When Hobbies Collide! I love to knit, and I love to pack lunches, so what could be better than knitting things for packed lunches?This summer I've been knitting fruit cozies: cotton jackets made to keep fruit from getting bruised in a lunch bag or purse. So far I've made (clockwise from bottom left) an orange cozy, a banana cozy, two apple cozies, and a pear.
If any of you knitters are wondering how it's done, I got the original Apple Sweater Pattern from a seller on etsy. I wouldn't feel right sharing the pattern since it belongs to someone else. But I will tell you I made a few modifications:
- I left off the collar on the apples, because I didn't like it.
- I added a little leaf to most of the fruit (CO 3 st; Row1 knit; R2 purl; R3 K1f&b, K1, K1f&b (5 st); R4 purl; R5 knit; R6 purl; R7 K2tog, K1, K2tog; R8 purl; R9 Sl 1, K2tog, psso; weave in ends and attach to the cozy).
- I knit an extra 5 rows before casting off to make the pear.
- I knit the same cozy pattern in seed stitch for the orange.
Of course, I also needed a banana for my collection, and since I couldn't find a pattern for a banana cozy, I made one up! Go ahead and download my Banana Cozy Pattern and make your own. And don't worry, there's plenty of time to get it done before school starts again!
30 comments:
TOO CUTE!! :0)
These are so cute! Great work!
That is so cute. I bet it would be even cuter on baby bananas. ~_^
That is so cute - bananas really need a little something....
I love them!! Now you just need to sell them to those of us that can't follow patterns. haha
How cute! I just learned to knit yesterday, so it'd be great to one day be able to make one of these.
So cute!
I'm about to learn how to crochet... I wonder how that would translate
Your efforts to promote fruits and vegetables are really great!
This knitting is wonderful idea of wrapping fruits.
Ashwini, India
There are other patterns here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/26/9
Those are sooo adorable! And what a great idea ;)
Those are super cute!
Yes, that selling thing, I'm on board for that too! Very cute!
Oh my gosh, I love your blog and I wish I'd had a cool vegan mom like you! Well, now she's cool vegan mom (yay!) but not until I was all grown up. I've never been into blogs until recently, so I just found yours yesterday and I have now read the entire archive. I can't wait until the school year so I can read lots more of your lunch box entries!
Oh my! How freakin' cute are those?! I wish I could knit...
These are too cute !!! I'm so happy my brand new copy of VEGAN LUNCH BOX is here !!! I'm reading it now at work. I can't wait to get started:)
Thanks Jennifer :)
I third the suggestion that you consider selling these, Jennifer. I can't knit, but I LOVE this idea. Keep us posted if you decide to make a few extras for sale!
I would love to buy a banana Cozie:)
I emailed this to cute overload. Deserves to be featured.
I have a question for you, but couldn't find an email address: I need to make lunches for my daughter next week while at a conference. She is going to be attending a science day camp at a museum there, while I am at the conference and they need to bring lunch. I will not have a fridge, but we are bringing our cooler. Do you have any ideas for easy lunch components? I already have some larabars and fruit cups, and thought I could bring some baby carrots, but I don't want to have to make sandwiches, as I won't have an easy way to wash dishes. Any ideas?
Will you have access to a healthy grocery store or health food store on the way to the science camp? Stopping to pick up a piece of fruit and a salad, wrap, or sandwich at a healthy deli would probably be the easiest and freshest way to go, although that might get expensive.
When I'm in travel situations I tend to rely on small tetrapacks of hummus that don't need refrigeration, packed with pita chips and baby carrots; pretzels with nut butter; tortilla chips and small pop-top cans of refried beans, stuff like that.
Will there be a microwave at the science camp? If so, canned soups or thawed frozen meals might be a good idea. You could also bake a batch of Full Meal Muffins or other healthy muffins, freeze them, and pack them in your cooler.
Does anyone else have suggestions?
Have fun at camp and conference!
Hello! I hope I'm not posting this twice. I have been trying to figure out how to contact your publisher--I am the food writer for kidoinfo.com, the web site for families in Rhode Island. I am currently writing a series of cookbook reviews called, "Great Cookbooks for Families" and I'm working on a back-to-school column that will include lunchbox-packing related books. Obviously, I'd love the opportunity to include "Vegan Lunchbox."
I am sure that it will be of great interest to our readers!
Kidoinfo is read by hundreds of parents each day,many of whom are interested in cooking healthful meals and adding variety to their family table. If you would like your book to be included, please send me a reviewer's copy. My address is
Katy Killilea, kidoinfo
19 Martin Avenue
Barrington, RI 02806
USA
Thanks for your attention!
Katy
Hi, Katy,
I have forwarded your request on to the publicity manager at my publisher. Thanks! :-)
Off topic-
Have you considered putting a "look inside" option on Amazon for your book?
I think that would be great! But I think it's up to the publisher?
I'd really be interested in that "banana" coat you made... (or is it a sweater)? Since I have no knitting skills of my own, is that something you could make for one? Is it a "one size fits all" kind of item, or can it be custom fitted for my own banana? You know they vary in size and girth. Anyway...please let me know if this is something I can order. i'd be interested in maybe getting one with my favorite team's logo on it. Thanks so much!
-davedrum
The pattern is sized to fit an average to large-size banana. If you have smaller banana you could perhaps wrap it in a napkin before putting it in the cozy.
I'm afraid I don't have time to knit and sell them right now, but you could print the pattern (link is in the post) and take it in to your local yarn shop. I bet you could find a knitter willing to knit you a whole bunch (ha ha)!
Thanks for your advice! I think this is something you should check out: http://lunchinabox.net/2008/08/04/banana-carrier-microwave-ripening/#more-446
It's more like a suit of armour for your banana. Maybe she can get me in touch with the manufacturer to get my teams logo on this.
I'm just not sure about the napkin thing. Seems it would be quite itchy for the banana.
Oh, they look great! I want to make some myself! They don't look too hard to make.
This blog has caught my attention a few times over the past year. I am not a vegan (at the moment) but i feel great when i am. Anywho i have a recipe for the Yumm Sauce if your interested in making your own.
Cheers!
Yumm! Sauce
1/2 C Conola oil
1/2 C Almonds (i used raw almonds and soaked them in water overnight)
1/3 C Garbanzo beans
1/4 C Soybeans (i used frozen Edamame and steamed them)
4 Garlic cloves
1/2 C lemon Juice
1/3 C Nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Curry
1/2 tsp Basil
Blend oil, almonds, and beans in food processor or blender until smooth. Add all other ingredients and blend.
Makes about 2 cups of sauce.
Hi Jennifer! These are some of THE coolest things I have ever seen. Ever. :) Good job. I'm gonna find myself a knitter to make me some of these beauties!
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