Laddering: how to fix it

If you have ever worked a piece in round, you may be familiar with laddering. It happens to many knitters, especially when working on a small piece, both on double pointed needles and circular needles (using the magic loop technique). The problem is caused by the changes in tension, which happens at the same column every round.

I usually don't get too much laddering on my project. I think my tension is pretty constant now and it helps a lot for that. The occasional ladder I get is often subtle enough that it doesn't bother me. And if I'm using wool yarn, I don't mind it too much, because washing and blocking the piece will most likely get rid of it. Cotton yarn on the other hand is a tricky one...

 Nearly two years ago, I started this cardigan. I don't know why, but they don't sell the pattern anymore. Anyway, I like the look, and the sizing seems good so far. Actually, it's nearly finished, I only need to knit the collar part. But, you've guess it, it has a MAJOR laddering problem. I've never experienced this much laddering on a project. I think it's due to a combinations of factors.

First, the yarn. It's knitted it in comfy yarn which is 100% cotton. Don't get me wrong, I love this yarn. It super soft and is really nice to work with. I chose cotton because it's the perfect fiber for a light summer garment, which my wardrobe lacks. But cotton is known to be less resilient than wool.

Second, my technique. As I said, I've never had such a big laddering problem. At the time, my first instinct was to pull tighter on the yarn to make the bridge between these stitches shorter. It just seems intuitive, but it's NOT the way to go. By pulling the yarn, I worsened the difference in tension and likely made the problem more apparent.

Third, my laziness. If I had taken a couple of minutes to make some research, I would have find many videos showing me how to avoid that severe laddering. There are many ways you can improve your technique that will prevent this (using five double pointed needles instead of four, practicing to improve tension, moving stitches around so the first and last stitch of a needle aren't always the same etc).

Now that I know more about laddering, I won't make the same mistakes again. But what I need now is a way of fixing these ugly ladders, other than unraveling and starting over! I've looked around and haven't find much on the subject. Many mention washing and blocking as a way of diminishing the appearance of ladders, but I knew my cardigan needed more than that.

After a bit of trial and error, I have found a way to work the excess yarn back into the surrounding stitches.  I will show you how I do it, in hopes it can be useful to some of you out there!

The only things you need for this technique are: a lot of patience and a tool of your choice (small crochet hook, small knitting needle or darning needles are all good options). All you need to do really, is to pull the yarn slowly away from the ladder to spread the excess material.

Using a pointy tool, pick up the "bridge" of yarn between the first and second stitches next to the ladder. If you were to look at the wrong side of the garment, you would see that this little bit of yarn is actually the bumpy part of a purl stitch.

Pull gently towards you and away from the ladder. You won't get rid of the laddering right away so don't worry about the look right now, and don't pull too tight at first. 

See how it doesn't seem to fix anything? But don't worry, you just have to keep at it!

Once you've pull some yarn out between the first and second stitch, you have to spread it between the stitches to its right (or left if you are working on the other side of the ladder).

Repeat the same process of pulling the little bit of yarn between the stitches. The more you move away from the ladder, the less you should pull the yarn. This way, you leave a little extra yarn in each stitch. Three or four stitches (less if you started with a more subtle ladder) should be enough to spread the excess material you pull from the first "bridge".  Once you are done on a side of the ladder, repeat the exercise on the other side.

That's what I got after my first "pass". Still a big ladder, but a bit better than what I started with.

This is after second complete cycle of spreading the excess yarn. It looks kind of worst at this point, don't you think?

Third pass completed, you can really see the improvement now. After that, I keep doing it a bit more, but washing and blocking at this point would probably fix the rest.

This is another part I did. You can compare with the upper part that is not fixed. It's still a bit noticeable, but as I said, washing and blocking will also help.

Have you experience such laddering in the past? I sure hope this tip was useful to you!

