Laura's Loop: Knit Golf Club Covers
Bogey, birdie, eagle, dogleg, Cinderella story, shank, slice, duck hook, snap hook, snapper, quacker, bunker, cabbage, fried egg, tin cup, deuce, flop shot, kick, bite, long iron, mulligan, up and down, Oscar Brown, pitch and run, punch shot, sandbagger, wormburner, and so many more... This ridiculous lingo used to tumble out of my father's mouth every Saturday and Sunday evening as he, with kid-like enthusiasm, regaled us with the triumphs and tribulations of his day on the golf course.
While I never took to playing, I do love the game. It's rich with history, tradition and etiquette yet accompanied by some seriously silly outfits and laughably playful jargon. My dad remains modest in dress, but his clubs sure make up for it!
Knit with Koigu's Kersti yarn, the single stranded ribbing is flexible enough to stretch over the large headed woods, while the double stranded tops of the covers are thick and lofty enough to protect them. This 100% merino is durable, resilient and even machine washable, perfect for the most adventurous of golfers... and knitters! Go wild with stripes of Koigu's intensely saturated colors, then top your covers off with a pom-pom, tassel or I-cord loop. Cute! (Happy Father's day, Old Man!) -Laura
The Materials
- 4 skeins of Koigu's Kersti (100% merino wool) to make all three Golf Club Covers. I used 2 skeins of color 2100 and 2 skeins of color 2405.
- 1 set of US #5 double pointed needles
- 1 set of US #6 double pointed needles
- 1 set of US #8 double pointed needles
- (optional) Clover's Large Pom Pom Maker.
The Pattern
Gauge
4 1/2 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch, with yarn doubled on largest needles
Finished Dimensions
Five Wood Cover (Three Wood Cover, Driver Cover): 13 inches long by 8 inch circumference, at widest point (14 1/2 inches long by 9 inch circumference, 15 1/2 inches long by 10 1/2 inch circumference)
Pattern Note
This pattern is knit bottom up, using one strand of yarn for the ribbing and two strands of yarn for the head of the cover.
Ribbing (All Three Sizes)
With Contrast Color (CC) and size US #6 needles, cast on 32 (36, 40) stitches.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Round 1: With the CC, k1. Change to Main Color (MC) and knit to the end of round.
Round 2: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end.
Repeat Round 2 until piece measures 1 inches from cast on edge. Change to US #5 needles and continue working on 1 x 1 rib.
When the piece measures 10 inches from cast on edge, change to size US #8 needles. Add a second strand of yarn.
Knit 3 rows.
Five Wood
Change to CC (doubled).
Knit 2 rounds.
Increase Round: K7, make 1 right (m1R), k1, make 1 left (m1L), k16, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (36 stitches)
Knit 3 rounds.
With MC (doubled), knit one round. Cut MC yarn.
Change to CC.
Knit 2 rounds
Increase Round: K8, m1R, k1, m1L, k18, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (40 stitches)
Knit 3 rounds.
With MC, knit one round.
Decrease Round 1: K2tog, (k5, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k5, ssk, k1. (32 stitches)
Decrease Round 2: K2tog, (k3, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k3, ssk, k1. (24 stitches)
Decrease Round 3: K2tog, (k1, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k1, ssk, k1. (16 stitches)
Decrease Round 4: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2. (12 stitches)
Decrease Round 5: (Ssk, k1, k2tog, k1) twice. (8 stitches)
Decrease Round 6: (K2tog) 4 times. (4 stitches)
Arrange the remaining 4 stitches on to one double pointed needle. Using a second double pointed needle, work in I-cord for 3 1/2 inches. Cut yarn and pull tail through live stitches. With tapestry needle take tail through the top of the Club Cover and weave it in.
Three Wood
With CC (doubled), knit one round. Cut CC yarn.
Change to MC (doubled).
Knit 2 rounds.
Increase Round: K8, m1R, k1, m1L, k18, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (40 stitches)
Knit 3 rounds.
With CC, knit one round. Cut CC yarn.
Change to MC.
Knit 2 rounds.
Increase Round: K9, m1R, k1, m1L, k20, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (44 stitches)
Knit 3 rounds.
With CC, knit one round. Cut CC yarn.
Change to MC.
Knit 2 rounds.
Increase Round: K10, m1R, k1, m1L, k22, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (48 stitches)
Knit 3 rounds. Cut MC yarn.
Change to CC and knit 1 round. Continue working with CC.
Decrease Round 1: K2tog, (k7, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k7, ssk, k1. (40 stitches)
Work Decrease Rounds 1 - 6 of the Five Wood Cover and continue to follow those directions to finish.
Driver
Change to CC (doubled).
Knit 3 rounds.
Increase Round: K9, m1R, k1, m1L, k20, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (44 stitches)
Knit 6 rounds.
Increase Round: K10, m1R, k1, m1L, k22, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (48 stitches)
Knit 6 rounds.
