Car Waste Basket: Free Crochet Pattern
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. See our disclosure policy for more information.
I don’t care who you are, you could benefit from a waste basket in your car. Whether this will replace one you’ve bought from a store, or you’re crocheting your own for the first time, this car waste basket crochet pattern is the perfect solution.
Car Waste Basket Crochet Pattern
It is inevitable that you’ll have trash in your car that needs thrown away. That could be a gum wrapper, a straw wrapper, used napkins, water bottles, or anything in between. This car waste basket is big enough to hold several empty bottles of water and all of that!
This is the SIXTH installment of the 2022 Car Series. Can you believe we’re halfway through already?! Simply insane!
Find the ad-free, PDF version of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or the Heart Hook Home blog shop.
Not only is this waste basket quick to crochet, it is super chic (if I do say so, for a trash receptacle) and easy to take out, empty, and return to its position on the back of your passenger seat.
To finish this pattern off, we’ll crochet around a dowel rod. The rod will help the receptacle to keep its shape, and to be more sturdy if holding heavier items. I love that!
I decided to use the Linked Double Crochet stitch for this pattern because of the dense fabric it creates. I debated using the Waistcoat stitch but if you know me, you know that I also like QUICK crochet, which the Waistcoat stitch is not. Because of the linked nature of the stitch we do use, it’s just as sturdy and we need half as many rows… meaning that it’s the perfect solution.
Materials:
Dishie Cotton Yarn (or any worsted weight cotton)
-approx. 350 yards
Crochet hook in size G/4mm
12″ Dowel rod
Gauge: 17 dcs x 10 rows = 4” square
Pattern Notes:
Pattern written using US terms.
The majority of this pattern is worked in continuous rounds with no chaining or turning, with few exceptions as noted.
Ldc = Linked Double Crochet (tutorial here)
Bpsc – Back Post Single Crochet (tutorial here)
If you need help reading a crochet pattern, make sure you head over here and check out this detailed post.
Pattern:
Round 1: Ch-24, 3dc in 3rd ch from hook. (mark first stitch with stitch marker) dc in each to end, 6dc in last ch. Working up the opposite side of the chain, dc in each st to end, 3dc in beg st. (52)
Do not join throughout. Work in spiral, continue using stitch markers to mark first st of each row.
Round 2: 2dc in next 3 sts, dc in next 20 sts, 2dc in next 6 sts, dc in next 20 sts, 2dc in each of last 3 sts. (64)
Wanna save this for later?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it when you're ready.
Round 3: * dc in next, 2dc in next * repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next 20 sts. Repeat between * * 6 more times, dc in next 20 sts. Repeat between * * 3 more times. (76) Dc in next st (to push the seam over).
Round 4: * dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next 20 sts. Repeat between * * 6 more times, dc in next 20 sts. Repeat between * * 3 more times. (88)
Round 5: * dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next 20 sts. Repeat between * * 6 more times, dc in next 20 sts. Repeat between * * 2 more times, dc in next, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in last st. Join to top of first dc. (100)
Round 6: Ch-1, do not turn. Bpsc around each st around. Join to top of first st. (100)
Round 7: Ch-2, do not turn, Ldc in each st around. Do not join, work in a spiral for remainder of pattern, marking first stitch with stitch marker. (100)
Rounds 8 – 30: Ldc in each st around. (100)
Lhdc in next st, sc in next, sl st to next st. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Lay the waste basket down flat. Attach where pictured with sl st.
Sc around the dowel rod for the width of 10” (should be 42 stitches).
When finished, and before fastening off, make a crocheted chain that is ~36” long. Add optional beads to the end. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
To attach to the back of the seat, wind the chain around the dowel rod a few times, then slip a loop through the opening, similar to tying a shoe. Ta-da! How fancy is that?!
Please share a photo with me by tagging @HeartHookHome on all social media and in the Heart Hook Home Crochet Community on Facebook.
More free Car Patterns:
Seatbelt Cover Free Crochet Pattern
Car Coaster: Free Crochet Pattern
Steering Wheel Cover: Free Crochet Pattern
Made this for my new car, and it’s been great! It fits neatly behind the passenger seat, letting me easily reach it as the driver, and it holds much more than it seems. When i go to clean out the car, it’s simple to remove and replace. I’m 4 months into using it and it still looks new. It came together easily as well, a nice small project to work on.
Wonderful! I am so glad you enjoyed the pattern and it is working so well for you!
What a clever idea. Thank you so much for the free pattern. I’ll be making this for my car, and for my grandchildren’s children. It will be great to hold some of their little toys when traveling. One has five small children, the other four small children, so I know they will be used! Mine will be used for storing things when I’m on a shopping trip.
Just made this for my new vehicle and love it! Easy to follow instructions with an excellent result. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us.
Hi Toni! I am so glad you enjoyed the pattern!
This turned out too fancy for my car wastebasket and my daughter “needs” some in her room to hang on the wall. I’m thinking three different sizes? I enjoy your webpage and admire your work.
Hi, I’m a little confused. In Round 7 just before starting the linked double crochets you say to chain 2. But in the tutorial for the same stitch you say chain 3. Which is it?
Since this pattern is worked in continuous rounds, you will do the ch-2 to start that round.
Hi
When I click the link for dowel rod it comes up 1/4” (around 6 mm I think), I’m just wondering if that’s enough ? Sure, I don’t want a really thick one, but I don’t want it to snap either…
Best regards Jenny
I love your patterns, been crocheting for over 45 years. Thank you
Awww…thank you! I am glad you have been enjoying them!
Love your patterns! These patterns for the car are awesome. I can’t wait to get started. I also live in Kansas. I live in Park City which is north of Wichita.
Can you please explain round 3
Is this dc in next, 2 dc in next, Is this repeated 2 more times?
Dc in next 20 sts repeat 6 times. Is that what this is saying?
Dc in next 20 sts repeat 3 more times.
Is this saying 3 more times.
Very confusing what’s being repeated how many times. Any help would be appreciated ty
Hi Linda! In the instance of Round 3 you have *dc in next, 2dc in next* and they are between asterisks…so when it says “repeat between * *” you will repeat that sequence between the asterisks the indicated number of times.
what a great idea there is always items in the foot wells when you travel with children to pick up
and it can hold all sorts things for journey
i let my friends know and direct them to your site
Yes! I am glad you like it and thanks for sharing!