Fiber Tuesday: Give Your Coffee a Warm Hug

I love coffee, but sadly for health reasons I should stay away from it. Sometimes I can purge my system of all caffeine, but it never lasts that long. The smell is a siren calling me into its dark waters, then the warm rich taste renders me docile and powerless to swim away.

Okay, that got weird. Sorry about that.

Since I don’t indulge that often I make it an experience when I do. I pull out the whole beans, coffee grinder, and the French press. I love my French press but it doesn’t keep the coffee hot enough for me, and once I pour the milk in it’s practically lukewarm. Since my French press gives me warm hugs on the inside, I decided to give it a warm hug from the outside—and insulate my coffee while I’m at it—with this French press sweater vest. Your coffee will say merci beaucoup.

Measurements approximately 10 inches x 12.5 inches

Yarn I used a bulky yarn that recommended size 10.5 needles. It doesn’t take much, so any wool or insulating fiber will work. You can even use scraps from other projects.

Needles straight needles size 10.5 or needles to match your yarn.

Notions 4 buttons

Pattern

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: *K1, P1* repeat to the end

Instructions

Cast on 30 stitches and begin working the pattern until your work measures 12.5 inches from the cast on row. Cast off.

Button loops

For the button loops make 4 I-cords approximately 3.5 inches long with enough tail on each end to tie on to the sweater vest. When sewing on the loops and the buttons, space them out evenly along opposing edges. Make sure they match up.

Bobbles (make 2)

For the bobble cast on 2 stitches

Next row: On each stitch knit through the front and back and through the front again leaving 6 stitches.

Next row: purl.

Next row: knit.

Next row: purl.

Next row: slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over, slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over.

Cast off remaining 2 stitches.

Leave a 16 inch tail.

Tuck in the short tail from the cast on (not the 16 inch tail) into the bobble, sew around the edges, and pull them together, forming a ball

Thread each bobble—one from each end—through the loops created from the k1, p1 rows. Attach the tail to the end opposite the bobble.

To use: button at the handle side, buttoning around the handle. Once you pour in the coffee and hot water, pull the drawstring to close around the plunger. Try to wait for your coffee to brew and enjoy.