This pattern is ridiculously easy to knit, solves an important kitchen safety problem, makes a lovely last-minute gift, and is a great way of using up odds and ends from stash.

I love using cooking pans that can go from the stovetop to the oven. But once the pot comes out of the oven, the blazing hot handle is an invitation to disaster. You’re so used to being able to pick up a pan by its handle that you do it reflexively and get a nasty burn. If you’ve ever done this, you know the pain is something fierce, and it hangs around longer than the most tedious dinner guest.

The pan handle cozy is a stylish and functional piece of safety gear. Wool is a natural choice of materials because of its resistance to burning and its excellent insulating properties. Wool insulates even when wet, a virtue that anyone who has ever used a wet cotton hotpad will appreciate.

2010-03-13 Corrected minor erratum in Safety (orange version with flame). Updated blog addresses