Perfect for the upcoming Holidays!
If you enjoy knitting socks, you'll love making these Christmas Tree Cozies! However, there are no heels to turn and you don't need to make a matching pair. I designed three different styles and sizes for a pretty array of textures. I love to scatter them around the house for a little pop of color, and I have the group shown in the photo on a table in my entryway to give a warm welcoming to visitors. I love them so much I leave them up all winter. Materials you will need to make the cozies:
All sizes use size US 6 (4mm) 16" circular knitting needles and the same size double-point needles. I'll talk more about yarn and needle sizes below.
Small Cabled Cozy
approximately 80 yards of DK yarn
Styrofoam cone - 3 7/8 in x 8 7/8 in (98mm x 225mm)
Cable needle
Row counter
Stitch Marker
Medium Stacked Rings Cozyapproximately 175 yards of DK yarn
Styrofoam cone - 3.9 in x 11.8 in (99mm x 299mm)
Row counter
Stitch marker
Large Branches and Berries Cozy
approximately 200 yards of DK yarn
Styrofoam cone - 4 7/8 in x 17 7/8 in (124mm x 454mm)
Row counter
Stitch marker
Yarn and needle suggestions:
I used DK weight yarn for all three sizes and have used both Patons Classic DK Wool and Swish DK from Knit Picks (www.knitpicks.com). I used size US 6 (4mm) needles with the Patons DK yarn, it is just slightly heavier in weight than the Knit Picks DK yarn. I made two of the large trees using size US 6 needles with both Patons and Swish, the tree using Swish came out slightly smaller so an adjustment to the Styrofoam tree was necessary. This is how it looked when I put it on the cone:
Adjusting the cozy to fit the cone:
Since my cozy turned out a bit short, I used a serrated knife to slice off about
an inch from the bottom of the cone. I had to remove the plastic wrapping from the cone before cutting, I usually leave it on so the cozy can slip right over the cone. Just slice right through the cone like you are cutting bread. When putting the cozy back over the cone, I gathered up the cozy towards the top and sort of unrolled it onto the cone. I also covered the bottom of the cone with a circle of felt that I glued on.
If you wish to use a different yarn than the ones I suggested and your cozy turns out a bit longer than the cone, just stuff some cotton balls or polyester fiberfill stuffing into the top of the cozy before slipping it onto the cone. This will fill the extra space you'll have at the top.
I made a second large cozy using the Swish yarn using size US 7 needles and it turned out the perfect size for the cone. I did like the way the knitted fabric looked using the size US 6 needles better though. So if you are substituting yarn and prefer to use different size needles and your gauge is a bit off, don't worry about it too much, the cone can always be adjusted to fit the cozy.
I have lots of ideas on how these cozies could be altered. Like knitting the Stacked Rings Cozy in different colors for each ring or striped. Adding beads to the Cabled Cozy would be pretty, or even making the Branches and Berries Cozy without the bobbles and gluing some colored pompoms on instead. But those will be for a future post! Until then, you can purchase the patterns for the cozies right here on my site.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Lavender Hill Knits!!
julie