle. Sew onto main ear.

Sew both ears onto head with tapestry needle. You can do this after you have stuffed the head. I stitched my ears on between rows 5-9 of the head.

Body:
Chain 6, SC in second chain from hook and rest of the way down chain, make 2 SC in last chain, now working on other side of chain, SC across, join, chain 1 (10 SC)

Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (20 SC)

Round 3: 2 SC in first, SC in next, repeat around, join, chain 1 (30 SC)

Round 4-7: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (30 SC)

Round 8: SC decrease, SC in next, repeat around, join, chain 1 (20 SC)

Round 9-12: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (20 SC)

Round 13: SC decrease in each stitch around, join chain 1 (10 SC)

Round 14: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (10 SC)

Stuff firmly with polyfil

Round 15: SC decrease until closed

Leave long tail for sewing onto basket and head.

Legs (make 2):
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 6 SC in ring, join to first SC, chain 1

Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (12 SC)

Round 3: in back loops only, SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (12 SC in back loops)

Round 4: now working in both loops, SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (12 SC)

Round 5: SC decrease, SC in next two, repeat around, join, chain 1 ( 9 SC)

Round 6: SC decrease twice, SC in last 5, join, chain 1 (7 SC)

Round 7-14: SC in each stitch around, join, chain 1 (7 SC)

Stuff lightly with polyfil, Leave long tail to sew onto basket and body.

Arms (make 2):
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 10 SC in ring, do not join, continue to SC in rounds

Round 2-7: SC in each stitch around (10 SC)

Round 8: SC decrease, SC in next 3, SC decrease, SC in last 3 (8 SC)

Round 9-14: SC in each stitch around (8 SC)

No need to stuff with polyfil, leave long tail to sew onto basket and body.

To assemble koala onto basket, you will first sew on the body portion. make sure the bottom lays flat along side the basket. Tip: stitch body over seam of basket to hide it!

Next, sew the head onto top of body and rim of basket. Make sure head is secure and not floppy.

Now add the arms and legs. First attach arms and legs to body and then stitch onto basket. You only need to sew the “hand” portion of the arm to the basket so it functions as a handle! Legs can flare out so you only need to stitch a small portion of the leg to the basket.

Tip: when sewing on body parts to basket, weave tapestry needle in-between the middle portion of your stitches so you can’t see the gray yarn on the inside of your basket.

This Bernat Beyond Koala Bear is beyond cute! The basket is now ready to use!
Change up the color of the basket to match your decor! Shop all Bernat Beyond colors HERE.