How to Knit an Asthma-inhaler Cozy

I know what you're thinking: Why on earth would someone knit a cozy for an inhaler? So you can put it on your keyring! I was constantly misplacing my inhaler (which purse was I using yesterday?) and often had to leave home without it. Not too safe. Unfortunately, inhalers aren't designed with a ring or even a little hole to allow you to attach it to a keyring. Thus was the inhaler cozy born!
The inhaler cozy is a tiny sock, so if you've knitted socks before, this project will not seem challenging. If not, you can use this small project as an introduction to sock knitting!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 sets of double-pointed needles OR 2 circular needles with a 24-inch cable or longer; sizes US 4 and 6.
• small amount of yarn (less than a skein), any fiber content you like, with a gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch
• crochet hook (size not critical)
• stitch marker
• tapestry needle
• scissors

1. With the larger needles, knit a swatch in stockinette (knit the right-side rows, purl the wrong-side rows) to check you gauge. You might think gauge isn't too important for an item no one is going to wear, but you don't want the cozy so loose that the inhaler falls out or so tight it's hard to get the inhaler out in a hurry. Adjust needle size to achieve correct gauge.

2. With the smaller needles, cast on 20 sts.
   
   If you're using double-pointed needles, divide the stitches among 3 needles. Or use the magic-loop technique on a circular needle (see link below for both techniques). Join the round, placing a marker at beginning of round, and making sure not to twist the stitches.

3. The "leg": Make 3-4 rounds of ribbing, using K2P2.
   
   Change to larger needles and knit rounds until work measures 2 inches from the cast on edge.

4. The "heel": If you already know how to make a sock heel, by all means, use your favorite method. I'll be describing a method that uses short rows to create a cup-like shape (the heel). Divide up your stitches so you can work on half of them (place that half on one needle and just work those sts).
   
   1st row of heel: sl1, K to next-to-last st, turn your work
   2nd row of heel: sl1, P to next-to-last st, turn your work
   3rd row of heel: sl1, K to one st less than on last knit row, turn work
   4th row of heel: sl1, P to one st less than on last purl row, turn work
   Continue in this way, working fewer and fewer sts each row until only 2-4 sts. remain in the "row."

5. Now for the increases. Assuming you ended with a purl row, knit to the last worked st of your short row (your 2-4 sts), where you'll find a gap, then an unworked st (one that wasn't part of your short row). Pick up a stitch from the row before (in the gap), placing it on the left needle. K2tog (knit 2 together). Turn your work. Purl the next short row the same way, picking up a stitch in the gap, but P2tog. Continue in this way with all the heel sts until you have the original 10 sts back.
   
   The hard part is done, and you'll start knitting in the round again.

6. The "instep": Resume knitting in the round, and continue until work measures roughly 1/2 inch from the heel. If that's hard to measure, it's about 5 rows.

7. The "toe": *K3, K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round.
   Next row: *K2, K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round.
   Next row: *K1, K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round.
   Next row: *K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round.

8. 
    

   Finishing: Cut the working yarn, leaving a tail about 8 inches long. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, and work the tail back through the sts remaining on your needles, removing the needles in the process. Pull the tail yarn tight and use the tapestry needle to bring the tail to the inside of the cozy. Secure tail with a knot.
   
   Use crochet hook to attach a small single-crochet chain to the cast-on edge (I did mine in the back). When the loop is as long as you want (about 8 chain sts), attach the working end to the cast-on edge, again using a single-crochet st. Pull the loop of the remaining crochet st open, and pull through the remaining yarn, pulling it snug. Use the tapestry needle to weave this tail into the inside of the cozy. Attach this loop to your keyring, and slip your inhaler into the cozy.

Tips & Warnings

• The ribbing cinches in the opening of the cozy a bit but is stretchy enough to get the inhaler out easily.

Resources

• casting on
• small-diameter knitting (with dpns OR circular needles)
• single-crochet bind off

[dtwelloh]

on 2/12/2009 Nice article, well written as well. Give it 5 stars as well as a recommendation.

[lxlunat1cxl]

on 2/12/2009 nicely written! 5!