Apr
Making a Crochet Moses Basket
So I made one of these in spring 2022 when my sister was pregnant and honestly it took way longer than I thought it would. Like I figured maybe a week of evenings but it was more like three weeks because the base is just SO much bigger than you think when you’re starting out.
The pattern I used was one I kind of frankensteined together from looking at pictures online and a basic oval base tutorial. You’re gonna start with a chain that’s about 12 inches long—for me that was like 40 chains using chunky yarn and a 6mm hook but honestly just measure it because everyone’s tension is different and that matters way more than stitch count for this project.
Getting the Base Right
The base is worked in continuous rounds and you’re basically making an oval that gets bigger. First round goes all the way around your foundation chain, working single crochet in each chain stitch, then when you hit the end you do 3 sc in that last stitch to curve around the corner, then you work back up the other side of the chain (the bottom loops you didn’t use yet), and 3 sc in the beginning to close the oval.
Then you just keep going around and around, increasing at the four “corners” of the oval to keep it flat. I did 2 sc in each of those corner stitches for like the first 8 rounds, then switched to just increasing every other round because it was starting to ruffle up a bit. The annoying thing—and this REALLY bugged me—was that the base wanted to curl up at the edges no matter what I did. I tried blocking it, I tried changing my tension, I tried different increase patterns. Eventually I just accepted it would flatten out once I added weight to the basket but man that was frustrating for like a whole weekend.
I used Bernat Blanket yarn in the cream color for the main body. Bought like 6 skeins thinking that would be plenty and ended up needing 8. The basket was bigger than I planned because I kept thinking “babies grow fast maybe make it roomier” and then it became this massive thing that barely fit through doorways.
Building the Sides
Once your base is the size you want—mine was about 28 inches long and 16 inches wide which is pretty standard for a Moses basket—you stop increasing and just work even rounds to build up the sides. This part goes faster but it’s also kind of mindless so I was watching The Great British Baking Show while doing this and definitely made some mistakes where I wasn’t paying attention and had to rip back like two full rounds.
For the sides I did probably 18 rounds of just straight single crochet. Some patterns tell you to do half double crochet for the sides because it works up faster but I wanted it really sturdy and tight so single crochet felt safer. You want those sides firm enough that they won’t collapse inward when there’s a baby in there.
Oh and my cat kept trying to sit in it while I was working which was… actually I should’ve taken that as a sign about the size issue.
Handles Are Weirdly Important
The handles are where I almost gave up honestly. I tried crocheting them as extensions of the basket at first, just chaining up from the sides, but they were too floppy and felt unsafe. What ended up working was making two separate sturdy straps using double strand yarn and a smaller hook.
I made each handle about 18 inches long using rows of half double crochet, maybe 8 stitches wide. Then I folded them in half lengthwise and slip stitched them together so they were like tubes basically. More structured that way. I attached them to the basket by weaving the ends through the side stitches and sewing them in place with regular sewing thread that matched the yarn color. Reinforced each attachment point like crazy because the thought of a handle ripping off while someone’s carrying a baby is terrifying.
Actually now that I think about it I should’ve made them even more reinforced because my sister said they stretched out a little after a few months of use but by then the baby was too big for it anyway so.
The Structural Problem Nobody Talks About
Here’s the thing about crochet Moses baskets that patterns don’t really emphasize enough—they’re soft. Like obviously they’re soft they’re made of yarn, but I mean they don’t hold their shape great on their own. You need some kind of support system or it’s just gonna be a floppy fabric bowl.
What I did was cut a piece of that plastic canvas stuff (the kind for needlepoint) to fit the base. Traced the bottom of my basket onto it and cut it out with regular scissors. Then I made a removable cushion pad thing to go on top of that so the plastic wouldn’t be directly under the baby. The cushion was just a basic pillow shape stuffed with polyfil, covered in some cotton fabric I had from another project.
Some people use cardboard but that seems like a bad idea if anything spills or if you need to clean it. The plastic canvas can get wiped down at least. I’ve also seen people use foam board which probably works fine too.
Liner Situation
So you’re definitely gonna need a fabric liner because crochet has holes and also because washing a giant crochet basket is a nightmare. I am not good at sewing but I managed to make a basic liner by measuring the inside dimensions and cutting fabric with like 2 inches extra all around for seam allowance.
I used two layers of cotton fabric, sewed them together inside out, then turned it right side out and basically made a fabric basket that sits inside the crochet one. Left the top edge raw but folded it over twice and top-stitched it so it wouldn’t fray. Then I added some ribbon ties at the handles so the liner wouldn’t shift around.
