Say Hoppy Easter with a Bunny Beer Cozy

As a child, I always loved Easter Egg hunts, though I was not at all a fan of eggs. It was the hunt I loved, searching the nooks and crannies of my grandparents' backyard for brightly colored prizes. And of course, the plastic, candy-filled variety were never disappointing.

Now that I'm an adult, I never get to search a yard for colored eggs. So, I started a new tradition. An Easter ale hunt! We gather with friends in the backyard, barbeque, and decorate six pack holders as our "Easter baskets," then go on the hunt. Bottles of beer are rather easier to find than those little round eggs, but you get something you want every time. At least I do.

To add a little extra festivity to this year's Easter ale hunt, I've made cute little bunny cozy to keep those ales cool. Try the free pattern out for yourself and have a hoppy Easter, in more ways than one!

Hoppy Easter Beer Cozy

Cozy fits bottles and cans, as well as .5 liter water bottles.

Materials

• US H (5 mm) hook.
• Worsted weight yarn of your choice in white, pink, and black. Shown in Red Heart Super Saver in White, Black, and Shocking Pink.
• Tapestry or Large eye blunt needle 

Gauge

7 stitches and 9 rows = 2” in sc.

Abbreviations

st(s) : stitch(es)

ch: chain

sc: single crochet

sl: slipstitch

inc: increase (crochet two stitches in one space)

Notes

1.  Cozy is worked in a spiral, without joining rounds. Do not join rounds unless otherwise stated.

3.  Repeat directions following * to end of round.

Pattern

With White, make a magic ring.

1:  Sc 6. Mark ends of rounds. Work in a spiral; do not join rounds.

2:  *Sc inc  (12)

3:  *Sc inc, sc (18)

4:  *Sc inc, sc 2 (24)

5:  *Sc inc, sc 3 (30)

Work even until piece measures 5.5” laid flat.

At the end of last round, sl to join. Ch 1, *sc. Sl to join. Tie off. Weave in ends. 

Ears

inside

With pink, ch 10, sc in second ch from hook, sc 7 more. Work 3 sc in last ch. Working down opposite side of ch, sc 8. Tie off.

outside

With white, ch 10, sc in second ch from hook, sc 7 more. Work 3 sc in last ch. Working down opposite side of ch, sc 8.

Ch 1, turn. Hold the pink ear piece against the white one, with right sides facing out. Working through back loops of pink ear piece and through sts of white piece (see photos), sc 8, sc inc 3, sc 8. Tie off, leaving a long tail to sew bottom edge of ears to cozy. 

Finishing

Nose

With pink yarn and a tapestry needle, stitch a triangle shape in the center of the cozy. Start with the yarn under a single stitch for the bottom of the nose and worked across the 3 stitches in the row above. Wrap yarn several times so the nose puffs out from the cozy.

Mouth

With black yarn and a tapestry needle, work overlapping stitches down from the nose a couple stitches, then out to the side one stitch, and curving up for two more stitches. Repeat last two steps on the opposite side. 

Eyes

With black yarn and a tapestry needle, starting 3 stitches above the corner of the nose, work one long stitch across two stitches to the side and up one, then another two stitches to the side and down one so the eye has a "v" shape. Repeat on opposite side. 

Sew ears to the top of the cozy above the face, with 6 stitches centered between the ears. Tie off. Weave in all ends.

Add an ale with lots of hops, and you're ready to celebrate!

Lucky Clover Earrings

To continue with my theme of wearable St. Patrick's Day crochet goodies, I have a very simple free pattern for you all. Lucky Clover Earrings. The design is based on my Lucky Clover Headband, and I made them with the same concept in mind—one with three leaves and one with four—because the fun of four-leaf clovers is searching for them! You could also make a matching pair with three leaves apiece for a shamrock look, or two with four leaves if you're feeling like you could use some extra luck.

I happen to have inherited a stash of crochet thread of indeterminate age, so I dipped into that for this pattern. I don't know if the color I used is still in production, but I'm sure there is plenty of green thread out there you can use. Even embroidery floss should work just fine, though the size of the finished earrings may be altered. My thread is a DMC Cotton Perle in a sage green, and the finished size came out to approximately .75" across the clovers and 1.25" from the stem to the top.

Lucky Clover Earrings

Materials

• Size 5 crochet thread.
• US 00, 3mm hook
• Tapestry needle
• Fabric stiffener (optional)
• 2 flat-post earring backs
• Hot glue

Abbreviations

            st : stitch

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

sl: slipstitch

Pattern

Make 2. I think it’s fun to have one 3-leaf and one 4-leaf clover, but you can certainly make a matching pair.  

 1: In a magic loop, ch 2, dc 2, ch 2, sl back into loop.  Repeat 2-3 more times, for a 3- or 4-leaf clover.

2: Ch 5, sl in second ch from hook, and each succeeding ch. Tie off. Pull magic loop tight and weave in ends. 

A Three Leaf Clover

And a Lucky Four Leaf Clover

Finishing

I recommend treating your clovers with fabric stiffener to help them keep their shape and not curl up at the edges. Once they’re dry and stiffened to your liking, use a glue gun to attach your flat-post earring back in the center of each clover. 

That’s it! You’re officially ready to celebrate St. Paddy’s.

Don't Get Pinched! Free Wearable Crochet Patterns for St. Paddy's Day

My preferred method of getting a little green in my wardrobe for St. Patrick's Day is, of course, something crocheted. To that end, I've put together a little collection of wearable crochet items to keep you in good luck on St. Paddy's. All of the following patterns are FREE and simple to make.

First up, I have to share my pattern for this Lucky Clover Headband, which I've had lots of fun wearing over the years. It features four clovers across the band, three with three leaves and just one that's a lucky four-leaf clover. The headband has a wide band with a tapered bottom for a more comfortable fit. Crochet kits including yarn and a printed pattern are available in my shop as well.




The Celtic Knot Bracelet by Jennifer E. Ryan is a super simple crochet pattern, just two long sc cords, woven together to create something magical. It looks like a lot of fun to wear!



These St. Patty’s Easy Crochet Boot Cuffs with Poms by Mama in a Stitch are a fun accessory for St. Paddy's or for any day, because you really can never have too many pom poms.




For those who like to go all out with their St. Paddy's outfit, there's the St. Patrick's Day Chapeau by Sharon Mann, available from Red Heart. It's an easy pattern and uses Super Saver yarn, so it's very affordable too. 



Because the little ones in your life need some green as well, there are these St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Baby Booties by Hopeful Honey. These cute and simple little stash busters will work up in a jiffy.



Another pair of patterns that are just as nice for everyday wear as to get your green on St. Paddy's are the Irish Inspired Beret and Beanie by Naztazia. These patterns even include a video tutorial.



Have fun crocheting some Irish into your wardrobe!