Little treasure

I shop at thrift shops all the time. Like really all the time! There's one close to the subway station in my neighborhood and I sometimes go more than once a week. I don't buy things every time... I just take a look at a couple sections I like, mentally going through the ongoing list of things I know I might find and that I would like to buy. Mind you, I often go and drop things too. They're is only so many objects I can actually fit in my apartment! And I'm a big believer in giving a second chance to these things you don't want/need anymore. It's less wasteful and it might very well make somebody happy.

One day, many years ago, I went at a thrift shop that I like on St-Hubert Street. I was looking at some pieces of fabric and I came across three bags of yarn. At that time, I didn't have my fancy taste for natural fibers. I simply liked the colors and it seemed like a good bargain for the size of the bags, 3$ each. When I came home with my finds, I googled the names on the labels. Two of the bags were from Knit Picks (that's actually how I came to know the brand) six or seven balls of Swish in Bordeaux and the same amount of Telemark (now discontinued) in a bright orange color. The third bag was two 250gr skeins of Fleece Artist  Blue Faced Leicester. I was absolutely astonished when I discovered the quality (and actual price for that matter) of my treasure.

The Swish became pairs of socks for my dad and for a friend. The Telemark, some felted house accessories. But the Fleece Artist stayed in my stash for many years untouched. Even though it was my favorite of the three, mostly because of the color, I didn't know what to do with it. The amount was just a little short for a sweater, and it wasn't superwash so I feared not wearing it for I wouldn't want to wash it... At one point I was wondering if I would ever do something with it.  I even thought about selling it. 

Then, I don't know why, it struck me. I would make a shawl from it. Something you wear when it's chilly and you need comfort and warmth. 

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sweetteasoftskein/kllingesjal-1897recreation-museum-denmark

The pattern I used is Kaellingesjal 1897  by Mette Rørbech.

It is a very warm and cozy tie-shawl. The garter stitch makes for an easy and fast knitting body and the borders add some complexity so it's not boring to knit or to look at.

The piece is really pleasant to wear. Being very stretchy, it stays well in place. 

 It's my first tie-shawl and the only thing I don't like about it is you can't really sit with it. I mean you can, but if your back is against something it's not that comfortable because of the knot. But, this is a recreation based on traditional danish shawl. It was meant for working women and for that it's perfect. That's why I usually wear it around the house when cooking or gardening on chilly days. 

Binic

It's back to school season! Yaaa! I just got back to work after the summer vacations and I'm already feeling the urge to knit more. Fall is always my most productive season. Cleaning up the garden will be on the priority list pretty soon, and by then I'm surely gonna be thinking about Halloween and Christmas! I can't wait for the cooler days to come. Knitting, wrapped in a blanket, with a nice cup of english breakfast is such a joy to me.

We have had really warm weather in the past month, but it didn't stop my needles. I had told my cousin I would knit something for her little boy (now 18 months old) and so I did. I decided on the Binic Pattern by Solenn Couix-Loarer. It was a quick knit, most of the pattern being worked in round with only knitted stitches. My cousin chose the yarn, Stroll tonal in Pacific. It's such a pleasure working with this yarn. Warm, easy care, springy and so soft! I wish you could touch it through the picture. I'm really eager to see the little guy wear it!

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sweetteasoftskein/binic

Teeny tiny thimble purse

I hate standard thimbles. There, I said it. I hate them so much, I used to tape my fingers with masking tape instead of using them. They never seem to fit properly my fingers. They fall off or at least are really unstable.

A couple of months ago, something awesome happened. I discovered open thimbles. They work just like regular thimble. You simply wear them on the tip of the finger you use to push the needle. But what's wonderful about them is, they are adjustable! The front side is a full metal plate with texture to help you push the needle but the back! The back is made of metal bands, that you can squeeze to adjust to the exact size of you finger! I'm done with jiggling thimbles. I've also read that some people like them because they allow you to keep long nails.

