I've been robbed!!!
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic. But damn it if I, er WE, shouldn't have won! So finally, for all those who have been waiting, and or all those who have been searching for felted knit beer cozies (who searches for that?), the results of the 2005 Men's Knitting Contest at SO4 are in. SO4 is the name of the building as this was NOT a company wide contest.
Here's the scoop: the voting lasted for almost all of last week. The samples were numbered and placed in a public area for anyone to vote. No voting guidelines were suggested as far as I can tell, so as far as I know, it looks like people just voted for what they thought looked the best. I'm not sure. Anyway, the wood handled coze came in first by 4 votes out of a few dozen. Here are the entries:
Guess whose is whose? Anyway, from a sheer knitting perspective, I still think the BF's entry was the most impressive, especially considering it was the only one with a bottom. After all, in just ONE WEEK, he did manage to learn how to cast on, cast off, knit continental, purl English, change colors, work in intarsia from a color chart, knit in the round on DPNs, decrease, weave in ends, seam, and felt. as his first project ever. So maybe I'm gushing, but I'm actually very proud of him. And he didn't even have to use a foam cozy to anchor his project.
Okay, so it's hard to beat a beautiful wooden handle for your beer cozy, but this is a KNITTING contest! You can't knit wood handles! I may have to call for a recount...
In case you're interested, the following are directions. Essentially it's a VERY small, long felted hat.
MATERIALS:
Cascade 220 ~100 yards total.
Straight needles and double pointed needles, size US8
GAUGE:
17 sts x 25 rows = 4x4" before felting
FINISHED SIZE:
2.75" diameter, 4" tall.
DIRECTIONS:
CO 48 sts. Working flat, knit in stockinette for 35 rows using intarsia color chart of your choice or design. Leave long tails at each color change at the end of rows to allow for seaming and so color does not show through the seam. After 35 rows, distribute stitches onto 3 DPNs and join. *Knit 12 sts and place marker*, repeat 3 more times. *Knit to within 2 sts of marker, then K2Tog*, repeat until 4 sts remain. Cut yarn. Draw the yarn end through remaining sts and weave in end on the inside. Turn inside out and with right sides together, seam up side using long tails left at color changes. Weave in ends. Hand felt in hot water, frequently stopping to check on size. Let dry using a beer (or soda) can to shape.
NOTES:
If intarsia is not desired, CO 48 sts on DPNs or on a long circular needle using the Magic Loop method and work in the round for 35 rows. Bottom shaping is the same, but at least there's no side seam!
