Mason Jar Series

Father’s Day Gift Ideas – Steak Rub Recipe and Crochet Mustache!

May 24, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

Father’s Day Gift Ideas – Steak Rub Recipe and Crochet Mustache!

We have two Father’s Day gift ideas for you…a steak rub recipe and a crochet mustache jar cozy. Combine the two and not only will you create a tasty gift for dad, but a stylish one, too!

father's day gift ideas

I’m not spoiling the surprise by sharing this gift idea with you. My dad likes plain old table salt. So, he’s not getting this particular rub. My husband, on the other hand, loves seasonings so much that his friends have nicknamed him “flavor boy”. He’ll be grilling with this rub for sure!

To round out this Father’s Day gift idea, we have created a crochet mustache jar cozy. Mustaches are distinctively masculine and 100% fun!

Let’s start with the Steak Rub Recipe. You may need to order our secret ingredient online if you can’t find it at a grocery store or seasoning shop.

Steak Rub Recipe

Father’s Day is just one excuse for grilling. This steak rub recipe is another!

You’re going to love the rich bold flavor of our secret ingredient…smoked sea salt. Smoked salt captures both the scent and flavor of campfire cooking. It is my husband’s favorite seasoning, and it’s the #1 ingredient in our steak rub.

Note: we recommend getting a strong smokey salt. Look for words like “extra bold” or “bonfire”.

We’ve kept the quantity of this rub recipe small so you can sample it before committing to a large jar of it.

INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES:

3 Tablespoons Smoked Sea Salt
2 Tablespoons Coarse Black Pepper
1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 Tablespoon Spiced Ranch Mix (dry packet)
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/2 teaspoon Ground Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Cumin

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
Store in mason jar.

SERVING:

Brush steak with olive oil.
Sprinkle dry rub on steak. (We like lots of flavor so we spinkle approximately 1 Tablespoon on each side of a thick Ribeye)
Allow steak to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling.
Grill steak to desired temperature.
Enjoy!

Caution: Always use a clean spoon when scooping out seasoning for use on steak. You do not want raw meat to come into contact with seasonings that are being stored for later use.

Crochet Mustache Jar Cozy

Now that the rub is out of the way, let’s get to the crochet mustache jar cozy. This cozy can be used on jars and cups. Super fun!

We’re using Vanna’s Choice (worsted weight: 4) for this project. This is a great stash buster!

These are fun for everyday use…but here are some other “special” days you may want to break out these cozies for public admiration:

International Fake Mustache Day – February 3rd
National Fake Mustache Day – February 24th
Oakland A’s Mustache Day – June 18^th
Movember: National Grow a Mustache Month- November

Skill Level: Easy

Stitches Used: Chain, Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Double Crochet

Techniques Used: Crochet in the Round, Crochet in Rows, Increase

SUPPLIES LIST:

Vanna’s Choice (Worsted Weight: 4) – Approx 21 yards total
Green Jar Cozy: FERN, ESPRESSO
(Pink Cozy: BERRYLICIOUS, ESPRESSO)
(Yellow Cozy: MSUTARD, ESPRESSO)
Hook: H / 8 / 5.00 mm
Yarn Needle for sewing

Crochet Mustache Cozy Pattern

JAR COZY INSTRUCTIONS

Fern

Hook: H

Ch 34, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1-10: Sc around. (34)

Join with a sl st. Cut yarn and weave in end.

MUSTACHE INSTRUCTIONS

Creating mustaches with yarn was so much fun…I made three. Which is your favorite?

NOTE: Additional shaping of the mustaches is accomplished in the pinning and sewing of them to the cozy.

ENGLISH MUSTACHE INSTRUCTIONS (as seen on the pink cozy)

Espresso

Hook: H

Ch 16

Row 1: Sl st in 2^nd ch from hook. Sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, 2 sl st. (15)

Pin then sew mustache to top of cozy.

FU MANCHU MUSTACHE INSTRUCTIONS (as seen on green cozy)

Espresso

Hook: H

Ch 18

Row 1: Sl st in 2^nd ch from hook. Sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc inc, sc, sl st, sc, sc inc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Pin then sew mustache to top of cozy.

HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE INSTRUCTIONS (as seen on the yellow cozy)

Espresso

Hook: H

Ch 25

Row 1: Sl st in 2^nd ch from hook. 5 sl st, sc, 4 hdc, 2 sl st, 4 hdc, sc, 6 sl st. (24)

Pin then sew mustache to top of cozy.

