（ずいぶん長くなってしまい本文の日本語さぼります・・・でも写真いっぱいなので是非！）
Excuse me for my Needlework Tuesday post ... ;) I finished the basket last night but it was too dark to take photos.
I followed this pattern to form the base of the basket:
Star Stitch Tote - Free Crochet Pattern | Craft Passion – Page 2 of 2
The way I made the handle was unique. It was my first time to try this technique. I like the way handle is really integrated to the basket body while the connection part of the handles to the body can be a bit stronger.
How to make handles for a hemp crochet bag
(This blog post is written in Japanese but crocheter ladies will figure it out with the photos)
An egg case fits well and I can carry it straitly. It's one of the features I wanted to have. With my daughter I have to go out with a bit backpack and especially at a market it becomes like a puzzle to pile up everything fine inside the backpack ... Then I started thinking about making a small market bag I can carry fragile items such as eggs and tomatoes separately.
I can roll it small. It's pros and cons. I'm happy that I can store it on the other hand it would be nice the basket keeps shape more firmly.
The design and color combination are inspired by Zulu craft. According to Wikipedia,
The Zulu (Zulu: amaZulu) are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa and the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
Zulu people - Wikipedia
You will see a lot of people are carrying African style baskets at markets in Germany, especially in southern Germany (according to my observation ;) ). I like them and had one too but its handles were broken. Now it became a toy basket for my daughter.
One of the most popular styles is the one from Burkina Faso. They have large base and firm. I want to have one but unfortunately I cannot carry both my daughter (or baby buggy) and the basket at the same time ;)
Google image search result of "Burkina Faso market basket"
Then I did some more search for African basket design. The color combinations, vivid colors and patterns are fascinating and I continue seeing image search results quite a while ... And I came across Zulu design. They use geometric patterns with brown, black, white as basic colors.
Google image search result of "Zulu craft"
Another reason I tried Zulu-ish design is that the hemp yarn I used didn't have much color variations.
This time I limit the colors to three and used two colors at the same time as I worried that the basket may become too thick when I crochet in two or more colors in stitches. But I was overcareful. I think I crochet in two string at least, which means I can use three colors at the same time. I can try more adventurous designs for the next project.
I may make an experimental mini basket with more colors for my daughter. I have some leftover hemp yarns :)
Other than the basket, I quickly sew a light shirt as it's sooooooo hot in Germany these days.
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