In the panoply of kitschy crochet, the crocheted figural cover for a coffee can is a classic. So you can imagine the squeal of delight when I spotted a crocheted Santa treat container cover on the front of Crocheted Favorites & Originals of Jessie Abularach. The booklet is undated, but has to be from the 1960s based on the models and projects. On the internet, there are copies available dated from 1965 to 1980 to 2002. This is self published, so it may be that the current owner of the copyright has been renewing it. There is not a chance the original printing was in 1980 or 2002.
Bless you Jessie Abularach for documenting so many crochet favorites of the time in this and your subsequent books. Behold that crocheted teacup and saucer plant cozy. It is not possible to look at that poodle soap cover without gasping at it’s retro magnificence. But that is not why we are here. We are here to dive deep into the Santa treat container cover. So let’s do that.
Look at that sassy Claus, adorable from the top of his cap to the tip of his boots. The use of wiggle eyes is essential.
There are two challenges in crocheting this Santa treat container cover. First, the pattern is to cover a 1 lb. coffee can. Coffee does not come in 1 lb. cans anymore. You’re more likely to have 10.5 or 11 oz. cans on hand. Crochet is a flexible medium, you should be able to adjust the pattern to fit your can.
Next, the pattern calls for 2 oz. skeins of acrylic yarn. All the other patterns in the booklet specify specific weights of yarn, but not this one. I suspect this is a worsted weight yarn, since I haven’t ever seen a coffee can cover crocheted in anything else, but you may want to work up some samples to be sure.
This Santa treat container cover doesn’t call for a lot of yarn, it would be easy to work up with leftovers from other projects. You can let your creativity run wild and crochet Santa in favorite team colors, in tropical lime and flamingo pink, with an added metallic thread…the options are endless.
As for what to fill it with, something tasty and wishes for health and happiness in the new year are always appreciated.