More Cozies in Store

Love this mustache jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: This mustache cozy is NOT in this Cozy Collection.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Filed Under: Cozy, Father's Day, Great as Gifts, Kitchen, Mason Jar Series, Patterns for FREE Tagged With: crochet mustache, father's day, recipe, steak rub recipe

Celebrate Armed Forces Day with Soup in a Jar

May 10, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

Celebrate Armed Forces Day with Soup in a Jar

We’re celebrating armed forces day with soup in a jar.

armed forces day

We are thankful for the men and women who serve our country in the military. We couldn’t resist creating an “MRE” (meals ready to eat) type recipe for this week’s mason jar.

This project is very simple to make. In fact, this cozy may be the easiest one’s we’ve made to date!

Armed Forces Day – Jar Cozy

cozy and ribbon Many organizations use a crossed ribbon to help raise awareness of their cause. The yellow ribbon signifies a wish to see our troops come home. A black ribbon helps us remember prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Though it’s not military related, we are demonstrating how this cozy can be used for most any cause with a change of color. The pink ribbon is used to raise breast cancer awareness.

Cozy Supplies

Vanna’s Colors (Bulky – 5): Pine
Vanna’s Choice (Worsted – 4): Radiant Yellow
(Black Ribbon: Vanna’s Choice – Scarlet, White, Colonial Blue, Black)
(Pink Ribbon: Vanna’s Choice – Berrylicious, Pink)
Hook: H/8/5.00mm
Hook: K/10.5/6.5mm
Yarn Needle

cause ribbons

Cozy Instructions

Pine

Hook: K

Ch 28, Join with a sl st

Rnd 1-8: Sc around. (28)

Rnd 9: 2 sl st. Leave remaining sts unworked. Finish off and weave in ends.

Ribbon Instructions

Radiant Yellow

Hook: H

Ch 30

Row 1: Work in the back loop only. Dc in 3^rd ch from hook, dc across. Ch 2, sl st into base of last st made. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Embroider if desired.

Cross ribbon and sew to cozy. Weave in ends.

“Just Add Water” Soup in a Jar

Most soup in a jar recipes require additional ingredients like meat, oil and dairy when the soup is being prepared. Those extra ingredients aren’t usually available to those who are roughing it. So we came up with the following “just add water” recipe.

As a side note: this recipe would be great for those who are camping or backpacking. And it would be a great snack item or quick meal for the kids, too!

Potato Cheese Soup Recipe

1 ½ cups instant mashed potatoes
1 cup instant coffee creamer (or powdered milk)
1/3 cup cheddar cheese powder (or 1 ½ packets of Kraft Mac and Cheese packets)
1 ½ teaspoons chicken bouillon
1 teaspoons dried onion flakes
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon Greek Seasoning (or seasoning salt)
¼ cup imitation bacon bits (optional)

ingredients for soup in a jar Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Store in mason jar.

To serve, mix ½ cup soup mix with 1 cup boiling water. (For a thicker soup, use ¾ cup soup mix to 1 cup water).

Note: The imitation bacon bits are an over powering ingredient. Only add them if you know you like them.

“Just add water” Recipe Alternatives

There are other “just add water” foods you can use instead of the Potato Cheese Soup. If you’re looking for a simple alternative – buy pre-mixed foods. Be sure to include cooking instructions if these are a gift item.

Pancake Mix (Aunt Jemima)
Brownie Mix (Krusteaz)
Cornbread Mix (Marie Callender’s)

More Cozies in Store

Love this Armed Forces Day jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: This cause ribbon cozy is NOT in this Cozy Collection.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Filed Under: Armed Forces Day, Cozy, Great as Gifts, Kitchen, Mason Jar Series, Patterns for FREE, Recipe Tagged With: armed forces day, cause ribbon, mre, recipe, soup in a jar

Crochet Mother’s Day Gift

May 6, 2013 By yarnitect 2 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

We celebrated Mother’s Day a week early…so I can reveal the mason jar cozy I made for her jar of bath salts.

mothers day bath salts

This cozy follows the FREE pattern on our post: How to make bath salts and a crochet flower cozy. This Mother’s Day cozy was crocheted with Vanna’s Choice yarns with a strong emphasis on teal colors to coordinate with my mother’s bathroom.

