Spring Roses Tea Cosy

We have had the hottest weather of late; a heatwave of note, prolonged and uncomfortable .... more so because it makes working with wool a big no-no!! And so when we woke to a cloudy and cool Saturday here in my neck of the woods, I literally fell on my yarn and hook with such delight, and finished a WIP .. 

Spring Roses Tea Cosy Ta-dahhh!

I did not have the tea pot to hand to work around, just measurements, quite a challenge.  After scrapping two designs, I was finally happy with this sweet cosy, in white with leaves in beautiful Spring Green, and roses in Soft Yellow, Wisteria and Fondant, these all being gorgeous colours in the Stylecraft Special DK range.  

There is no complete pattern as such, I have notes on the body in white, and details of how I finished it off. The pattern consists of two rows :: 1 row in hdc, 1 row in hdc but including the bobble stitch every 6th stitch.  The bobbles are offset (see photo).  The widest measurement around the 'belly' of the pot is 40cm. I worked the body in two pieces and sewed the pieces together

First side:

I started with around 42 chains.

Row 1 ~ First hdc in 2nd chain from hook, hdc to end, turn

Row 2 ~ 2ch, hdc to last 3 sts, ch 1, miss one st, hdc to end. This forms the buttonhole, turn

Row 3 ~ 2ch, 9hdc, bobble st in next stitch (note here :: the bobble st is worked on the wrong side of your work), *5hdc, bobble st, continue to end, turn

Row 4 ~ 2ch, hdc to last 5 sts, and turn.  This forms the button hole strip.

Row 5 ~ 2ch, 1hdc, bobble st in next stitch, *5hdc, bobble st, continue to end, turn

Row 6 ~ 2ch, hdc to end of row

Row 7 ~ 2ch, 4hdc, bobble st in next stitch, *5hdc, bobble st, continue to end, turn

Now continue until you have the height you need minus about 2cm, which we will take up with decreasing rows. For this cosy, that worked out to a total of 19 rows from the start row ( 9 bobble rows and 10 plain hdc rows).

Row 20 ~ (or your next row depending on how many rows you have for the height you need) and (Right side) 2ch and 4hdc, 2hdc tog., *4hdc, 2hdc tog., continue from * to end of row, turn

Row 21 ~ Wrong side :: 2ch and 3hdc, bobble st in next st, *4hdc. bobble st, continue to end and hdc last however many sts you have left, I had 2 so I worked 2hdc, turn

Row 22 ~Right side ::  2 ch and 1hdc, 2hdc tog, *3hdc, 2hdc tog; continue to end, turn

Row 23 ~ Wrong side :: 2ch, hdc to end, turn

Row 24 ~ Right side :: 2ch,and 1hdc, *2hdc tog, 2hdc, continue from * to end, turn

Row 25 ~ Wrong side :: 2ch, hdc to end. That completes one side.

Second side ~

Repeat the instructions for the first side, except cast on stitches minus the buttonhole strip .. so I started with 36 chains instead of 42 chains.

Note:  once you have started the decrease rows, just work with the stitches you have.  You may have fewer or more sts that I had, remember that you are going to cover the decrease rows with masses of flowers and leaves, which will cover up with decrease rows anyway!

Once you have completed the two sides, fit to your tea pot and sew up the sides where necessary.  One seam will be short to come up to the bottom of the spout. The handle side closes with a pretty button and buttonhole.  I left the gaps open to the top of the cosy almost all the way, just stitching the last 1.5cm of each side together so that I had a complete round 'cap' onto which I attached the leaves and flowers 

I embellished the cosy with May roses and leaves from Lucy's pattern on Attic 24.  I added a row of slip stitches in green for a small neat edging along the handle and spout edges. For the finish on the bottom edge, I used a braid stitch in green :: see my post on Braid edging here

Hope you are having a good Sunday wherever you are, take care until next time,

Pat xxxxxxxxxx

Tea and Roses - Part 2

Hello again,

Some colour and pattern variations of our Tea and Roses Cosy ~ pattern here

Standard Granny Squares in yellow and white, set into solid Aqua.  Yellow and white roses and white daisies adorn the cosy. 

Red roses and white daises atop a colourful cosy in yellow, red and green with Parchment as the base colour.

A single large flouncy flower in a lovely peachy colour adorns the top of this cosy in yellow, green and shrimp.

Pretty white base for this cosy with pink, lilac and purple colour accents.

I must say, I have had the best fun making up these cosies, easy to make and finished in an hour or two. 

And what you may think, am I to do with all these cosies, well Christmas Presents of course!

Have fun this week, until next time

Pat xxxxxxxxx

A quick note :: due to my over-enthusiastic attempts at Bin clearing, I have managed to delete necessary photos, and now find strange things happening to my blog page.  I am working on getting all back in order just as soon as I can .. Pat xx 

Tea and Roses (Part 1)

Tea and Roses Cosy

I have discovered Block stitch with contrasting colour yarn 'seeding'  and I love the effect. So I thought of how I could use my new found favourite stitch, but not in a blanket edging or Mandala, and so my Tea and Roses tea cosy came to life!

