Door Thongs Free Pattern

Exotic name for a simple gadget.
I can only wonder what the search engines will do with this one! Sorry, but this is only a knitting pattern ;).
I made these last summer out of necessity. It was hot and the A/C's were on in our bedrooms. I had to be able to open and close our sticky painted doors at night without waking up the kidsters. They've stayed on the handles ever since, quietly hanging out, waiting for when they get put into action again. And they have lots of other uses (ask me how I know)! They are great for:

• Keeping toddlers from getting locked in their rooms when they can't quite do the handle thing yet.
• Keeping kidsters from locking themselves in their room when they do have the handle thing down and start experimenting with the lock.
• Saving a mother's sanity when kidsters decide to have a door slamming contest.
• Keeping the door from getting blown shut by open windows (and leaving the cats stranded far away from the litter box!).
• And the original intention, air conditioning door helpers!

I kept calling them Door Things, but Hubster thought they looked more like Door Thongs. The name stuck. Oh cast on, you know you want some!



Skill Level: Easy
Gauge: 6 sts = 1”in ss (but not overly critical, knit 'til it fits!)
Yarn: scrap amounts of worsted weight
as pictured: multi: an acrylic blend, green: wool
Materials: US 4 ( 3.5 mm) double pointed or circular needles
Stitches/abbreviations:
k knit
k2tog knit two stitches together
kfb knit into front and back of the stitch (making an increase)
p purl
ss stockinette stitch
(knit every round)
sts stitches
Finished Size: Approximately 2.5”w by 7” long including loops
Easily adjustable to fit your type of door and handle!

Measuring for the Base
To figure out the size you need measure from the edge of the door hardware on one side, wrapping around the door, to the edge of the hardware on the other side of the door. You don’t have to be exact, your yarn will stretch just enough. See pictures below to see how it should fit.

Base
Cast on 8 stitches onto one needle.
Row 1: knit
Row 2: knit (creating garter stitch)
Row 3: *k1, kfb*, repeat to end (12 sts).
Row 4: k1, *kfb, k2*, repeat 3 times, kfb, k1 (16 sts)
Row 5: knit
Row 6: k3, p10, k3
Repeat rows 5 & 6 (ss with garter edges) until piece is 1” less than desired length, ending on a right side row.
Next row: (on wrong side) knit all stitches.
Start decrease rows:
Row 1: k1, *k2tog, k2*, repeat 3 times, k2tog, k1 (12 sts)
Row 2: *k1, k2tog*, repeat to end (8 sts).
Row 3: knit
Row 4: k3, bind off 2, k3

Loops
Place last three stitches on a holder.
Working with the first three stitches, knit an I-cord 5” long (see tips below).
Knit one row straight.
Kitchener stitch these three stitches to the three stitches on the holder.
For other end, pick up the first three stitches onto working needle, and the last three stitches onto a holder.
Repeat as for first loop.

Tips
You might want to check the I-cord on your door handle a few times. You want it to be able to fit around the handle with just a little stretch. If you have a lever type handle, you should make a longer body and shorter loops.

You could use wool and lightly felt it to fit.

Hang from the inside handle when not in use.

Enjoy!

Door Thongs
by Amybelbags
amybelbags@gmail.com

This pattern is offered for personal use only. The pattern, photos, and products made from this pattern are not to be used or sold for personal monetary gain without the written consent of the designer. Do not copy, cut, or paste this pattern. Links back to this pattern are always welcomed.

Also available as a free Ravelry download!