Colors used – Vanna’s Choice:

Pink
Silver Blue
Dusty Green
Taupe
Sapphire
Aqua

The bath salts are super easy to make. The recipe and the directions for the flower cozy are free on the post: How to make bath salts and a crochet flower cozy.

For this particular cozy, I added leaves. The pattern for those are below:

CROCHET LEAF PATTERN:

Hook: H

Ch 5

Rnd 1: Dc inc in 3rd ch from hook. Sc inc, sl st. Ch 2. Turn to other side of foundation Row. Sl st, sc inc, 3 dc in last st. Join with sl st. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

That’s it. Make three (or as many as desired).

Wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to our mom and yours.

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Bath, Cozy, Flowers, Great as Gifts, Home, Mason Jar Series, Mother's Day, Patterns for FREE Tagged With: happy mother's day

How to Make Bath Salts and a Crochet Flower Cozy

April 26, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

How to Make Bath Salts and a Crochet Flower Cozy

how to make bath salts

Learn how to make bath salts and pamper yourself (and your mom). Store the crystals in a mason jar and wrap it with a fun crochet flower cozy. This is a beautiful Mother’s Day gift idea. (Mom, if you’re reading this…I guess you know what you’re getting for your special day!)

The bath salts are surprisingly simple to make. We’ll start with them because you’ll want them to be completely dry before storing (otherwise the salt may get clumpy).

How to Make Bath Salts

bath salts ingredients As I mentioned, learning how to make bath salts is easy. The hardest part is figuring out what scent you want! Think about who the bath salt is for. If it’s for you, do you like floral? Do you want something relaxing or energizing? Do you like a lot of scent or just a hint of it?

Essential Oils are available in natural grocery stores. The bottles will list their scent as well as their characteristics. Some will even list whether they work well in a bath. Common scents include: peppermint, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus and orange.

Scented Bath Salts Ingredients:

2 cups Epson Salts
1/2 cup Baking Soda (optional)
Essential Oil (as desired)
Scraps of Yarn
Aluminum foil
Cookie sheet

Note: Sea Salt can be used in exchange or in addition to Epson Salt. Table salt cannot be used.

Baking soda is a skin softener and is an optional ingredient. It can be used in equal parts to the salt.

Scented Bath Salts Directions:

Mix salt and baking soda together.
Sprinkle several drops of Essential Oil onto scraps of yarn. Stir yarn through bath salt mixture to desired strength of scent.
Repeat Step 2 if needed.
Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spread salt mixture onto cookie sheet to dry.
Periodically stir salts. Allow to dry completely (overnight).
Store in mason jar.

How to Make a Crochet Flower Cozy for Mason Jar of Bath Salts

mothers day gift idea This crochet flower reminds me of the annual tradition my family had of planting flowers in my mother’s yard on Mother’s Day. That tradition was the inspiration for this cozy.

This crochet flower can be sewn directly to the cozy or affixed with a pin (something like a coiless pin would work well). Using a pin will allow the flower to be removed and used to decorate other things.

This is a great stash buster project. We’ve used Vanna’s Choice yarn (medium worsted weight). We love her blend of bright colors and pastels.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stitches Used: Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Treble Crochet

Technique Used: Crochet in the Round. Cluster Stitch

Note: Replace the cluster stitch with a single crochet and this Intermediate pattern would be rated Easy.

CROCHET FLOWER SUPPLIES

Vanna’s Choice: Black, Raspberry, Radiant Yellow, Fern
(Pastel: Pink, Silver Blue, Dusty Green, Beige)
(Purples: Dusty Rose, Dusty Purple, Purple)
Crochet Hook: H
Yarn Needle

COZY INSTRUCTIONS

Cluster Stitch Instructions:

Cluster Stitch: Insert hook into next stitch (the current working stitch), YO, draw through stitch, YO, pull through one loop on hook, insert hook in the stitch one row below and one stitch back, YO (pulling yarn from the inside of the project), pull through stitch, YO, pull through one loop on hook, insert hook two rows below the current working stitch (pulling yarn from the inside of the project), YO, draw through stitch, YO, pull through one loop on hook, insert hook in the stitch one row below and one stitch ahead of the current working stitch (pulling yarn from inside the project), YO, pull through stitch, YO, pull through one loop on hook, YO, pull through all five loops on hook. *Note, the next working stitch is under the last YO.

