This project is fun for a lot of reasons. It has rainbows, it has googly eyes, it begs you to crack open a cold one, and best of all you can use it right away no matter what the weather is outside because you won't be wearing it—your beverage will!
Behold the rare and elusive Rainbeer
.I made this for a good friend's birthday and it looks like the celebration it is. A birthday celebration and a celebration of marriage equality, not to mention a celebration of the brief cool respite that follows summer rainstorms.
You may notice this koozie is more expressive than most. The eyes are by no means necessary. I mean, a traditional rainbow is still pretty fun. But I have to say I was surprised by how much they add to the piece. Even without any other facial feature, this koozie has some serious personality.
Rainbeer
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn in the colors of the Rainbow, plus black and white for eyes if desired. Shown in Red Heart Super Saver in Ranch Red, Carrot, Gold, Hunter Green, Royal, Dark Orchid, Black, and White.
- US H (5 mm) hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
- Tapestry or Large eye blunt
- Sewing pins
Notes
- Turning chains do not count as the first stitch of rows.
- Repeat directions following * to end of round.
Abbreviations
ch:
chain
sc:
single crochet
hdc:
half-double crochet
sl:
slipstitch
inc:
increase (crochet two stitches in one space)
BLO:
back loop only
Gauge
14 sts and 11 rows = 4 inches in hdc
With Dark
Orchid, make a magic ring.
1: Ch
1, hdc 8. Sl to
join this and all succeeding rounds. Do not turn. (8)
2: Ch 1, *hdc inc. (16)
3: Ch 1, *hdc, hdc inc. (24)
4: Ch 1, *hdc 5, hdc inc. (28)
5-6: Ch 1, *hdc.
7: With Royal, join round in back loop only (BLO).
Ch 1, *hdc in BLO.
8: Ch 1, *hdc.
9: With Hunter Green, join round in BLO. Ch 1,
*hdc in BLO.
10: Ch 1, *hdc.
11: With Gold, join round in BLO. Ch 1, *hdc in
BLO.
12: Ch 1, *hdc.
13: With Carrot, join round in BLO.
Ch 1, *hdc in BLO.
14: Ch 1, *hdc.
15: With Ranch Red, join round in BLO. Ch 1, *hdc
in BLO.
16: Ch 1, *hdc.
17: Join in BLO. *Sl loosely in BLO. Join round.
Tie off. Weave in all ends.
Your koozie should now look like this:
Stop here, or give your koozie some personality and add the googly eyes!
Eyes (optional)
Make 2
Pupil
With black, make a magic ring.
Ch 1, sc 4. Sl to join. Tie off leaving long tail to
sew edge down to eye white.
White
With white, make a magic ring.
Ch 1, hdc 8. Sl to join. Tie off, leaving long tail to
sew eye to koozie.
Finishing
Position pupil on white however looks best to you and
pin in place. This is totally personal preference. You can have the pupils
centered at the bottom of the white if you like the way mine looks, but you can
also have your Rainbeer looking up, looking to the side, cross-eyed, or with
both eyes in different directions. Give it some personality! Using a large eye
blunt needle, stitch around edge of pupil. Weave in ends.
Next, position the finished eyes on the koozie and pin
in place. I thought mine looked best with the bottom of the eyes lined up with
the bottom of the gold band, but again, totally up to you! Have fun with it.
Using a large eye blunt needle, stitch around edge of white. Weave in ends.
You’re done! Give your Rainbeer a drink!
My Rainbeer has a Sierra Nevado Torpedo. I think he likes it.
This design is available as a pdf download from my Ravelry shop: Strung Out Fiber Arts Designs
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