crocheted key cozy

So, I had a request for a crocheted key cozy. I was only too happy to try it!

I think I like this one even better than my old knit one! But I feel I must warn you that the results were a pass and a fail at the same time. Pass because I really like it. Fail because I'm not sure how easy it will be for someone else to recreate it.

Why? Because I had used this tiny, tiny, tiny crochet hook. Does anyone else have a crochet hook this small? I worry, no.

I inherited this hook from my mother, who I bet got it from her mother. The size on the side says England 9. It is probably from the days when things like crochet hooks were actually manufactured in England. I looked it up online, and size 9 is definitely not a contemporary size UK9.

So if you can find a hook small enough that you could make socks with it... That isn't to say it can't be made with a different size of yarn and hook. It can.  This is just what I did.

Also, this is what I did for my key. There are so many different kinds of keys out there. You may have to modify it depending on the shape of your key.

My Key Cozy notes 
(I pretty much took the knitting pattern, and made it with SC. )

Yarn: Noro sock yarn
Length: Not that much. Just some scraps.
Hook: really, really small.

Chain 10 sts. Join.
Ch 1. SC into every stitch in the round. Join round.
Ch 1. {SC1. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC4} repeat. Join.
Ch 1. {SC5. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC1} repeat. Join.
Ch 1. {SC1. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC4. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC1} repeat. Join.
Ch 1. {SC1. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC6. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC1} repeat. Join.
Right about now you should probably be trying it on your key. All keys are different and here I realized I'd needed to increase one more time. Maybe you won't have to. 
Ch 1. {SC1. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC8. in next stitch do 2 SC. SC1} repeat. Join. (Optional)
Ch 1. SC to end. Join.
Put key into the cozy. Make sure the yarn is above the top of the key. Do another SC row if you have to.
Ch 1. SC looping through stitch loops on the left and the right to join them together above the key. Do this until you get to the notch where you attach it to the ring. SC until the other side. SC other side together as well. Ch back to tab.
Ch1. SC around.
Ch1. SC through stitch loop from left and right to end.
Pull yarn through.

My key then looked like this.

I sewed the yarn in and done.

Unraveled

As I was walking out to my car tonight, I noticed that my key cozy is coming unraveled! Sometimes even the best crafts bite the dust. 

I guess it's not surprising considering I made it about a year and a half ago. Most often, it's a very sad day when a beloved knit starts to come apart. But this is such an easy pattern (I did make it in about 20 min after all) that I just might have to make myself another! And now I'll get to have it in a new colour!

Update: Crocheted version of key cozy is done and posted about here!

Beautifully Brown

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post, but I've been working like a mad woman on a bunch of old project, and even a new one. None of these projects have anything remotely to do with crafting. They seem to be eating up my time like a kid eats candy on Halloween.
So since I haven't finished anything, I thought I'd show you what I've been working on. Mittens!

Or they will be mittens once I'm done! Thus far, I really like them! Note: there was a fairly obvious mistake in pattern. Good thing I realized it before I had to rip it all out.
Even moving at a snail's pace, I'm hoping to be done sometime sooooon. Cause it's been cold here! So cold that this past weekend I wore a headband under my toque when I went out for my morning runs. Seriously. That is cold. (Or. Yes. Maybe I'm just a wimp.)

What are you doing to get ready for the chill of winter?