1892 Tea Cozy

[atherleisure]

I finished the knitting for an 1892 tea cozy from Weldon's Practical Knitter earlier this week and then made it up tonight. I've been wanting a tea cozy for awhile. It was between this one and a 1940's one that the V&A has online. I decided to go with the Weldon's one. Got to justify the purchase of the books somehow, right? I even had the colors of yarn called for by the pattern - heavyweight blue and lightweight pink. The blue was a free skein of worsted weight yarn I got years ago and never knew what I was going to do with. The pink is leftover from the 1930's Eleanor sweater I made a few years ago.

I used the whole skein of blue. When I finished the 68 rows that I think the pattern meant to call for (it only said 34, but I think it must have meant 34 on each side), the pieces weren't quite 8" like the pattern said, but I didn't have enough yarn to make them longer. I used the rest of the partial ball of pink yarn too so this was a really good stash-busting project. The 78 rows were a little over the 9" called for by the pattern, but it just means it has a slightly larger frill. I did not put ribbons on it. I usually do just what the pattern calls for when making costume pieces, but for something practical around the house, I don't feel quite as committed to historical accuracy. I don't need a beribboned tea cozy in modern life.

It fits my teapot perfectly.

Comments

[marianme]

At first, my screen didn't show the colors and I thought it was a barrel cactus with a flower on top. Is your tea cozy and stay warmer longer now?

[atherleisure]

We shall see how well it works. I probably won't make another pot of tea until it's cool out again, so probably in six months or so.

[koshka_the_cat]

So adorable!

[atherleisure]

Thank you. I love knitting random Victorian stuff.

[danabren]

It's ridiculous, I love it.

[atherleisure]

Thanks.