Needlecrafts Knitting Knitting Patterns

Bottle or Can Cozy Knitting Pattern

Keep your drinks cozy while using up your yarn stash

Knit cozy for a bottle or can.
(c) Sarah E. White, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Knitting a cozy for cold beverages makes a lot of sense. The bottle cozy insulates your drink, keeping it colder longer, and it keeps the condensation off your hands on hot days. It's a wonderful concept and there's no need to buy a can cozy when you can make your own!

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.

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.

  1. Cast on 34 stitches.
  2. Divide onto 3 double-pointed needles and join in the round. Place a stitch marker to mark the end of the round, if desired.
  3. 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.
  4. Bind off loosely. Cut the yarn and weave in ends.

Gift Ideas

The fun part about knitting bottle cozies is that they're easy and super quick to make. They also make great gifts, particularly if you include a beverage inside. Don't stop at beer or soda bottles and cans—knit up cozies for other bottles and share the joy while cleaning out your yarn stash.

Adding a cozy to a gift of wine is a fantastic idea. This is also the perfect excuse to use up the fancier yarns you have hidden away. Nothing says fancy wine like a little sparkle or fur! Also, you can keep water cold with this handy lace-knit cozy that includes a carrying cord. It's another quick and easy project that you will wonder how you've lived without.