Hello, fellow yarn crafters! Are you ready for a project that blends beautiful texture with stylish organization? Today, we’re crocheting the “Ocean Ombré Storage Jar,” a sturdy basket complete with a perfectly fitted lid and handle, ideal for tidying up small items like jewelry, cosmetics, or craft notions.
This project is a fantastic showcase for T-shirt yarn and the dense Tapestry Single Crochet (tsc) stitch, which creates that wonderful vertical ribbing that looks almost woven. The color graduation (ombré) is achieved simply by transitioning between three shades of blue.
This pattern includes detailed instructions for the base, the vertical sides, and the tricky, fitted lid. Grab your chunky yarn and let’s make a functional piece of art!
🧶 Materials You’ll Need
Gather these essentials for your sturdy storage jar:
- Yarn:Super Bulky T-Shirt Yarn (Weight 6 or 7). A thick, non-stretchy yarn is best for maximum rigidity.
- Color A (Darkest): Deep Ocean Blue (Approx. 75-100 yards)
- Color B (Mid-tone): Sky Blue (Approx. 75-100 yards)
- Color C (Lightest): Pale Pastel Blue (Approx. 75-100 yards)
- Crochet Hook: 7.0 mm (L) or 8.0 mm (M). Use the smallest hook size that is comfortable for the yarn to ensure extremely tight tension.
- Stitch Marker: Essential for working in continuous spirals.
- Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): For weaving in ends.
- Scissors.
📏 Finished Size & Gauge
- Base Diameter: 5 – 6 inches (12 – 15 cm)
- Height (Body): 4 – 5 inches (10 – 13 cm)
- Gauge: Due to the varying thickness of T-shirt yarn, focus on tension. Your stitches should be so tight that the fabric is self-supporting and cannot easily be folded.
📝 Abbreviations & Special Stitches (US Terms)
We will rely heavily on the tapestry single crochet for structure.
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- MR: Magic Ring
- sc inc: single crochet increase (2 sc in one st)
- BLO: back loop only
- Tapestry SC (tsc): Tapestry Single Crochet. (See important notes below.)
💡 Important Notes & Techniques
Read these tips—they are key to making a structural, beautiful basket.
- Tapestry Single Crochet (tsc): This is the vertical, knit-like stitch. To make a tsc: Insert your hook into the center of the ‘V’ of the stitch from the previous round (not the top loops). Yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through both loops to complete the single crochet.
- Ombré Effect: We achieve the gradual color change by working in horizontal bands. Color A starts the base and body, Color B forms the middle, and Color C finishes the top and lid.
- Yarn Change: Change colors on the last yarn over of the last stitch of the previous color’s final round. Weave the tails into the inside wall to secure them.
- Continuous Rounds: The body and lid are worked in continuous spirals (no joining with sl st) unless noted for the very final rounds.
🟦 Part 1: The Body – Base and Ombré Sides
We start with the traditional flat circle base using Color A (Darkest Blue).
- Round 1 (Base): With Color A, make a MR. Ch 1 (does not count as st). Work 6 sc into the MR. Pull tail tight. Place stitch marker. (6 sts)
- Round 2: Sc inc in each st around. (12 sts)
- Round 3: [1 sc in next st, sc inc in next st] repeat around. (18 sts)
- Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 sts, sc inc in next st] repeat around. (24 sts)
- Round 5:[1 sc in next 3 sts, sc inc in next st] repeat around. (30 sts)
- Continue increasing (adding one more sc between increases) until your base is 5-6 inches in diameter, or the size desired. End with a round of sc.
- Transition Round (Shaping): Work 1 sc in the BLO of each st around. Do not join. (This creates the sharp corner for the sides.)
Ombré Sides (Tapestry SC)
- Rounds 1-4 (Color A): Work 1 tsc (Tapestry SC) in every st around. Do not join. Maintain tight tension. (Stitch count remains the same as the base).
- Change to Color B on the last yarn over of the last stitch of Round 4.
- Rounds 5-8 (Color B): Work 1 tsc in every st around.
- Change to Color C on the last yarn over of the last stitch of Round 8.
- Rounds 9-11 (Color C): Work 1 tsc in every st around.
- Rim Round (Final Edge): Work 1 sc (normal sc, under both loops) in every st around. Sl st to the first sc to join. FO, leaving a tail.
🧊 Part 2: The Lid – Perfect Fit & Handle
The lid needs to match the base size but must also fit over the rim. We will use Color C (Lightest Blue).
Lid Top
- Round 1: With Color C, make a MR. Ch 1. Work 6 sc into the MR. (6 sts)
- Rounds 2-X: Follow the exact same increase pattern as the body base (Part 1, Rounds 2-5 and onward) until your lid circle is the exact same diameter as the body base. Do not join.
Lid Side Wall (The Lip)
Now we create the short wall (or “lip”) that fits over the basket rim. This part must have the exact same number of stitches as the body.
- Transition Round (Shaping): Work 1 sc in the BLO of each st around. Do not join.
- Lip Round 1: Work 1 tsc in every st around.
- Lip Round 2: Work 1 tsc in every st around.
- Lip Round 3 (Finishing): Work 1 sc (normal sc) in every st around. Sl st to the first sc to join. FO and weave in ends.
💍 Part 3: The Handle
The handle is a simple, sturdy chain and single crochet strip.
- Start: With Color C, Ch 6.
- Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook, and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
- Rows 2-5 (or desired length): Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
- Final Loop: Sl st the ends of the strip together to form a small loop/handle shape. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
- Attachment: Position the handle in the center of the lid top. Using the long tail and your yarn needle, securely sew the handle to the lid, passing the needle back and forth several times to ensure it’s very strong. Knot the ends on the underside of the lid and weave them in.
Video Tutorial:
✨ Finishing Touches
- Weave in Ends: Securely weave in all remaining yarn tails on the interior of the body and the underside of the lid.
- Shape: Gently push on the sides of the basket to ensure the tsc stitch has forced the walls to stand perfectly straight.
- Test the Fit: Place the lid onto the basket. The small lip should fit snugly over the rim!
🎉 Congratulations!
You’ve completed your beautiful, structural Ocean Ombré Storage Jar! It’s a testament to the magic of T-shirt yarn and the power of a tight stitch. Enjoy organizing your treasures in style!
