Columbian Coffee Cozy - FREE Knitting Pattern

September 11, 2016September 11, 2016Leave a comment

Columbian Coffee Cozy

The pattern and photographs contained in this document are the property of Bo Peep’s Bonnets. This pattern is available for personal use only. If you need any help with my patterns, please feel free to contact me www.etsy.com/shop/BoPeepsBonnets

Materials needed:

US. 13 (9 mm) straight needles
Approx. 60 yards of super bulky weight yarn - Lion Brand Thick and Quick Pictured
Two natural wood buttons
Two elastic hair bands
Needle and Thread
Finishing needle

Gauge: 2.5 stitches = 1 inch

This pattern is designed to fit a standard 8 cup French press with a diameter of 4 inches. The pattern can easily be adapted to make a taller or shorter cozy. Just add or subtract the number of stitches you cast on by 4 when altering the pattern to your desired height. If you want to make a cozy for a press with a larger diameter knit additional sets of the pattern sequence until desired width is achieved.

Abbreviations and Stitch Explanations:

K – Knit

P – Purl

Baby Cable - K2tog (knit two together) but do not drop stitches off left hand needle, knit the first stitch again, then drop both

Pattern:

With the U.S. 13 needles cast on 14 stitches.

Row 1: P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2

Row 2: K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2

Row 3: P2, Baby Cable, P2, Baby Cable, P2, Baby Cable, P2,

Row 4: K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2

Repeat this sequence 10 times. Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends.

Attach Buttons – Sew two natural wood buttons in between the 3 cable rows, 2 inches from the top and bottom of work.

Attach Button Loops – Turn work to the back side (non-cabled side). On the second row of work from the cast on edge use a finishing needle to thread an elastic hair band through two stitches, 2 inches down from top of work. Tie the elastic band into a slip knot. Do the same with the second elastic band 2 inches from the bottom.

FREE Chunky Cowl Pattern

July 6, 2016July 31, 2016Leave a comment

THE GLACIER COWL by Bo Peep’s Bonnets

Materials needed:

U.S. 15, 16 inch circular needles
106 yards of Super Bulky weight yarn. Pictured yarn is Lion Brand Wool Ease Quick and Thick in the color “Glacier”
Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 2 stitches = 1 inch

Pattern Note: This cowl is designed to fit snugly around the neck providing optimal warmth. If you prefer a looser fit cast on 48 stitches instead.

PATTERN

With the US 15 circular needles cast on 46 stitches. Place marker and join to work in the round being careful not to twist your stitches. Knit all stitches continuously in the round until only 4 yards of yarn are left (enough yarn to bind off with). Bind off all stitches as if to knit. Weave in all ends. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this pattern please check out my Etsy shop for more patterns and cozy knits. The sales from my Etsy store completed fund my charity for cancer patients – Hand Knits for Hope. If you or someone you know is currently dealing with hair loss due to cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatments please CLICK HERE to request a free hat for them. XOXO – Bo Peep

Bo Peep Hits the Big Screen!

June 21, 2016June 22, 2016Leave a comment

When award winning costume designer Soyon An calls - you answer! I may have answered on a flip phone that I hadn’t updated since the *gasp* 90s - but I answered like I was on the newest, most fabulous, rose color iPhone money could buy.

In all honesty, I could barely hear her assistant on my prehistoric cell! Through all the crackles and pops I managed to gather that her boss, the one and only Soyon An, who is best known for her work on “So You think You Can Dance” and “American Idol” wanted little ol’ me to design a hat for the new movie she was working on.

Her assistant gave me my marching orders and the time line was tight - super tight. I worked from the moment she called and all through the night designing and knitting samples. I prayed to the post office gods that the overnight shipping would make it into her glorious hands by morning.

Her assistant had purchased a cat hat in “Grey Marble” from me and they wanted me to take that design and their color scheme and mesh them into something funky and fabulous.

My original cat hat in “Grey Marble”

The color scheme of the movie

I loved every minute of it. I’ll never forget that night - just me, my needles, Red Heart Soft yarn in funky colors, and lots (and lots) of french press coffee. I made three different options and Soyon let me know her favorite in the next few days. She had me make 4 of her favorite in rapid time and once again I relied on the post office gods to come to my overnight aid.

