Upcycle your tin cans into pretty pots for your plants with these quick knit planter covers. Each cover uses a small amount of cotton yarn (such as the Sugar 'N Cream brand) and can be a fun way to use up yarn scraps. Gauge: 4 sts = 1" in garter stitch using 7 needles and cotton yarnKnitting Abbreviations:K = KnitP = PurlP2tog = Purl 2 togetherKFB = increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch
Yield: 3pot covers
Author: Beverly
Equipment:
1 Clean tin can in a 28 oz size
1 Clean tin can in a 19 oz size
1 Clean tin can in a 15 oz size
Hammer and Nail (for making drainage holes)
Bubble wrap and small stones (optional for if you are planting edibles)
Materials:
US Size 7Knitting Needles (circular and straight)
Small amounts of cotton yarn(about 1 oz per cover)
Blunt Large Eye Needle(To sew seams on the smaller covers)
Instructions:
Prepare your clean tin cans for planting by using the hammer and nail to create a few drainage holes in the bottom of the cans.
If you are planting edible plants in your tin cans, you may also wish to line them with a layer of bubble wrap and add a single layer of small stones on the bottom of the can.
Knit Cover for large 28 oz Can (12½" around with a 4" opening):Cast on 52 stitches on size 7 circular needles. Place a marker and join to begin knitting granite stitch in the round as follows:Row 1: Knit aroundRow 2: P2 tog aroundRow 3: KFB aroundRow 4: Knit aroundRepeat these four rows until piece measures about 4½". Bind off. Weave in any ends.(See notes below if you would like to knit granite stitch on straight needles).
Knit Cover for Medium 19 oz can (10½" around with a 3¼" opening):Cast on 38 stitches on size 7 straight needles. Begin knitting Hurdle Stitch as follows:Row 1: KnitRow 2: KnitRow 3: K1, P1Row 4: K1, P1Repeat these four rows until piece measure about 4¼". Bind off leaving a long tail. Thread the long tail into a blunt, large eye needle and sew seam to create a tube shape. Weave in any ends.
Knit Cover for Small 15 oz can (9¼" around with a 3" opening):Cast on 35 stitches on size 7 straight needles. Begin knitting Half Linen Stitch as follows:Row 1: *K1, yarn forward, Slip 1 purlwise, yarn back. Repeat from * across row ending with a K1.Row 2: PurlRow 3: K1, *K1, yarn forward, Slip 1 purlwise, yarn back. Repeat from * across row.Row 4: PurlRepeat these four rows until piece measures about 4¼". Bind off leaving a long tail. Thread the long tail into a blunt, large eye needle and sew seam to create a tube shape. Weave in any ends.
Slip your completed knit covers over the tin cans. I use a long-tail cast on and like how this edge looks at the top of my cans. You can easily remove the knit covers when watering the plants too.
Notes:
If you would like to make the large can cover on straight needles, make the following adjustments for knitting the granite stitch:Row 1: Knit across rowRow 2: K2tog across rowRow 3: KFB across rowRow 4: Purl across row