Knit, Shear Bliss!

Tea Cosy Knitting Pattern

I have such fond memories of visting my Nan as a child. My Nan always made you feel welcome and special. Of course Nan would put on the kettle and warm the tea pot, get out the english floral china tea cups and saucers. These would all go on a delightful tray with the sugar bowl and milk in a little china jug. Best of all Nan always had a treat of cakes or chocolate biscuits or even better chocolate fingers.

The hot water would be poured into the pot over tea leaves, never tea bags. And the hand knit tea cosy would be placed carefully on top on the teapot to keep the tea warm. We would follow Nan with the tray of tea to the "front room" or living room and chat while the tea brewed. It was always so special the way Nan made tea. Always poured from the pot with the tea cosy to keep the tea warm. When Nan came to pour the tea, it would be piping hot and strong just as I like it. Such a simple tradition but always so dear. I still make my tea as Nan used to make it. From the pot and always strong. But I always remember the tea cosy that my Nan would knit.

I finally sat down and wrote up the pink and red tea cosy knitting pattern. This is correct to the best of my knowledge. Sorry its taken me so long. Thank you to everyone who commented on my tea cosy. I would love to see your hand knit cosy.

Tea Cosy

a traditional fluted tea cosy design by Yasmin

YARN

A Caron Simply Soft Pink x 1

B Caron Simply Soft Red x 1

 

NEEDLES

   1 pair 4.5 mm (US 7) needles

crochet hook

 

FINISHED SIZE

To fit an average size tea pot

 

ABBREVIATIONS

k=knit; sts=stitches; rep=repeat; tog=together; sl=slip; p.s.s.o.=pass slipped stitch over

 

SIDES (make 2)

Using 4.5 mm (US 7) needles and yarn A cast on 102 sts.

Row 1; knit one row.

Row 2; (RS) Join in yarn B and knit the first st with yarn A and B together. *Using yarn A, k10sts, take Yarn B, drop yarn A and k10 sts, pull up carrying yarn, across the back of (WS) of work pulling slightly so that the carrying strand across the back measures approx. one inch. Repeat from * to end of row. Knit the last stitch with both yarn A and B.

Row 3; Slip the first stitch, * Take yarn A and k10 sts. Keeping yarn B to front of work (WS), bring yarn A behind and k10 sts, pulling carrying yarn slightly so that the strand across the front (WS) measures approx. one inch.  Knit the last stitch with both yarn A and B.

These two rows form pattern. Continue in pattern until sides measure 6in/15cm.

Shape top.

Keeping pattern correct continue as follows.

Row 1; Slip the first stitch. *sl1, k1, p.s.s.o, k6, k2 tog; rep from * to end of row. Knit last st. with both yarn A and B together.
Row 2; Slip the first stitch. *sl1, k1, p.s.s.o, k4, k2 tog; rep from * to end of row. Knit last st with both yarn A and B together.

Row 3; Slip the first stitch. *sl1, k1, p.s.s.o, k2, k2 tog; rep from * to end of row. Knit last st with both yarn A and B together.

Row 4; Slip the first stitch. *sl1, k1, p.s.s.o,  k2 tog; rep from * to end of row. Knit last st with both yarn A and B together.

Row 5; Slip the first stitch. * k2 tog across row. Knit last st with both yarn A and B together.

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull up tight and fasten.

Make another piece in the same way.

 

MAKING UP

Do not press.

Join the two sides together leaving and opening for the teapot spout and handle.

Leave cast on edge open.

 

Decoration for top of cosy

With crochet hook and  yarn A and B together *make 12 chain, sl, st into 1 st chain; repeat from * three times more (4 chain loops). Break yarn and arrange the 4 loops into a cluster. Insert cluster into hole in the top of the cosy, fasten securely.

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Little Badger Cot Blanket

I started knitting the baby blanket or "cot blanket" by Ros Badger about 3 or 4 years ago. I love this little blanket. It is so easy to knit, I don't have to think about a complicated knitting pattern, just knit and purl. Plus the changes in the colours for the squares keeps it interesting. It is the perfect project to knit while I am at soccer field, watching the girls play and so cool on the fingers on some hot summer days and on warm on a few cool early morning or late night soccer games, the blanket covers my lap perfectly to snuggle.

