Monday, January 7, 2008

Free Knitting Pattern - Golf Club Covers








Wood Hoods

The design for these Wood Hoods came after several less than perfect attempts. Socks that were too loose and the covers slipped off. Fuzzy eyelash yarn heads that looked great, but were too delicate to hold up to the rough treatment. Final result is a sock that is tight but stretchy and a fuzzy hood that can be pulled off my Big Bertha and tossed on the ground and still look great.
The secret is felting. An eyelash and pure wool worked together, then felted creates a firm, fuzzy, durable lid. If knit atop a non-felting acrylic ribbed sock, the whole thing can be washed and felted together.
Choose conservative colors for the traditional duffer, or bright colors that can be spotted three fairways away. Shown in yellow and black[version 2] and peacock and multi[version 1].

SIZE
Two sizes: smaller for fairway woods, larger[in brackets] for the driver. *** New size for Hybrids can be found HERE***

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS”Sock” section [tube] is 2.5[3.0] inches wide and 12 inches long.
Hood section is 6.5[7.5] inches wide and 7.5[8.5] inches long BEFORE felting.
Hood is 5[6] inches wide and long AFTER felting.

MATERIALS [for 3 Wood Hoods]
[Hood Yarn #1]: Patons Classic Wool [100% wool****  NOT the superwash version****; 223 yds per 100g skein]; color: peacock[version one], black[version two]; 1 skein[Hood Yarn #2] Lion Brand Fun Fur [100# polyester; 60 yds per 50g skein]; color: peacock[version one], black[version two]; 2 skeins
[“Sock” Yarn] Patons Canadiana worsted weight [100% Acrylic; 170 yds per 85g skein]; color: crazy shades[version one], yellow[version two] 1 skein

1 set US 10.5/6.5mm double-point needles for hoods
1 set US 7/4.5mm double-point needles for “socks”

Notions required: purchase sew-on number patches [optional] *****NEW make your own numbers tutorial!!GAUGE

11 sts/19 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch with Hood Yarn #1 and #2 held together on 6.5mm needles
14 sts/24 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch in Canadiana on 4.5 mm needles

PATTERN NOTES
When substituting yarns, ensure that the “sock” yarn is 100% acrylic and fairly sturdy twist, so it holds a stretchy rib without sagging. If you choose a yarn that has any wool in it, knit the “sock” separate from the Hood, and felt wash the Hood alone, then attach the “sock”. You want the Hood to felt, and shrink, but NOT the “sock”. Also make sure the Hood Yarn #1 is 100% wool and not a superwash wool. You want it to felt well.


PATTERN
Sock: Starting with “sock” yarn and 4.5mm needles cast on LOOSELY 32[36] and distribute between 3 dpn’s. Join without twisting, and work in k2, p2 ribbing in the round for 12 inches.
Last row of “sock”: [k3, make a stitch by knitting in the front and back of next stitch], repeat across. 40[45] stitches on needles.
Hood: Change to 6.5mm dpn’s, and Classic Wool and Fun Fur, begin stocking stitch loosely in the round, with both yarns worked together.
Work until the fuzzy hood is 7[8] inches long.
Decrease row 1: k1[k0] then [k2tog, k1] repeated across this row. 27[30] sts remain.
Row 2: [K2tog, k1] repeated across this row. 18[20] remain.
Row 3: K2tog, repeated across this row. 9[10] remain.
Break 10 inch tail of both yarns, and using large eye darning needle thread tail through remaining stitches to gather closed and securely fasten the tail. Sew in all yarn ends.



FINISHING
Felting is simple in the washing machine, with hot water. Use a regular setting and small load size. I usually put the item[s] in a mesh bag to reduce the wooly residue in the tub and drain, and will throw old dishtowels in to help beat up the wood hoods. One full cycle , with laundry detergent, usually reaches the dimensions required, but you can check every 5 minutes and do a second cycle if needed to get the approximate size of finished measurements. You want a firm, dense, fuzzy fabric. Air dry and reshape the ribbing to allow it to dry unstretched.
Sew optional numbers on top of hood, 1 for driver, 3, 5, or whatever is required for others. I have also used letter beads to spell our “driver”, “three” and “five” and sew to hood.

**edited to clarify the "m1 by kfb" increase at the end of sock part**** thanks for all the emails about this, hopes it helps.

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

These headcovers look great - I know because my friend Chris knit some for me to match my new golf bag - thanks Chris!!

chris said...

