Your Kitchen Needs More Poodles!

Poodle Bottle Cover Patterns from Bazaar Novelties and Gifts by Beehive, c. 1960

Welcome to PoodleFest, part 1! A whole week (or more!) of Poodle Pandemonium.

I’ve listed this poodle-infested pamphlet as c. 1960, but its original publication couldn’t have been later than 1961 as that was the last year that Patons and Baldwins (Canada) Limited existed before it was engulfed in the maw of the ravenous entity known as J&P Coats, which despite several mergers failed to grow large enough to fend off the Guinness Peat mob.

The Patons brand, of course, is still around, but anyone who tells you it’s an independent entity is lying. It’s nothing but an alcohol soaked zombie now, continuously being reprinted.

Ahem. Okay, to be fair, they’re still putting out new designs. Not that they look even remotely modern.

P.S. If you are the Enid who originally owned this pamphlet, I’d love to hear from you!

So, back to the poodle-rific topic of the day! If you’ve already crocheted yourself a poodle tea cozy, then you know it’s getting lonely. If you haven’t... well, what are you waiting for? Poodles are the ultimate home accessories.

Let’s start with some bottle covers!

POODLE BOTTLE AND CLEANSER COVERS
Shown above as R

MATERIALS:

You can knit two size bottle covers in pattern or Stocking stitch. The Small Size fits a pop bottle...

Perhaps it might help to visualize beer instead of pop. They’re not talking a giant two litre bottle of Coke here. This is hearkening back to the 1960s when Coke was not just sold in harlequin patterned cans, but also in tall glass bottles suitable for a quick supper with your Coke-addicted friends.

...the Large Size fits a larger bottle or a tall can of cleanser.

That’s right, your Lysol needs a cozy! Nothing better than warm Lysol. Don’t believe that leftist propaganda about exploding cans of cleansers.

The Large Size can also be crocheted if desired...

But not today! Geez. How much do you expect me to transcribe in a single sitting? I never learned shorthand!

...and for all bottle covers you will need:– 2 (2 oz.) balls of Patons Canadiana Knitting Worsted or Patons Carefree Canadiana.

Besides, it’s not like anyone these days can read shorthand.

Two No. 10 and two No. 7 Milward Knitting Needles for the Knitted covers. One No. E Plastic Crochet Hook (American Gauge) for the Crocheted cover.

Of course text speak is basically modern short hand, isn’t it? U wudnt mind f teh rSt of teh patRn lookd lIk DIS, wud u?

2 Buttons for eyes. Small piece of ribbon for bow.

You must use the exact yarns specified in order to be sure of satisfactory results.

Only Patons products will do. Anything else and Patons agents will be coming to your house to torch your poodles. How will they know, you ask? Trust me, they will know. They’re always watching.

God damn it, where’d I put the tinfoil?

KNITTED BOTTLE COVERS
Shown above as R

HEAD FOR SMALL SIZE: Beginning at lower edge with No. 10 needles cast on 33 sts.

1st row: K1. * P1. K1. Repeat from * to end of row. Repeat this row for Moss st. for 10 rows in all.

11th row: K1. P1. K1. *P3tog. K1. P1. K1. Repeat from * to end of row. (23 sts. on needle).

Continue even in Moss st. until work measures 3 ins. from beginning.

Next row: K1. P1. K1. *P3tog. K1. P1. K1. Repeat from * to last 2 sts. P1. K1. (17 sts. on needle). Work 3 rows even.

Next row: K1. (P3tog. K1.) 4 times. Break wool. Thread end through remaining sts. Draw up and fasten securely. Sew side edges together for back seam.

HEAD FOR LARGE SIZE: Beginning at lower edge with No. 10 needles cast on 29 sts.

1st row: K1. * P1. K1. Repeat from * to end of row. Repeat this row for Moss st. for 3 1/4 ins.

Next row: K1. P1. K1. *P3tog. K1. P1. K1. Repeat from * to last 2 sts. P1. K1. (21 sts. on needle). Work 3 rows even.

Next row: K1. (P3tog. K1) 5 times. Break wool. Thread end through remaining sts. Draw up and fasten securely. Sew side edges together for back seam.

From this point the instructions are written for Small Size. Any changes necessary for Large Size (L) are written in brackets thus:–( ).

I was almost too distracted by the charming antiqueness of “thus” to notice the frowny face – and I think it’s yelling at me.

NOSE: With No. 10 Needles cast on 5 sts. (L – 7 sts.). Work 8 rows (L – 10 rows) Moss st. Cast off. Sew cast-on edge to cast-off edge. Sew over one end with a contrasting colour to accent tip of nose. Sew other end to head 1 inch above lower edge.

EARS: With No. 10 needles cast on 9 sts. (both sizes). Work 2 1/2 ins. (L – 3 1/2 ins.) Moss st. Cast off. Gather up cast-on and cast-off edges slightly to curve them. Make another ear to correspond. Sew to top of head about 1/2 inch (L – 1 inch) apart.