I wanted to make use of some Rowan Hand knit Cotton I had lying around in single colours. This was the perfect use for them. I decided to make it one square wider than the pattern called for, to accomplish a "throw" size. I made one mistake on the moss stitch square, take a look at the photo above. I should have knit the first row instead on knit and purling because it has a strange texture now on that one moss stitch square.

I bring this project out every now and again over the years and the "now and again" is coming to a close as I have started the last row of full squares. I am concerned that I don't have enough of the oddments of yarn to complete it. Maybe the last row of squares will be "striped" and not whole squares?

I am now looking for inspiration for another easy knit project for the field....em? Maybe another cute tea cosy....?

Upside Down Daisy ~ Chemo Hat

A friend approached me to knit a hat for her Chemo Patient (http://www.chemoangels.net/) a 3 year old girl who has leukemia. This little girl has lost all her hair due to the chemo therapy and a hat, like the upside down daisy hat, I hope will give this little girl some cheer.

Jyri Scarf

I first saw this scarf on the berroco website and fell in love with it. I just had to knit this.

I decided to make it first for someone close to me (not mentioning any names, yet). I wanted a fun and funky yarn that was both wool for warmth and a bright colour. I went through my stash and searched eBay for Rowan, or Debbie Bliss yarn but nothing was doing it for me. I visited Michaels and found this yarn and decided it would be perfect. Just the right colour for the recipient.

I loved knitting this scarf. It was really quick to knit and very impressive when it was completed. I only got through two balls of wool. I think I will have to make myself one next.
A Couple of tips if you decide to make this scarf…
Casting on
Use the cable cast-on stitch so it is flexible and stretchy and place markers every 50 stitches or so.
Knitting
I typed the pattern out on an 8.5x11 sheet and typed each of the pattern rows out individually and used a row counter so that I wouldn’t get lost.These few details really helped me.

Details

Jyri from Norah Gaughan, Volumn 1. Urban Layers

Started: August 24th 2008

Completed: August 29th 2008

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool

Shade: Lemongrass

Amount of Yarn: 2 Skeins.

Raglan Cardigan with Fully Fashioned Shaping Completed.

Debbie Bliss's book Baby Knits for beginners.
Began: April 2008
Completed: May 2008
Yarn: Stash yarn. Discontinued Cotton/acrylic easy care DK from John Lewis.
Amount of Yarn: 2 Skeins.
Buttons: From stash, teddies and plain round.

Fluted Tea Cosy

I picked up an issue of the fall issue of "knit simple" magazine and it has two tea cosy patterns one of which is for a one colour fluted tea cosy. The article is very thorough with clear, step by step photos which are really helpful.

The magazine is available at newsstands now or may be purchased online at their website.

I will try and go back at some point and work out how I made this tea cosy and post the pattern here.

I have noticed after using my tea cosy on a daily basis. It is a good idea to use acrylic yarn or any yarn that is machine washable. Another idea is to use a dark colour yarn, something that will not show the tea stains, as sometimes the tea drips from the spout or not pour properly and it will stain that lovely tea cosy. So at that point it is lovely to just throw it in the wash and not worry about it.

Raspy Rip Rip

I picked up "Raspy" by Rowan "Denim People" in a dash, I photocopied the pattern, as I ran out the door, for my eldest daughters, soccer tournament yesterday. I have't picked Raspy up in for ever and it was hard to decipher where I was in the pattern.
I was knitting the sleeve cap. I was knitting from my photocopy of the pattern and a little distracted by the games of course. But all the same happily knitting and feeling calmed by the therapeutic clicking and knitting.

By the end of the second game and almost completed the sleeve. I was having this feeling of, this really isn't looking right, the decreasing of the pattern wasn't working as slopped as I thought it would. I ran out of yarn at the game. So had to put it down and think about it over night and try and remember where the rest of the yarn was.