It's true. Debbie was an innocent victim of a drive-by-knitting! I took her mundain "ping" covers and replaced them with fuzzy yellow and black ones. Enjoy!
Chris

Anonymous said...

Many, many thanks for this great pattern. I have had many admiring comments about my beautiful felted wood hoods with the fuzzy faces - and my Callaways have never looked better.
Great job, Chris - now can you give me some tips on how to sink more putts?

best wishes from
Karen in England, UK

Anonymous said...

Hi Chris --- I saw similar head covers to these while I was down in Palm Desert & have been looking for a pattern ever since! I am a "returned to knitting" knitter after not having knit for 35 years (due to the appearance of a new grandchild!). I am going to attempt these & feeling very excited about it. Felting is new to me so I will find out about how to do it at my local knitting store. I now live in BC but I did my nursing training in St Catherines -- so know your area! Thanks so much for posting this --- I'll let you know how I make out!

Kay in BC

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this great pattern! I just finished my first wood hood! I posted it on the golfers group in Ravelry.

SusanU

Anonymous said...

Hey chris, this pattern is perfect for what I'm looking for. I was just asking my father in law the other day. What he would like for fathers day and came up with the idea for a club cover today while practicing for a tournament we will be in next weekend together. Thank you so much for posting this pattern! Wish me luck!

Stacey said...

Awesome pattern! My husband actually begged me to go to my LYS to pick up supplies to make him a set of your headcovers. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Love these...I'm making some for myself and think I'll make some for my mother in law for Xmas. Where did you get the number patches? I didn't see anything like that at my local craft or yarn store...any ideas?

chris said...

I found them at Michael's, but you could also cut them from felt, and layer another colour of felt under the main colour, just a bit larger.. hot glue them together and sew those on. Another letter from a fan said she embroydered the numbers on fabric and backed that with felt. Hope that helps...
Chris

Anonymous said...

Thanks Chris...I'll head to Michael's tomorrow. I just finished the first one and have just started my second! I didn't use dpns...I tried knitting on 2 circular needles and LOVED it...I don't think I'll ever use dpns again. I love your blog...knitting and golf all in one place - what could be better?! Thanks again, Kathy

Pat said...

Love this pattern, having fun making them when I'm not playing golf. Having difficulty with the sock (kind of saggy) I guess I am knitting too loosely. thanks for the pattern

Cindy said...

For the hood it says to use the stocking stitch. I assumed you meant stockinette stitch and so I knit a row and pearled a row. Then I looked up stocking stitch and found it to be: k1, slip 1, k1. Pearl next row, repeat. Which is correct? If using 4 double pointed needles would the pearl row actually be a knit row?

chris said...

Stocking stitch (and stockinette stitch) is Knit the right side row and purl the wrong side row... in the case of the Hood, you are knitting on double points, round and round, so you always have right side facing, so you always Knit. (if you are making it flat and seaming the sideseam, you would knit the right side and purl the wrong side). Hope that helps.

Golf Vacation Las Vegas said...

Its really nice. I will try to knit similar for my husband too.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Hi Chris Firstly, many thanks for your pattern for golf club covers, I have knit lots for me and friends.
One of my friends now wants a putter cover to match (it is a two ball putter)can you help please.
Vanne, North Yorkshire, England

chris said...

putters are difficult because there are so many different sie heads. Also you need to do a velcro closure to hold it on, instead of a stretch sock neck... I may dabble in a pattern over the long winter months. If so, i will publish on the blog, so check back before next golf season.
I don't use a putter cover, so it has not been in my thoughts (where all cool patterns begin!)

Renee said...

Chris, What a great pattern. I have started the project. As I added the fun fur, it seems like the furry part of the fun fur is on the inside of the hood. Is there something that I am doing wrong? I have only completed 2 rows of the hood. Will this adjust itself? Thanks for your help

chris said...

Hi Renee..
You will find that in felting it, the fuzzies will be even inside and outside! BUT, you also have the option of turning it inside out if you like one side better than the other!! Works either way.. so go ahead and finish the covers :)

Jackie said...

Chris,
I'm having trouble using the fun fur. It isn't coming out nearly as full as the ones you show. Is there some trick to using it? It's mostly the wool that shows and the fun fur is not that thick. Could you please give me a tip?
Jackie

chris said...

