Root Beer Bottle Cozy

My husband likes to drink his root beer out of a bottle. I don't blame him, it tastes better that way! I wanted to make him a cozy to help him keep it cool and to keep his hands dry in this humid weather. Yesterday the Root Beer Bottle Cozy was born!

My husband doesn't drink anything stronger than root beer, so I thought it would be funny to make it look like an old-timey whiskey jug. Call me an ironic hipster if you want. I'll own it.

I wrote down the pattern while I was making knitting it up. I haven't test knit it so let me know if there are any problems! This is the first pattern I've submitted to Ravelry.

Root Beer Bottle Cozy

Supplies:
Small amount of Brown Worsted Weight Yarn (MC) (I used a Heather Brown color Lion Brand Wool-Ease from my stash. It lost its label a long time ago, but I think the color was called Mink.)
Small amount of Cream Worsted Weight Yarn (CC) (Again, I know this is Wool-Ease and I think it's called Wheat but it's also from my stash and without a label.)
Size 6 DPNs or long circular needle for working Magic Loop (I prefer Magic Loop.)
Stitch Marker (optional)
Blunt Yarn Needle

Instructions:

Cast on 10 stitches in MC and join for working in the round. Place the stitch marker to mark the beginning if you'd like.

Round 1: *(K1, KFB) repeat from * (15 stitches)
Round 2: *(K2, KFB) repeat from * (20 stitches)
Round 3: *(K3, KFB) repeat from * (25 stitches)
Round 4: *(K4, KFB) repeat from * (30 stitches)
Round 5: *(K5, KFB) repeat from * (35 stitches)
Round 6: Purl across
Rounds 7-20: K across

Switch to CC

Rounds 21-27: K across

Switch back to MC

Rounds 28-30: K across
Round 31: K 1, SSK, K 11, K2tog, K 2, SSK, K 12, K2tog, K 1 (31 stitches)
Round 32: K 1, SSK, K 9, K2tog, K 2, SSK, K 10, K2tog, K1 (27 stitches)
Rounds 33-34: K across
Round 35: K1, SSK, K 7, K2tog, K 2, SSK, K 8, K2tog, K 1(23 stitches)
Round 36: K across
Round 37: K 1, SSK, K across (22 stitches)
Rounds 38-39: K2 P2 across (You'll end up with a K2 at the beginning and the end.)
Round 40: SSK, P2 K2 to the last two stitches, K2tog (20 stitches)
Rounds 41-50: K1, P2 K2 to the last stitch, K1.

Bind off with a super stretchy bind off. I kind of made something up but any stretchy sock bind off should work. Just be sure the bottom of the bottle you want to use will fit.

Weave in the ends and use MC to embroider the three "X"s in the middle of the cream section.


Abbreviations:

MC = Main Color
CC = Contrast Color
K = Knit
KFB = Knit into the front and the back of the stitch
SSK = Slip, Slip, Knit. Slip two stitches as if to knit and then knit these stitches together
K2Tog = Knit two stitches together
P = Purl


*Please let me know if there are any mistakes in this pattern!!

31 Days of Halloween

An amazing local artist that I am acquainted with started a fun project called 31 Days of Halloween. He's given us a list for the whole month and every day is a new idea to create art around.

October 1st is Haunted House. Here's my version.

Pen and ink, wax crayon, and watercolor on paper. (I colored the whole sky blue, but obviously I didn't push hard enough on the crayon.)

Craftiness

I haven't forgotten about my blog! I haven't been lost, I've been busy!

Okay, I admit that last week I wasn't feeling very well so I went light on the posting. I was a little lazy.

I relaxing on the couch, trying to feel better, binge watching Netflix, and playing on the internet. Mostly Pinterest... as usual...

Then I came across a thread on Craftster. All about Harry Potter.

If you've been paying attention you'll know that I love Harry Potter. I have read all the books over and over, I've literally lost count of how many times. I've seen all the movies; first in the theater, then at home on DVD. I'm on Pottermore, proudly sorted in to Ravenclaw. I read the fan fiction. I named my cat Molly because my husband wouldn't go for Minerva. My kids and I all have wands. I've finished all the levels on Lego Harry Potter, all the years. I even won a trivia contest once.

I love Harry Potter.

So when I came across this thread on Craftster I got excited. Really excited.

It's all of my favorite things. The internet. Crafting. Harry Potter.

Photo taken from pinkleo and the Harry Potter Craftalong on Craftster

Basically it's Hogwarts. There are all the classes, each giving me an inspiration for crafting. Alchemy is all about peacocks. (You know how I feel about those!) Astronomy is focused on the Summer Night Sky. Care of Magical Creatures is about the Jobberknoll, so the craft needs to be blue or feathered. They go on like that.

Seriously cool! The wheels in my head are totally spinning. I have so many ideas!!

When you've finished a "class" you earn a badge and points for your house. I am way, way too excited about those badges.

I only have a month before this "semester" ends, then a new one will start with new inspirations.

I started two different projects over the weekend. This post is long enough for today, so I'll go into more details later. I'm really excited though, so stay tuned for more fun!