The thing is, a thimble is a really small object and as I love mine, I'm afraid to get it lost. It's not worth a lot of money, but I would be disappointed if I had to replace it.
So to protect it, and help me always know where it is, I knitted a tiny bag to tuck it into. It's actually a design from Tiny Owl Knits, with some modifications. Instead of Aran yarn, I used fingering yarn on 2.25mm needles and cut in half all the stitches and row counts. After felting, the tiny purse is only two inches tall (this is without the tassel, that is added later). Finally, I added a drawstring and a glass bead to close it safely.

Teeny tiny purse

Really, this project is a cute and quick knit. I'm happy with the result and even a bit tempted to make the purse in it's original size.

Purple Stripes Gone Crazy

Hello little blog of mine. I've been away for a while, getting ready for Christmas and then been caught up in many projects. You know how it goes, crafters gonna craft!

Nonetheless, I want to show you my latest knitted piece of clothing I finished in November. I might have mentioned it before, I was trying my hand for the first time at a garment for me. I did knit some baby clothes in the past, but never a real garment for an adult.

The Stripes Gone Crazy pattern was in my favorites on Ravelry for quite some time and I really liked the design. So, I purchased some purple Comfy fingering and grabbed my needles! It knitted up more quickly than I thought and even tough the design is a bit complex, it wasn't that difficult. The shoulders, which is the first part that you knit, is the most complicated I would say. But if you take your time, and make sure you follow the instructions everything comes together smoothly.

My Stripes Gone Crazy Cardigan

I really like the final result. The use of the stripes is really clever and uncommon. I also love the Comfy yarn. The colors are bright but not to vibrant and it is so so soft, just as the name suggests. Plus the easy care of cotton is a relief to me.

I'm eager to make another cardigan or maybe a sweater but I'm working on a secret project right now! Hope I will be able to share it soon. Have a nice week end all!

Fall bounty

Where have I been, you might be wondering. Well, the end of summer has been very busy. This year I was lucky enough to have a garden three times bigger than last year. Let me tell you, it was three times the work! Though a lot of veggies ended up as squirrel's snacks, I've picked a lot of onions, cabbages, cherry tomatoes, swiss chard and tones of fresh herbs, to my absolute delight. Now that it's getting frosty at night, everything has been picked and the lot is clean and empty. In the past weeks, I've canned produce both from the garden and the market. From classic dill pickles to simple diced tomatoes and even some new recipes like the green tomatoes and red peppers marinade. Most of the time, I make small batches of three to six jars, since there is only two of us. I really like to make and use these. Using fresh and local produce is important to me and makes me feel proud.

But, as you might guess, I haven't stop knitting! The Pink Lemonade Socks pattern had been on my list for a long time, and I finally made them! I used the same yarn I choose last spring for my Broderie Gloves, that is Knit Picks Stroll in Dandelion. I absolutely love this yarn, soft to the touch, with a very springy texture. Plus it's superwash! As for the pattern, I only have good things to say. Easy to follow, simple mock cable instructions. It's a toe-up pattern, but if you haven't tried it yet, I think it could be a good first toe-up socks project.

 

(Ravelry projet page: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sweetteasoftskein/pink-lemonade-socks)

Hope you all have a nice week-end, full of hot teas and cozy knitting!

An old clock's cozy time

  Today I want to share with you my most recent decor project. It's something I wanted to do for at least a year and never really put my needles to it. For a couple of years, we had a basic Ikea clock on our kitchen wall. I say basic because it was really plain looking, white background, blue plastic frame... but it was functional so I kept it where it was. With time, the plastic-paperish white background started to fall apart. I guess it was the result of long term sun exposure... Anyway, I took it down, thinking I would do a little makeover sometime.

More than a year later, I stumble across this pattern for a Clockwork Cozy on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/colorful-clockwork-cozy   A really simple yet colorful and funny pattern, perfect for my old clock.


My clock wasn't in good shape and needed a bit of preparation before receiving it's cozy. I started by peeling off the remaining pieces of background. I painted the frame white so it wouldn't show to much through the knitted fabric. I printed a damask pattern on a thick white paper and cut it to fit perfectly in the clock (usually you can easily take out the hands by pulling). I drew numbers on the circle and filled them using a black marker. Then, I simply inserted the disk in the clock and put back the hands. The paper disk fitted so perfectly that it didn't need any glue.

