Jar cuffs

IMG_3076 With a growing pile of bag fabric scraps too small for any kind of bag, but too big for my frugal nature to throw away, I started thinking about making jar cuffs.  Considering all my other mason jar items, it seemed a natural thing to do.  Besides, they are cute and keep your hands happy when you are carrying a hot or icy drink.

The process turned out to be sort of a long, bumpy road.  Friends helped me out with getting the right size jars, trying out samples, and taking photos of their findings.  (Thanks, y’all!)  The cuffs themselves have to be EXACTLY the right size, or they just don’t work – there’s not much margin for error (or variations in fabric, or how it takes steam from the iron).  But at long last, there are a few ready-to-ship cuffs to choose from in the shop.  They fit a wide-mouth pint or pint-and-a-half jar.  As much difficulty as I’ve had with my own pattern, I’m not sure if it would be a good idea to sell a pattern for these; we’ll see where the bumpy road leads.

And then another idea came.  Simple, tone-on-tone cuffs with hand-embroidered monograms.  I just love them so much.  I hand-draw the initial before embroidering, so each one is unique and slightly wonky, just like my handwriting.  I can just see these lined up for a bridesmaid luncheon, or for drip-free sipping the morning of the wedding. IMG_0010Or hey, just pick your favorite color, and I’ll stitch your initial on it!  😉

 

water jar cozy

 This is a post from my old blog, on Feb. 21, 2011.  I re-post it here for your crocheting pleasure.  I’ve also put the instructions into an easier-to-print PDF – you’re welcome.  🙂  Canning jar cozy PDF pattern

We’ve recently stopped buying bottled water, and bought a pitcher to filter our water instead.  I have reusable bottles for water, but honestly?  When I’m just hanging around the house, I prefer a pint jar.  The water seems to taste cleaner out of the glass, to me.

Then we were at Starbucks the other day, and I saw a glass water bottle sheathed in some sort of plastic or silicone, to be less breakable.  So I thought, why can I not make a cover for my humble canning jar, so it can go places with me?  And the idea for a water jar cozy was born.

So I’m putting the (very simple) pattern here in case anyone else would like to make one.  You will need about an ounce of worsted weight cotton yarn, a size F crochet hook, and a hair elastic.

Gauge is 15 stitches / 8 rows to 4 inches, in double crochet.

Abbreviations in this pattern:
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet

Round 1:  Sl st into hair elastic, ch 3, then dc 35 into hair elastic.  Sl st into top of ch-3.  You should have 36 stitches if you count the ch-3 as a dc.  (This is the top of your cozy.)  Do not turn your work at the ends of the rounds.

Rounds 2-8 – Ch 3, dc in each dc, sl st into top of ch-3.  Again, you should have 36 stitches counting the ch-3.

Round 9:  Now we begin decreases for the bottom.  Ch 3, dc 1, dc 2 tog;  *dc 2, dc 2 tog* to end of round.  Sl st into top of ch-3.  (26 stitches, counting ch-3.)

Round 10:  Ch 3, dc 2 tog; *dc 1, dc 2 tog* to end of round.  Sl st into top of ch-3.  (18 stitches, counting ch-3.)

Round 11:  Ch 3, dc 2 tog; *dc 3 tog* to end of round.  Sl st into top of ch-3.  ( 7 stitches, counting ch-3)  Fasten off.  Use yarn tail to sew up the hole as you weave it in.  Weave in top tail also.

I like a handle on my water container.  If you would like one as shown, make a chain about 2″ longer than you want your handle to be.  (Mine is about 15″.)  Now you’re going to sc on both sides of your foundation chain:  Sc in the back loop of the second ch from hook, and in back loop of each remaining ch.  Sc 5 in end ch.  Turn and sc in the remaining loops of your foundation chain.  Sc 4 in the end loop, and sl st into first sc.  Fasten off.  Stitch the ends very securely to sides of your cozy – if you made your yarn tails long enough, you can just use those for the sewing.

I like this one so much, I think I’m going to make several of them.  I think next I’ll make one in a solid color, with an applique of some sort.

If you make one of these, then you are a pattern tester.  🙂  Let me know if you find any mistakes, or if you think of a way to make this clearer.

Update:  here’s the second, in ecru, with a leaf applique.  The leaf pattern is from Crochet with Raymond, and can be found here.  Here’s the ravelry link, if you prefer.