Turn Jars Lids Into The Cutest Mini Crocheted Baskets With This Clever DIY

A ball of soft, colorful yarn, a crochet hook in hand, and a few quiet hours — these simple building blocks, with a bit of skill and ingenuity, can become objects that are both pleasing and useful. YouTube creator Knitting Home demonstrates a small project that upcycles old metal jar lids into adorable mini baskets that can be used as a spot to store car keys in an entryway, or perhaps lip balm, glasses, and the remote control next to your favorite comfy chair, even cotton balls or tubes of beauty products in the bathroom. They also make thoughtful, handmade gifts for friends and family.

The first item many envision at the mention of crochet is large, "granny square" Afghans. While these are popular as the colorful blankets you'd like to find at a thrift store, they can be daunting to tackle, especially for a beginner. The granny squares themselves are affordable thrift-store items that double as chic bathroom storage, and mini crochet baskets are manageable and economical because they don't require much yarn; the jar-lid base reduces the number of stitches you need. A series of lids in graduated sizes could be used to create nesting baskets, which would look cute lined up next to each other.

For the lid, you'll need: safety goggles, protective gloves, a piece of scrap wood, a step drill bit o ra ½-inch heavy-duty hollow steel punch or knockout punch set, a hammer for making holes in the jar lids, and heavy, 100-grit sandpaper. Alternatively, plastic lids could also be used for this project. For crocheting, gather worsted/size four yarn in up to three colors, a 5.5 millimeter crochet hook, and a blunt large-eye needle. 

After donning goggles and gloves, use a piece of scrap wood for your base as you drill or punch a hole in the center of your jar lid. You can use standard jar lids or Mason jar lids, which are a bit thinner.  Use the sandpaper to smooth any sharp edges.

The basket is created by pulling loops of yarn up through the lid's center hole and using a single crochet stitch to create a 16-row-high piece in three colors to create a variegated checkerboard pattern, and then weaving loose ends into the basket's walls using the blunt-eye needle. For simplicity, crochet beginners can use just one color of yarn or a multicolor yarn that still provides some extra visual interest. More experienced crocheters can use sophisticated stitches like Celtic weave, herringbone, or diagonal chevron for extra texture, or tapestry crochet technique for more intricate designs. 

For another fun twist, create handles that look like cat or bunny ears and stitch on eyes, nose and whiskers on the "face" of the basket. That opens the door for seasonal variations that would fit different holidays or decor themes. Now you've got an attractive vessel for your home or a budget-friendly, DIY holiday gift your family and friends will love.