If you can cosy a tea pot...

[jackandahat]

...then you can cosy a cane, right?



Unfortunately, the shiny metal bit is right where my fingertips rest. And shiny metal gets bloody cold in winter. So I'd like to knit a cosy. I have some ideas, but I'd love to know if anyone here has done anything similar or has ideas.

I figure two options - one, just knit a little sock for the metal bit and slide it on, two, knit a handle for the whole thing (Which might be nice when it gets even colder, since wood isn't the warmest thing either.) in pieces and sew it on.

Any advice? I'm guessing sock yarn would be a good one to use, about the right weight, and it needs to be something that will stand up to being touched constantly.

Comments

[neeuqdrazil]

You could do a sock without a heel and slide it on - where the heel would usually be would be the bit on the left of the picture, and that would cover the metal and the rest of the handle. My only concern would be that it would move around, which might be counter-productive.

You could also try a little sock for just the metal bit with a stirrup that would go over the top of the cane, to hold it in place.

In either (or whatever) case, I'd go with a superwash sock yarn with a reasonable proportion of nylon in it - something that can get washed relatively frequently.

Alternatively, you could knit it from a feltable wool, and then felt it down to fit.

[jackandahat]

I did worry about the sliding around thing because that's an invitation to blisters, which is my concern with making something that goes over the top part of the handle.

I hadn't thought of felting - I've never really felted anything before, but I have some 100% wool in my stash... *has a thoughtful* Thank you for that idea! (Can't hurt to try, right?)

[beachlass]

I'd worry about the sliding too. I'm sure I've seen something like a suede yarn... steering wheel covers, maybe?

AHA!

Found one

[jackandahat]

I've not seen them before, thanks for that.

[beachlass]

I think I've seen something like that yarn at the store around the corner, so let me know if you want some and have trouble finding it.

[altarwise]

There was a competition to design walking stick covers a few years back: have a look at some pictures and a basic pattern here. It was more for aesthetics, but I think there's some good design ideas to inspire you there. Also, a nifty tip in the sidebar - a felted design was not very durable at all, so maybe avoid that route.

[jackandahat]

Ooo, that is cool! Thank you very much. And ah - I'm new to felting, so that's good to know.

[rainbow]

My cane's a simpler shape, but here's the cane cosy I made for it:



It's felted; I did a short section first that looked about 1/3 bigger than what I wanted and felted that, and it fit perfectly, so I did the main part the same size then increased proportionally for the top.

Then I felted it, dried it, worked it up from the bottom, and stitched it closed around the cord/handle.

If you wanted to do something similar, I think I'd do it in 2 pieces and stitch them together after felting, when I put them on the cane:
1. an open tube for the straight section, with a slight flare at the top end 2. a short tube with 2 ends closed and an open section for the bottom of the handle to fit thru.

After felting I'd stitch the flare of the long tube to the opening in the top tube.

I used Highlands wool (from Knitpicks) in 2 shades of each color, a strand of each held together, on (I think) size 10 needles.

[jackandahat]

That is incredibly cool, and I love it! Thank you for the advice.

[rainbow]

Thank you, and you're welcome!

I should mention that the handle of mine is padded, so I don't have any issue with sliding. If your handle is hard and slick, it might be well to pad it a bit before covering, maybe with something like Ace self-stick bandage wrap or similar (if you're not reactive to the adhesive).