Hanging Basket

If your garden is like mine, you have lots of fence space in plenty of sun, but not much actual soil to garden in.

So with a little gardening twine, a circular needle, and a nice hanging basket plant, you can have a quick and easy hanging basket that gives you a great feature in your garden.

Please make certain that the twine you’re using is labelled as rot-resistant to avoid surprises later in the year. Twine is also very rough to work with, so you might not want to use your best needles on this project and you might need to take regular breaks in order to rest your hands.

You’ll need to know how to knit in the round, how to pick up stitches and how to knit two together.

Items needed:

• 1 ball of garden twine (preferably rot-resistant)
• 4mm/6 (US)/8 (UK) circular or double-pointed needles (or whatever size you need to make a fairly tight knit)
• 5 stitch markers
• A tapestry/sewing needle
• A small plastic shopping bag (to line the basket)
• Soil
• A nice hanging basket plant (example shown is sutera, but fuchsias, nasturtiums, geraniums, oregano, mint or even strawberries would work very well)

Tension

Tension doesn't matter much on this since each brand of garden twine is different, but make certain you have a fairly tight knit with your twine and needles.

Pattern

Cast on 50 stitches.

Join together, placing stitch marker at join.

Knit until the basket is 5 inches (12.5 centimetres) long and finish that row.

Knit 10, place a marker, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 1 row.

Knit 8, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 7, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 6, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 5, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 4, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 3, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Knit 2, knit 2 together, and repeat until the row is finished.

Cut yarn and pull through stitches with the sewing needle, leaving a hole big enough to poke your index finger through easily.

on the cast-on row, pick up 11 stitches.

Knit 5 rows.

On Row 6, knit 4, knit 2 together, wrap the yarn over the needle, and knit the remaining 5.

Knit 5 more rows.

Cast off.

Line the inside of the basket with the plastic bag, pulling out of the corners of the bag through the hole in the bottom of the basket. Poke a hole in the plastic bag for drainage.

Fill basket with soil and your plant.

Hang up on your fence or wall.

Water regularly, check basket for rot on occasion, and enjoy!