Brr-ring!!!

Hey, peeps. Imagine my surprise to learn that this is post #100. I mean, I don't even think of myself as someone who would have a blog, let alone post to it 100 times. But there it is!

In celebration, I considered a yarn giveaway. However, the only yarn I'd part with is, to be polite, blech. So instead, I'm giving away a free pattern. It's a sweet little ditty.

Brr-ring!!!

Is it silly? For sure. Is it useful? Partly. Is it a heckuva lot of fun to make? Heck yeah!

This pattern is intended to be a template for your own creativity. As is noted below, cell phones come in all shapes and sizes, and so must cell phone cozies. So as long as you’re working those brain muscles to adjust the sizing for your own cozy, think of what else you can do. Would you like to try a crazy color combo from your stash scraps? Are there any neat-o stitch patterns you’d like to try out for just a few rows, in lieu of these mini-cables?

I recommend stash diving for scraps of any aran/worsted weight yarn. (Despite my love of bamboo, I recommend a sturdier fiber like wool or cotton.) Of course, if you choose to buy new yarn for this project, be prepared to crank out holiday gifts for everyone you know. This little cozy uses so little yarn, you’ll have as many sweaters to give out as Ron Weasley’s mother.

SIZE
Sized to fit phone that measures 4.25” by 2” by 1”. Due to the wide variety of cell phone dimensions, I highly recommend measuring your phone or iPod first. Indicated in the pattern are a few places where you can add or subtract stitches to accommodate your phone’s size.

MATERIALS
Lion Brand Wool-Ease [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 197 yd/185 m per 85g skein]; color: Dark Rose Heather; 1 skein
2 set(s) US #8/Xmm circular needles of any length, or 1 set DPNs
1 set US #10/Xmm DPNs

cable needle (optional if you cable without an extra needle)
tapestry needle

GAUGE
17 sts/23 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on size 8 needles

PATTERN NOTES
C2F: Slip next stitch to cable needle and hold to front of work; k1, k1 from cable needle.
C2B: Slip next stitch to cable needle and hold to back of work; k1, k1 from cable needle.

PATTERN

With smaller needles, CO 7 sts.
Starting with RS facing, work rows 1-3 in St st.
Row 4: p7, CO 13 (total of 20 sts). Join to work in the round.

Rnd 5-6: K all sts.

Rnd 7: K14, C2F, k1, C2B, k1
Rnd 8: K all sts.

Repeat Rnds 7-8 three more times. Add or subtract a repetition to fit your phone.

On final round of stockinette, k last st with waste yarn.
Next round: K 2 sts with waste yarn; sl 3 waste yarn sts to left needle and k these sts again; k 9 sts; k 3 sts with waste yarn; sl 3 waste yarn sts to left needle and k these sts again; k 6 sts.

Next round: k1, m1, k11, m1, k8.
Next round: k14, BO 5 sts, k1.

Work back and forth in St st until work from BO measures 2.25 inches (or to the top of your phone), ending with WS.

Hood shaping:
Row 1: k1, k2tog, k8, w&t.
Row 2: p7, w&t.
Row 3: k8, k2tog, k1.
Row 4: p all sts.
Row 5: k1, k2tog, k7, w&t.
Row 6: p7, w&t.
Row 7: k7, k2tog, k1.
Row 8: p1, p2tog, p5, p2tog, p1.
Row 9: k1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1.
Work 2 more rows in St st.
BO all sts.

Sleeves:
Keep a generous tail and pick up seven stitches held by waste yarn. Work in St st for 6 rnds; BO all sts and weave in ends, making sure to use the tail to cover holes at the base of the arms.

Seam together bottom, and the two corners of the hoodie.

Hoodie tie:
With smaller needles, pick up 6 sts along the right edge of the hood, 5 sts along the top, and 6 sts along the left edge.
With larger needles, K 1 row in this semicircle.

Cut three strands approx. 12 inches each. Tie them together with a double knot at one end. Loosely braid them together.
With a needle, thread the braided tie through the loops made by the larger needle. Tie the second end together with a double knot and trim the ends.

FINISHING
Weave in all loose ends. Go play in the snow.