The New Year is here, and with it no doubt comes a New Year weekend round of celebrations. How about a fun little knit to help keep your beverages cool while you toast to the arrival of 2020? We've discussed cozies in this blog before, but previously in the context of knits that will keep your tea kettle warm. This knit is for holding beverage cans; the same principle of insulation applies, but this time the goal is to keep the can nice and cool.
This quick and easy pattern will fit a glass bottle that the average beer comes in and it works pretty well on a 12-ounce can, too. You'll just want to knit it a little shorter to leave a bit more bare space for sipping. It knits up fast, so you can make cozies for the entire family and you'll have the coolest (looking) drinks at the picnic.
Materials Needed
The fantastic aspect of this pattern is that it's a great way to use up your yarn stash. The color and fiber really do not matter, just make sure the yarn is a medium weight. It's the ideal use for those leftover balls of yarn that require a small project and you can always adjust the needle size to get the correct gauge.
About 24 yards of a medium weight wool blend or cotton-blend yarn, Set of four size 6 US double-pointed knitting needles, Scissors, Yarn needle .
Pattern Gauge and Size
Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches (5 stitches and 7 rows per inch) in Stockinette Stitch in the round. Maintaining this exact gauge isn't critical but yours should be pretty close in order to fit snugly around a bottle or can (you don't want your cozy slipping off!).
Size: The finished cozy is 4 inches tall and about 7 inches around unstretched.
Instructions
The pattern is worked in the round on a set of double-pointed needles. It's such a small project that it shouldn't take much time at all and you may be able to get a few done in one night.
Cast on 34 stitches. Divide onto 3 double-pointed needles and join in the round. Place a stitch marker to mark the end of the round, if desired. Work in Stockinette Stitch—knit 1 row, purl 1 row—for 4 inches to create a bottle-sized cozy. Stop at 3 1/2 inches for a can cozy. Bind off loosely. Cut the yarn and weave in ends.