The decorative domestic arts: the desire to cover everything in the house. Cozies for the toaster, tea pot, coffee pot, vacuum cleaner; doilies on all flat surfaces, antimacassars on the backs of chairs and couches (even though grandpa stopped using pomade 30 years ago when there was no hair left to oil up).

A standby in houses where I grew up was the toilet paper roll cozy, often made to look like a doll wearing a ruffled dress and matching hat. I wanted to do a next-generation version, and although I know I could make something fabulous involving a thrift store Barbie, eyelash yarn and sequins, I did a sushi roll instead, using leftover yarns in my stash box. The top is crocheted and then embroidered, the sides knitted. If you prefer to do the entire cozy in crochet, instructions are included.

• Worsted weight yarn in white and black (approx. 3 oz of each), scrap yarns in different colors
• unused roll of toilet paper (for use as a fitting model)
• size G (4.25 mm) hook
• size 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed knitting needles (set of 5, 7"/18cm long)
• tapestry needle

Using white yarn, chain 3, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Row 1: sc 8 sts in ring.

Row 2: ch 1, sc in same st, 2 sc in each st around. Join.

Row 3: ch 1, sc in next st, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around, join.

Row 4: ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join.

Row 5: ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join.

Row 6: ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join.

Row 7: ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join.

Row 8: ch1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join.

Pause and check the size with the fitting model (put the circle you have made on top of the toilet paper roll). If it comes to the edges of the roll, proceed to row 9. If it's not big enough yet, repeat row 8 (replacing "sc in next 6 sts" with "sc in next 7 sts").

Row 9: Change to black yarn. Remove crochet hook and insert a dpn into the loop. Pick up all sts along the edge using the black yarn, switching to a new dpn as needed. Mark beginning of round and knit all stitches until work measures 4.5"/11.5cm. Work k1p1 rib for 3 rounds, bind off. OR : to work entirely in crochet, change to black yarn and sc in each st around until work measures 5"/125cm.

Using scrap yarns, stitch in "fillings."

Abbreviations:

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
dpn = double pointed knitting needle
k1p1 rib = knit 1, purl 1 around; in the following round, knit into the purled sts and purl into the knit sts