Welcome to Part 9 of the Peacock Plumes Afghan CAL.

Here we are at the very last week of our CAL. Can you believe that you are almost finished with your beautiful Peacock Plumes Afghan? This week we’ll join the Eyespots to the body, and then add the Border. The Border is a simple, but elegant finishing touch that completes the grandeur look of your afghan.It doesn’t compete with the rest of the body, but complements it very well in it’s regal simplicity.

I hope you have enjoyed working on this project, as well as all the extra little tidbits that are fun and fascinating. It is so satisfying to see your own project completed and admire its beauty. Can you believe that you actually made this all by yourself – with just a small hook and some yarn? AMAZING‼‼ 

One last thought that I’d like to leave with you during this CAL, is that each one of you are special in your own way. We are all different and unique human beings. We share so much in common, but yet are different in many ways. I’m so grateful that we could all come together, with all of our differences, to share what we have in common – our love of crochet. Thank you so much for joining me on this wonderful, yarny journey.

Just joining the CAL? Check out these blog posts for previous pattern parts.

• CAL Information
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8

Do you need yarn for this project, or to replenish your stash? Yarn kits are still available, as well as many other fine yarns for all your crochet needs.

• BeWoolen – Champlin, MN – Elysian
• Jimmy Beans Wool – Reno, NV – 220 Superwash®
• Michigan Fine Yarns – Livonia, MI – Anthem DK, 220 Superwash®, Pacific Sport®
• Simply Socks Yarn Company – Fort Wayne, IN – 220 Superwash®
• Webs – Northhampton, MA – 220 Superwash®, Pacific Sport®
• Wood & Knit Be Nice Music Studio – Papillion, NE – Anthem DK
• Wool & Company – South Elgin, IL – 220 Superwash®

Disclosure: MoCrochet Makes is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on this site, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

PART 9 – HERL

Peacock Herl, or barbules, are the long thin fibers which stick out from the stem of the tail feather and also surround the eye.

The Herl is usually a brilliant metallic green hue – a completely natural color and reflective quality – and is a staple for fly tying and feather art and craft purposes. Feather earrings, feather masks, feather hair weaves, feather chokers and headbands, and other feathered accessories rely on Peacock Herl.

The basic structure of the peacock tail feather in the eye region is shown at left in the diagram below. For comparison, the structure of a typical flight feather is shown at the right. Like the flight feather, the peacock tail feather has a central stem with an array of barbs on each side. Also, individual barbs have an array of barbules on each side of the barb. Even though there is a basic similarity with a flight feather, the peacock tail feather has an unusual barbule structure. The barbules are like long flat ribbons that overlap to form a flat surface on top of the barbs. Under a microscope the barbules are actually slightly curved and segmented and the surface has a bubbly appearance. In contrast, a flight feather has narrow barbules which do not cover the barbs. Other types of birds such as hummingbirds, pigeons and kingfishers have some patches of flat iridescent barbules, but the peacock has the largest iridescent barbules of any known bird.

The outer structures of the barbules contain rows of melanin photonic crystals.  Melanin is the brown pigment found in our skin that protects us from the sun and also protects animals. In the case of the peacock, the melanin granules create optical interference that produces color.  The curved structure of the barbules helps to diffuse the reflection, and the dark background the melanin pigment makes creates a more vivid interference color.

Written in US terms.

ABBREVIATIONS

Beg = beginning

Ch/s = chain/s

Dc = double crochet

Hdc = half double crochet

Hk = hook

Lp/s = loop/s

Prev = previous

Rem = remain/ing

Sc = single crochet

Sk = skip/skipped

Sl st = slip stitch

Sp/s = space/s

St/s = stitch/es

Tr = treble crochet

Yo = yarn over

HOOK: Crochet hook size H / 5.0mm

FINISHED SIZE: 71” Diameter after Blocking

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Sc2tog (single crochet 2 stitches together): [Insert hk in st indicated, yo and pull up lp] twice, yo and draw through all lps on hk.

Shell: [(Dc, ch 1) 4 times, dc] all in same st.

Trefoil: Ch 4, sl st in last sc made, ch 6, sl st in same sc, ch 4, sl st in same sc.

INSTRUCTIONS

I strongly recommend to view the intructional video for attaching the Eyespots.

Attach Eyespots – work on WS. 

Working on WS and using long tails, whip stitch each Eyespot in between Rectrices.

1^st Eyespot

• Position your first Eyespot in between any 2 Rectrices. The long tail will be on the left.
• PM in the righthand ch-1 sp of Eyespot side point and the hdc point of Rnd 77 Rectrice to hold in place.
• PM in the Picot2 bottom of Eyespot and the dc of Rnd 77 to hold in place.
• You will not join this first Eyespot all the way yet. It will be the last Eyepot to join.
• With needle and the long tail, st into the ch-1 sp of Eyespot, then st into the corresponding hdc point of Rectrice with SM. You can now RM..
• Weave the tail up the side of the Eyespot for 7 sts. The rem 12 sts will be left unworked.

2^nd Eyespot

• Place another Eyespot to the left of current Eyespot and count up 7 sts from the ch-1 side point on righthand side.
• Insert needle into this 7^th st and whip st back down the 2 Eyespots, joining them. Secure both ch-1 sp together.
• Whip stitch the bottom 2 sides of the Eyespot to the underlying 2 Rectrices, matching sts and joining the Picot2 to the dc in between Rectrices. Both straight edges have 11 sts and should match up.
• You should end at next SM and where the next long tail begins. Weave in the tail on your needle.
• With needle, pick up next long tail, secure the Eyespot to the Rectrice where the SM is, and weave back up 7 sts as before, to set up the next join. You can now RM.

Remaining Eyespots

• Rep as 2^nd Eyespot, until you have joined all Eyespots.
• On the last Eyespot, you will join to the 1^st Weave in ends.

Herl (Border) – work on RS.

Rnd 83: With RS facing, join B with sl st to the dc point of any Eyespot, ch 1, (hdc, sc) in same st, [sc in next 12 sts, sc2tog  placing 1^st leg in next st and 2^nd leg in 13^th st before dc point of next Eyespot, sc in next 12 sts, (sc, hdc, sc) in next dc point] around omitting last (sc, hdc, sc), place 1 sc in same dc as join, join with sl st to first hdc. DO NOT FINISH OFF. (33 sc2tog, 33 hdc, 24 sc per Eyespot)

Rnd 84: Ch 1, sc in same hdc, [work Trefoil, sc in next st, (sk next 2 sts, Shell in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st) twice, count 13 sts before hdc point on next Eyespot, sc in 13^th st, (sk next 2 sts, Shell in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st) twice, sc in next hdc point] around omitting last sc, join with sl st to first sc.  Finish off. (33 Trefoils, 4 Shells per Eyespot)

Weave in all ends and block as desired.

Blocking: I put my afghan in the washer on gentle cycle, laid it out on a carpeted floor, gently smoothed out by hand, and let dry overnight.

I  hope you have enjoyed crocheting your Peacock Plumes Afghan. I would love for you to join me and crochet along with like-minded crafty folk. Here are links where you can find me:

• Ravelry Designer Portfolio: Melinda Miller
• Ravelry Group: MoCrochet Makers
• Instagram: @mocrochet_makes
• Facebook Business Page: MoCrochet Makes
• Private Facebook Group: MoCrochet Makers