Begin basket at center of solid piece at base—ch 4, join, 6 s c in ring, join with sl st. Continue working until there are 10 rows of s c, increasing by adding an extra s c in each row as needed to keep work flat until piece measures 3 in. across and begin lace edge.
Row 1—Ch 3, 1 d c in each of 1st 3 s c, ch 2, skip 2, * 1 d c in each 4 s c, ch 2, skip 2, repeat around, join.
Row 2—Ch 3, * d c in last d c of group, 2 d c over 2 ch, d c over 1st d c of next group, ch 2, repeat from * around.
Row 3—S c over 1st 2 ch, * ch 2, over next 2 ch, make 1 tr, ch 3, and fasten in for picot. Repeat tr and picot alternately until 6 tr have been made in same space, ch 2, s c over next 2 ch and repeat from * around. Fasten. This completes base of basket.
Handle—Make a chain 14 in. long, 1 s c in each st of chain, turn and work back across row in s c.
3rd row—Ch 3, 3 d c in each 3 s c, * ch 2, skip 2, 4 d c in 4 s c, repeat from star across handle.
4th and 5th rows—S c as on other edge. Work 1 row of picot on each side of handle.
Attach warp to last row of s c in solid part of basket base and work evenly 14 rows of s c. This brings height of basket to 2 inches. Ch 3, 3 d c in each of 3 s c, * ch 3, skip 3, 4 d c in each of 4 s c, repeat around. Next row ch 3, 2 d c in space below, 1 d c in d c below, * ch 3, 1 d c in 1st d c below, 2 d c in space, 1 d c in last d c below, repeat from star around row and repeat this row 4 times. The next row is worked the same but increase in each space by making ch 5 instead of 3. Next row, ch 3, 3 d c in space, ch 2, 1 d c in 1st d c of group below, ch 2, skip 2, 1 d c in 3rd d c below, * ch 3, 1 d c in last d c of group below, 3 d c in space, ch 2, 1 d c in 1st d c of row below, ch 2, skip 1 d c, 1 d c in d c below, repeat around row. This last row increases basket for top flare. Next row—ch 3, 3 d c in space, * ch 2, 4 d c in space below, repeat around working 1 group of 4 d c with ch 2 between in each space of previous row. Repeat this row 4 times and finish edge as in base beginning with row 3 of edging instruction.
Make a very thick cooked starch, rub well into basket, place a glass or can in basket to shape, spread and pull base until flat and as basket dries stretch the top as much as possible in one direction to give width and flare to basket.
Let handle dry flat then sew to sides of basket across narrow width and down on sides of basket about 1½ inches. Use a glass in basket for flower container.