The three original samples I designed for Bad Hair Day

The designing was done. The knitting was done. But just wait for the kicker - I had NO IDEA what movie the hats were for! Confidentiality is crucial in this business and I understood and signed on the dotted line. I knew that Soyon was working on “Jem and the Holograms” so I put two and two together and thought the hats were for that - WRONG!

Imagine my surprise when one night I turned on Netflix and BAM! There was my cat hat on Laura Marano in the Disney Channel Original movie Bad Hair Day! I quickly pressed play and simultaneously emailed Soyon at the same time - Could this be true? Was it Bad Hair Day I had been designing for all along?!?! “YES!” She told me!

Laura Marano in my cat beanie for a costume test

I was so excited I’m sure I didn’t even hear the dialogue the first time I watched it. I laughed, I cried, I jumped, and then of course I re-watched the movie 10 times!

Now two years later I’m still so thankful for the opportunity. I offer handmade reproductions of the cat beanie I designed for Laura Marano in my Etsy shop and every time I get to make one a big smile crosses my face. The only difference is I’ve finally upgraded to that smartphone I swore I would never get - but hey - I kind of love it because it helps me stay connected to all of you - and as an added bonus I get to look at lots of insanely cute cat pictures on Instagram while I sip my third french press and knit away into the night 😉

Reproductions available in my shop

The Chicago Cowl - Free Knitting Pattern

January 31, 2016January 31, 20161 Comment

I’m always so thankful for the love and support my Etsy customers show me. To show my appreciation I’m offering this knitting pattern for The Chicago Cowl for FREE! Happy Knitting Friends!

THE CHICAGO COWL by Bo Peep’s Bonnets

Materials needed:

U.S. 17, 24 or 16 inch circular needles
100 yards of Super Bulky weight yarn in the color Butterscotch (Pictured Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick)
40 yards of Super Bulky weight yarn in the color Wheat (Pictured Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick)
Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 2 stitches = 1 inch

PATTERN

With the US 17 needles and the Butterscotch yarn cast on 48 stitches. Join to work in the round being careful not to twist your stitches.

Round 1-4 : *Knit 2, Purl 2 repeat from * all around

Next - Repeat the following Pattern Sequence 6 times

Pattern Sequence Round 1: Knit all stitches with butterscotch
Pattern Sequence Round 2 -* Knit 1 with wheat, Knit 3 with butterscotch repeat from * all around
Pattern Sequence Round 3 - Knit all stitches with butterscotch
Pattern Sequence Round 4 - (Knit 2 with butterscotch) *Knit 1 with wheat, knit 3 with butterscotch, *repeat until last two stitches then knit 1 with wheat, knit 1 with butterscotch

After you have repeated the above pattern sequence 6 times knit one round with butterscotch. Next work in a Knit 2 Purl 2 rib for 4 rounds with butterscotch. Bind off all stitches. Weave in all ends.

If you enjoyed this pattern please check out my Etsy shop for more patterns and cozy knits. The sales from my Etsy store completed fund my charity for cancer patients - Hand Knits for Hope. If you or someone you know is currently dealing with hair loss due to cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatments please CLICK HERE to request a free hat for them. XOXO - Bo Peep

COURAGE EARNED - A Breast Cancer Survivor’s Story

October 1, 2015October 1, 20152 Comments

She regretted giving me the gift so late. “I’ve had this bracelet for months, and I’m so sorry that I’m just getting it to you now.”

I had been on Rebecca’s prayer list for the past eight months. She wasn’t the only friend praying for me ever since the breast cancer diagnosis hit me from out of nowhere. No, I made a point of never saying “I have breast cancer”. It was always “I was diagnosed with breast cancer”. I didn’t want to call it mine. I didn’t “have it”, and I certainly didn’t want it to “have me”.

The shining silver bracelet that Rebecca gave me had a pink stone and a charm shaped like the awareness ribbon. The word “courage” repeatedly engraved across a heart was what caused me to tell her that the gift was not late at all. It was right on time. I had earned this.

