Reusable Hot Coffee-Cup Sleeve
Anyone who has ever moved knows how important a good cup of coffee is on the first morning in the new place (and how challenging it can be to find the coffeepot). To lessen the drama, show up at your friend’s new home with some steaming lattés in these little cozies. I used Manos del Uruguay’s Wool Clásica Naturals for these because the colors reminded me of coffee with various amounts of milk. Each sleeve takes about an hour to complete.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
8" circumference, at narrowest point
9 ¾" circumference, at widest point
3 ¼" high
YARN
Manos del Uruguay Wool Clásica Naturals (100% pure wool; 138 yards / 100 grams): 1 hank #701, #702, or #703
Note: One hank will make at least 4 sleeves.
NEEDLES
One set of five double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 6 (4 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
NOTIONS
Stitch marker
GAUGE
18 sts and 26 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)
Sleeve
CO 36 sts. Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts; place marker (pm) for beginning of rnd.
Knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd.
Change to St st (knit every rnd); work even until piece measures 1¼" from the beginning.
Shape Sleeve
Increase Rnd 1: K1, M1, [k9, M1] 3 times, k8–40 sts. Work even until piece measures 2 ¼" from the beginning.
Increase Rnd 2: K1, M1, [k10, M1] 3 times, k9–44 sts. Work even until piece measures 3" from the beginning. Purl 1 rnd. BO all sts loosely knitwise.
These festive ornaments will brighten up any home during the cold and colorless winter months. Each ornament takes about 90 minutes to knit and 30 minutes to decorate.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
3" diameter
YARN
Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 (100% pure new wool; 220 yards / 100 grams): 1 hank #8010 (MC). Note: One hank will make 4 ornaments.
Alchemy Yarns of Transformation Haiku (60% kid mohair / 40% silk; 325 yards / 25 grams): 1 hank each #44F Cherry Tart (A) and #52E Boo’s Garden (B)
Alchemy Yarns of Transformation Silken Straw (100% silk; 236 yards / 40 grams): 1 hank each #39A Fuschia (C) and #50E Sour Grass (D)
NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
One set of four double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 6 (4 mm)
Crochet hook size G6 (4 mm); polyester stuffing
GAUGE
20 sts and 28 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)
Ornament
Bottom Half
CO 48 sts in MC. Divide sts evenly among 3 needles. Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts.
Rnds 1 and 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end–42 sts remain.
Rnds 4 and 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * to end–36 sts remain.
Rnds 7 and 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end–30 sts remain.
Rnds 10 and 11: Knit.
Rnd 12: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end–24 sts remain.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end–18 sts remain.
Rnd 15: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end–12 sts remain.
Break yarn, leaving a 6" tail; thread tail through remaining sts, pull tight and fasten off, with tail to WS.
Top Half
With RS of Bottom Half facing, beginning at cast-on tail, pick up and knit 1 st in each cast-on st–48 sts. Work Rnds 1-15 as for Bottom Half. Break yarn, leaving a 20" long tail; thread tail through remaining sts, but do not pull closed.
Finishing
Stuff ornament to desired firmness. Pull tail tight and fasten off, but do not break yarn. Using crochet hook and tail, work crochet chain 4" long. Insert crochet hook into top of Ornament, just below first loop of crochet chain, chain 1, slip st into last st, fasten off.
Embellish Ornament with Duplicate stitch (see page 130), following photo and chart, working Rnd 5 of chart on Rnd 3 of Top Half so the repeats work out evenly.
CHART
This whimsical hat, made with a deliciously soft, naturally dyed yarn from Hand Jive, will suit any child—or adult—who dreams of being a winter elf. Even in the largest size, this project takes less than two hours from cast-on to bind-off.
SIZES
Baby (Toddler, Child/Adult Small, Adult Large)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
14 ½ (16 ¾, 19 ¼, 21½)" circumference
YARN
Hand Jive Nature’s Palette Thick/Thin Bulky Merino (100% merino wool; 168 yards / 5 ounces): 1 hank Snow, Amber, Rosebud, or Sandstone. Note: One hank will make 2 hats in sizes Baby and Toddler.
NEEDLES
One set of four double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 13 (9 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
GAUGE
10 sts and 14 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)
NOTE
Since this pattern is knit entirely on double-pointed needles, you don’t necessarily need a stitch marker to tell when you’re at the end of the round; just look for your cast-on tail to remind you.
Hat
CO 36 (42, 48, 54) sts. Divide sts evenly among 3 needles. Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts; place marker (pm) for beginning of rnd. Begin St st (knit every rnd); work even until piece measures 4 ½ (5, 5 ½, 6)" from the beginning, with brim unrolled.
Shape Crown
Decrease Rnd: [K2tog, knit to end of needle] 3 times-33 (39, 45, 51) sts remain. Knit 1 rnd.
Repeat Decrease Rnd every other rnd 7 (10, 10, 8) times, then every rnd 3 (2, 4, 8) times-3 sts remain. Break yarn, leaving a 6" tail; thread tail through remaining sts, pull tight and fasten off, with tail to WS.