This morning I picked up the pattern again, from the book this time, trying to decipher the problem compared to my knitting. The page was different to the photocopy. Then is dawned on me. I had photocopied the WRONG $%^&$&$ page and I was knitting the cap of a complete different sweater. AGH!!!

So rip, rip, rip! I told my youngest my frustrations and she replied with her always endearing, positive attitude to life, "well, at least it was good practice of your knitting" :-) Yes absolutely and I enjoyed every moment!

String bag

The Elisa Nest Tote from the Purl Bee is and easy fun knit which grows very quickly. In just a couple of hours the main body of the bag can be completed. I am using some stash orange cotton yarn I have had for year and knitting with Bamboo needle. It was the first pair of needles that I grabbed at the right size. I also realized that cotton sometimes knits quicker and smoother on bamboo, well for me any way. I like the lace stitch pattern it has a lovely geometric pattern which is strong and decorative.

Of course I ran out of the orange yarn, which is a good thing in that at least I used it up and the yarn had a "use" finally. I found some complementary green cotton yarn for crocheting the sides and knitting the handles.

I totally finished the bag last night and had to rip  because I realized that the bag opening wasn't big enough to put anything but small items in. I am not sure if I have missed something? But the pattern is not working for me? Maybe I wasn't supposed to crochet the sides to the top?

So I ripped back one of the handles and a few inches of the crochet seamed sides. That way the bag opening has more space to open up wider. I am completing the last handle and I will crochet the "open" sides as a decorative trim.

So my adaptation of this pattern is to follow the pattern but when seaming the sides just leave about 2-3 inches at the top unseamed. Photo above. I like the opening larger at the top.

The old ways are the best ways...

I am really inspired by the way people used to live. Years ago, say in the 30's and 40's people would bake the bread for the day, shop for fresh produce of the season, cook meals from scratch, bake a cake or tea loaf for tea time etc. There is a nice feeling about all of that. Food items were stored in glass containers, and everything in the kitchen was natural, from the food, to the containers, and cooking utensils to the textiles. In some ways we are reverting back to those times, with lovely textiles coming back into our kitchen, cute aprons and tea towels instead of paper towels. With all the recycling and realizing that that plastics and so much waste is harmful to the earth.

I am noticing more and more that people are using their own grocery bags that they bring to the store. Its wonderful to witness, people caring about the environment we live in. And those old fashioned string market bags are back in style.

I began searching for that string bag to knit or crochet, I found a couple on line. I like this one to crochet it is taken from an old Australian newspaper/magazine ~ I think. It is so cute as it tucks into itself to store.

Another string bag that caught my eye was Elisa's Nest tote from Purlsoho.com. I liked that it was a knitting pattern rather than crochet. I am more in the mood to knit, than crochet. I also like the handles, a little more substantial and I think, a little kinder than the string handles on the Australian pattern.

I am in the mind set to use up some of my stash, its shocking to me to realize I have had some of my yarn for over 10 years.

I dug in my stash and found some orange cotton dk yarn about a ball and a half, not sure if its enough, but I can always knit the handles or the top in another dk cotton yarn. So that was it, dug in got the yarn and the needles and away I go :-).

Debbie Bliss Alphabet Baby Blanket

Its done, I am pleased with the outcome, this is a very rewarding pattern. It took 3 weeks to knit, which really is a quick knit and I would definitely knit it again.

I soaked it, and laundered the blanket and it looks, feels and smells wonderful. I realized that I had actually knit the perfect gift for a teachers baby, an alphabet blanket :-) The 100% cotton yarn is so easy to care for and it has a lovely weight and drape to the Blanket, ooh I don't want to part with it now, but I know it will be cherished in its new home.

I darned the partly dropped stitch. I took a few strands of the yarn and "caught" the few strands of the dropped stitch, with the new strands ~ almost, in an embroidered fashion, mimicking the stitch and it is now hardly noticeable. No more noticeable, than, when darning in loose ends.

I thought I should mention if you do decide to knit this pattern that there is an errata on Debbie Bliss website. Please check it out before knitting this blanket. As you can see knitted the lace border on the top and bottom of the blanket and I am happy with the way it turned out.