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Americans don't know what a tea cosy is! However, once they see one and decide it is not a hat for a large dog or small donkey, they want one - that is of course if they own a proper tea pot. (Look inside the tea pot and a "proper" tea pot has several holes where the spout enters the pot - not just one big one!)
By the way, I have always been wary of Americans making tea! Don't forget - they once tried to make it with Boston Harbour water!
The knitting of tea cosies is a very traditional idea and if you go to England check out the church bazaars, etc. and I am sure you will always find one to suit your taste. If you already live in England, you will know what I mean. The one in the second picture was knitted for my mother in law, who I vowed to keep in tea cosies for ever.......
By the way, I have always been wary of Americans making tea! Don't forget - they once tried to make it with Boston Harbour water!
The knitting of tea cosies is a very traditional idea and if you go to England check out the church bazaars, etc. and I am sure you will always find one to suit your taste. If you already live in England, you will know what I mean. The one in the second picture was knitted for my mother in law, who I vowed to keep in tea cosies for ever.......
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Signing UpStep 1Let the knitting begin!
The size of the cosy will depend on the size of the tea pot. This cosy is knitted for a 6-cup pot, but you can easily adapt the pattern to make it smaller or much larger.
Once you have decided on your two colours, take a pair of knitting needles - size 5mm. Cast on 72 stitches (multiple of 6). For a medium cosy cast on 60 stitches (multiple of 5).
Cast on using the two needle method as follows;
Hold one needle in your left hand and one needle in your right hand. The right hand is the hand doing most of the work.
Make a loop and place on the left-hand needle.
Pass the tip of the right hand needle through the loop, wind yarn round the right hand needle to make a second loop. Place this new loop on the left hand needle to the right of the original loop. You now have two stitches on the left-hand needle.
To make the third stitch, pass the tip of the right hand needle BEHIND the second loop (and in front of the first loop -not through any loop) Wind yarn round the right hand needle to form the third loop and place this on the left hand needle to the right of the second loop. Continue with this last instruction to make loops until you have the desired number of stitches - in this case 72. This method of casting on makes a much neater and firmer set of stitches with which to work.
Once you have decided on your two colours, take a pair of knitting needles - size 5mm. Cast on 72 stitches (multiple of 6). For a medium cosy cast on 60 stitches (multiple of 5).
Cast on using the two needle method as follows;
Hold one needle in your left hand and one needle in your right hand. The right hand is the hand doing most of the work.
Make a loop and place on the left-hand needle.
Pass the tip of the right hand needle through the loop, wind yarn round the right hand needle to make a second loop. Place this new loop on the left hand needle to the right of the original loop. You now have two stitches on the left-hand needle.
To make the third stitch, pass the tip of the right hand needle BEHIND the second loop (and in front of the first loop -not through any loop) Wind yarn round the right hand needle to form the third loop and place this on the left hand needle to the right of the second loop. Continue with this last instruction to make loops until you have the desired number of stitches - in this case 72. This method of casting on makes a much neater and firmer set of stitches with which to work.
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She was seriously old-school regarding crafts, make-do-and-mend right to the end. She knitted lots, didn't have carpets, and made her own rugs from strips of old clothing ("proddy mats"). She drank tea so weak that a single bag would last a full pot, and then she added hot water to the cups!
I don't remember how she was, but my dad was born in 1942, a very late addition to the family, so she quite probably remembered both World Wars.
Thanks for the pattern
Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on. - Billy Connolly
Also the proud owner of at least 3 tea cosies! But none of my cosies has openings for spout and handle so I shall have to re-learn knitting and make one like this!
Was watching some crafts show the other day, and some woman had made a HUGE tea cosy and then felted it in hot water so it shrunk to normal size. It was very cool.