40 ounce paper bag cozy

I tried to come up with a clever title for my entry into this month’s whiplash competition, but I have failed. I am just saying it like it is. I like to drink beer, and occasionally malt liquor. Frequent readers here may also remember that I like to keep my beer cold, and my hands warm. I also like to make small efforts to reuse materials, or recycle – you know, like taking your own bag to the grocery store… Now I can have it all – warm hands, cold 40’s, and no soggy paper bag to throw in the recycling.

Made from superwash wool to look like a paper bag, this cozy will meet my 40 transportation needs perfectly. It has vertical details that look like the folds on the side of a paper bag. The top edge is pointed like the pinked edge of a paper bag*. Though the fit around the body is snug, a proper 40 sack can cling tightly to the neck of the forty so mine has a drawstring for cinching up. It also looks good when the top is folded down.

I am happy to have this new cozy to add to my collection.

Though i haven’t written up the pattern for this cozy, I do have a beer cozy pattern available for your enjoyment. And if you like to drink forties in your home, you should try participating in Simpson’s and 40’s.
edit:I forgot to mention that I made a flickr group for whiplash participants. Please join! Or visit and look around.

*I had a heck of a time figuring out how to make the pointed top edging. If you are interested in the knitting details on how to get that done, the pattern is below.

Pointed Bind-off:

This is worked in multiples of 5 stitches. If you don’t have an even multiple of 5 stitches, you need to sneak some decreases in somewhere (I have never tried entrelac, but I bet it works something like this).

k1, turn
* k1, turn
k2, turn
k2, turn
k3, turn
k3, turn
k4, turn
k4, turn
k5, turn
k5, turn
Cast off 5 *

Repeat from * to *.