Monday, February 21, 2011

water jar cozy

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.

Edited 2-22-11 to clarify abbreviations.


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.

One commenter asked for a photo of the bottom, to help understand the instructions.  Here you go!
(And by the way, these are the same two jar cozies - I'm still using them, almost 4 years later!)

20 comments:

Leslie said...

I am so making these!

Kim said...

Yay! I hope to see photos! :)

Mrs. Jennifer said...

I'm working on a change purse right now, but this is so next. Which means I should have it done in time for 2012's garden season:)
(So I'm slow-LOL)

Kim said...

hee hee - slow and steady wins the race! Thanks, Jennifer!

Karen said...

Thank you for sharing My Friend. I like this and will be making it. Very good idea.

Sarah Holcombe said...

Umm ... is it really necessary to mention that Mama totes around a jar of water everywhere she goes?

I reckon the apple doesn't fall far from the ol' tree. :)

Kim said...

That's right! I need to make one for her!

AutumnPaige said...

Wonderful! I just refreshed my crochet skills (which were few), and FINALLY learned read crochet patterns, so I am thrilled to be finding all of these wonderful, free Crochet patterns out there. My Mom has a mason jar that has been converted to a water bottle. The metal lid has a permanent straw in the middle! I'm going to stitch up this cute cozy for her. can't Wait! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Great pattern! I had no idea how to do the decreasing part, but I found a great explanation here: http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-crochet-double-crochet-decrease/
Just in case anyone else has the same problem!:)

Unknown said...

So excited to discover your idea! And thank you for sharing the pattern. Getting ready to be traveling in the RV and I know what one of my projects will be!!

Kim said...

Excellent, Helen! I like to make these on long trips too. :)

PJ said...

Just made one of these to use as a carrier for my salad in a jar lunches! Came out beautifully! Thanks for the pattern!

Taylor said...

Just whipped one up- I didn't have an F hook so I used a G, and I think a person could decrease the body by one row and the circumference by a stitch or two, at least when using a G hook. Great pattern though, the hair elastic is genius!

Unknown said...

is there anyway you can post a picture of the bottom i am making some of these but the ending instructions are a bit confusing to me.

Kim said...

Taylor - Excellent! Yes, you should feel free to experiment with hook size and see what works for you!

Stacy - About to post one for you. :)

Unknown said...

Kim TYVM i am working with my BFF she is the one actually making these for me neither one of us understood the bottom she wanted me to tell you thank you for the pictures. i have a picture i would love for you to see the one she made.

Kim said...

Great! I'd love to see them! You can post photos on my wall at http://facebook.com/atinyforest, and I'll repost them. :)

Diane Lemery McDonald said...

Brilliant. I love the use of a hair band at the top to snug in the cozy.

Thank you,
Diane

dreamlover said...

Thus far I made two because I'm on crutches and the only other way to get my tea from the kitchen to the living room is a thermos flask, which is a lot more work to clean.

Kim said...

Oh! I'm sorry about the crutches, but I'm so happy this solves a problem for you! :)