As for the knitted part, I used some Palette fingering yarn that I already had on hand (Clarity, Sky, Clover, Green Tea Heather, Sweet Potato and semolina). The pattern called for worsted weight yarn but I wanted a different look, a little less texture. I cast on 20 stitches on 2,75 mm needles and it was large enough to cover the frame. I knitted in garter stitch, changing colors irregularly until it was long enough to cover the whole thing. If you want to make one yourself,  you can find details on how to finish it and different examples of finished projects on the pattern page. It really is a nice way to give a second life to an old clock.

Market bag WIP

Just a quick little note to let you know I'm working on a new pattern yay! Nothing too complicated this time, just a market bag in cotton yarn. I don't know yet when I'll be able to release it, I'm still figuring out how I want the shoulder strap to be.

It's sooo hot today, I'm knitting outside on the balcony. The soft breeze and the latte iced tea help a bit. Hope you're enjoying the weather and the holiday (for my Canadian friends!).

Jeweled Cowl

 My Jeweled Cowl is finally finished! I started this project in january, I think, but it took me a long time to knit because I worked on it nearly exclusively at work during my breaks.  In fact, I finished it awhile ago, but I wasn't satisfied with the bind off. At first, I only did a traditional basic bind off but it was too tight and made the final opening smaller than the starting one. After a couple of weeks of watching it lying around, I kicked my butt and unraveled the bind off. I searched for a stretchier bind off in the book Cast On Bind Off  from Leslie Ann Bestor and chose the Suspended Bind Off and now it's perfect!  

If you like the cowl and would like to make one yourself, you can find the pattern here for free: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jeweled-cowl It really is a nice "lace-weight beginner" (as I consider myself) project. The instructions are simple and the pattern knits easily. You'll need patience though, because the beading process does slow down the knitting. But its worth it, all these little beads adds a lot of elegance and shine. Plus, it totally mystifies people who don't know the technique haha!

It was a fun project to knit as a first time with lace yarn. I used Knit Picks Shadow in Vineyard Heather. I like the rich violet color with the tiny bits of red and gold mixed in.
I hope to make a more complex lace piece eventually, maybe a shawl...but right now I'm much taken by other crafts. I love winter time, with all the cozy wool and hot cups of chai tea, but summer always seem to bring me more energy and a lot more project ideas than what my normal schedule allow me to work on. Anyway, I should be posting some non-knitting projects soon, between my gardening and balcony-tea-drinking sessions!

Broderie gloves pattern

 I've finally published my new pattern on Ravelry! It's available for free for a limited time so you can download it and give it a try! You can even download it now and keep it for later ;)  If you do try it out, please let me know if you find anything missing or unclear. I've had a lot of fun making these and I hope some of you will like them as much as I do. I've knitted them in wool, but if you are lucky and live in a warmer place (we are still freezing this march!!) I think they would be really soft and comfy in a pastel cotton yarn.

A close-up of the "broderie" pattern.

Here is the pattern : http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/broderie-gloves

  Have a nice week my friends!

Upcoming new pattern: Broderie gloves

Broderie is the french word for embroidery. I find it well fitted for the stitch pattern you find on the back of these little gloves. I've been working on that project since early January and I'm thrilled to say that I hope to publish the pattern on Ravelry by the end of this week. I had to do a couple of retakes on the first glove before everything was to my liking but it really paid off on the long run. I'm fairly satisfied with their fit and look. Light, because of the little holes in the pattern and joyful with their dotted wrist edge, they are perfect for springtime. They're knitted in a superwash fingering wool yarn and have a long wrist so they can still keep you warm on chilly spring days. I bet they would make a classy accessory for tea time, knitted in cream or in a very light pink.

I will make a little post on my facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/sweetteasoftskeins ) as soon as I upload the pattern in my Ravelry shop.

