Walnut Shell Basket by Barbara Prime

Walnut Shell Basket

Knitting
December 2022
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
5.5 stitches and 7 rows = 1 inch
in stockinette
US 5 - 3.75 mm
40 - 50 yards (37 - 46 m)
2.5", 3.25", 4"
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This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

This pattern is meant to be combined with the Holiday Mice, Wee Panda, Wee Woodland Wuzzies, or Petite Pocket Pets toys. While these are all designed to be knit with worsted weight yarn to make a 7.5 cm (3”) tall toy, you can also make them with finer yarn on smaller needles to get a smaller toy (use the same yarn weight and needles given for the walnut shells).
Idea: if you don’t want to knit the whole toy, you can just make the head, add stuffing under the blanket, then sew the pieces to the shell.
This project is meant as a holiday ornament or toy for older children. If young children might play with it, do not add the wire to the walnut shell rim.

Small Size
Materials: 10 g of light brown and 10 g of contrasting colour fingering weight yarn, pairs of 2.5 and 3.0 mm knitting needles, tapestry needle, 15 cm (6”) of fine craft wire, 20 cm (8”) of narrow ribbon or cord to hang (optional); stuffing (optional, see idea above)
Gauge: 8 sts and 10 rows per 2.5 cm (1”) in stockinette on smaller needles, 8 sts and 10 rows per 2.5 cm (1”) in blanket pattern on larger needles
Size: walnut shell 6.5 cm (2.5”) long and 20 cm (8”) around at rim, blanket 5.5 x 7.5 cm (2.25 x 3”)

Medium Size
Materials: 15 g of light brown and 15 g of contrasting colour DK weight yarn, pairs of 3.0 and 3.5 mm knitting needles, tapestry needle, 18 cm (7”) of fine craft wire, 20 cm (8”) of narrow ribbon or cord to hang (optional); stuffing (optional, see idea above)
Gauge: 6 sts and 8 rows per 2.5 cm (1”) in stockinette on smaller needles, 6 sts and 8 rows per 2.5 cm (1”) in blanket pattern on larger needles
Size: walnut shell 8 cm (3.25”) long and 24 cm (9.5”) around at rim, blanket 7 x 8.5 cm (2.75 x 3.5”)

Large Size
Materials: 20 g of light brown and 20 g of contrasting colour worsted weight yarn, pairs of 3.75 and 4.5 mm knitting needles, tapestry needle, 20 cm (8”) of fine craft wire, 20 cm (8”) of narrow ribbon or cord to hang (optional); stuffing (optional, see idea above)
Gauge: 5.5 sts and 7 rows per 2.5 cm (1”) in stockinette on smaller needles, 5.5 sts and 7 rows per 2.5 cm (1”) in blanket pattern on larger needles
Size: walnut shell 10 cm (4”) long and 27 cm (10.5”) around at rim, blanket 9 x 11 cm (3.5 x 4.5”)