Increase Round: K11, m1R, k1, m1L, k24, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (52 stitches)
Knit evenly until top measures 4 1/2 inches from ribbing. Cut CC yarn
Change to MC (doubled).
Knit one round.
Decrease Round 1: K2tog, (k8, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k8, ssk, k1. (44 stitches)
Decrease Round 2: K2tog, (k6, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k6, ssk, k1. (36 stitches)
Decrease Round 3: K2tog, (k4, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k4, ssk, k1. (28 stitches)
Decrease Round 4: K2tog, (k2, ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, k2, ssk, k1. (20 stitches)
Decrease Round 5: K2tog, (ssk, k1, k2tog) three times, ssk, k1. (12 stitches)
Decrease Round 6: (Ssk, k1, k2tog, k1) twice. (8 stitches)
Decrease Round 7: K2tog 4 times. (4 stitches)
With the CC color make a pom pom, as large or as small as you'd like. I used Clover's Large Pom Pom Maker to make mine. Remember to leave two long tails for attaching your pom pom to the Club Cover. Using a tapestry needle, bring the tails through the top to the inside of the Club Cover and weave them in securely.
All Club Covers
Weave in the tails and block if desired.
May 17, 2012
Reader Comments (22)
This pattern is not a part of a book, it's a free pattern from us here at The Purl Bee. You can find a bunch of other free knitting, sewing, and crochet patterns by clicking around on the site.
Thank you so much for your question-
Molly
What a lucky brother you have.
For the 15-inch driver. Cast on 44 stitches, Follow the directions as usual until you get to skip down to the section titled Driver.
Change to CC.
Knit 3 Rounds.
Then skip to the second Increase Round that begins "K10...".
Knit 6 rounds.
Do following Increase Round that begins "K11...".
Knit 6 rounds.
Then, do one more Increase Round: K12, m1R, k1, m1L, k26, m1R, k1, m1L, knit to end. (56 stitches)
Knit evenly until top measures 4 1/2 inches from ribbing.
Cut CC yarn.
Change to MC (doubled).
Knit one round.
Then do a Decrease Round: K2tog, k23, ssk, k1, k2tog, k23, ssk, k1. (52 stitches)
Continue with Decrease Round 1 and finish pattern.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Laura
Just getting started on the head portion of the club covers and had a question. I just doubled the main color for the 3 wood and wanted to know if the main color is doubled for the whole head or just at the beginning to add strength to the neck?
Thanks,
Carol
The whole top portion of the Cover is worked with the yarn doubled. It is for extra padding/thickness and protection.
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Thanks :)
Yes, you can leave the i-cord off the top. Just cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches. The, securely weave the tail into the interior of cover.
Thanks,
Laura
I'm not sure if this question is addressed elsewhere on the website, but what is the best wat to change colors? Should I just cut the yarn and tie the new one on? and also what is the best way to add the second piece of the yarn for the top portion?
Thanks so much!
I just looked through all of our tutorials and I cannot believe we don't address changing colors anywhere! I sure am glad you asked so we can rectify this. When you want to change colors, simply stop knitting with your current yarn, leaving a 6 or so inch tail and then begin knitting when the new color, again leaving a tail to weave in later. At the transition point there might be a bit of a gap, but at the end, when you weave in your tails, you can close up that gap. There is an important rule in knitting... No knots!!! So try and resist the urge. The reason is that they tend to come undone and then the unraveling begins.
Regarding the addition of the top portion... if it is a i-cord loop... after your last round of knitting, do not cut it, keep using it to make the i-cord. Once you have finished your i-cord, pull the tail through the top and weave into the interior of the Club Cover to secure it. For advice on weaving in ends... http://www.purlbee.com/weaving-in-ends-tutorial/
Hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Laura
You can weave in the ends on the inside or outside. I tend to weave them in on the inside just incase they aren't as hidden as I want.
As for changing colors, if you are knitting in grey and then have one round of yellow and then have grey again, you can just carry the grey up, on the inside of the Cover. But if there are several rounds of contrast color, then, yes, cut the yarn leaving a 6 inch or so tail to weave in later.
This is a helpful tutorial for changing colors and not cutting the yarn:
http://www.purlbee.com/stripes-in-the-round/
Please keep writing in with any questions you still have!
Laura
You could substitue any light worsted or dk weight yarn:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/3-knitting-crochet-yarn?filters[]=5
Thanks,
Laura
as I have never done this
Thanks
You can find a tutorial to make an i-cord here: http://www.purlbee.com/i-cord-tutorial/
Thank you!
Molly
What is the equivalent to English 3 ply or 4 ply to the wool used for the golf club covers? My aunt is over from England and is going to make them for my cousin,
Thank you,
Michelle
Yes, it is. The icord is make with the yarn doubled.
Laura
Kersti is a DK or Light Worsted weight which is a bit heavier than a 4ply in UK terms. Hope this helps!
Laura