Some lemons later... my blanket progress

Lemons! I see recipes with them everywhere these days. But I don't complain about it, they are a bit of sunshine in our long winter! Lemon and poppy seeds muffins, lemon meringue pie, lemon and ginger tea... but what about the salty side of lemons? I used to like lemon in savoury dish only on fish but I've discovered over the years, that they are fantastic with many other savoury food. I think about a whole roasted chicken with lemon slices and oregano or a couscous salad with a lot of parsley and lemon juice! So, while the lemons are in season, I made some salt preserved lemons and as it's crazy easy, I wanted to show you...

 

All you need is some lemons, a clean air-tight jar, and sea salt. First, you want to scrub your citruses (especially if they aren't organic) to get rid of the wax they put to make them last longer. Next, you need trim the ends and cut the fruits in quarters. You can either cut all the way through or if you have a big jar, you can only make deep slits in your lemons and  keep them whole. Then, pour a layer of sea salt in your jar and add a lemon. Pour some more salt on the lemon (taking time to fill the slits with salt) and add another lemon etc, squeezing as many lemons as possible in the jar. You want the jar as full as possible because it will help lemons to be covered in their juice later. Don't forget to add salt between each piece. When your jar is full, add some more salt on the last lemon and seal.

 

That's it, now you wait. I've left my little jars on the counter top for 3 days, shaking them a little every day, to give time to the lemons to render some juice. As they weren't totally covered at that point, I opened the jars and added a little juice from another lemon, re-closed the jars and put them in the fridge. I will wait at least 2 more weeks before tasting them, but I can't wait! I bet they will be delicious with barley or with roasted meat. Be warned though, they will be very salty, so you might want to give them a rinse before using them.

  

And while these macerate in the fridge, I'm working on the blanket I started in November (http://sweetteasoftskeins.blogspot.ca/2013/11/to-unravel-or-not-to-unravel.html). I'd like to finish it this winter... I'm at my 6th stripe, so probably half-way. As always, I'm super eager to start new projects but i've to many things lying around half done so I'll be trying to finish a couple before starting new any big project.

8 things I'd like to knit in 2014

January is the time of resolutions for most people. Many won't keep them all year and many others won't even bother making any... Actually I don't make resolutions myself. Not because I think it's stupid or impossible. In fact, I absolutely believe you can take and keep as many resolutions as you want. Sure, one would need to be motivated, organized and disciplined to do so, but I do believe that people can do whatever they want if they really want it and if they trust them-selves. Why then, didn't I made any this time? Because this year I did something else. This year, instead of taking resolutions to change a habit, I decided I wanted to set myself some goals.

You know, I'm a lists person. Nearly everyday, I make lists. At work, at home, in the bus, I write lists. Often in my agenda, on my hand or on the hundred little bits of paper lying around my desk. Lists of movies to watch, recipes to test, vegetables I want to sow in the spring and all sorts of crafty ideas I want to try. You see me coming? I made myself a list of goals haha! Crafting, gardening, blogging objectives for the next 12 months to come. Like, to go buy myself a new camera, build a nursery box for my baby veggies plants and try myself at quilting.

Other than that, I also listed 8 knitting patterns that I'd really like to try this year! Here they are:


1- The fabulous Jeweled Cowl by Sachiko Uemura.
 I already bought some Shadow Lace Yarn from Knit Picks in Midnight and Vineyard and can't choose between the 2 super rich colors! I'll have to find assorted beads though.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jeweled-cowl    

2- The super cute Pink Lemonade Socks by Alyssa Lynough.
 Just to contradict the title, I might knit them in yellow (which is actually also a lemonade color! haha).
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pink-lemonade-socks

3- Stippers slippers by Ashley Knowlton.
They make my think of Robin Hood or maybe Peter Pan! Anyway, they look really comfy and would be a great addition to our slippers basket.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stippers

4- The Double Heelix socks by Jeny Staiman.
 They've facinated me for a while now... A good way to use 2 colors of the same yarn, when you can't choose only one!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-heelix