Black

Ch 34, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1-4: Sc around. (34)

Rnd 5: Sc around. Change color to Radiant Yellow with sl st. Ch 1. Finish off Black and weave in ends. (34)

Rnd 6: 2 sc, *cluster st, 3 sc* around. End with 3 sc. Change color to Fern with sl st. Ch 1. Finish off Radiant Yellow and weave in ends. (34)

Rnd 7: Working in the back loop only, sc around. (34)

Rnd 8-9: Working in both loops now and throughout, sc around. (34)

Rnd 10: 33 sc, sl st. Finish off and weave in ends. (34)

With 12” length of Raspberry yarn, embroider a small stitch into the center of the cluster st.

cozies flat

FLOWER INSTRUCTIONS

Center

Radiant Yellow

Ch 3

Rnd 1: 5 dc in third ch from hook. (Count ch-3 as first dc). (6)

Rnd 2: Working in back loops only, sc around. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing. (6)

Attach Raspberry to the front loop of any stitch of Rnd 2.

Rnd 3: Work the following stitches in the front loop of each stitch around, (sc, dc, trc, dc, sc). Finish with a sl st in the first sc made. Finish off and weave in end. (6 petals made)

Sew flower to cozy.

Note: Turn the edges of the flower under for a puffy looking flower (as seen in the pastel cozy on the far left). Or leave ends of Rnds out for a layered look (like the two on the right).

UPDATE: I recently added leaves to this cozy. You can get the pattern to the leaves on the Crochet Mother’s Day Gift post.

More Cozies in Store

Love this flower jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: This flower cozy is NOT in this Cozy Collection.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Filed Under: Bath, Cozy, Flowers, Great as Gifts, Home, Mason Jar Series, Mother's Day, Patterns for FREE, Recipe Tagged With: crochet flower, How to make bath salts, Mother's Day

Mason Jar soap Dispenser Update

April 24, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

Did you make the mason jar soap dispenser? I did. I have mine by my kitchen sink. I’d like to share with you what I discovered after a few months of use.

First, I have to admit: I love my mason jar soap dispenser. I do most of my hand washing by the kitchen sink, so it’s been a godsend (that word may be a bit dramatic…but I really do love it!). This would also be a cute dispenser for dish soap (just sayin’).

The pump worked great, the soap flowed smoothly (no air bubbles), and it didn’t clog.

But after a few months of use, when the soap was nearly used up, I noticed a brown fleck floating in the soap. That’s kind of strange since I hadn’t opened the dispenser since filling it with soap. I had my suspicions of what it must be.

Rust on Lid Yep, it’s rust. The scratches I put on the inside of the lid when drilling the hole for the pump had all turned into rust. Not a pretty picture.

But, that’s ok. Now that I know about the problem, I would modify the soap dispenser as follows:

Make a ring from plastic packaging , or
Use a plastic canning jar lid instead of a metal one, or
Replace the metal ring once a quarter

If you are doing option 1, simply use a permanent marker to trace around the metal lid on a piece of plastic packaging. Cut it out and follow the directions outlined in the mason jar soap dispenser post we wrote a few months ago.

This issue with rust and metal is not a new problem (though it’s new to me). A week or so ago I went to an antique mall with a girlfriend. While there, I stopped to use the restroom and saw a mason jar soap dispenser by the sink! The lid appeared to be made of tin. Curiosity got the better of me and I took a peak under the lid to see if it at a rust problem.

The inside of the lid was not copper/red/brown with rust, but it was black and murky leading me to believe that it had a similar unhappy reaction to being used as a soap dispenser.

Bottom line, mason jars are a fun way to make soap dispensers…but a little extra care with the lid will make a difference between one that is used for a short while vs. one that is used long term.

If you missed it, you can see our original post on how to make a mason jar soap dispenser with crochet owl cozy we posted a few months ago. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Mason Jar Series Tagged With: mason jar, soap dispenser

Administrative Professionals’ Day Gift Idea

April 12, 2013 By yarnitect 4 Comments

Administrative Professionals’ Day Gift Idea

Administrative Professionals Day

We’ve create a fun gift idea for Administrative Professionals’ Day. It’s colorful and cheerful and will look adorable on your Admin’s desk. (Of course, this is a cute gift idea for other special days like Mother’s Day or birthdays. This would also be a fun “just because” gift for a gardening friend…just sayin’).

