Mug and French Press Jacket

A French press is also called a cafetiere, press pot, coffee press, or coffee plunger.  More information in this Wikipedia entry. 

Mug & French Press Jacket

Size:  to fit a mug or French press with 3.5" diameter base; pattern can be adjusted to fit different sizes.
Materials:
Yarn: 1 skein Elann Peruvian Highland Wool (worsted weight 100% Peruvian wool, 109 yds/50g).  You may need more than one skein, depending on how high you want the sides to be.
Yarn subs: A smooth worsted weight yarn with good stitch definition and a little bounce; suggested subs include Cascade 220, Cascade Sierra, Plymouth Encore worsted, Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, Southwest Trading Co. Karaoke.
Needles: US 6 (or size to get gauge), 1 set dpns or two circs [dpns or 2 circs for base, 1 circ for sides (sides are worked flat but with built-in base, the flexibility of a circ is important)]
Gauge: 24 sts/32 rows = 4"/10cm
Notions: buttons (1 for mug, 2 for French press), tapestry needle

Basic concept:
Knit a circle from the center out large enough for base (80 sts).  Work sides for 1” or up to base of handle.  BO 2” or enough for width of handle.  Work in desired pattern (e.g. smocked cables) for about 3” or desired height.  BO all sts.  Make a loop closure and sew to one open side, sew button to opposite side (two for the French press)
Variations: replace smocked pattern with plain ribbing, replace smocked pattern with stranded colorwork and bands of ribbing or moss st at top and bottom.

ABBREVIATIONS:
k = knit
beg = begin
inc = increase
kfb = knit front and back (increase)
p = purl
sl = slip (in this pattern, slip stitch as it is presented: that is, slip knit sts knitwise, purl sts purlwise)
st = stitch
sts = stitches

STITCH PATTERN

Smocking (from Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns)
Multiple of 8 sts + 2
Rows 1 and 3 (wrong side): k2, *p2, k2*
Row 2: p2, *k2, p2*
Row 4: p2, *insert right-hand needle from front between 6th and 7th sts on left-hand needle and draw through a loop; sl this loop onto left-hand needle and knit it together with the 1st st on left hand needle; k1, p2, k2, p2*
Rows 5 and 7: Repeat rows 1 and 3
Row 6: repeat row 2
Row 8: p2, k2, p2, *draw loop from between 6th and 7th sts as before and knit it together with 1st st, then k1, p2, k2, p2*, end k2, p2
Repeat rows 1 - 8

(click on the image for a full size 6" x 2.5" version of the chart - will appear in a pop-up window)

BASE
kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
inc 1 = increase one = for this pattern, I prefer k1 into row below
With dpns or 2 circs, CO 8 sts.
Round 1: *kfb* (16 sts)
Round 2: *k2, inc 1* (24 sts)
Round 3: *inc 1, k3* (32 sts)
Round 4: *k4, inc 1* (40 sts)
Round 5: *inc 1, k5* (48 sts)
Round 6: *k6, inc 1* (56 sts)
Round 7: *inc 1, k7* (64 sts)
Round 8: *k8, inc 1* (72 sts)
Round 9: *inc 1, k9* (80 sts)
Round 10: p all sts (80 sts)

SIDES
Round 1 - 7: *k2, p2* (80 sts)
In the next round, switch from dpns or 2 circs to 1 circ
Round 8:  BO 6 sts, sl1, p1, begin smocking pattern, end p2
Next 24 or so rows : work smocking pattern.  On RS rows, replace first two sts of smocking pattern with sl1(purlwise), p1, and end the row with p2.  On WS rows, replace first two sts of smocking pattern with  sl1(knitwise), k1, and end the row with k2.
Note: work last smocked row when sides are 1" shorter than desired, then work last 8 rows in 2x2 rib.  The mug used 2.5 repeats of the smocking pattern; the French press will probably use about 4.5 repeats.
BO all sts in pattern

LOOP: (for French press, make 2)
With dpns, CO 3 sts
Rows 1 - 28: work i-cord
BO

FINISHING
Exact placement and position of loop and button will vary depending on the design of the mug/French press.

