This fun pattern was invented one day when I was showing my mom about Magic Loop. She asked, "what is Magic Loop good for?" I answered that it was especially good for knitting little tiny objects in the round, like glove fingers, armwarmers, and the tops of hats. I said, "do you have a key? I'll make it a little sweater to demonstrate!" and the Key Cozy was born.
This pattern is a great way to practice Magic Loop and to use up a scrap of sock yarn at the same time. I've created a step-by step video to work through the pattern with you, if you want to make one together! Just follow along with the pattern and the video, and you'll be busting out key cozies in 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Key Cozy - Part 1
Key Cozy - Part 2
Materials:
10 yards of fingering-weight yarn.
US Size 1 dpns or a US size 1 40” circular lace needle if you prefer to work in the round using the magic loop method (recommended for this project).
Special stitches:
M1R: Insert left-hand needle-tip from back to front under stretch of yarn between stitches. Knit through the front of this loop.
M1L: Insert left-hand needle-tip from front to back under stretch of yarn between stitches. Knit through the back of the loop.
Pattern instructions:
CO 10 sts. Join for working in the round.
Rounds 1-4: Knit. 10 sts total.
Round 5: *K1, M1R, K4, rep from * to end. 12 sts total.
Round 6: *K5, M1L, K1 rep from * to end. 14 sts total.
Round 7: *K1, M1R, K6, M1L, K1, rep from * to end. 18 sts total.
Round 8: Knit. 18 sts total.
Round 9: *K1, SKP, K3, K2TOG, K1, rep from * to end. 14 sts total.
Round 10: *K3, YO, K2TOG, K2, rep from * to end. 14 sts total.
Round 11: * K1, SKP, K1, K2TOG, K1, rep from * to end. 10 sts total.
Round 12: Insert key into cozy, long end first. With key in cozy, work as follows: *SKP, K1, K2TOG, rep from * to end. 6 sts total.
Finishing:
Break yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Weave tail through rem. sts. Pull tight and tie a knot. Weave in yarn ends. Be fAAbulous!
This NEVER would have occurred to me, and I have a super ugly key to my mother-in-law's that I carry around...I will pretty it up now! Thanks for this pattern!
ReplyDeleteMaybe if I dress all my keys it will cut down on the jingly noise!
ReplyDeleteJust after my key covers disintegrated! I must make a dozen, it's fate!
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for you enthusiasm and thanks! You're welcome! I never thought this would be such a popular pattern! I hope you all enjoy it!
ReplyDelete-Liat
Ok, I'm having trouble with a few parts. First off I do not get the special stitches. Second, how do I get from 14 stitches to 18 stitches (round 6-7)when you only increase twice giving you 16? Third, how do you go from 14 stitches to 10 (round 10-11) when you only decrease twice??
ReplyDeleteFor anyone having issues with "not enough" increases and decreases, please remember that you'll need to repeate the items marked with asterick as noted in the pattern.
ReplyDeleteNow that is really cute!! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteso cute !
Thank you so much for the videos. Watching a complete pattern knit, from beginning to end, I finally 'get' Magic Loop. Now, if only I had the right needle, I'd make this tonight!
ReplyDeleteHi Renna! So happy to see you here! Now all we need is a 24-hour yarn shop... :)
ReplyDeleteLiat
Liat, I'd settle for a local yarn shop, period! In my small town, the nearest thing we have to a yarn shop is Hobby Lobby.
ReplyDeleteI've decided to order the Addis Turbo lace needle for this project, as it's a genuinely useful item for our household. We go through 3 or 4 keys before we land on the right one to open our front door. ;-Þ
As I'm on a tight budget, I want this needle to serve a dual purpose of being able to use it for lacy socks as you mentioned in the video. Is a 40" (size you recommended for the key cozy) long enough to knit socks Magic Loop, or should I order a 47"?
I appreciate so very much the things you share. It really is the next best thing to having an experienced knitter at hand!
I just purchased your Magic Loop e-book, and I have a hunch the answer to my question in my comment above will be included in there! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Renna! This is a great question. And you are right! The answer is totally in your Magic Loop e-book. But to answer it for all my readers: you should definitely get a 47-inch needle if you are going to use it for socks. A 47-inch needle is also great for two-at-a-time.
ReplyDeleteHappy knitting!
Round 6: *K5, M1L, K1 rep from * to end. 14 sts total.
ReplyDeleteRound 7: *K1, M1R, K6, M1L, K1, rep from * to end. 18 sts total.
I am reading the pattern through before getting started, and have a question about these two lines.
If you start with 14 stitches at the end of round 6, that would be 7 stitches to a side for round 7. But if you count up the knits in the half round shown in round 7, that's 8 stitches for that half. K1 + K6 + K1 = K8.
Should the K6 be a K5, or is this one of those it's apparent when you get there in the knitting?
Hi Jen, I've updated the pattern. Find the updated version here: https://knitfreedom.com/free-pattern/key-cozy-magic-loop-fingering/
ReplyDelete