From the pattern: "

My hometown, recently crowned Hockeyville, Canada , is home to Deuville's Rink. One of its very popular programs is "Babes on Blades". The Babes are women of all ages and beginners of all stages. They gather each Saturday night to learn the game of hockey, or in many cases, simply how to skate and stop without the benefit of toe picks.

There is nothing pretty about hockey equipment. My only fashion statement as a Babe was to match my black skates to my many bruises. That said, I am a girl. And a knitter. And until I have time to design a funky helmet cover, my skates deserve to portray these aspects of my personality.

To my husband's great relief, my tenure as a 2005 Babe was not an extended one. It did, however, inspire this design for a felted skate blade cozy. I suppose good things come in bruised and battered packages!

These skate covers are constructed in similar fashion to a big sock toe (from the blade edge up), with an applied i-cord edge and i-cord ties. Customize your own pair with contrasting edges and tie, stripes, purl ridges or whatever makes you happy.

While written for Noro Kureyon, any feltable (non-superwash) worsted weight wool will do."