Recycling is great – but reusing is even better! And the Crafty Hanging Can Cozy is a great way to take something that normally gets chucked in the kitchen recycling bin, and make something that’s both attractive and useful – in almost any room of the house!
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If you’re crafty (and if you’re here, I’m betting you are!), you know how all those craft supplies can start to take over. Crochet hooks, knitting needles, paintbrushes, washi tapes, special pens, scissors… and on and on it goes! This summer I’m going to be remodeling part of my basement into Moogly Headquarters, and this pattern is going to be a big part of getting organized down there!
But as I mentioned before, the Crafty Hanging Can Cozy isn’t just for the craft room – you can use it in the kitchen to store utensils, use it in the bathroom to hold your makeup brushes, use it out in the garage to hold nuts and bolts… the only limit is your imagination! With the handy loop to hang it up, it doesn’t even take up any counter space!
This pattern was also a fun way for me to test out Lion Brand’s new Color Waves yarn! This lovely acrylic wool blend has a hand-painted look, and in this pattern it creates these gorgeous swirls right around the can! Serendipity!
Crafty Hanging Can Cozy
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- US-G, 4mm hook (Furls Fiberarts recommended)
- 60 yds Lion Brand Color Waves (DK/yarn symbol “3”; 306 yds/280 m; 3.53 oz)
Colorways used (as shown above): Rainbow; Green Apple; Prairie Sunset; Twilight - 14-16 oz empty food can (washed, label removed)
- Optional: Washi Tape/Decorative Duct Tape
- Optional: Cardstock/Paper 10″ x 4 3/8″
- Gauge: Round 4 = 3″ diameter
- Click here for complete video tutorial
- Highlighted Stitches in the pattern link to their video tutorials.
COZY INSTRUCTIONS:
Round 1: Make a magic circle, ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc 12 in the ring; join with sl st in 1st dc. (12 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around; join. (24 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, 2 dc in the next st, *dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st; repeat from * around, join. (36 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 2 sts, *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 2 sts; repeat from * around, join. (48 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in blo of each st around; join. (48 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in 1st st, ch 1, skip next st, *sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * around, join. (24 sc, 24 ch)
Round 7 – 31: Sl st in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip next st, *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * around, join. (24 sc, 24 ch)
Round 32: Ch 12 (or to desired length for hanging loop), sl st in the same st as the join, sl st in each ch sp and st around; join and break yarn.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: If there are any sharp edges in the can, use a pair of pliers to squish them down flat. Then cover the top lip of the can with decorative tape.
Step 2: Insert the paper inside the can as a lining, secure with tape if desired.
Step 3: Insert the can in the crocheted cozy. Then hang and fill!
And that’s all there is to it! I had a lot of fun trying 4 different colorways – and seeing how they all reacted to the same pattern! This is a fun yarn, and a practical (and pretty!) free crochet pattern that I hope you’ll enjoy!
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2016, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. To print or download this pattern for personal use, please use the green Print Friendly button at the bottom of the pattern, or go to Print Friendly.com and paste in the URL of this post. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!
mARGARET says
I could see these getting a lot of use in our house. I’m always short on desk space so the fact that they can hang up is a huge plus. And the colors are neat, too! Thanks!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad you like them Margaret! Yes, desk space is always a premium here too!
Michele says
I’m a beginner crocheter and I love video instructions! Could you put a video to this project? This is a great project for gift giving and personal use.
Tamara Kelly says
I’ll add it to the list! It’s a pretty good beginner’s pattern to learn to read patterns with though! 🙂
Sande francis says
What a great idea! I’m in the middle of the Big Re-Org of the whole house. Everything is getting moved out to the SeaTac and then all the furniture will be put back in a more useful arrangement. The huge yarn stash will be corraled in clear plastic bins and the fiber stash will be organized near the spinning wheels. I think the floor looms might have to be put into medium term storage – Just not enough room to have them all out in the “studio.” Anyway, I feed my dogs canned sweet potatoes and pumpkin, so I have lots of the 30 oz cans. Really good for larger size storage. 🙂 I love that new yarn you used, too. I don’t get out any more, so I don’t ever see yarn in person. I’d love a day trip to Joanns! I am always on the lookout for a nice DK wt yarn for baby stuff and this new LB yarn looks just right.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad you like it Sande! I need to do one of those re-orgs myself!!
Jana says
These are really beautiful Tamara! I am thinking of making one to hang in my car for stuff. I can’t stick anything to anything since it’s all plastic but this would work for pens, cords, etc. even a bit of trash!
Great idea and even though the yarn is gorgeous, no one can get on the LIONBRAND website anymore as it’s really messed up.
I guess we could buy it via Amazon, etc.
Tamara Kelly says
What a fun idea, thank you Jana!
The Lion Brand site is indeed under a bit of construction right now – summer is the slow time, but of course us dedicated crocheters get yarny year round! I’m sorry it’s giving you trouble. I just checked, and the link in the pattern above does go straight to the Color Waves page, where you can order it. I went through checkout til the point I’d have to actually place the order, and it seems to be working fine now. 🙂
Randee Swartz says
Hello This is Randee I want to know if I can use construction paper in the inside of the can?
Jana says
OMG my sister’s name was Randee. Such a rare spelling of it!
Randee Swartz says
Yes my neme is a cool thanks to mom that named me.
Tamara Kelly says
Yes! Paper, paint, whatever you like. 🙂 I just used what I had on hand!
Randee Swartz says
ok thankyou .
Randee Swartz says
this is Randee I just got done with row 26 and it is to big for my can. So do I skip going to 31 and go to row 32 ?
Randee Swartz says
what weight of yarn did you use?
Tamara Kelly says
DK – it’s listed in the pattern above. 🙂
Randee Swartz says
So the the Weight is 3 right?
Randee Swartz says
ok it is weight 3 thanks anyways.
Randee Swartz says
can I use worsted medium 4 yarn with this pattern?
Tamara Kelly says
Yes, just make sure to try it on the can as you go – you may need to reduce the base by a row before you start working evenly. 🙂
Randee Swartz says
ok thanks for your help.
Randee Swartz says
do you have anymore patterns like this one? because I realy like this pattern.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you Randee! I’m not sure exactly what aspects of this pattern you like best, but you can browse all my free patterns at https://www.mooglyblog.com/category/free-moogly-patterns/ or you can go to http://www.ravelry.com/designers/tamara-kelly to sort through all the patterns I’ve written. 🙂
MargiE says
I’ve ripped mine out and started over so many times and still cannot get my colors to line up like yours in the pictures ? I end up with random colors every time instead of those neat “jumping” stripes.
Tamara Kelly says
Oh no! I’m afraid the way the colors ended up was just chance. It might help to start at different points in the color repeat.
Holda says
I love this idea! Thank you so much!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Holda, I’m so glad to hear it!
Amparo Rojo says
I like this project
Patricia says
Love this! I can see how it would work in my sewing room on my pegboard! Thank you so much for sharing!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad you like it! I have mine on a pegboard now too!
Betty Allen says
great ideas from this website