Honestly the liner took almost as long as crocheting the sides did because I kept messing up the corners. Sewing curves when you’re used to straight lines is… anyway it worked out eventually.
Yarn Choices Matter More Than You Think
I already mentioned the Bernat Blanket but let me tell you why that specific yarn worked. It’s chenille which means it’s soft and has some body to it. It doesn’t stretch out as much as acrylic worsted weight would. I tried making a practice basket before this one using Red Heart Super Saver and it was way too flimsy and also kind of scratchy looking.
The chunky weight also means you finish faster and the stitches are tight enough that the structure is decent. If you use sport weight or DK you’re gonna be working on this until the baby’s in kindergarten probably.
I’ve heard good things about Wool-Ease Thick & Quick too but haven’t tried it for a basket. Might be good if you want something machine washable but also natural fiber blend. The Bernat stuff you can machine wash on gentle which is clutch because babies are gross and things get spit up on.
Time Investment Reality Check
Three weeks working on it most evenings for like 2-3 hours. That’s probably 40-50 hours total? Maybe more because there were nights I’d get distracted or frustrated and just stop. The base alone was probably 10 hours because it’s so much crocheting in the round and you can’t really zone out or you lose track of where you are.
The sides went faster like I said but still took probably 15 hours because there’s just so much yardage to cover. Handles and finishing touches maybe 5 hours. Then the liner was another 8-10 hours because sewing is not my strong suit and I had to redo parts.
So yeah if someone asks you to make them one definitely factor in that time when you’re deciding if you want to do it or what to charge if you’re selling.
What I’d Do Different
I’d make it smaller honestly. Mine ended up being more like a full bassinet size when the whole point of a Moses basket is that it’s portable and cozy. I’d probably go for a base that’s 24 inches long max and maybe only 12 rounds on the sides instead of 18.
Also I’d use a stitch marker every round instead of just eyeballing where the round starts. I thought I could keep track in my head and I absolutely could not. Lost track so many times and had to count back through stitches to figure out where I was.
Would probably add a simple shell stitch border around the top edge just to make it look more finished. Mine just ends in regular single crochet and it’s fine but kinda plain.
Safety Stuff You Gotta Think About
Okay so obviously this is for a baby which means you need to be thinking about safety even though you’re just making a craft project. The basket itself needs to be sturdy—test it by pressing on the sides and making sure they don’t collapse. The handles need to be REALLY secure like I mentioned.
The mattress pad thing needs to be firm, not soft and squishy. Babies are supposed to sleep on firm surfaces. So don’t overstuff that cushion or use a pillow or anything like that. Keep it pretty flat and firm.
Also this is not technically approved for unsupervised sleep by any official standards because it’s handmade and hasn’t been safety tested. My sister used it for naps while she was in the room and for keeping the baby nearby during the day but not for overnight sleep. Just putting that out there because apparently people get really intense about baby sleep safety stuff and rightfully so I guess.
Cost Breakdown
Eight skeins of Bernat Blanket at like $8 each so that’s $64 in yarn. Plastic canvas was maybe $4. Fabric for the liner was stuff I already had but probably $15 worth if you’re buying it. Polyfil for the cushion maybe $6. So you’re looking at close to $90 in materials which is actually not that much cheaper than buying a Moses basket but whatever you made it yourself and it’s custom.
If you were selling these you’d need to charge like $200-250 minimum to make it worth your time and honestly probably more because the labor is significant. But most people aren’t gonna pay that when they can get a factory made one for $80 so it’s really more of a gift situation.
The Actual Using It Part
My sister said it worked great for the first three months or so. She’d put it on the floor next to the couch or bring it into different rooms so the baby could nap wherever she was. The handles made it easy to move around which was the whole point.
After about three months the baby was getting too big and also starting to move around more so they transitioned to a regular crib. The basket is now holding stuffed animals in the nursery which is fine I guess, at least it’s still getting used.
One thing she mentioned was that the sides being soft meant the baby couldn’t really see out which was actually good for sleep because less distractions. The cozy enclosed feeling seemed to help with naps.
So yeah that’s basically everything I learned making a crochet Moses basket. It’s a big project but not technically complicated, just time consuming. The hardest part is honestly the structural support stuff and making sure it’s actually functional not just decorative. Would I make another one? Maybe if someone specifically asked and I had a lot of free time coming up but it’s not something I’m rushing to do again anytime soon.
