This August, it’s crafting month at Take a Break, and we’ve teamed up with the experts at Create and Craft to bring you some fabulous projects to try. This week, why not have a go at crocheting this jar cosy? It’s easy to make and you can join the online craftalong with Create and Craft’s Hayley.
HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET JAR COSY
Watch our step-by-step craftalong videos below to see the basics of crocheting, then scroll down to make your own jar cosy.
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To form the base, start with a magic circle — a chain of six stitches joined into a loop — then chain up two stitches to create the right height to start the next row.
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Work 12 double crochet stitches into the loop to form a circle. Join the first stitch to the last with a slip stitch, then chain two stitches ready for the next row.
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Go around again, but this time the stitches will increase with a double crochet into the first stitch on the loop, then two double crochet stitches on to the second stitch. One stitch into the third and two into the fourth and so on, until you get all the way around back to the start.
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Keep adding rows to increase the size of the base. Each time you come out of a row, increase the number of stitches to keep your circle expanding and flat. For the third row it will be two doubles every third stitch, and in the fourth row two doubles every fourth stitch. Continue until the circle is a fraction smaller than the base of your jar in order to create a snug fit.
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To start the sides, continue to work in a double crochet stitch, but just work the outer strand of each stitch. Mark where you started, as once you get all the way around, you’ll go back to working through both strands of each stitch to allow the cosy grow vertically. To add stripes, switch in your contrasting yarn.
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Once your rows have reached the height of your jar, cut off the yarn, leaving a 10 cm tail. Then use a needle to weave this through the stitches on the inside of the cosy and trim the excess.