5- The Woven Diamond Socks by Alexis Winslow.
Have I told you I like to knit socks? Haha! Actually I already tried this pattern but I gave the socks for Christmas. They did look great and I would like to have a pair for myself.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-diamond-socks

6-The Hand Springs Fingerless Mitts by Micol Day. I must admit I've doubts about this one. They are absolutely cute, and I have some lace yarn in bright lime green that I could use for them but I don't wear fingerless gloves a lot... I will think about it, anyway they would be more of a spring time knitting project.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hand-springs-fingerless-mitts

I cheated a little... these last 2 are actually projects I already started but intend to finish this year.
 

7- The Boldly Colored Plaid Afghan by Patons, which I've been working a lot on lately, while watching my new favourite serie, Call The Midwife <3 !!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boldly-colored-plaid-afghan

8- And finally, I definitely want to knit more awesome Christmas Balls!!! From this book which I absolutely love:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/55-christmas-balls-to-knit
I made 8 different ones last December (5 for my Christmas decor and 3 as little gifts) and they are all pretty and fun to make.

So, this is my top 8 for the moment (more will certainly be added to my list as the months pass). Now, what do you wish to knit the year?


Pssst, you can now follow me on Facebook :)  www.facebook.com/sweetteasoftskeins

Warm socks for Christmas

Last night we've receive nearly 25 centimetres of snow. It makes me happy because every December, at least for a couple of years now, we are wondering if we'll have a white Christmas. But this year, I think we're good! All that snow shouldn't melt in 9 days ( Yes, only 9 days left before Christmas!!). Plus, there is still a light snow falling as I'm writing and looking through my office window full of lovely frost.

My Christmas projects have progressed a lot, but I've had a hard time taking pictures lately. I have an old and no-so-good camera (a situation that I should resolve in early 2014...) but the real problem is the light. I'm not yet equipped with a light box, and it's dark outside every week night when I come back from work. But hey, I'm here to learn and share my progress as I go, that's why I will post my pictures anyway!  :)

I don't know if I told you, but I love knitting socks! They're super useful, comfortable, make good gifts and aren't that long to knit, especially if you knit them in chunky yarn. Worsted yarn make really nice socks. If you've never knit socks, try with worsted first. They knit faster, are really cozy and warm.

I tried a new sock pattern recently and it's awesome! The socks look elaborated with they're diamond pattern, but aren't that complicated to knit. Plus, the extra wool from the yarn that goes in front of the slipped stitches makes them hot without being too thick. Perfect to wear in your boots!

Here is the link to the free pattern I used :
 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-diamond-socks

This is my take on the pattern, I used Knit Picks Swish in Bordeaux. I wish the diamond pattern would show more on the picture... I will give them to a friend of mine who I know walks a lot, even in winter.

Also, I've started a pair for Le Barbu. They are probably the simplest socks I have knitted so far. Still, I think he's going to love them. The colors that we've chose are pretty (Solstice and Dove heather in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash) and the socks already feel nice and cozy. This way, when they are finished, he will have another option than his old, felted, nearly transparent cadet socks haha.

Again, the link to the pattern :
 http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Boot_Socks_Pattern__D50529220.html

This is where I'm at so far. They knit really quickly.

It's the first time that I try knitting the two socks at a time. I've heard it's a fantastical method for those who have what is called the "second sock syndrome". This is when you like knitting the first sock and then don't feel like finishing the second one because there is no mystery in the pattern anymore. I've never really experience the syndrome, but still, it's nice to see the two socks growing at the same time. Another good thing with this technique is both socks have the exact same length. The only down side I see so far: you need to slit you yarn in half at the beginning of the project, and you have to carry twice as many balls of yarn. Personally, it's doesn't bother me.  I'm eager to see how it's going to be after the heel flap, with all the stitches on my 32 inches cord. I'll try to post a picture as soon as they are finished!