Flowers were a traditional present back in the day when I was receiving gifts for Secretaries Day. Now that it’s called Administrative Professionals’ Day, I still think flowers make the perfect gift. But this mason jar planter with a crocheted cozy adds a new twist to the gift! Love it!

Administrative Professionals’ Day Gift Idea – Mason Jar Planter

Daisy Mason Jar with Computer For those Administrative Professionals who love flowers, you simply can’t go wrong with a mason jar planter! We’ve used daisies in our jar…which could be transplanted right from the jar into the garden. Annuals or herbs would be nice alternatives.

SUPPLIES:

1 mason jar
1 plant or herb
A few rocks or glass beads
Potting soil
Charcoal (optional)

A note about container gardening:

Charcoal is often used in container gardening to cut down on bacteria. It is also an additive that helps plants thrive. Please note that charcoal used in gardening is not the same as charcoal used for grilling. Visit your local gardening center for charcoal to use in container gardening. Charcoal is only needed for those plants that will be staying in the jar long term.

Container Gardening

DIRECTIONS:

Place 1” of rocks or glass beads in bottom of jar.
Place ½” of charcoal on top of rocks (optional).
Fill jar with dirt and flower.
Water the plant just enough that water reaches the bottom of the jar but does not pool.

Administrative Professionals’ Day Gift Idea – Daisy Mason Jar cozy

Mason Jar Planter The potted plant is a beautiful Administrative Professionals’ Day gift item all by itself. We think a colorful daisy cozy will add more pizzazz to the gift…and this cozy doubles as a cup cozy!

This project is a great way to use up your yarn stash. We’ve used Vanna’s Choice. She has lots of bright and beautiful color options.

Skill Level: Easy

Techniques Used: Crochet in Rows and Rounds.

Stitches Used: Chain, Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet

SUPPLIES:

Vanna’s Choice Yarn: RASPBERRY, RADIANT YELLOW, WHITE
(Yellow Flower: CHOCOLATE, MUSTARD, FERN)
(Pink Flower: AQUA, RASPBERRY, ESPRESSO)
Crochet Hook: C,F,H
Yarn Needle

COZY INSTRUCTIONS

Crochet Mason Jar Cozy Radiant Yellow

Hook: F

Ch 3

Rnd 1: 12 hdc in 3^rd ch from hook. Join with a sl st. (12)

Rnd 2: Sc around. Join with a sl st. (12)

Finish off and weave in ends.

Attach White to any st.

Use Hook: C

Rnd 3: Ch 14. Sl st in same st from Rnd 2 (14^th ch from hook). Sl st. (corner petal made) *Ch 9, sl st into same st from Rnd 2 (9^th ch from hook). Sl st.* Twice. (2 petals made). Ch 14. Sl st in same st from Rnd 2 (14^th ch from hook). Sl st. (corner petal made) *Ch 10, sl st into same st from Rnd 2 (10^th ch from hook). Sl st.* Twice. (2 petals made). Repeat from beginning to make a total of 12 petals. Sl st into base of 1^st petal made. Finish off and weave in ends. (164)

Note: The ch-9 petals are the top and bottom of the flower.

Attach Raspberry around corner petal (Ch-14 space). Attach it to the corner that has two ch-9 petals to the left.

Use Hook: F

Rnd 4: Work sc, ch 1, sc around corner petal. Ch 2. *2 sc around next petal, ch 2.* Twice. Repeat from beginning 3 more times to work around flower. Join with a sl st. (52)

Rnd 5: Work sc, ch 1, sc in ch-1 corner space. Skip a st. *3 sc around ch-2 space, skip 2 sts* 3 times. Repeat from beginning to work around the flower.
Join with a sl st. (48)

Use Hook: H

Row 6: Sl st into ch-1 space. Ch 2 (count as 1^st st), turn. 10 hdc, hdc dec (into sc and ch-1 space). (12)

Row 7-23: Ch 2 (count as first st), hdc across. (12)

Finish off and weave in ends.

Join ends with whip st across.

