Saturday, June 11, 2011

Today's tea cozy

I saw one like this on Etsy (look here) and wanted to make one for myself.   Mine is a little different but I think I've used the same stitch pattern.  I can tie it up higher like on the Etsy one but I wanted the knob on my tea pot to show.  I've added a drawstring on the bottom of the pot, unlike the Etsy one.  It was an easy knit and I may make another one.  Only thing I don't like is that the cables have a hole in the center and I think it needs a liner to keep the pot hot longer to really work.  That'll be my next project.

Pattern stitch: multiple of 5 + 2
Row 1: P2, *sl 1 as if to K, K2, PSSO, P2* (repeat from * to *)
Row 2: K2, *P1, YO, P1, K2* (repeat from * to *)
Row 3: P2, K3 to end
Row 4: K2, P3 to end

Make 2 on US size 8 needles

For my 3 cup tea pot I CO 42 sts, knit 2 rows in garter stitch then worked each piece until I had 10 rows of completed mock cables.  I finished with 2 rows in garter stitch then cast off.  I made two long chain drawstrings and wove them in and out of the eyelets made by the mock cables in both the top and bottom of cozy.  I also seamed up the sides, leaving room for the spout and handle. Worked in ends.  Done!

Oh yeah, I did finish the other knitted pleated cosy.  It's the turquoise/lime green one in the back.  I'm making a third one now.  Maybe my sister needs one for her naked tea pots!  I'll make sure to bring some knitting along to Hawaii with me.  Maybe I'll finally be able to make it to an Aloha Knitters knit nite this time.

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Soooo homesick right now!

Now that my little one is out of school, I am so looking forward to going home to Hawaii for the summer.  His older brother will be in summer school and football practice so he can't go.  My poor hubby has to stay here and hold down the fort while we're gone.  He also has his own football clinics to attend.  We'll be home for 6 whole weeks!  It'll be great to see my family and friends, go to the beach, shop, eat all of those foods I miss so much, shop some more and eat some more.    I've got to pay more attention while my mom cooks all of my favorite foods so I can make them myself. We leave in a week.  I can't wait!!!

Friday, June 03, 2011

New tea cozies or new tea cosies, however you want to spell them.

I just finished the tea cosy in the rear left today and the red cabled one yesterday.  I'm getting ready to start another one like the puffy one on the rear left.  It's called Knitted Pleated Tea Cosy and it's a free pattern from the Bernat site.  I've seen many of these all over the web and on my favorite UK TV murder mysteries.  Finally, while watching season 15 of Midsomer Murders on Wednesday, one of them appeared in an episode.  I said, "that's it, I have to make one NOW!" and cast on right away.  It's so easy once you get the hang of the floats on the wrong side.  They're what make the cosy so thick and COSY!  I'm getting ready to cast on another one...my only dilemma is which colors to use.

The cable knit one in the front is made without a pattern.  I've been making so many cabled cup cosies that the cable is second nature to me now.  I just CO 39 sts per side on size 8 needles and made two identical pieces just a bit taller than my pot.  There are 3 purl sts on either side of the 9 st cable.  I made a series of 5 buttonholes on the top before casting off to run the tie through, seamed up both sides, leaving room for the spout and handle, and done.  So easy!