Materials & tools you'll need

Briggs & Little Wool, or a suitable substitute yarn — approximately 450 yards · 5mm aluminum crochet hook · Yarn needle for weaving in ends · Scissors · Stitch markers, for keeping track of the pattern placement · Optional: green yarn, if you'd like to dye your own using local invasive grass species (shown in the video above)

Step 1 — Work the foundation chain

Make a slip knot and chain 48 stitches, then join with a slip stitch into the first chain to form a circle. This ring is the base your first round of double crochets will build on, so keep the chain relaxed and even all the way around.

Step 2 — Work the first round

Chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet), then work double crochet stitches around the circle, building up to a total of 48 double crochets including the starting chain-3. Slip stitch to the top of the chain-3 to close the round. Count your stitches carefully here — this total sets the circumference for every round that follows.

Step 3 — Establish the basket weave pattern (Rounds 2–5)

Work front post double crochet (FPDC) into the first four stitches, then back post double crochet (BPDC) into the next four stitches, repeating this 4-stitch FPDC/BPDC alternation all the way around. Repeat this same round three more times, for four rounds total. For an FPDC, yarn over and insert your hook from front to back around the post of the indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and complete the double crochet in that stitch. For a BPDC, yarn over, then insert your hook from front to back around the post of the indicated stitch from behind, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and complete the double crochet. This raised post-stitch technique is what creates the cozy's woven texture.

Step 4 — Reverse the pattern (Rows 6–9)

For the next four rows, flip the sequence: begin each row with a BPDC instead of an FPDC, follow it with four FPDC stitches, and continue the reversed 4-stitch alternation around the entire round. Secure each round with a slip stitch and a chain 3 to start the next. Repeat this reversed pattern for rows six through nine. Alternating the starting stitch this way is what staggers the raised and recessed columns into a basket weave look rather than straight vertical ribs.

Step 5 — Return to the original pattern (Row 10)

Work row 10 in the original FPDC-first pattern from Step 3 — four FPDC stitches followed by four BPDC stitches, repeated around the round.

Step 6 — Reverse the pattern again (Rows 11–13)

Switch back to the reversed BPDC-first sequence from Step 4 — BPDC followed by four FPDC stitches, repeated around — and work this for rows 11 through 13.

Step 7 — Return to the original pattern (Rows 14–17)

Switch back to the original FPDC-first pattern once more — FPDC followed by BPDC stitches in the established 4-stitch groupings — and work this for rows 14 through 17. By this point the alternating rounds should show a clear woven texture running around the cozy.

Step 8 — Finish with a single crochet border (Row 18)

For the final row, single crochet in every stitch around the top edge of the cozy, then close the round with a slip stitch. This border neatens the top edge and keeps the post stitches below it from stretching out of shape with use.

Step 9 — Weave in ends and finish

Weave in all loose ends with your yarn needle. If you'd like a neater, more uniform shape, block the cozy according to your yarn's care instructions. Hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cycle with like colours before use to keep the finished piece looking its best.

Frequently asked questions

What skill level is required to crochet a basket weave winter plant cozy?
This is an intermediate project. It uses US crochet terms and metric measurements, and relies on comfort with front post double crochet (FPDC) and back post double crochet (BPDC) stitches, which create the raised, woven basket weave texture.

Can I dye my own yarn for a basket weave plant cozy?
Yes — if you'd like a green shade for your cozy, you can dye your own yarn using local invasive grass species. The dyeing process is shown in the video above.

What size is the finished basket weave plant cozy?
The finished cozy measures approximately 10 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall, sized to fit around a standard pot to keep it insulated through the winter months.

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