More Cozies in Store

Love this daisy jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: This daisy cozy is in this Cozy Collection as a mug cozy and uses a slightly different pattern for the part that wraps around the mug.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Filed Under: Administrative Professionals' Day, Cozy, Flowers, Great as Gifts, Mason Jar Series, Patterns for FREE Tagged With: Administrative Professionals' Day, Container Gardening, Gift Idea, mason jar, Planter, Secretaries Day

Happy Easter – Bunnies, Bunnies and More Bunnies

March 31, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

Our Bunny Cup Cozies Have Proliferated – Just in Time for Easter!

Bunnies are known to multiply rapidly. And our cup cozies are no exception. Our 4 bunny cozies have turned into a multitude of bunnies!

Instead of using wine charms at our Easter gathering, we created cup cozies! Not only were these a cheerful table decoration, they also helped people identify their drinks!

The cozies are cute as bracelets and sleeve catchers, too!

This crochet bunny is a free pattern as part of our mason jar series. We love it!

Hoppy Easter!

Filed Under: Animals, Cozy, Easter, Great as Gifts, Mason Jar Series Tagged With: bunnies, bunny, cup cozy, easter, mason jar

Dirt and Worms Recipe with Leaf Cozy for Earth Day

March 29, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

Dirt and Worms Recipe with Leaf Cozy – an Earth Day Activity

This Dirt and Worms Recipe is a delicious way to celebrate a lot of special days. It is particularly scrumptious for Earth Day, but would be a fun snack for the first day of Spring or Fall, April Fool’s Day, or any rainy day when worms appear from the ground. It’s kid friendly to make and to eat!

Dirt and Worms Recipe

To further dress up the snack, we’ve crocheted a twig and leaf cozy. Change the colors to match the special holiday you’re celebrating. Use bright colors for Spring or Earth tones for Fall. Earth Day calls for the use of recycled yarn…in any color!

Let’s start with the snack. While it sets up we can crochet a leaf cozy.

Dirt and Worms Recipe

dirt and worms in mason jar Our versions of the Dirt and Worms Recipe is a chocolate lovers delight. We’re not diluting the pudding with whipped cream. We want a nice rich dark chocolate colored dirt. This is a quick and simple recipe for kids in the kitchen.

Supplies:

1 – 5.9 oz Instant Pudding and Pie filling – Chocolate (Jello Brand pictured)
3 cups cold milk
1 package Oreo cookies (Double Stuffed pictured)
1 package gummy worms (sour worms pictured)
3 Mason Jars

Directions:

Mix pudding according to box.
Pour approximately 1 cup of pudding into each mason jar.
Set aside (or refrigerate if needed) to setup – refrigerate if not using right away.
Place 9 Oreo cookies (3 per serving) into resealable bag and crush with rolling pin or hammer.
Just before serving pudding, sprinkle Oreo crumbs on top of pudding and top with gummy worms.

Earth Day Activity – Crochet Leaf Cozy

This leaf cozy is a cute Earth Day activity. Not only is the cozy fun to crochet, but the twig and crocheted leaves are a great reminder of how awesome our planet is. Using recycled yarn makes this an earth friendly activity. Using this cozy instead of disposable coffee cup sleeves is also earth friendly.

This is a great stash buster…which is very earth friendly. We’ve used Vanna’s Choice. There really are too many colors to choose from! We reigned ourselves in with only three cozies.

Skill Level: Easy +

Stitches Used: Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet

Techniques Used: Crochet in Rows, Crochet in the Round, Crochet in Back Loop, Crochet in Both Loops

Supplies:

Vanna’s Choice: RADIANT YELLOW, RASPBERRY, FERN, KELLY GREEN
(Autumn Cozy: Kelly Green, Brick, Chocolate)
(Fall Cozy: Eggplant, Terracotta, Fern, Radiant Lime)
Mason Jar
Twig (4” Length)

Leaf Cozy Instructions

Radiant Yellow

Hook: H

Ch 34, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1: Sc around. (34)

Rnd 2: Sc around. Join and change color to Fern with a sl st. (34)

Rnd 3: Sc around. Join and change color to Raspberry with a sl st into back loop of first st made in this Rnd. (34)

Rnd 4: Work in back loops only. Sc around. (34)

Rnd 5-8: Work in both loops. Sc around. (34)

Rnd 9: Work in both loops. Sc around. Join and change color to Fern with a sl st. (34)

Rnd 10: Sc around. Join and change color to Radiant Yellow with a sl st into back loop of first st made in this Rnd. (34)

Rnd11: Work in back loops only. Sc around. (34)

Rnd 12: Work in both loops. Sc around. (34)

Sl St. Finish off and weave in ends.

