Crochet Ice Skate Blade Covers

My hometown, recently crowned Hockeyville, Canada , is home to Deuville's Rink. One of its very popular programs is "Babes on Blades". The Babes are women of all ages and beginners of all stages. They gather each Saturday night to learn the game of hockey, or in many cases, simply how to skate and stop without the benefit of toe picks. There is nothing pretty about hockey equipment. My only fashion statement as a Babe was to match my black skates to my many bruises. That said, I am a girl. And a knitter. And until I have time to design a funky helmet cover, my skates deserve to portray these aspects of my personality. To my husband's great relief, my tenure as a 2005 Babe was not an extended one. It did, however, inspire this design for a felted skate blade cozy. I suppose good things come in bruised and battered packages! These skate covers are constructed in similar fashion to a big sock toe (from the blade edge up), with an applied i-cord edge and i-cord ties. Customize your own pair with contrasting edges and tie, stripes, purl ridges or whatever makes you happy. While written for Noro Kureyon, any feltable (non-superwash) worsted weight wool will do.
photos: Deb Barnhill, Todd Barnhill


SIZE
To fit an adult hockey skate

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Before felting Length: 12 inches Depth at toe end: 3 inches Depth at heel end: 4 inches After felting Length: the length of the skate blade Depth at toe end: 2.25 inches Depth at heel end: 3 inches

MATERIALS
Noro Kureyon [100% wool; 100m per 100g skein]; Color: #90; 2 skeins 2 US #10.5/6.5mm circular needles, 24 to 32 inches in length 2 US #10.5/6.5mm double-point needles Smooth waste yarn 2 small stitch holders or safety pins 4 sets 11mm eyelets, eyelet tool and hammer

GAUGE
16 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch before felting

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
This pattern is worked in the round on two circular needles. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, instructions may be found here. If you prefer, you may work using the "Magic Loop" technique, or on double-point needles. M1: Insert left needle, from front to back, under the horizontal strand which lies between the stitch just knit, and the following stitch; then knit into the back of this loop. 1 stitch increased. Crochet Cast On Using waste yarn, work a crochet chain several sts longer than the number of sts to be cast on. Starting 1 or 2 sts in from end of chain and using working yarn, pick up and k 1 st in the back loop of each ch until the required number of sts have been worked. Later, the chain will be unraveled and the resulting live sts picked up. I-Cord Using a double-point needle, work as follows: First Row: K all sts. Next Row: Instead of turning work around to work back on the WS, slide all sts to other end of needle, switch needle back to your left hand, bring yarn around back of work, and start knitting the sts again. I-Cord is worked with the RS facing at all times. Repeat this row to form I-Cord. After a few rows, work will begin to form a tube. Applied I-Cord With RS of work facing and using cable or twisted loop method, CO 3 sts. (Cast these new sts on in addition to sts already on needle.) Next Row: Using a double-pointed needle, k2, ssk. (Last I-Cord st has been worked together with first st on needle.) Slide 3 sts just worked to other end of a double-pointed needle and bring yarn around back of work, ready to begin working the next row. Repeat this row until all sts have been worked except for the 3 I-Cord sts. Felting Information about felting can be found here.

DIRECTIONS
Blade Cozy (Make 2) Using the Crochet Cast On, CO 41 sts. P 1 row. Next Row [RS]: K to last 2 sts, k2tog. 40 sts. Remove crochet chain from CO edge and place resulting live sts on second circular needle. K all sts on this needle. 80 sts (40 sts on each of 2 needles). Begin working in the round as follows: Increase Round: [K2, m1, k to last 2 sts on needle, m1, k2] twice. 4 sts increased. Repeat this round 3 times more. 96 sts. K 6 rounds. Place Ties and Holes Next Round: K19, BO 2 sts, k5 (6 sts on right needle after bound off sts), BO 2 sts, k to end of first needle; k19, [kfb] twice, k6, [kfb] twice, k to end. 44 sts on First Needle; 52 sts on second needle. Next Round: K19, CO 2 sts, k6, CO 2 sts, k to end of first needle; k19, [k1, slip next st to first stitch holder at WS of work] twice, k6, [k1, slip next st to second stitch holder at WS of work] twice, k to end. 48 sts on each needle. Shape Heel: K30, w&t, p to end of first needle; p30 from second needle, w&t, k to end of second needle. K28, w&t, p to end of first needle; p28 from second needle, w&t, k to end of second needle. K26, w&t, p to end of first needle; p26 from second needle, w&t, k to end of second needle. K 4 rounds. Work Applied I-Cord. Sew or graft ends of I-Cord edging together. Ties Slip sts from first stitch holder to double-point needle. Work I-Cord, increasing 1 st in first row (3 sts). Cont until Cord measures 20 inches. BO all sts. Repeat for sts on second stitch holder.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Felt blade covers; for information about felting, see directions in linked article in Pattern Notes. Cover skate blades in plastic bags. Stretch wet, felted blade covers over skate blades and allow to dry completely. When dry, following package directions, apply an eyelet in each of the holes. Slip the cozies on, poke the ties through their corresponding holes and tie in a bow for safe and pretty transport of your skates. If you wish to simply sit rinkside and sip hot chocolate, your blade cozies will be a great conversation piece.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Deb Barnhill lives in Nova Scotia with 2 spirited toddlers and a husband who has given up trying to understand her yarn fixation. She blogs her brains out here. She took up hockey in September 2005 and retired her skates in December of the same year. She would like to thank the Deuville family for access to their rink for photography of this project.
Pattern & images © 2006 Deb Barnhill. Contact Deb