Jackie, you will find that AFTER you felt it, it will become more furry and the wool will shrink into the fur.... Watch my blog, tomorrow I will be posting another link to the wood hoods, I am making new ones, and will explain how to make your own numbers to finish them! I will add before and after photos of the fur hoods (although I am making black ones and it may not photo very well)
Chris

Jackie said...

Thanks Chris, I'll try again. Maybe if I use 2 fun fur it might work better. What do you think?
I ordered a set from a lady on the internet before I found your pattern. You might be interested in looking at her website (knitmeez.com). She adds some interesting things, pom poms, ribbon, etc. She takes your custom order. She has good pictures on her site.
Jackie

Carol said...

How do you use circular needles-do you have a seam to sew?

chris said...

circular needles won't work because they are too long to join into a circle (they are made for around the body length, not around a golf club head length. You could use straight or circulars if you choose to knit back and forth (don't join in a circle) then sew a back seam.
Hope that helps.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Chris -- Great pattern! I'm glad to know there other golf-crazy knitters out there (most of my girlfriends only do one or the other). I think your wood/hybrid covers are really ingenious--what a great idea to combine wool, acrylic, and fun fur yarns and felt the top! I have had trouble finding a pattern that I think will really hold up well and your pattern looks really sturdy and is super-stylish to boot. However, I see the pattern is from around 2008-- does your driver pattern fit the new oversized (460cc) drivers? If not, could you give some advice as to how to adjust your pattern to make it work (presumably both hood & sock would need to be larger)? Many thanks.

chris said...

I have since switched to a new BIG driver and it stretches just fine over it!
Go ahead and try the pattern...
and hit them long and straight!

Penny said...

Am struggling to achieve the required guage of 14 stitches/24 rows = 4". Have used up to 6mm needles and cannot get 14 stitches to equal 4". The 24 rows are fine but not the number of stitches. I am using Patons Fab DK 100% acrylic as Patons Canadiana is not available in the UK. Would be grateful for your advice.

chris said...

Is your test gauge in stocking stitch??? because ribbing will not give that gauge. The other issue may be DK weight is finer than worsted weight and you WILL need to add about 4 stitches to make the sock wide enough. Add 4 stitches, and use 4mm needles, work the same length.

Penny said...

Yes my test was on stocking stitch. Will do as you suggest - adding four stitches and using 4mm needles. Thanks.

Julie.Vanacker@veriozn.net said...

Just finished the standard driver, 3 and 5 wood covers for a friend. Used a self striping black, grey and pink acrylic for the sock and "lava" fun fur for the heads. They turned out AWESOME!!! So good that now I'm making same sock but now hot pink fun fur for her hybrids.
I'm afraid she'll get so many comments I need to start up an inventory! LOL Thanks for the pattern these were fab to make!!

Unknown said...

Hi Chris,

I'm pretty new to knitting and this is the first dpn project, so I am going to ask you a question that might seem stupid to you. So far, the sock part is turning out great and I am excited to see the final result.

When the pattern says switch to 6.5mm dpns, begin stocking stitch in the round with both yarns worked together. Does this mean after I am done with the sock part, I switch to the bigger needles one by one as I switch to the two other yarns as I start knitting with the hood needle? So, at one point I will have all three yarns in my hands? Thanks!

chris said...

You will STOP using the sock yarn (acrylic)... break it off, then use the two HOOD yarns, (wool and fur) held together, and switch to bigger needles as you work three of the needles around. You will then be on all the bigger needles and only the wool and fur yarns. You will now be knitting the Hood part.
Best to take it to a experienced knitter to get you started (see it in person) if you don't understand it in writing.
Happy knitting!
Chris

Maree said...

Hi Chris,
Great pattern and fantastic look with fun fur. My golf bag looks very cool filled with vibrant colours.
Where can I purchase number tags to sew onto the covers. The caddies never know which cover goes which club.
MC

chris said...

I have found them at fabric stores or craft stores, but lately I have made them myself and you will find the link to number tutorial just above the pattern for the covers.....look up :)

Anonymous said...

Love, love love these headcovers ... and so do all my golfing buddies! I've had many, many requests to knit them for the group of women I golf with, so I'm bartering with each one! I've used rhinestones and buttons to identify clubs ... just have to be sure that they don't scratch the clubs. Thank you! I'm finishing a set for a friend right now! Mary

Ali said...

Chris. I would like to use a mettalic eyelash for the top of these hoods. What do you think?

chris said...

I have made them with sparkly eyelash... looks great.

Anonymous said...