BODY: Beginning at bottom, with No. 7 needles cast on 9 sts. (L – 12 sts.)

1st row: Inc. 1 st. in each st. to last st. K1. 17 sts. on needle. (L – 23 sts.). Purl one row.

3rd row: *K1. Inc. 1 st. in next st. Repeat from * to last st. K1. Purl one row.

5th row: *K2. Inc. 1 st. in next st. Repeat from * to last st. K1. Purl one row.

7th row: *K3. Inc. 1 st. in next st. Repeat from * to last st. K1.

8th row: Inc 1 st. in 1st st. Purl to end of row. 42 sts. on needle. (L – 57 sts.)

From this point continue even in Stocking st. or work eyelet pattern as follows:–

1st row: K1. * Sl. 1. K2. Pass the slipped st. over the 2 knit sts. Wl.fwd.*

Wl.fwd. Wool forward? Now that’s an abbreviation I haven’t seen before. Well, no worries, this book has an extensive list of abbreviations on the back page. All I have to do is scan down to the W’s and find... absolutely nothing.

Close examination of the pattern seems to indicate that Wl.fwd. is the same as yrn (“yarn round needle”), for which there IS a listing in the back. How nice.

Warning: Handmade by Mother is not responsible for any catastrophic failures that might result from incorrect interpretation of these instructions. Proceed at your own risk.

Repeat from * to * to last 2 sts. K2. Do not forget the last Wl.fwd. as there should be a Wl.fwd. to make up for every slipped st. which has been passed over, throughout this pattern.

2nd row: K1. Purl to last st. K1.

3rd row: K2. * Wl.fwd. Sl. 1. K2. Pass the slipped st. over the two knit sts.* Repeat from * to * to last st. K1.

4th row: K1. Purl to last st. K1. These 4 rows complete one pattern.

Continue even in Stocking st. or pattern until work from cast-on edge measures approx. 6 1/4 ins. (L – 7 1/4 ins.) With wrong side of work facing, proceed:–

Next row: * P1. P2 tog. Repeat from * to end of row.

Cast off Large Size but for Small Size, knit 1 row, purl 1 row, then cast off.

Gather cast-on edge into a circle. Sew side edges together for back seam.

For Small Size, put bottle into this bag and with wool darn in and out through top edge to gather up. Draw up tightly and wind wool about three times around top to hold in place and sew end of wool securely.

I’ve just noticed that at no point has the author of this pattern instructed us to attach the head to the body. For that matter, I can’t quite visualize how our (very) warm bottle of Coke gets in and out of the cozy. Hopefully it makes more sense during the actual process of creation. (See previous Warning.)

For Large Size, crochet a chain 12 ins. long. Darn in ends. Press lightly to remove curl. Thread in and out through top edge.

Okay, this is beyond just difficult to visualize, it’s down right mind blowing. I can understand wanting a gathered end with a carry strap, but does that mean the poodle must be dangled head down whenever you want to carry it?

Damn it, I need instructional clarity!

Tack at centre back, so that it cannot be pulled out accidentally.

That wasn’t what I meant.

POMPONS: For making, see page 20.

Hidden deep within the depths of another pattern, we find...

POMPONS: Wind wool over fingers as given below, required number of times. Remove from fingers. Tie tightly in centre. Cut through each side of loops thus formed. Trim to smooth round shape. Sew in position.

Large size – Wind wool over 4 fingers 75 times.
Medium size – Wind wool over 3 fingers 60 times.
Small size – Wind wool over 3 fingers 50 times.
Smallest size – Wind wool over 3 fingers 40 times.

HEAD: Make 1 Medium Size. (L – Large Size).

EARS: Make 2 Small Size. (L – Medium Size).

FACE: Make 2 Smallest Size. (L – Small Size).

LEGS: Make 4 Smallest Size. (L – Small Size).

TAIL: Make 1 Small Size. (L – Medium Size).

Sew pompons in position as illustrated.

KNITTED CLEANSER COVERS

It’s a bonus pattern!

Follow the instructions for the Large Size Bottle Cover, noting the following adjustments:–

For the Body, cast on 57 sts. Purl 1 row. Work in Stocking st, or eyelet pattern until work from cast-on edge measures 6 ins. for small can or 8 ins. for tall can. With wrong side of work facing, proceed:–

Next row: K1. (P2tog.) 28 times. Cast off. Sew side edges together for back seam. Sew cast-off edge of body to cast-on edge of head. The head is held in shape by inserting the cardboard section of a toilet roll, cut to desired size. Slip this cover over can when not in use. If desired, thread a length of narrow elastic along cast-on edge to draw up edge slightly.

Now THIS is something I can visualize! And not only that, you can reuse another cardboard toilet paper roll, thereby saving a tree. Or at least a very small part of one.

Click here for the printable pattern.

ETA: PoodleFest Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, DIY 1, DIY 2, and Wow! Collect them all!