Shown from left to right: Rosebud, Snow, Amber, and Sandstone
These pyramid-shaped sachets are a wonderful gift, especially for knitters who need to protect their yarn and handknits from moths. I figured out how to construct them—by double-knitting a square pouch, filling with dried lavender, and then stitching shut in a pyramid shape—by taking apart and studying a pyramid-shaped teabag. One sachet takes less than an hour to complete.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
3" wide at base × 3" high
YARN
Farmhouse Yarns Bonnie’s Bamboo (100% bamboo; 200 yards / 3 ½ ounces): 1 hank Ivory, Buttercup, or Gecko. Note: One hank will make a whole drawer-full of sachets!
NEEDLES
One pair straight needles size US 2 (2.75 mm) (optional)
One set of five double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 2 (2.75 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
NOTIONS
Few handfuls lavender (see Sources for Supplies); tapestry needle
GAUGE
15 sts and 21 rows = 3" (7.5 cm) in Double-Knitting Pattern. Note: When determining your gauge, count only the knit sts, not the slipped sts.
STITCH PATTERN
Double-Knitting Pattern (multiple of 2 sts; 1-row repeat)
All Rows: *K1, yf, slip 1, yb; repeat from * to end.
Sachet
Using Long-Tail CO, CO 30 sts. Begin Double-Knitting Pattern; work even until piece measures 2 ¾" from the beginning, ending with a WS row, with both tail and working yarn coming from the same end of the work.
Next Row (RS): *Slip 1 st to front dpn, slip 1 st to back dpn; repeat from * to end. Redistribute sts as follows to prepare for finishing: K7 from front needle onto new dpn (Needle 1), k8 from front needle onto second new dpn (Needle 2), k7 from back needle onto Needle 2, k8 from back needle onto Needle 1.
Finishing
Fill sachet with lavender.
Using Kitchener st (see page 128), graft sts together, leaving a 10" tail.
Tassel
Cut four 7" strands of yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread strands through st just below tail from grafting, leaving a 3 ½" strand on either side of st. Gather strands together and wrap tail around strands for ½" from point of Pyramid. Secure tail through center of tassel and into Sachet. Trim excess yarn.
If you’ve got 30 minutes to spare, you can whip up one of these bracelets for your best friend, mother, sister, or even yourself. One hank of Koigu’s Mori will make at least eight bracelets (not including the stripe, of course). Every woman at our photo shoot requested a bracelet to take home, so I already know they’re crowd-pleasers.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
6 ¾" wide × 1" long
YARN
Koigu Mori (50% merino wool / 50% mulberry silk; 185 yards / 50 grams): Small amount of #M2360 (MC). Note: One hank of this yarn will make about 8 bracelets.
Koigu Premium Merino (100% merino wool; 175 yards / 50 grams): Small amounts of color of your choice (A)
NEEDLES
One pair straight needles size US 1 (2.25 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
NOTIONS
One 3/8" button; sewing needle and cotton thread (for attaching button)
GAUGE
32 sts and 44 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Seed stitch
STITCH PATTERN
Seed Stitch (multiple of 2 sts + 1; 1-row repeat)
All Rows: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Bracelet
Using MC, CO 55 sts. Begin Seed st; work even for 4 rows. Change to A; work even for 1 row.
Buttonhole Row (WS): K1, p1, k2tog, yo, work to end.
Next Row (RS): Change to MC; work even for 5 rows. BO all sts loosely in pattern.
Finishing
Block if desired. Sew button at opposite end from buttonhole.
I’ve always been a huge fan of linen stitch; in fact, the finer the yarn, the more I love it. But linen stitch is time-consuming, so I usually reserve it for small projects like these bookmarks. In beautiful shades of green, they’re a perfect gift for a gardener who reads and dreams about plants all winter. The yarn is Juniper, a fine, washable merino from Alchemy. When I look at these colors, I can tell that Gina Wilde (Alchemy’s owner and amazing master dyer) spends a lot of time in her garden.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
1 3/8" wide × 7" long
YARN
Alchemy Yarns of Transformation Juniper (100% superfine merino; 232 yards / 50 grams): 1 hank #21E Green Plum, #95M Mica, #65E Dragon, #17E Sweet Lime, or #23E Good Earth.
Note: One hank will make at least 8 solid-color bookmarks.
NEEDLES
One pair straight needles size US 4 (3.5 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
GAUGE
16 sts and 30 rows = 2" (5 cm) in Linen stitch
NOTE
If you want to make a multicolored Bookmark, simply change colors as desired.
STITCH PATTERN
Linen Stitch (multiple of 2 sts + 1; 2-row repeat)
Row 1 (RS): K1, *slip 1 wyif, k1; repeat from * to end.
Row 2: K1, p1, *slip 1 wyib, p1; repeat from * to last st, k1. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for Linen Stitch.
Bookmark
CO 11 sts. Begin Linen St; work even until piece measures 7" from the beginning, ending with a WS row.
BO Row (RS): K1, *p1, pass last st over, k1, pass last st over; repeat from * to end. Fasten off.
Finishing
Block if desired.