If I use the glitter eyelash is it possible that it will not survive the felting process? Also, am I correct that if I use acrylic sock yarn I can felt the entire club cover together?

Thanks, Ali

chris said...

If its washable the eyelash should be fine, but you can always do a swatch and wash it to test it. Acrylic yarn for the sock and pure wool with the eyelash is the formula that works.

Unknown said...

Hi Chris almost finished my first golf cover. Do you know of anywhere to get the numbers to attach? Been checking out the I telnet with not luck
Pattern is beautiful

chris said...

Hi Terri, I have found them at Michaels, and at Fabricland in Ontario, in the past, but not sure if they still have them. I do have a tutorial to make them yourself on the blog, the link is highlighted in the pattern!

chris said...

I was asked about using different colours in the fuzzy part (instead of matching wool and fun fur). I used a brighter blue fur with a black wool base and that was nice, but I feel too much contrast would not look as nice... so I haven't tried others. If anyone has tried it, please post comments here!
Chris

Cherryl said...

I was thinking that the hood was done the same way as the sock (k2 p2) which is what I did. Realized this was wrong when I got to the hood for the driver (odd # of stitches) They actually look fine, just not sure how they'll felt. Any thoughts on this?

chris said...

it should still felt fine, since you used the large needles and the right number of stitches!
Chris

Yvonne T said...

Anonymous said she used circular needles? What size? My sister wants me to make these for her and I have never used dpn. Any other helpful hints ?

chris said...

using TWO circular needles is sometimes favoured by knitters who do not like double points. You would put half of the stitches on one, and the other half on the other, then knit like straight stitches, changing from 1 to 2 (google video should halp). BUT you CANNOT use 1 circular, the size of the sock and hood is too small to join around! You could knit on straights, flat (not joined) then sew the back seam.
Hope that helps
chris

Yvonne T said...

Thanks, that sounded complicated so watched a lot of videos on YouTube and found a tecnique of using dpn that I could do. Was suprised it isn't as hard as I thought. If I can do it anyone can lol. Can't wait to get started!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely love these headcovers! I have made at least 20 sets for friends' gifts. Thank you for making this pattern available and for all the tutorial help too.

Jill said...

Love these covers. However, I am too clumsy to knit on DPNs. I enjoy knitting on straights. Do I need to make any pattern adjustments for the seam if my gauge is accurate? Thanks.

Jill said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chris said...

You could add one or two extra stitches to accomodate a sewn seam, but even if you don't the sock part is so stretchy and the fuzzy top just shrinks to fit anyway... it should work with a seam. Sew the seam BEFORE the felting process shrinks it, then you will not see the seam at all in the fuzzy top!
Cheers, Chris

Unknown said...

Just finished my first headcover. It did not felt. Googled "how to felt wool" and it said NOT to use superwash wool yarn (which I had). Used Patons Classic Wool but didn't know about Superwash." It's on the label. Back to the yarn shop. They're cute anyway -- might fit my driver if I can get it over the head.

chris said...

Oh, Kathleen, I feel your pain! I made one set of THREE covers before felting them and discovering that Mercerized wool means superwash! Yikes.
I also wrote this pattern in 2008 when Patons Classic wool ONLY came in pure wool. I just searched and found several versions now, including a superwash. I have updated my blog pattern, to try to prevent the wrong Classic wool being used. Thank you for commenting, and helping us all avoid the superwash. Cheers, chris

Unknown said...

My husband said by the time I finish these headcovers I'll be too old to golf! Hah!

Queen of Diamonds said...

Chris -

To get the color I want, I am thinking of using two different strands of eyelash along with the wool. Do I need to make any pattern changes if I do that? Will it felt OK? Thanks!

chris said...

as long as the eyelash is thin, it should work.

Anonymous said...

Hi Chris, thanks so much for this great pattern. I recently just made the driver club cover. I felted it in the washer and it I turned out great!.........but it is a bit too small for my driver. So I will use it for the 3 wood. I would like it to be a bit smaller for the 3 wood though. Can I felt it again in the washer to get it a bit smaller?

Thanks for your help

chris said...

You should be able to wash it again (maybe just short wash, then check, then short again) until it is the right size. It will continue to shrink in hot wash until it becomes a fuzzy rock!!! Next driver one, you should shorten the wash to half what you did before , then check and do a bit more, until perfect for your driver. Every yarn shrinks at different rates, so it is good to be cautious. Also every washer behaves a bit different!
Hope that helps, Chris