EOS Egg Lip Balm Holder Pattern

Right, so as you know, I've been making and selling these little things...

...at my Etsy shop, Zizi Rho Designs. They're fun. And they're easy to make.

So easy that I've been meaning to make the pattern available for some time. But just haven't gotten around to it.

Well, today's the day.

First, the preliminaries...

This holder is crocheted using Caron Simply Soft Yarn on a size G hook. The other things you'll need are a lobster claw clasp (big enough to fit over the yarn), a tapestry needle, and a stitch marker. I'm not sure how much yarn this takes to make, but it isn't much at all, so I'd suggest you go into your stash for the yarn rather than buying new.

I'm using the usual abbreviations--sc=single crochet; sl st=slip stitch; ch=chain

Gauge: 17 sc and 18 rows over 4 inches
This is one of those projects that is so small that making a gauge swatch is kind of silly. What I suggest is that you keep an EOS Egg Lip Balm on hand and plop it in at about round 6. If it won't fit, add a stitch to the first round. If it's very loose (there should be a little ease, but not so much that it'll fall out), subtract a stitch from the first round.  

This is worked in a spiral, so make sure to mark the beginning of each round as you pass it. It's very easy to lose track if you don't mark it. (Not that I have any experience with that...)

The Pattern:
Ch 3. Sl st into the first chain, making a loop.
Round 1: Work 9 sc into the ch 3 loop.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc from previous round (18 sc)
Round 3: *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next sc*, repeat these 3 sc all the way around (27 sc)
Rounds 4-8: Continue working one sc into each sc (27 sc)
Round 9*(also see note below): *Sc into each of the next 7 sc, sc 2 together*, repeat 2 more times (24 sc)
Round 10: *Sc into each of the next 6 sc, sc 2 together*, repeat 2 more times (21 sc)

Finishing: Cut yarn. Draw the yarn all the way through the loop. Then put that yarn on the tapestry needle, and loop the yarn around the base of the next sc and up and through the top of the final sc. If you've never done this before, here's a great video I found showing exactly what I'm talking about:

Wind in ends. The cozy will need a little blocking at this point to make the top even, but once that it done, it's done

*On round 9, you'll also be attaching the claw clasp. It doesn't matter which stitch you attach it to (I usually attach it to the 4th stitch). Where you want to attach it, remove the hook from the piece, pull the loop out, slide the clasp (open part facing towards the piece) over the stitch, replace the hook, and continue crocheting. On the next round you'll need to push the clasp out of the way to work a stitch into that stitch, but then it's completely secure.

It's a pretty simple pattern. If you do make it, I'd love to see your results. You can comment here or tag me on Ravelry. (I'm ZiziRho, and you can find the pattern page here.) Let me know what you think.