It is a very versatile method of making a cosy .... as you will find in the pattern notes as we go along.

Pattern details:
Yarn ~ Stylecraft Special DK in Parchment as the base colour, and Bluebell, Wisteria and Plum.
Hook ~ 4mm
Terms are US

Abbreviations ~
YO, yarn over hook.
RS:  right side of work

Special stitches ~
Within Square:
3dc cluster:  YO, insert hook into Magic circle, YO, pull yarn through (4 loops on hook - 1 loop from previous ch 1, and 3 dc), YO, pull yarn through all 4 loops at once, 1ch to close cluster.

Rest of cosy excluding Square   
3dc cluster:  If you are not sure how to make a 3dc cluster, this is an excellent photo tutorial.

2dc cluster:  YO, insert hook under chain loop, pull yarn through to right side, YO, pull yarn through 2 loops, leave 2 loops on hook.  YO, insert hook under chain loop, pull yarn through to the RS, YO, drawing yarn through 2 loops, leaving 3 loops on hook.  YO, pull yarn through all three loops on hook.


Row 1 ~ 
Start with a Magic Circle, or ch 4, join with a sl st to form a circle.  Into the circle we are going to make 8 x 3dc clusters. First cluster:  Ch3, work 1 incomplete dc in next two sts, leaving last loops on your hook, YO, pull hook through all three loops, chain to close cluster, ch 1. Second to eighth cluster as per note in Special Stitches.  Ch 1, sl st to join in top of first cluster.  See photos 1 - 3.

Magic circle; first three dc cluster

First 3 dc cluster plus ch 1

Row 2 ~

Join in new yarn in any 1 ch gap.  Into each gap we are going to work 3 sc, with NO ch st in between each group of 3 sc.

Row 3 ~
Join new colour into any space between a 3ch group.  1sc,
3 ch, sc into next space. Proceed all the way round, ending with 3 ch and a sl st into first sc to join round. 8 3 chain loops.

Row 4 ~

Join new colour yarn into any 3 chain loop;  we will be squaring off the circle now.  3ch (or standing dc if you prefer) and 2dc, 2ch, 3dc; this grouping forms the corner. Work *3hdc into next 3ch loop; work a corner grouping into next 3 ch loop.   Proceed from * to last 3 chain loop, 3hdc and sl st to top of 3ch to close.

Make six little squares in total.

Now we will join the six squares into two sets of three squares each.  Use what ever is your favourite method of sewing squares together. I place two squares together right sides facing; then I stitch through the back loops in this way.  

Row 5 ~

Starting in a 2ch space on the right side (as opposed to left side)of first three-square set, join in new colour and ch 4. Stands as 1sc and 3ch. Into next space between corner group and hdc group, work 1 sc and then 3ch. Working across to the left side, into each space in between groups, 1sc and 3ch until you have reached the last 2ch space in the last corner group; 1sc and ch2 (bridging chains).  Now repeat, working across second three-square set, starting with 1sc into first 2ch space of the presenting corner group. When you reach the last sc in the last 2ch space of the last corner, ch2 (bridging chains) and sl st into 1st sc of 1st three-square set.  (Shown below in colour Bluebell)

I have made a little collage of the steps, hope this helps .. although the instructions sound a little complex, what you are doing is joining the two three-square sets into a circle. The two 2ch bridges joining the 3-square sets, will form the gaps for the spout and handle of the tea pot. 

Row 6 ~

Join new colour into any 3 chain loop.  3ch or (Standing Double Crochet) and 2dc into same loop.  Into each following 3 chain loop, work 3 dc, including over the two 2ch gaps. Join with sl st to top of first 3ch or top of Standing DC.

                            

Row 7 ~

Join new colour into any space between 3dc groups, and repeat, in essence, Row 5;  the difference being now you will work around in a circle starting with 1sc and 3ch at the point of join, and finishing by a sl st into the 1sc created. (Shown here in colour Wisteria) Sew ends in securely.

Row 8 ~
Repeat Row 6 (Shown in colour Parchment)

Row 9 ~
This is the last row, finishing the bottom of the cosy.  Join new colour into any space between 3dc groups.  1sc, work 1sc into any 2 sts before the next space, 1sc into next space.  (Shown below in colour Plum) ... we are using only two of the available three dc sts, (coming about from the 3dc group in row below) so that the bottom doesn't 'flare' in any way.  In the example, I used the back loops of the sts only.

Finish row with a st st into first sc, and sew ends in securely.