Before breast cancer I would have never described myself as courageous. I had that adjective reserved for the adventurous, the daring risk-takers, those gutsy girls who live for the moment and don’t care what people think. That wasn’t quiet, safe, routine-entrenched me.

However the cancer journey gave me a new definition of courage. Kara Tippits (The Hardest Peace) says it so well, “It takes courage, humiliating courage, to step aside from your own sovereignty and imagined control and begin looking for the gift that comes unmerited. Yes, I’m talking about grace.”

The red letters of 2 Corinthians 12:9 gave clarity to my brokenness. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That’s the grace I wanted and needed so desperately—sufficient grace.

The diagnosis, the doctor appointments, the surgery, the chemo and radiation took me to incredible places of weakness and humble brokenness. At the beginning, I had no idea how I was going to do all of this. But taking one day at a time, each step of the way there was grace enough to go on. A loving husband and son, encouraging friends, nutritional support and prayer lifted me along the course plotted by the helpful staff of doctors and nurses. And looking at that bracelet, I finally felt courageous. “Courage is not something that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been through the tough times and you discover they aren’t so tough after all.” (Malcolm Gladwell, David & Goliath)

Now I see the other courageous ones, the women with exceptionally short hair, those wearing the pink ribbon t-shirts, running in the “Race for the Cure”, who don’t want to see their friends or family members or anyone else have to go through the fire of cancer. October is the month to make others aware of what we know every day-until there’s a cure, we’ll be in the grandstands cheering for your sufficient grace. - Karen K

Karen K. was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in July 2013. After a single mastectomy, 6 months of chemo, and 33 radiation treatments, she has regained her stamina and is getting her life back to a new normal.

Karen spent many hours knitting during and after her chemo treatments and says that knitting gave her a sense of renewal. “I made so many pairs of fingerless gloves! While everything inside of me was breaking down from the chemo, I got renewed hope as I interlocked those yarns to make these beautiful personalized gifts. I thought-how much more my creator God will knit me back together more beautiful than ever!”

Enter our giveaway HERE

The Katniss Cowl Coincidence

September 10, 2015September 10, 2015Leave a comment

Can you believe our best selling Huntress Cowl was actually just a coincidence? It’s true!

Here’s the story. It was early November 2013 and my mother-in-law had graciously volunteered to watch our daughter for a few days so my hubby and I could spend some much needed alone time together.

We put on our finest, hit the town, and partied all night! Just kidding - we sat on the couch, sipped wine, and binged watch Netflix - it was glorious. One night as we were on our sixth episode of Sherlock I decided to knit myself something for once. Am I the only knitter that never knits anything for themselves? What’s up with that?

I had gotten this beautiful pewter yarn at Michaels and was eager to work with it. I whipped up the first huntress cowl in two nights, all the while noting the pattern in my pink psychedelic notebook (you know the kind where you look at it and it looks like it’s spinning - yeah - that’s where I keep all the goods).

I wore it back to Virginia to pick up my daughter. While we were there we stopped to see my grandfather-in-law. He was just the sweetest. He told me he thought the scarf was beautiful. When we got back I thought - hey why not - I’ll list it and make reproductions and see what happens. I called it The Silver Fox.

Original listing photo for The Silver Fox

A week or two went by - and no one ordered one. Then it all changed. My girlfriend mentioned this little movie called The Hunger Games (you may have heard of it). She was raving about it so I checked it out. When I saw Katniss’ knit cowl I thought to myself - I think I could wrap my Silver Fox Cowl to look like that… I tried it and - Voila! It worked! It didn’t look exactly the same - but it gave you the same feeling - and it was versatile!

The Huntress Cowl

Fast forward and now it’s one of our best sellers, and my original pattern for The Silver Fox turned Huntress Cowl is number one in our shop!

