Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Evendim" by Julia Trice

Mini Blog-ette

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS!

Everyday Peacocks Shawl Pin sighted on the AC Engineered Knits Blog

Pattern: Nanook by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Wolves Will Be Wolves" by Julia Farwell-Clay

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Swag Draped Pullover" by Wilma Peers

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Everdeen " by Jessica Myers

The Cascade Collection Has Arrived!

Those of us in the northern hemisphere are keenly aware that Autumn is finally upon us once more, bringing brisk, frosty mornings and brilliantly colored afternoons! I am already bringing out the cozy morning sweaters and early evening shawls to help ward off the chill.

Inspired by this beautiful season and its celebration of warm yarny goodness, Everyday Peacocks proudly presents the Cascade Collection of yarn jewelry and tools! The new colors and designs are a perfect way to showcase those gorgeous cold weather garments, and to bring the seasonal spirit to your current yarny projects.

The amazing beauty and colors captured in this photo of Watkins Glen State Park, New York represents my perfect autumn fantasy. The Cascade Collection credits its name and designs to the numerous cascading waterfalls and swirling pools found along the park's pathways.  I offer this collection as a way to share that magical feeling with all of you.

Since fall is a time for brazenly colorful transitions, I felt it important to include the same vibrance in The Cascade Collection.  Fine jeweler's Copper forms the base of this jewelry with tricolor metal accents of Bronze, Yellow Brass, and Sterling Silver.  Fresh from the studio, these metals are shiny and almost silver-bright on a rosey copper canvas.  But within a couple of weeks, the jewelry starts to embrace warm autumn tones (as a patina forms over the metals) reminiscent of the changes occurring in the natural world.  Just as with the changing of the leaves, the metamorphosis of this jewelry is wonderful to behold!  Unlike nature, though, it is remarkably quick and easy to return the jewelry to its original bright tones again, if desired.

Playing with these colorful metals is a gentle mix of stones and crystals.  The collection features large aqua colored Swarovski crystal accents alongside translucent Smokey Quartz lending the feeling of both flowing and still waters.  The earthy colors found in Verdite beads elude to rocky cliffs and riverbed pebbles.  All together, the qualities and traits found in the materials of The Cascade Collection compose a portrait of the autumn season as it may be seen in every imagination!

With the launch of the autumn line, Everyday Peacocks is also introducing a new line of crochet tools. Crochet Markers, Crochet Keepers, and Crochet Tool Sets will be available over the next few weeks along with the Knitting Tools and Shawl Pins many of you have come to know and love! Be sure to stop by the shop often to see all the new goodies, or follow along with the Everyday Peacocks Facebook page to see the whole collection as it becomes available.

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"the Mountain Lily Scarf" by Heidi Kunkel

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Longpullover" by Dorothea Neumann

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Divine Vest" by Kristen TenDyke

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Ink" by Hanna Maciejewska

Mini Blog-ette

Fiber Cravings...

Oh the endless possibilities of such a gorgeous set of hanks...!

"Marici" 100% spun silk

"Cool Waters" colorway

from The Unique Sheep

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Chaussons Hedwige" by Marie Christine

And the perfect soft and snuggly yarn for these:

Caribou from HiKoo by Skacel Collection, Inc.

Pattern: Fancy Bottle Cozy

The other day I was in need of a super quick knitting project that I could just knit on the fly. I've been dying to make a beer cozy for several years now, so this just seemed like the right time for it! I wasn't thrilled with any of the patterns I'd seen-- not because they are bad or ugly, they just weren't "ME". What resulted is me just improvising a pattern as I went along.

Turned out to be pretty easy to remember, so now I'm sharing the pattern with anyone who might be interested. I created it to fit a typical beer bottle, but the pattern could be easily modified to fit other bottles or cans, depending on your needs (but I think it's the decreasing neck section that makes it soooo sexy!)

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PATTERN:

Long tail cast on 9 stitches. Join to work in the round, place marker.

BOTTOM:
Row 1 - Knit to marker
Row 2 - (k1, yo)* repeat to marker
Row 3 - Knit to marker [18 stitches]
Row 4 - Repeat Row 2
Row 5 - Knit to marker [36 stitches]

BASE SET-UP:
Row 6 - Purl to marker
Row 7 - Purl to marker
Row 8 -Knit to marker
(Repeat Row 8 four more times)

LACE SECTION (Chart below):
Row 9 - (k, yo, k4, sk2p, k4, yo, place marker)* 3 times
Row 10 and all even rows - (p, k to marker)* 3 times

~* YOU SHOULD NOW HAVE 3 MARKERS AND 36 STITCHES *~

Row 11 - (p, k, yo, k3, sk2p, k3, yo, k)* 3 times
Row 13 - (p, k2, yo, k2, sk2p, k2, yo, k2)* 3 times
Row 15 - (p, k3, yo, k, sk2p, k, yo, k3)* 3 times
Row 17 - (p, k4, yo, sk2p, yo, k4)* 3 times
Row 19 - (k, yo, k4, sk2p, k4, yo)* 3 times

WORK ROWS (11-20) 2 times

NECK SECTION:
Row 21 - (p, ssk, k7, k2tog)* 3 times [30 stitches]
Row 22 - (p, k to marker)* 3 times
Row 23 - (p, k, p, k, sk2p, k, p, k)* 3 times [24 stitches]
Row 24 - (p, k to marker)* 3 times
Row 25 - (p, k, p, sk2p, p, k, remove marker[except end of row marker])* 3 times [18 stitches]

Rows (26-end) p1, k1 rib around to desired length. I did 7 rows ribbing before bind off.

Bind off using whatever S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y bind off method you like best. I followed this tutorial by SlipSlipKnit.com (excellent for use with ribbing.)

~*IMPORTANT TO NOTE!!!*~

I looped my yarn through the first stitch of the bind-off and tied it off before trying the cozy on my bottle--big time rookie mistake! The opening was too tight!!! Luckily I was able to unknot my yarn and redo the finishing. I instead looped my end through the first purl stitch on the row below before tying off, and now the cozy just squeezes on. Next time, I will bind off a little looser.

A couple more photos can be found on my Ravelry Pattern Page if you'd like to see more details. I'd love to see what you do with this super-quick and fun pattern!

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Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast crocheter, this is what I'd crochet today:

"Cool Blue Evening Shawl " by Kathryn A. Clark

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Golden Lion Throne" by Barbara Benson

Mini Blog-ette

If I were a really, really, REALLY fast knitter, this is what I'd knit today:

"Tuch/shawl *Tulipa*" by Birgit Freyer