Frosty Jar Cozy

I'm eating my first clementine of the season right now and it delicious. What does this means? It means that the holiday season has officially started! It also means I can listen to Christmas music all day long on Star 92,9 and I'm already using their web player a lot. My mom and I used to listen to it in the car when she picked me up at school or when we went Christmas shopping. When I was in college, I picked-up the "tradition". At the end of fall semesters I would turn on the web player on my computer while working on my final projects. The Christmas songs really help me get through the long hours sitting in front the screen. It reminded me that the holidays were coming fast and I would see my family soon. Some people say November is too early for Christmas music, but as I don't seem to ever get tired of it, why not start right now?  Plus, when you're a crafty person, Christmas preparation starts early.  

If you're like me, you might be planning on making some of your christmas gifts yourself this year. If so, you will like what I have for you today. This week, I've been working on a new pattern for a mason jar cozy. I say new because I made a couple of these over the past years. I used them a lot in school because I used to carry teas in mason jar. In fact, I'm totally in love with mason jars. They really are the safest way I know to carry soups, stews and drinks (hot or cold) in a back pack! And they are so pretty <3. So, if you like to drink tea or coffee from a jar you, should make one for yourself.  It insulate the jar, making it way more comfortable to hold and it also keep your drink hot (or cold, if it's an iced drink) for longer. 

Frosty Jar Cozy

An other use for this cozy, as my friend Chloé mentioned to me, would be a gift wrapping. Let says you made jam this summer, you could cover your jar with an assorted cozy and offer it as a hostess gift. And if you don't have jam jars, you could put tea bags or some hot cocoa mix in the jar and cover it with a red and white cozy to fit the Christmas decor! Anyway, I'm sure you can think of many other possibilities of filling for the jar and colours for the cozy. So here is the pattern for a plain version of the jar cozy:

Material: 35 yards of medium weight yarn (I used Bernat satin)

               US 6 double pointed needls (or cable needles if using magic loop)

               3,5 crochet hook

               An assorted botton

Instructions:  The cozy will fit a 500 ml standard-mouth mason jar. 

CO 40 sts

Row 1: Purl all sts. (40 sts)

Row 2: Knit all sts. (40 sts)

Row 3: Purl all sts. (40 sts)

Row 4: Knit all sts. (40 sts)

Row 5: Purl all sts. (40 sts)

Row 6: *k1, kfb, k6, kfb, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (48 sts)

Row 7: Join. Knit all sts. (48 sts)

Row 8: *k1, kfb, k8, kfb, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (56 sts)

Row 9: Knit all sts. (56 sts)

Row 10: *k1, kfb, k10, kfb, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (64 sts)

Rows 11 to 25: Knit all sts. (64 sts)

Row 26: *k1, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (56 sts)

Row 27: Knit all sts. (56 sts)

Row 28: *k1, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (48 sts)

Row 29: Knit all sts. (48 sts)

Row 30: *k1, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (40 sts)

Row 31: Knit all sts. (40 sts)

Row 32: *k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (32 sts)

Row 33: Knit all sts. (32 sts)

Row 34: *k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1* repeat from*to* until the end of row (24 sts)

Row 35: Knit all sts. (24 sts)

Row 36: *k1, k2tog* repeat from*to* until the end of row (16 sts)

Row 35: Knit all sts. (16 sts)

Row 36: * k2tog* repeat from*to* until the end of row (8 sts)

 

Cut yarn and thread it through remaining stitches. Pull tight and close the opening. Weave in ends.

Finishing: Sew a button near the opening pf the cozy. Using a strand of yarn and the crochet hook( starting at the corner of the opening, on the opposite side of the button) chain enough stitches to fit the size of your button and close the loop with a slip stitch. 

From that, you can make plain jar cozies or you can create your own pattern using different colors. If you'd like to get the frosty jar cozy design, it's in my ravelry shop right here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frosty-jar-cozy

Pssst, you can now follow me on Facebook :)  www.facebook.com/sweetteasoftskeins