The Huntress Cowl Pattern

So that’s the back story my friends! That cowl has been such a blessing to us - and to think it was all coincidence…although I have a feeling God had a hand in this one. That pattern came to me so quickly and easily - I think I’ll give the credit to Him 🙂

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The Huntress Cowl Product - https://www.etsy.com/listing/169791485/huntress-cowl-hand-knit-cowl-infinity

The Huntress Cowl Pattern - https://www.etsy.com/listing/170787987/instant-download-knitting-pattern-the?ref=shop_home_feat_2

DIY Bamboo Wind Chimes

July 23, 2015July 23, 20155 Comments

About a month ago I got some beautiful bamboo for my garden. Half of it took, and the other half died leaving me with 4 stocks of leafless bamboo. “I have got to do something with this,” I thought. Finally today it dawned on me - a wind chime! I cut the dead bamboo stocks down and made this lovely wind chime with things I had around the house. The best part - NO POWER TOOLS REQUIRED!

Here’s how we did it!

Materials:

9-16 bamboo stocks snapped (or cut) into pieces measuring between 6-12 inches
Worsted weight yarn (Pictured: Vanna’s Choice Wheat)
Wood Beads
Cross stitch hoop ( If you do not have one of these you could also take 3 pieces of bamboo and glue or tie them together into a triangular shape)
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Finishing Needle

Wrap the yarn all around your cross stitch hoop.

Cut 9 strands of additional yarn that each measure 26 inches. Separate this yarn into 3 piles of 3 strands. At three points in the circle loop 3 strands around the circle and double knot. Braid the remaining yarn and tie all three braided sections together at the top.

Cut or snap your bamboo into succeeding lengths measuring 6 - 12 inches. Use your hot glue gun to attach a wood bead to the top of each stick. Leave the beads holes exposed on the left and right.

Use the finishing needle to thread yarn through the holes of the wood beads and then tie them to your circle. I triple knotted them for optimal security.

Start with the longest stick and work your way around the the circle placing the sticks from longest to shortest. Snip any additional yarn near the knot and hide the knot inside the bead.

Once all your bamboo sticks are attached hang your wind chime outside and enjoy!

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My design style: As easy as possible for an effect that’s as cool as possible

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015Leave a comment

People often ask me what is my “design style.” How do you come up with these ideas? How do you make them come to life? What’s your “signature?” What do you want people to think when they hear the name Bo Peep’s Bonnets?

I’ll tell you my friends! I want them to think: That girl creates freaking awesome and original knits in ways that are are so stinkin’ easy.

Before I started writing my own patterns I was so discouraged by my lack of pattern reading skills. I would pull up a lacy shawl on Ravelry, take one look at the 5 page, 8 point font pattern that appeared to be written in Chinese and promptly slam my laptop screen closed.

There’s got to be a better way!!!

When I have a vision for a new design my first thought is always - can I do this while a 5 year is tugging on my sleeve, while the phone is ringing, while my husband is rehearsing a monologue in the background, while I have dinner in the oven, and while I have a Barbra Streisand album on full blast (yes that’s right - I’m 28 and I love Barbra Streisand).

If I can’t know where I’m at in a pattern with all that going on - I figure out a different way of designing it. I’ve discovered the best way is to stick with simple stitches, arrange them in new and fresh ways, and most importantly have a pattern that repeats in some form or fashion. Why? Because the more you repeat - the more you naturally memorize what’s written on the page.

A memorized pattern is a good pattern.

I also love when you can take a simple knit shape and fold/sew/button it in such a way that you have a cowl, sweater, shrug, or wrap that requires you to only knit one piece.

Currently I’m working on a shrug that’s just a huge circle. You fold and sew it in such a way that you have a collar - sleeves - and a back! I’m so excited!

I also love knitting for the ones I love. My daughter, hubby, and my two cats Buddy and Harry have inspired some of my best selling creations. I designed my best selling cat hat after a day of snuggled up with my furry friends and watching my favorite Doris Day movie Pillow Talk (that’s right - I’m 28 and I love Doris Day). That design has led me to my biggest project to date - I’ve designed custom cat hats for the upcoming feature film Jem and the Holograms (more about that in a future post)!

Lastly, I always love to work with super bulky yarn. It’s all the rage right now and I love that it knits up fast. There’s just something about a chunky knit that feels so modern. I love when you can see each big beautiful stitch. I’m a stickler for perfectly even tension. I always say a hand knit item should look like a machine made it but with the love of a persons hands added to the mix.

