How to Knit the Textured Basketweave Stitch

Knitted woven baskets and textured accessories add instant warmth and rustic charm to any room. Beyond organizing vanity counters, bedroom shelves, and bathroom essentials, woven knit textures bring an artisanal feel to home decor.

While the basketweave pattern (often created using elongated cross-stitches) looks wonderfully intricate, mastering it simply requires a bit of patience and attention to detail. If you are trying this technique for the first time, grab a fellow knitting enthusiast—having a buddy nearby makes spotting dropped stitches and counting repeats so much easier!

Here is everything you need to know to knit this gorgeous, woven-style texture from scratch.

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Phase 1: Setting Up the Elongated Crossovers

This pattern is typically worked in multiples of six stitches, plus edge stitches for neat borders. Keep an auxiliary cable needle or safety pin handy if you are new to crossing elongated loops.

Step 1: The Foundation Elongation Row

• Knit and Wrap: On the right side of your work, knit every stitch across. After knitting each stitch, wrap your working yarn around the right needle once more (similar to an elongated yarn over).
• Note: This yarn-wrapping step happens only in this preparation row to create long loops. You will not wrap extra yarn in the following rows.

Step 2: Dropping Wraps and Lengthening Loops

• Slip and Release: Turn your work so the wrong side faces you (the working yarn rests on the right side).
• Slip your edge stitch onto the right needle, letting the extra wrapped loop from the previous row drop off the needle completely.
• Slip the next knitted stitch without working it, letting its companion wrap drop away. As you slip the stitch, it will automatically stretch out into an elongated loop.
• Continue slipping stitches and dropping wraps all the way across. Let the working yarn simply wait on the right side—it is not actively used during this slipping sequence.
• Once the row is finished, gently tug your fabric downward to even out the tension and ensure all your dropped loops are fully elongated.

Step 3: Crossing the Loops (The Woven Effect)

• Cross in Groups of Six: With your elongated stitches ready, slip the edge stitch onto your right-hand needle, followed by the next six long stitches.
• Insert your left needle into the first three stitches of this group, lifting them gently. Carefully slide the needle out of all six stitches—momentarily freeing the back three—and quickly slip those three free stitches onto the left needle as well.
• This maneuver crosses three stitches over the other three, creating a dynamic diagonal weave.
• Transfer the crossed stitches onto the right needle without twisting.
• Repeat this crossing technique across every group of six stitches. If handling free loops feels risky, slide the first three stitches onto a cable needle or stitch holder while working the cross.
• Transfer your final edge stitch over to the right needle.

Step 4: Resetting the Fabric

• Purl Across: Turn your work. With the working yarn back at the beginning of the row, purl every stitch across. Purl stitches lock the crossovers in place, flattening the texture and revealing the crisp, open lattice pattern.

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Phase 2: Staggering the Pattern for a True Basketweave

To give the fabric a genuine woven look rather than straight vertical columns, you will need to stagger the crossover points across your next repeat.

1. Repeat the Elongation Steps: Work the first two steps exactly as before—knit with yarn wraps across the right side, then drop wraps to elongate stitches on the return row.
2. Offset the Crosses: On the crossover row, slip the edge stitch, then slip the first three elongated stitches directly onto the right needle without crossing them.
3. Work the Central Repeats: Begin your six-stitch crossovers with the next group of six loops. Continue crossing across the row until three stitches remain before the final edge stitch.
4. Finish the Row: Slip the final three elongated stitches plain, then finish with the edge stitch.
5. Purl the Return Row: Purl every stitch on the wrong side to secure your second staggered tier.

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Styling and Project Ideas

By alternating Phase 1 and Phase 2, you can extend this woven fabric to whatever length your project requires.

• Home Decor: Use sturdy cotton or linen twine to knit structured storage caddies, bread baskets, and textured cushion covers.
• Wearables & Accessories: Swapping to bulky wool or chunky chenille yarn turns this pattern into a dramatic choice for statement sweaters, oversized scarves, winter beanies, and tote bags.