Jar cozy.

So. I have a lot of yarn. Much of it is scrappy or I don't have anything that *quite* matches. I've decided to make some mason jar cozies. This is not a new idea. This pattern is of my own devising, but anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of crochet and a hankering to cover a jar could have figured it out as well. That said, I'm going to give one of these away - the one I make in this post, actually. I'll also stick some in my Etsy shop. Just because.

Here's how I do it:

You need a "k" hook, worsted weight wool, stitch marker, and scissors. I have two k hooks - one just says "k" the other says "k/101/2-6.50mm" I have no idea how crochet hooks are labeled. I use the "k" hook - it's larger.

To begin with, we're working with two strands of yarn held together. I start with a magic circle using six single crochet stitches. This is the bottom of the cozy.

For the next round, increase in each stitch. That is, make two single crochet stitches in each stitch - leaving you with 12 stitches.

For the third round I single crochet in two stitches and increase in the third. I follow that pattern all the way around. This gives me 16 stitches. The fourth round will be single crochet in three stitches and increase in the fourth - giving you 20 stitches. And for the fifth round, single crochet in four stitches and increase in the fifth, thus arriving at 24 stitches. This is the magic number I've come up with. Except that it really ought to be 23, but we'll get to that.

Okay. So you have your 24 stitches. Now you'll be single crocheting around - but only in the back loop! Stop at the last stitch before you hit your marker. We have to decrease (to get my more magical 23 - hey, prime numbers are fun).

For the last stitch, go into the back loop and grab your yarn like you're going to single crochet. Pull it through. Instead of yarning over, go into the first stitch of the next round (both loops, not just the back), grab your yarn, pull it through, yarn over and pull it through all the loops. You've just decreased. Woo hoo!

Now it's smooth sailing. Single crochet around and around and around until your cozy is the height you want. I check mine by slipping it onto an empty jar.

Once you've gotten the height you want, slip stitch into the first stitch of the next round (I generally slip stitch into the first *two* stitches) and then finish off. Weave in your ends and enjoy a tasty beverage.

This cozy used roughly 70 yards. I think. I've lost the tag to the yarn so I'm guessing based on other wools that I regularly use. Oh. And they fit standard Ball pint (16 ounce) jars.

So! Anyone who would like to win a mason jar cozy, leave a comment and I'll pick a name randomly on.. hmm. Wednesday night - since I'll be too busy Tuesday putting together my new spinning wheel!