Quick Knitting and The Hamster Has A Name...and better photos

I have another soda can cozy....FOR ME!! I had to knit something but didn't want to start anything else big so I decided to use up some scraps and make myself another one. Now when one is being washed, I have a replacement. I changed it up a little from the original and did more increases on the bottom and I'm happy with the way it turned out.

I finally got a few good photos of the little hamster. My friend, Froggie, came by to see him and while she was here, I got her to help distract him so I could photograph him. We still had a hard time getting him to be still. I think hamsters all have ADHD. My hamster needs some Ritalin! Isn't he cute? Sunflower seeds will get his attention every time.

Look at that face...gotta love him. I did some name searching online and found one that, after a little modification, my kids loved. According to my youngest daughter, the hamster likes it too. lol Keep in mind, my kids are big Star Wars fans...my daughter's favorite is Anikin Skywalker so.........the hamster is now named.... HAMIKIN TUBEWALKER! lol I do appreciate all your suggestions but my kids are nuts for this name and it's kinda funny...they all agreed on one name (that never happens!).

Another Manly Soda Cozy And Some Rambling

Nothing much new to report...finished another soda can cozy for my youngest son. He requested black but I found this new color at Walmart and had to try it. It's Peaches & Cream in Licorice. I love the way the colors came together and I really want to keep this one but I can't. He did ask for it. I tried the "but you said black" excuse but no deal. He loves it and he's keeping it. Oh well, I do have enough left over to make another one.

I got a message from a blog reader about printing out the free patterns on my site. She was having touble getting them to copy and paste so she could print. If anyone has problems with them, feel free to email me or leave a comment anywhere on the blog (I will get the message) and I will be happy to email you a copy of the pattern/s you want. I have them all in Word doc. format saved on my computer.

I finished the baby hat but it was WAY too small. It has now found a home on my daughter's baby doll's head. lol The doll still only has one bootie though. I still need to make her another one. I will post a photo of my baby bootie set soon. (Did I already promise that already? lol) I also have to start another hat in a bigger size for the real baby. Hope everyone is well and happy. I've felt a little overwhelmed lately...trying to get it all together. My Ravelry guilt is about to get the best of me. I so need to get back on there and get my page done. So many people still waiting to get in and here I've been in for some time and have done NOTHING. I'm so ashamed. My name on Ravelry is "lilknitter" if anyone else is already on. I hope to see you all there eventually.

Soda Can Cozy....Free Pattern

Soda Can Cozy
©Copyright 2007
Designed by Melanie Thompson

US Size 7 Double Point Needles
100 % Cotton Yarn

Cast on 40 stitches
Place a marker and join…knit one round
*K2, P2 * repeat to end of round
Continue with K2, P2, for about 1 inch (not critical…personal preference)
When you have desired amount of ribbing….knit every round
Continue knitting every round until piece measures about 3 ½ to 3 ¾ inches from cast on edge
Then begin to decrease for the bottom

Round 1: Purl
Round 2: *K8, K2tog* repeat to end (36 stitches)
Round 3: Purl
Round 4: *K7, K2tog* repeat to end (32 stitches)
Round 5: Purl
Round 6: *K6, K2tog* repeat to end (28 stitches)
Round 7: Purl
Round 8: *K5, K2tog* repeat to end (24 stitches)
Round 9: Purl
Round 10: *K4, K2tog* repeat to end (20 stitches)
Round 11: Purl
Round 12: *K3, K2tog* repeat to end (16 stitches)
Round 13: Purl
Round 14: *K2, K2tog* repeat to end (12 stitches)
Round 15: Purl
Round 16: *K1, K2tog* repeat to end (8 stitches)
Round 17: Purl
Cut yarn leaving tail about 4-5 inches long
Pull the tail through the remaining stitches and tug tightly
Secure the tail and weave in the ends

The bottom will have a cone shape…not to worry…this forms to the

shape of the bottom of your soda can You could choose to do

the K2, P2 ribbing the full length of the cozy until

the decreases begin to change it up a bit. Or you could add random

purl rows through out the length of the sides just to vary the

design…have fun and experiment!

Just wanted to add that when these get dirty, just toss them in the wash with towels and they're good to go for more use.

My Soda Can Cozy...Manly Variation

Now my brother-in-law doesn't have to worry about cold hands anymore. This is his manly soda can cozy. I will give it to him tomorrow and hopefully he will like it. I love mine...using it right now as a matter of fact.

This is a terrible photo of the bottom of his can cozy....couldn't seem to get a decent one no matter how many times I tried. Oh well, I hope you get the general idea. The photo of my first one in an earlier post was so much clearer. For anyone who might be interested...my next post will be the free pattern for this soda can cozy. I give you the basic pattern but please feel free to play around with it and change it up a little....make each one a little different just for fun.

My Can Cozy....No You Can't Have It...lol

This is my cute little can cozy....yeah, I actually got to keep this one. I knit my nephew a cup cozy (didn't get a photo before he left for the beach) for his sippy cups. His was done flat and seamed up the side. It had no bottom...just slips on and off the cup easily. He took it to the beach and my sister called to say she has been stopped several times by people who wanted to know what it was and where she got it. One lady who is a fellow knitter told my nephew that he was obviously loved very much since it was made for him to keep his little hands from getting cold. Anyway, after doing his I got to thinking about making some with bottoms in them. I cast on...knitted a little...frogged....cast on again. This is the end result. I like this one better for the big "kids" but it takes so much longer to knit than the ones that just slip on. It is so worth the effort though. I have been using it since I finished it two days ago and I love it. I take it everywhere with me...can't leave my house without a diet pepsi. Well unless I take a Green Tea in which case I will need to knit a cozy for that...another story entirely.

This is the bottom view. At first I thought I made a major error since this is only the second time I have done a bottom decrease this way. It has a little bit of a cone shape to it and I was so disappointed with the point until I slipped it on my can. TA DA!!!! The point pushes up into the little recess in the bottom of your soda can. It fit perfectly! That never happens to me....I was so excited. (Ok so I don't get out much and I'm easily amused....lol) Yesterday I get another phone call from the beach...my brother-in-law needs to talk to me she says....keep in mind he's not a big talker...he says..."Um...my drink is cold and it makes my hands cold." How's that for a subtle hint. I have another one OTN and I gotta hurry since they are on their way home from the beach as I type. I guess that means I should knitting.