Slip jacket onto mug or French press.  Pin ends of loop to one of the open sides and determine placement for button on opposite open side (French press will likely need two loops and buttons).   Slip jacket off and sew loop and button into place.  Weave in all ends.  To block, wash gently and then slip onto mug or French press to dry, turning mug or french press upside down.  If you are using a French press with metal components, you may wish to wrap it in a plastic bag or plastic wrap first to keep the metal dry.

A photo tutorial for Row 4 of the Smocking Stitch pattern is available on my Flickr page. 

[updated May 07, 2008]
A revised and nicely formatted PDF with instructions for knitting from the top of the sides down, as well as a chart done in Knit Visualizer, is available for $5.50 (you will need a PayPal account or a credit card). $4.50 of the purchase price will be donated to Knitters Without Borders.

Ravelry Store:

The free PDF download (instructions the same as in this post - starts from the center of the base and goes up) is still available.

[this button says "buy now" but the price is set to $0.00 - some users are not able to use the "add to cart" and "view cart" buttons successfully]

In the comments for August 01, 2007, KC asked:

Hi. Just wondering how you would adjust this pattern to fit a cup (say starbucks or the like). Perhaps in the round? This is a great pattern! I would love to use this instead of the cardboard sleeves they give you. Thanks.

KC, if you measure the cup you want to cozy, you can use a stitch count that is a multiple of 8 (if you are doing this in the round), or, if you want to knit it flat, a stitch count that is a multiple of 8, +2 (e.g. 18, 34, or 42). The ribbing and smocking are stretchy, so I'd guess that if you measured the narrow part of the cup and the wide part of the cup, then got an average of the two and figured out your gauge (stitches per inch) off that, you'd be able to knit a sleeve that would fit most of the cup. If you want the cozy to have a base, knit the base of the cozy to fit the base of the cup. Using the pattern, you'll have a multiple of 8 sts in each round of the base, so you could just start working the smocking stitch pattern after the base is completed. It might not stretch quite enough to fit around as you go up the cup, though - with some graph paper and a pencil, you could work out where to place increases and adjust the stitch pattern.

Or, if you crochet, you could try out my Crochet 16 oz. Coffee Cup Cozy pattern (check the left sidebar under "Free Patterns"). Hope that helps!

In the comments for August 10, Lizzie asked:
"When the smocking pattern begins, row 1 of the stitch pattern says "wrong side." Does this mean that we should turn the work so we're stitching the wrong side?

And then you write "work smocking pattern beg s1, p1, ending p2."  Does this mean that the "sl1, p1" replaces the "p2" of the stitch pattern?  Or do we "sl1, p1" and then use the stitches in the pattern?"

Lizzie, you've got it! 

1) In this case, "wrong side" means the side that will be on the inside of the jacket, pressed against the mug.  The base is worked in the round, but the sides are knit flat.  I included the "wrong side" note, which is in the original stitch pattern instructions, partly because I did a chart of the stitch and it's important to know what the right side/wrong side (public side/private side) of the stitch pattern is so that the knitter knows if they read that row from left to right or from right to left.

2) Yes, "sl 1, p1" replaces the "p2" of the stitch pattern.  Slipping the first stitch of each row results in a smooth edge, so you don't have to go back and do any finishing work (like a hem or crocheted edging).  I should have noted that you will slip that first stitch purlwise (that is, you insert the needle as if to purl, with the yarn held in front).  I'll add that in to the pattern now.

Mug and French Press Jacket by MK Carroll is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.

Comments

[Veronica]

OMG... now THAT is cute! I know so many Alaskans who would want that. When it's cold outside you tend to get extra hot coffee, but can't hold it. You Rock!

From -
Your Knit Design Groupie! ;P

[Veronica]

You keep changing/updating this post! Tee hee!

[Natalie]

Delurking to say thanks for the pattern, it's right up my alley! I was looking for something to cover up my French press...I crocheted your TP sushi roll cover for my mom; she still talks about it!

Oh, you are making me miss Mocha Java too!

[wendi]

Oooooo! That's really nice! I'm sorry i couldn't be more helpful than that, but I likeee it.

Also, I have always liked how your pictures come out.

[Beth]

Those are beautiful! I love the smocking texture. I found the link on the craftzine blog today.

[keri]

Oh that is so cute, thanks for the pattern!

[Craftyminx]

beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[cristina]

those are the cutes cozy cups that i ever saw!
what a good job:)

[Tammy]

Fantastic!!!

