Plait N Post Cozy

A sweet textured cozy that is versatile in use – perfect for cups, bottles, pots, jars, vases and any other cylindrical item.

Please note: This is an original pattern by Farrah Jane Tate. You are welcome to sell products you have made using my patterns; however, I ask that you refer to the exact name of my pattern somewhere in the text of your listing. You may not copy, re-publish, sell, distribute, translate without permission, or claim my photos or patterns as your own in any way. If you have downloaded this pattern from a site other than Ravelry, Love Crafts, Etsy, or my personal blog, you may not have the most current version. Please visit one of these sites to download an official, version-controlled copy.

Pattern Details

Recommended Yarn: Yarn of any brand, fibre can be used, however cotton, string, stiff/rigid acrylic, or raffia are recommended options. Worsted/Aran/10ply/Cat. 4 weight yarn OR multiple strands of thinner yarn worked together are recommended.
Hook Size: Use yarn label instructions as a guide for selecting hook size. Work a swatch to determine the optimal hook for your tension.
Size: Size to preference. This Cozy can be made to fit various bottles, cans, and coffee cups.
Skill Level: Advanced beginner to Intermediate.
Stitch Terminology: US – refer to Abbreviations and Special Stitch Instructions for stitches used in the pattern.
Gauge: Set Gauge is not required – instructions are provided for sizing the cozy. Refer to Project Examples for example FC number and circumference measurement.
Pattern Synopsis: Cozy that is constructed in the round working RS throughout. The texture results from alternating Braid and Puff stitches. Instructions are available for two options: sleeve (bottomless) and full cozy (with crochet bottom). Note: the free version on this Blog contains the sleeve version, whilst the paid PDF version on Ravelry contains the instructions for both sleeve and full cozy.
Social Media Share: Please tag me @TheCrochetFix and Hash Tag your projects #BraidNBobbleCozy.

Project Examples

Below are the details of the yarn used for the cozies pictured within this pattern document. For additional project ideas and inspiration, please visit the Ravelry listing for this pattern.

Image – Left: Coffee Cup Sleeve Cozy. Fits: Small to large sized disposable cup or keep cup. Yarn/Hook: Spotlight 4 Seasons Spot Saver USA Medium Weight (Worsted) in Donkey using ~20g/ 0.7Oz, with a 5mm hook. Cozy relaxed measurements: ~7cm/2.7”in length and ~27cm/10.6” in circumference. FC: 28. Cozy Body: 3 rounds of Cozy Body standard pattern. Cozy Top/ Bottom Borders: As per standard pattern, except last round of Spn St worked into 3LO instead of BLO.
Image – Middle: Kombucha Bottle Cozy (with base). Fits: Any small bottle (kombucha bottle, soft drink bottle, water bottle, beer bottle, etc). Yarn/Hook: Spotlight 4 Seasons Spot Saver USA Medium Weight (Worsted) in Yellow using ~34g/ 1.2Oz, with a 5mm hook. Cozy relaxed measurements: ~15cm/5.9”in length and ~23cm/9” in circumference. Cozy Base: Two rounds of DC: 13 DCs; and then 26 DCs (increase in every stitch). Cozy Body: 10 rounds of Cozy Body standard pattern. Cozy Top Border: As per standard pattern, except last round of Spn St worked into 3LO instead of BLO.
Image – Right: Water Bottle Tote Cozy. Fits: Any regular sized water bottle. Yarn/Hook: Spotlight 4 Seasons Spot Saver USA Medium Weight (Worsted) in Pumpkin using using ~45g/1.6Oz of yarn, with a 5mm hook. Cozy relaxed measurements: ~21cm/8.3” in length and ~25cm/9.6” in circumference. Base: Three rounds of DC: 12 stitches; then 18 stitches (increase in every second stitch); and then 24 stitches (increase in every third stitch). Cozy Body: 14 rounds of Cozy Body standard pattern. Top border: As per standard pattern. Straps x2: 60 stacked SCs each, and then tied to cozy (knotted on wrong side) equally on both sides. There are three stitches between the knot of one end of strap and the knot of other other end of strap, and seven stitches between each strap. The straps can be spaced according to personal preference, however.

Abbreviations

3L = 3rd Loop
3LO = 3rd Loop Only (loop that is at the reverse/wrong side, directly below the BL. This is most easily accessed by folding the previous round over/forwards)
Beg = Beginning
BL = Back Loop
BLO = Back Loop Only
Br St = Braid/ Plait Stitch
Ch = Chain
DC = Double Crochet
FC = Foundation Chain
Fin = Finishing
FpSC = Front Post Single Crochet (work SC around the front of the post of the previous round stitch rather than in the two loops of the stitch)
HDC = Half Double Crochet
Puff = Puff Stitch
RS = Right Side
SC = Single Crochet
Sl St = Slip Stitch
Spn St = Spin Stitch
St = Stitch

Special Stitch Instructions

Braid Stitch (Br St)

Insert hook through stitch, yarn over hook and pull through a loop (two loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull a loop through first loop on hook only (two loops on hook). Yarn over hook and (for a second time) pull a loop through first loop on hook only (two loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull a loop through both remaining loops on hook (one loop on hook).