Insert twig under any st of Rnd 9.

leaf cup cozies

Leaf Instructions (make 2)

One Fern and One Kelly Green (or colors desired)

Hook: H

Ch 7

Rnd 1: 3dc in 3rd ch from hook (count first two as the first dc), 2 dc in next st, hdc, sc, sl st in last st, ch 3, sl st in third ch from hook. Continue working on the other side of the foundation ch. Sl st in the firs st, sc, hdc, 2 dc in next st, 4 dc in last st. Join with the first dc of this Rnd. (one leaf made)

Finish off leaving a long tail for attaching to cozy.

Attach to twig by tying a bow with the tails from the leaves.

More Cozies in Store

Love this leaf jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: This leaf cozy is in this Cozy Collection as a mug cozy.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Filed Under: Cozy, Earth Day, Great as Gifts, Kids Craft, Mason Jar Series, Patterns for FREE, Recipe Tagged With: activity, cozy, craft for kids, dirt and worms, earth day, jar cozy, leaf, recipe

Russian Tea Recipe and Crochet Radioactive Cozy

March 15, 2013 By yarnitect Leave a Comment

Russian Tea Recipe and Crochet Radioactive Cozy

There are many Russian Tea Recipes, but this is my all time favorite. My mother calls it Spiced Tea, but at craft shows it is referred to as Russian Tea. And because I have a sweet tooth, I like this really sweet blend.

Russian Tea Recipe

We’re packaging this tea in a mason jar which is perfect for gift giving. Since it’s loaded with sugar, the crocheted cozy with the radioactive symbol on it is definitely fitting! This cozy would be perfect for any “toxic” drink (tea, coffee, hot chocolate) or food (bean or split pea soup).

Let’s start with the Russian Tea. Then you can enjoy a cup while you crochet the radioactive cozy!

Russian Tea Recipe

This Russian Tea Recipe has been in the family for years. So I’m not sure who to credit for this particular combination (if you know, please leave me a comment below). You can adjust the sweetness of your tea by adding more or less to your cup of hot water.

Russian Tea Ingredients Mixed This spiced tea is a cross between hot apple cider and orange juice. Yum!

Ingredients:

1 cup Instant sweetened lemon tea
1 cup Tang
½ to 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cloves

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
Store in mason jar.

Serving:

Add 3 teaspoons to 1 cup boiling water (adjust quantity to desired sweetness).

Crochet Mason Jar Cozy with Radioactive Symbol

If you like your beverage a little stronger than most, the radioactive symbol is the perfect image for your cup cozy! It’s also a cute way to adorn a gift for April Fools Day (April 1)…just sayin’.

Crocheted Radioactive Cup Cozy This is a quirky and delightful way to use up your yarn stash. We’ve used Vanna’s Choice. Use Mustard or Radiant Yellow for a traditional cozy or try a Radiant Lime to represent the radioactive material inside your cup or mason jar!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stitches Used: Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, no foundation chain double crochet

Techniques Used: Crochet in the Round

Supplies:

Vanna’ Choice Yarn: MUSTARD, BLACK
Mason Jar

Jar Cozy Instructions

Mustard

Hook: H

Ch 34, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1-9: Sc around. (34)

Join with a sl st. Cut yarn; weave in end.

Radioactive Symbol Instructions

Center Circle Instructions

Black

Hook: C

Ch 3

Rnd 1: 7 hdc in 3^rd ch from hook. Join with a sl st. (7)

Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Outer Semi-circle Instructions (make 3)

Black

Hook: C

Ch 4

Row 1: Ncfdc in 4^th ch from hook, 3 ncfdc, Ch 3. Sl st in base of dc. (5)

Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly Instructions

Pin then sew Radioactive symbol to cozy. Weave in ends.

More Cozies in Store

Love this radioactive jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: This Radioactive cozy is in this Cozy Collection as a mug cozy.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Filed Under: April Fools Day, Cozy, Kitchen, Mason Jar Series, Patterns for FREE, Recipe, Yarnitect Tagged With: cup cozy, mason jar, radioactive, recipe, russian tea

Crochet Bunny and Easter Snacks for Kids

March 1, 2013 By yarnitect 5 Comments

Crochet Bunny and Easter Snacks for Kids

A crochet bunny is the perfect accent for a mason jar full of Easter snacks for kids.

crochet bunny

It’s a strange phenomenon that the Easter bunny lays eggs. But who are we to question such a thing. We’re having fun with it and the kids will too. They’ll have a blast making and eating these chocolate snacks.