[fathima]

ahah, those things are so cute. i might show these to the knitters in my family :)

[Teri]

These are the best!! For the life of me I can never finish a cuppa tea at work without it going to room temperature. this cozy is for me!
Thanks :-)

[mk]

Thanks for all the comments! Please enjoy the pattern - hope to see the results if you knit it up!

[Jes Deamer]

EEp! Any good smocking tutorials? My brain is having a hard time wrapping around the smock...

[HH]

Figures I find another Craftster-knitter in Hawaii about 6 weeks before I move back to the mainland, ha! Thanks for posting the pattern. It is truly a challenge to find projects for oneself living here, and the mug cozy seems perfect! Aloha and mahalo from Kailua :)

[KC]

Hi. Just wondering how you would adjust this pattern to fit a cup (say starbucks or the like). Perhaps in the round? This is a great pattern! I would love to use this instead of the cardboard sleeves they give you. Thanks.

[mk]

KC, if you measure the cup you want to cozy, you can use a stitch count that is a multiple of 8 (if you are doing this in the round), or, if you want to knit it flat, a stitch count that is a multiple of 8, +2 (e.g. 18, 34, or 42). The ribbing and smocking are stretchy, so I'd guess that if you measured the narrow part of the cup and the wide part of the cup, then got an average of the two, you'd be able to knit a sleeve that would fit most of the cup. If you want the cozy to have a base, knit the base of the cozy to fit the base of the cup. Using the pattern, you'll have a multiple of 8 sts in each round of the base, so you could just start working the smocking stitch pattern after the base is completed. It might not stretch quite enough to fit around as you go up the cup, though - with some graph paper and a pencil, you could work out where to place increases and adjust the stitch pattern.

Or, if you crochet, you could try out my Crochet 16 oz. Coffee Cup Cozy pattern (check the left sidebar under "Free Patterns"). Hope that helps!

[KC]

Great! Thanks! Can't wait to try it!

[Lizzie]

I have a few questions, and it may be really dumb:

When the smocking pattern begins, row 1 of the stitch pattern says "wrong side." Does this mean that we should turn the work so we're stitching the wrong side?

And then you write "work smocking pattern beg s1, p1, ending p2." Does this mean that the "sl1, p1" replaces the "p2" of the stitch pattern? Or do we "sl1, p1" and then use the stitches in the pattern?

Thanks!

Lizzie

[mk]

Lizzie, you've got it! Not dumb questions at all - trying to explain knitting with words is tricky stuff.

1) In this case, "wrong side" means the side that will be on the inside of the jacket, pressed against the mug. The base is worked in the round, but the sides are knit flat. I included the "wrong side" note, which is in the original stitch pattern instructions, partly because I did a chart of the stitch and it's important to know what the right side/wrong side (public side/private side) of the stitch pattern is so that the knitter knows if they read that row from left to right or from right to left.

2) Yes, "sl 1, p1" replaces the "p2" of the stitch pattern. Slipping the first stitch of each row results in a smooth edge, so you don't have to go back and do any finishing work (like a hem or crocheted edging). I should have noted that you will slip that first stitch purlwise (that is, you insert the needle as if to purl, with the yarn held in front). I'll add that in to the pattern now.

[mk]

Oops, Lizzie, I just caught an error in my response - the slipped sts should be worked as they are presented - slip knit stitches knitwise, purl stitches purlwise. That also means that WS rows should be "beg sl1, k1, end k2." AND the way that's written is needlessly confusing - works fine scribbled on a rough draft of the pattern shoved into my project bag, not so great for someone who is not me. I've rewritten it to hopefully make it less confusing.

[Sheila]

This is a fantastic idea! And I love knitting cables!

[Valerie]

I'm having a little trouble with the transition into the smocking pattern. I've turned to the WS in order to bind off the 6 stitches for the handle. But then I don't know where to go from there. At this point I have 74 stitches (including the one left on the right needle from the BO). That's not a multiple of 18 (for the stitch pattern). I can't wrap my head around how that's going to work. If I start with the slip one, purl one, it also won't line up with the ribbing. Am I missing something? Otherwise the pattern's real clear. And I love the look--thanks for making it available! Can you clarify this for me? Thanks!