click image to enlarge
Diana Troldahl (photo)

Hoochie Cozies

Ever wanted to have your prime hooch on hand, but keep casual guests from partaking?

Here is your solution; Slap a 'Rat Bile' or 'Rot Gut' label on that puppy and discourage those without adventurous spirit.

Because I am a crafty bugger I decided to expand the idea and knit a selection of Hoochie Cozies. Besides, booze bottles deserve their own Hallowe'en costumes, same as anyone.

Graphs include: xXx, Rat Bile, Rot Gut, a skull and crossbones, and Big Damn xXx (with directions for making a Jayne Hat-style cozy).

by Diana Troldahl

Suggested Listening

"Whiskey in the Jar" by The Pogues and The Dubliners

Difficulty

MoonPrincess RavenDark
Click here for definitions of difficulty levels.

Finished Measurements

One size fits most. Height can be adjusted to create a 'crop top' without the bottle necked shaping.

Download

Hoochie Cozies Charts for duplicate stitching (PDF format)

Materials

• Rat Bile: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 110yd/100m per 1.76oz/50 g ball]; Cloud, less than 1 ball each
• Rot Gut: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted [85% wool, 15% mohair; 190 yd/174m per 4oz/113 g skein ]; Lime, less than 1 skein each
• Big Damn xXx: Cascade 220 [100% wool; 220yd/200m per 3.53oz/100g ball]; #9404; #7827; #7824, less than 1 ball each
• Skull and Crossbones: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 110yd/100m per 1.76oz/50 g ball]; Claret Heather, less than 1 ball
• xXx: Cascade 220 [100% wool; 220yd/200m per 3.53oz/100g ball]; #7826, less than 1 ball
• 1 large-eyed blunt-tipped tapestry needle (short is better than long in this instance)
• 2 stitch markers
• US 6/4mm set of 4 or 5 DPNs (or size to create a firm fabric capable of supporting the duplicate stitch embroidery)
• US 5/3.75mm set of 4 or 5 DPNs (or a size down from the needles you chose above)
• Waste yarn in contrasting colors for duplicate stitch embroidery, earflaps (optional), and pom-pom (optional)

click image to enlarge
Diana Troldahl (photo)

Gauge

24 sts and 28 rows per 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch.

Design Notes

I used different yarns and gave details such as color number used for each cozy, but this pattern is ideal for using up odds and ends of yarn. I used less than 1.5oz/43g (75 yds/68.58m) worsted weight yarn for each cozy (including Big Damn Hooch).

Despite the apparent difference in size, each of the bottle bodies is exactly the same number of stitches around. Because of the ribbing on the backside, the cozy will fit a wide range of bottle shapes and sizes. Rot Gut is on a beer bottle, xXx on a champagne bottle, etc.

If the label on your bottle is not very big or if you want a smaller project, you can stop knitting the main section after about 34 rows, and work 4 more rows of k1, p1 ribbing instead of decreasing for the neck. The graphic sections of the charts are made to fit centered in a space 31 stitches wide by 30 stitches high or smaller.

click image to enlarge
Diana Troldahl (photo)

Directions are also given for the color changes and earflaps for Big Damn Hooch. It is assumed you can make a pom pom, if you want one.

You could also adapt the pattern for knitting flat, and work the graphs using stranded knitting. The beginning of the row is set in center back of the bottle, suitable for seaming. Hot glue gun and rhinestones will also work for the embellishments, if you prefer it to duplicate stitch.

Click here for help on how to duplicate stitch.

Directions

Begin:

For All Cozies
CO 46 stitches. Join for knitting in the round, making sure not to twist stitches. The beginning of round will be the the center of the back of the cozy.

Rnds 1-4: Using smaller needles, work in *k1, p1* ribbing for 4 rounds.
Rnd 5 (set up round): Change to larger needles. *k1, p1* 4 times, pm, k 31, pm, * p1, k1* three times, p1.

Body:

click image to enlarge
Diana Troldahl (photo)

Big Damn xXx
Rnd 6: *k1, p1* to marker, sm, k to next marker, sm, *p1, k1* to last st, p1.

Repeat rnd 6 until piece measures 2.5"/6.5cm from the CO edge. You will need at least 10 rounds in stockinette to accommodate the "xXx" portion of the graph.

Change to yellow yarn.

Next Rnds: k all sts, slipping markers as you come to them, until piece measures at least 6"/15.24cm from CO edge. To accommodate the "Big Damn" portion of the graph, it needs to have at least 18 rounds of stockinette in yellow.

Change to red yarn.

Next Rnd: k all sts.

Skip down to Decrease for Neck, continuing to use red yarn.

click image to enlarge
Diana Troldahl (photo)

All Other Cozies
Rnd 6: *k1, p1* to marker, sm, k to next marker, sm, *p1, k1* to last st, p1.

Repeat Rnd 6 until the widest part of your bottle is covered to your satisfaction. (For me that was about 7"/18cm from the CO edge.) You need a field of stockinette at least 31 stitches wide by at least 30 rows high to use for your duplicate stitch graphics from the charts. The center st is the 16th st of the stockinette section.

Decrease for Neck:

For All Cozies
Rnd 1: *k3, k2tog* to last st, k1. You may remove markers during this round. (37 sts)
Rnd 2: k all sts.
Rnd 3: *k3, k2tog* to last 2 sts, k2. (30 sts)
Rnd 4: k all sts.
Rnd 5: *k1, k2tog* around. (20 sts)
Rnd 6: k all sts.

Snug Neck Section:

click image to enlarge
Diana Troldahl (photo)

For All Cozies
Using smaller needles, work rnds of 1x1 ribbing until the neck of your bottle is covered to your satisfaction. In my case, that was a bit more than 2"/5cm.

Bind off.

Optional Earflaps for Big Damn xXx

Big Damn xXx
Rnd 1: Using larger needles, *k3, k2tog* to last st, k1. You may remove markers during this round. (37 sts)
Rnd 2: k all sts.
Rnd 3: *k3, k2tog* to last 2 sts, k2. (30 sts)
Rnd 4: k all sts.
Rnd 5: *k1, k2tog* around. (20 sts)
Rnd 6: k all sts.

Finishing:

For All Cozies
Weave in all ends. Duplicate stitch desired embellishment onto cozy.

Big Damn xXx
Attach optional earflaps and pom-pom if desired.

About

contact Diana: •http://otterwise.blogspot.com/ • legal info