Let’s start with the Easter Snacks for kids because the chocolate will need time to cool and harden before it can be placed in the mason jar for storage (assuming you and the kids don’t eat them all first!).

Easter Snacks for Kids

If you’re looking for fun Easter snacks for kids…this is an easy and delicious one! It’s great for kids of any age.

easter snacks for kids So, we present to you…Easter eggs in a nest. It looks a bit like a bird’s nest. In fact, both birds and rabbits have their young in a nest. Rabbits build their nests in the dirt. The chocolate makes the eggs look like they are nestled in the dirt…so, we’re calling this snack an Easter Bunny Nest.

Ingredients & Supplies:

1 bag rectangular pretzels (Snyder’s of Hanover Butter Snaps)
1 bag Hershey’s Kisses
1 bag M&M’s – Easter colors
1 cookie sheet

Directions:

Preheat oven to 175°.
Spread pretzels flat on cookie sheet (about 50 of them).
Unwrap and place one kiss centered on each pretzel.
Bake for 7 minutes to soften Kisses.
Immediately press 1 to 3 M&M’s into each Kiss to form nests.
Allow to cool and harden for a couple of hours.

Note: Young children will only be able to place 1 M&M in the nest. Older children can place 2 or more in each nest.

FYI: I Googled “Easter Snack” and found this snack on Jamy Fisher’s website. Thanks, Jamy for sharing!

Crochet Bunny for Easter

For Easter (and bunny lovers everywhere) we have a crochet bunny mason jar cover. This is adorable as a cup cozy, too. We’re showcasing it as a cute (and delicious) gift idea for the holidays. One that the kids can get involved with as well.

crochet bunny in four color combinations

This is a great stash buster. We’ve used Vanna’s Choice. The colors can be as soft and neutral as a real bunny or as bright and colorful as your heart desires.

Skill Level: Easy

Stitches Used: Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet

Techniques Used: Crochet in Rows & Rounds, Increase

Crochet Bunny Supplies:

Vanna’s Choice Yarn (Worsted Weight – 4)
BEIGE, BLACK, PINK
(Brown Bunny: Taupe Mist, Rose Mist, Radiant Lime, Black)
(Purple Bunny: Purple, Dusty Rose, Raspberry)
(Rainbow Bunny: Scarlet, Radiant Lime, Radiant Yellow, Radiant Orange, Colonial Blue, Aqua, Raspberry, Black)
Crochet Hook: H / 8 / 5.00mm
Yarn Needle for Sewing
1 Mason Jar

Crochet Bunny Instructions

Beige

Ch 34, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1-9: Sc around. (34)

Join with a sl st. Cut yarn; weave in end.

EAR INSTRUCTIONS (make 2)

Beige

Ch 9

Rnd 1: Sc in 2^nd ch from hook. 6 sc. Work 3 sc in last st. Turn to other side of foundation ch. 6 sc, sc inc in last st. (18)

Rnd 2: *Sc inc, 8 sc* twice. (20)

Rnd 3: *2 sc inc, 8 sc* twice. (24)

Rnd 4: 2 sc inc, 3 sc, 2 sl st. Leave remaining sts unworked. (9)

Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

BOW INSTRUCTIONS

Pink

Ch 9

Rnd 1: Dc in 4^th ch from hook. Sc, sl st, sc, dc, ch 2, sl st in last st. Turn to other side of foundation ch. Ch 2, dc, sc, sl st, sc, dc, ch 2, sl st into last st. (12)

Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:

Embroider “V” shaped Nose across Rnd 4 with Pink.
Embroider two Eyes across Rnds 6 & 7 with Black.
Sew Ears 2 sts away from each eye on Rnd 9. Fold ear a bit at top if desired.
Sew Bow to top of Ear as desired.

More Cozies in Store

Love this crochet bunny jar cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store. We’ve created an entire collection with over 20 designs. All 20 are available in 1 set.

Note: The crochet bunny cozy is NOT in this set.

Read more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection