Once in a while, I check out Amazon.co.uk to check out the bestselling British knitting and crafting books. Almost exclusively, they are completely different than the popular books in the USA. Knitters we all are on both sides of the pond. But our tastes in books really do differ.
I just saw that the #1 book in the Knitting category in the UK is called Wild Tea Cosies. I think it's going to be a very long time until a book on tea cosies hits the top 25 in the States. But maybe I'm wrong? At any rate, check out the author's blog called The Grand Purl Baa which is quite fun.
Are you ready to knit a tea cosy? I love them myself. Have knit many in my day. Would love to hear your thoughts. Have a nice weekend. Sorry no pictures today.
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25 comments:
How fun! I love a little pot of tea now and then and what a fun way to keep the pot warm. Thanks!
Oh, Wild Tea Cozies looks like a really fun book! My family has used tea cozies for 14+ years. In fact, I make and sell cloth cozies as a little side venture. My sister knits cozies for our French Presses, and I have made a few cozies out of felted sweaters. I once was so proud to give one of my handmade cozies to a British friend, only to realize later that it was about the same as giving a friend a packet of dishcloths, since cozies are such a normal/everyday piece of kitchen equipment in the UK. :) oh well.
That sounds like a fun project, it wouldn't matter if I dropped a stitch or two on the way. Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season, although I know from reading your blog there is no vacation from work on a farm!
I was thinking french press cosies, too! I have a couple of tea cozies that I knitted but I never remember to put them on my tea pots.
I have never made a tea cosy before. I'm going to go and check out that book.
What fabulous tea cozies! I've always had trouble finding cozies that are not too traditionally prim (although those can be nice too, just not all the time). Mayhap I will attempt to knit one.
That looks like a fun book, and thanks for the link to the blog - some lovely tea cosies there - I almost felt like making one, but with my ultra modern "teapot" I had rather knit it a zippered jacket...
Those are some crazy cozies! Did ya see the "party girl" cozy? I'm not a girly girl by any stretch of the imagination, but that one looks like too much fun!
As an avid tea drinker - I made a simple cozy for my teapot fashioned from kitchen cotton washcloths. Having seen that book - I'm going to have to get cracking on something less pedestrian! Looks like a quickly done winter project that will spark the creativity. Thanks for the link to her blog.
SusanR
I think the book with tea cosy patterns would not become very popular over here (the Netherlands) either! When we visit Britain I sometimes buy British knitting magazines but have never knitted one of their patterns. On the other hand I have knitted several American patterns. I am currently working on Nob Hill from Knitty for my elder daughter and have just bought my first Elizabeth Zimmermann book. I just love American patterns and your blogs.
Happy knitting from
a Dutch knitter
I wish that we in the US would drink tea as the Brits do. However, I think your "tea time" is nearly our dinner time and with kids in the families being so involved in sports, it's even hard for families to have normal dinner times now. My husband and I have tea every evening before going to bed, but we just fix one cup apiece and don't fix a teapot full. I would love to knit tea cozies for my teapots, but I just don't use the teapots. We spent 2 months in England back in 1997 and truly adored tea time, but it just didn't fit in our schedules when we returned to the US.
What do working individuals do with tea time? When is their tea time? would love to correspond with someone in the UK about customs. tnknitter@gmail.com
hi Kristin & knitting friends,
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What a nice surprise to find this new knitting book. When my son was very young, he adored an old metal teapot and would carry it everywhere we went on our daily routine. Can anyone suggest a great favorite tea ? I like cream in my tea, just like my Nana.
Mostly, I drink coffee but would like a change once in awhile.
I love seeing what other creative knitters are making.
~ thanks Kristin ~ for sharing something fun this cold winter day.
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I also enjoyed the story and photos you posted some time ago about your trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. I first visited when I was about 14yrs. old and it was inspirational.
I hope to get my son back East for a visit to all the things I grew up with.
happy tea-coffee time to all, whenever that may be.
shell ~
I knit an Aran tea cozy many years ago -- I wonder where that got to? This is an interesting blog also: http://wildforteacosies.blogspot.com/
i would so love a wild tea cozy! i have 2 classic ones i do love but something wild and quirky would suit my personality! smile
nice link! Did you see the sunflower one? Hope you are staying warm.
Hello Kristin.
Thank you SO much for writing about my little book. I didn't know myself it was up there near the top of the Amazon UK list. Tea Cosies really are a bit special to us Aussies and of course the Poms too. It is a long, odd, funny tradition. I hope you all had the best Christmas. Very good cheer to you. Loani
As crazy as it sounds that book is on my wish list. I love her styles and they are so beautifully done! I find the Brits love tea cozies and hot bottle warmer covers. From what I read, it is my understanding they use the hot bottles when they go to sleep in the winter. I don't know of any Americans having this custom. For no particular reason, I watch the best selling craft lists on both sides of ocean.
Can I just say that lots of people this side of the water don't have the classic teatime except maybe at weekends. Even when I was growing (some decades ago) 'tea' was reserved for Sunday afternoons and visiting.
I'm definitely going to have to get that book and check it out. Please come by my blog and get your award that I am giving you. Have a great day!
Hi,
FYI book is also available from Amazon.com
Linda
I think it's the whole British Tea thing! I love the cosies, would like to knit one because they are crazy fun, then it would be art. Never used. I make tea either one cup at a time, or for a pitcher of iced tea :>)
Marsha
Funny you should say about other countries having different styles and interests in crafts. When I first saw your blog, and for the life of me I can't remember today how I popped in for a visit, I remember thinking "Is she in Australia?" You know the sheep and all. Well when the snows came one would certainly know that you aren't there, but your blog is so interesting that I visit often
Happy New Year from Canada
I haven't made a tea cosy - but it is very tempting. I loved the craft books in England and I also had an opportunity to visit Australia - they have very nice books also - and much different than ours....
Nope, no tea cosies in my queue. Also no hot water bottle cosies. No cosies of any kind, unless you consider scarves and mittens to be body cosies. I suppose sweaters are body cosies too. I like cosy murder mysteries of the English variety, but otherwise, no cosies, thanks.
Yes to French Press Cozies already mentioned! I need a cozy pattern for a small tea pot, oddly sized tea pots...see Harney and Sons online. I sometimes use more than one teapot for different teas that each guest might want to brew.
So, yes, a book on tea cozies would be great. And ay actually be popular here if they were more interesting than the current lot running around the internet. I keep my house cooler in Winter and have the A/C on in Summer and the tea pot cools down way too fast. I use two purchased in England made out of fabric but a knitted one would be better...They do get tea on them and need to be washable. However, I am not inclined to want a "wild" one :) I would however like a Noro Kuryon felted version, just because that felts so softly and might not require more than one skein..hmmm...
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