Puff Stitch (Puff)

Yarn over hook, insert hook through stitch, yarn over and pull through a loop (three loops on hook). *Yarn over hook, insert hook back through same St as before, and pull through a loop (additional two loops on hook).* Repeat instructions between the * * twice more, such that there are nine loops on hook. Yarn over hook and pull yarn through eight loops (two loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull a loop through both remaining loops on hook.

Spin Stitch (Spn St)

Please refer to The Crochet Fix YouTube video for visualisation. Crab Stitch, SC, or Sl St, can be substituted, if preferred.

Insert hook through stitch, yarn over hook and pull through a loop (two loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull a loop through the last loop made (two loops on hook). While keeping both loops on hook, spin hook 360^O clockwise (a full rotation) on the horizontal plane. Yarn over hook and pull a loop through both loops on hook.

Tips

The pattern instructions have been written so that the cozy can be easily sized according to personal preference in both circumference and length.
Use the yarn label as a guide only for selecting hook size. Make a couple of swatches with different sized hooks to determine the most suitable hook size for your chosen yarn.
When sizing the circumference for the cozy sleeve always ensure that your chosen foundation chain is a factor of two. It is better for the cozy to be on the tighter side, as it will stretch a little, so consider this when determining the most suitable foundation chain number.
When sizing the cozy with base, experiment with swatches using different hook size, and of different base round number and stitch count, to determine the hook and base construction that results in the best fit/ crochet fabric texture.

Cozy Sleeve (bottomless cozy) Pattern Instructions

Construction is summarised as:

Work 3 + (according to personal preference) rounds of Braid/ Puff stitches.
Work top border from a round of FpSC, followed by a round of Spn St.
Work bottom border from a round of FpSC, followed by a round of Spn St.

Cozy Body

Foundation Chain (FC)

Ch a multiple of 2 that fits snugly around the item for which the cozy is being made. Ensuring the FC are not twisted, close the circle by Sl St into the first Ch.

Rounds 1 to 2+ – Braid (Br St)& Bobble (Puff) Texture

Note:

Beg Ch 3 counts as a Br St.
Fin Sl St does not count as a St.
Keep repeating Round 2 until the cozy is the desired length.

Round 1

Ch 3 from first FC (counts as first Br St). Puff in next FC. Br St in next FC. Puff in next FC. Continue to alternate a Br St the first, and a Puff in the second, of every two FCs around. Sl St into third Ch of beg Ch 3 to complete round.

(Stitch Count: Br St = FC number/ 2 and Puff = FC number/ 2)

Round 2 (and subsequent rounds, as required to achieve required length)

Ch 3 from beg Ch 3 from previous round (counts as first Br St). Puff in next Puff. Br St in next Br St. Puff in next Puff. Continue to Br St in each Br St, and Puff in each Puff, around. Sl St into third Ch of beg Ch 3 to complete round.

(Stitch Count: Br St = FC number/ 2 and Puff = FC number/ 2)

When sufficient Round 2 repeats have been completed, construct Cozy Top Border (first) and Cozy bottom border (next).

Cozy Top Border

Note:

Beg Ch 1 and Fin Sl St do not count as a St.
Crab Stitch, SC, or Sl St, can be substituted for Spn St.
Round 2 can be alternatively worked in 3LO, instead of BLO.

Round 1 – FpSC

Ch 1 and then SC in previous round beg Ch 3. FpSC over each subsequent stitch around. Sl St into beg SC to complete round.

(Stitch Count: one SC and FpSC = FC number – 1)

Round 2 – Spn St

Ch 1 and then Spn St in BLO of first SC from previous round. Spn St in BLO of each subsequent FpSC stitch around. Sl St into beg Spn St to finish. Cut yarn and sew in end.

(Stitch Count: Spn St = FC number)

Cozy Bottom Border

Note:

Cozy Top Border notes also apply to Cozy Bottom Border.
Before commencing Cozy Bottom Border rounds, rotate the cozy so that the FC round is at the top instead of the bottom, and reattach yarn in the first FC. Ensure cozy is still facing RS.

Round 1 –FpSC

Note: If you find it difficult to FpSC around the foundation chains, then FpSC can be substituted with SC.

Ch 1 and then FpSC around the first foundation chain of previous round. FpSC around each of the next foundation chains, around. Sl St into beg FpSC to complete round.

(Stitch Count: FpSC = FC number)

Round 2 – Spn St

Construct as per Cozy Top Border Round 2. Cut yarn and sew in end.

(Stitch Count: Spn St = FC number)

Pattern Support

Pattern support is available via the following social media platforms:

Facebook: thecrochetfix

Pattern Versioning

Version	Date	Comments
0.1	19/01/2021	Initial Draft
0.2	25/02/21	Add Cozy with Base instructions
0.3	17/03/21	Corrections/ enhancements from testing. Inclusion of three-round base option