One more thing - I stay true to myself! I only knit things I would wear. Things I would want my daughter to wear. I truly believe that when you design what YOU love other’s will love it too. Let’s face it - we’re all fabulous in our own ways. We all have something different to offer. I create what I love and I hope you love it too.

You can see all Bo Peep’s designs by visiting her shop - www.etsy.com/shop/BoPeepsBonnets

How knitting saved my life

June 20, 2015June 29, 20158 Comments

Okay so maybe that’s a little extreme - but I used to be an actor so I like the added drama. This was the situation - my husband had just lost his job, my mom had just been diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, we had a 2 year old - and I didn’t know what the heck to do.

My mom lives 4 hours from me so I felt helpless. I couldn’t go there everyday to help and I didn’t know if she was going to make it through the chemo. I had just seen my Grandma lose her battle with uterine cancer and I couldn’t bare the thought of losing the other the woman in my life who I held so dear.

My mom, me, and my daughter after her first chemo treatment

We needed money. My husband had been working as a professional actor for a decade and now there was no contract to be seen. Despite the financial woes all I could think was - I have to help my mom - I have to help all the people who are going through chemo - I have to do something - and I have no money to work with (don’t worry it gets better).

A shop had just moved in down the road called Sweet Charity (which is now Fresh Vintage by Amy if you want to check it out). They sold artisan made products that were dedicated to giving back. Immediately, I knew what to do. I walked down to the shop with 5 handmade hats and a mission to donate one free hat per five sold to Nemours Children’s Hospital. The owners graciously excepted my work (which is a far cry from what I offer today) into the shop and the rest is - as they say - history.

The first hat I ever sold on Etsy

The first five hats I took down to Sweet Charity - oh how far we have come!

The demand for product got bigger so I started to sell on Etsy. The need for donation hats that could be shipped straight to patients became apparent so I coded my own website that would allow that.

All of a sudden I needed to hire staff, order in bulk, turn my cat closet into a knitting studio, and knit round the clock. God had turned what I had seen as curse into a blessing. I had all the money I needed to completely fund the charity thanks to my wonderful Etsy customers and I had enough left over to help pay the bills.

My knitting studio

Now for the important part - my mom is healed! After extensive surgery and two years of chemo she is alive - beautiful - and healthy! Praise the Lord! As for me I must also praise the Lord. I am able to stay at home with our daughter while running a legitimate business. A business that I would have never thought of had difficulty not struck our lives.

Me and my mom a few months ago - in matching hand knit cowls of course

So be encouraged my friends. Someone high above and mighty is looking out for you. He loves you. He cares about you. And he will provide for you.

Work hard. Pray hard. He will show you the way.

Some of our popular current designs

LABADIE LOOMS

June 20, 2015Leave a comment

This shop full of locally sourced hand-dyed yarns and fibers in Lancaster County is a quaint spot filled with lots of great threads and gives you with that warm fuzzy feeling we all crave. Upon entering the shop my daughter I were greeted by the owner, Donna, with a warm spirit and an obvious love for fiber arts. She told me all about the weaving and spinning classes she offers (note to self - must take lesson) and even showed us a bit of weaving on her beautiful loom.

The back room filled the hand died roving is absolutely delicious. The colors are rich, original, and I wanted to buy one of everything!

Looms and wheels of all shapes and sizes are always just an arms length away and freshly died fibers are soaking in tubs along the ground. We entered the yarn area full of fun and different yarns - almost all hand died - and lots of great variety and sparkle (which of course my little one loved).

We selected a lovely Lancaster County Rain yarn - a 420 yard wool with sparkle sport weight hand dyed yarn for $24. Donna was kind enough to spin it into a ball for us which was entertaining and educational.

I would highly recommend this shop to any fiber enthusiast. Make sure you leave enough time to soak in all the goodness the shop has to offer and to enjoy a chat with the owner. Now off to design a new original cowl pattern with the yarn I bought there for Bo Peep’s Bonnets! Tootaloo for now ❤ Bo Peep

Store website - http://www.labadielooms.com/

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