
I recently attended a professional conference where I came home with a small bag of business-themed giveaways. One of these was a branded piece of rubber or nylon with a snap. Its purpose is to help contain cords that accompany all of our electronics.
Driving back from that event, I thought about how to replicate this but with yarn (e.g. crochet). The following pattern is what I came up with after a few attempts.
Crocheted Cord Tamer
Materials/supplies
worsted weight yarn
Sz G crochet hook
small button
scissors, darning needle
Begin by chaining 9 stitches.
Row 1: SC in 2nd ch from hook and continue across (8 sts); ch 1 and turn. NOTE: ch 1 does not count as a stitch in any row.
Row 2: SC across (8 sts) ; ch 1 and turn.
Rows 3 - 14: repeat Row 2.
Row 15: SC in 1st 3 sts, ch 2 (skipping 2 sts), then SC in last 3 sts (3 sts, 2 ch, 3 sts)
Border/edge: continuing around at the corner, SC down along side, across bottom and up the other side, placing 2 SC sts in each corner stitch.
Once you get back up to the top, crochet the final corner by placing 2 SC in corner st, then SC in next 2 sts.
To reinforce the buttonhole you created by chaining 2 / skipping 2 sts, SC 3 sts around the ch 2 from previous row (NOTE: yes, you are crocheting 3 SC around the 2 chains); SC in next 2 sts, then 2 SC in final corner.
Sl st to beginning of your border/edge and fasten off.
Finishing
Decide which side you want to be the outside/visible side. Measure where the button needs to be placed to align with the buttonhole. Secure the button with a few passes of the yarn.
HINT: I generally leave the starting chain with a tail that is long enough to weave across to the middle, and then use it to secure my button, and then finish weaving across.
Weave in any remaining ends.
Your Cord Tamer is complete!
Final comments
BUTTONS: I experimented with a number of character / specialty shape buttons and they looked GREAT but were impractical for taming the electronics cords (I didn't feel they worked as well). I found that keeping the button small and round was the best functional option.
YARN: while any worsted weight yarn will work, I found that cotton yarn created the more sturdy item. I used Capri Eco Cotton - purchased from Michael's - for the 4 pictured above (similar yarn from Joann's - Big Twist - would also work). The CAMO tamer pictured below was crocheted with Red Heart Super Saver in Camouflage.
Enjoy!!
(C) 2023 Stitch 'n Dish

Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to make some to add on to gift bags for some graduation gifts!!