Time to work on the top of the cosy!  
Row 10 ~
Repeat Row 5 (shown in the photo in Bluebell)

Row 11 ~

Repeat Row 6

Row 12 ~

Repeat Row 7

Row 13 ~
The shaping starts now.
Join new yarn into any 3 chain loop.
First 3dc cluster: 3ch and 2dc, keeping loop from 3ch on the hook, also the last loops from the 2dc's. Yarn over hook, pull yarn through all three loops so forming the first 3dc cluster.  
Following cIusters:   I have made reference to an excellent tutorial in the notes for making a 3dc cluster. Work a 3dc cluster into each 3 chain loop all the way around, finish off with a sl st into top of first cluster.

Row 14 ~
Join new colour into any space between 3dc clusters; *1sc and 2ch, 1sc into next space and 2ch.  Repeat from * to end, finish with a sl st into top of 1st sc. (Shown in photo below in colour Plum)

Row 15 ~
Join new colour into any 2 chain loop. 
First 2dc cluster:  3ch and 1dc, yarn over hook, pull yarn through both loops, so forming first 2 dc cluster. 
Following 2dc clusters:  Proceed with 2dc clusters as in notes.  Finish with a sl st into top of first 2dc cluster. (Shown in photo below in colour Parchment) 

Row 16 ~
Join new colour into any space between 2dc clusters;  1sc into each space. Finish with a sl st into top of first sc. (Shown in photo below in colour Bluebell)

Rows 14, 15 and 16

Row 17 ~

Join yarn into any sc stitch and ch 2, YO, insert hook into next sc, YO, pull yarn through st, 3 loops on hook.  YO, hook yarn through two loops; YO, hook yarn through last 2 loops to close.  

*YO, insert hook into next st, YO, pull yarn through to right side (3 loops on hook) YO, pull yarn through 2 loops, (2 loops on hook) YO,insert hook through next st, YO and pull yarn through to right side (4 loops on hook) YO, pull yarn theough 2 loops, (3 loops on hook) YO, and pull through all 3 loops at once. Repeat from * to end, finish row with a sl st into top of starting stitch.

Row 18 ~

Crochet a row of sc all the way round, join to first sc to finish.

Row 19 ~ If necessary, crochet a second row of sc right the way round;  what you need is to be able to take your darning needle and thread the end tail around the last stitches and pull the centre closed, not tight just closed. Any embellishment you add to the top of the cosy is going to hid the last two or three rows.

Rows 17, 18 and 19.

The gap between the squares for the spout or handle

Now the cosy needs something pretty on the top ... here the sky's the limit.   I have used the sweet May roses and leaves from Attic 24 for the large roses; Small roses from Thomasina Cummings;  and the daisies in colour Bluebell are made like so:

Make a Magic Circle, *ch 4, 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in next two chains, sl st into magic circle. Repeat from * until you have the number of petals you need, I made eight. 

Pull up and close the circle, and secure the end in tightly. I added three French Knots in contrast Parchment in the centre.

The versatility with this pattern is ~

You could use any square pattern you like; a slightly bigger square will result in a wider circumference, and if you have a taller pot, just make more block and seed rows, above and below the squares row.

So pretty, I am very happy with how the cosy looks.  A post - Part 2 - will be cosies in various other colourways ... look out for it in the next day or two.

Welcome to my new viewers, and thank you for comments left on my previous posts, very much appreciated ♥  As I think my Blogland friends will concur, it is such a thrill to read a new comment, or make a new friend.

Have a most wonderful weekend

and a creative and satisfying week ahead.

Love Pat xxxxxxxxxx

A gift for a special young lady .........

Hello and good morning, it's beautiful outdoors today here in Maroeladal, cool and wet after lovely showers last night, but with a promise of warm sunshine later.  

In between my various WIP's I decided to make a pretty tea cosy for a Bridal Shower/Kitchen Tea gift.     

The teapot is part of the gift!

Hope she likes it .... and the best part is she won't get a duplicate, 

it's one of a kind!

Have a wonderful weekend

Hugs and blessings

Pat xxxxxxxx

 2 Feb 2014
Had a lovely afternoon at the young lass's Bridal Shower and she
LOVED HER GIFT!!
Squealed with glee!
I'm a happy hooker today!

I'm a little teapot, short and stout ........

Any time is tea time in our house, we are always ready to settle down to a cuppa and a biscuit or two.   So my (aforementioned!) tea cosy is in progress I am delighted to say!  I have taken my choice of colours from a cute set of mugs I found;  as soon as I spotted them, I thought 'I can see a tea cosy in clear turquoise, with pretty pink and perhaps white flowers on top'.  And so lucky I was to find this cute little white tea pot.

The body of the tea cosy is finished.  Now for the fun part ... crocheting flowers and leaves to adorn my turquoise cosy!

  

Using this easy pattern for the cosy,  and then inspirations for flowers and leaves from three of my favourite blogs ( love, love, and love them) I made up roses, daisies and teeny flowers, big leaves and small leaves and linked leaves... 

Next, I started placing the flowers and leaves here and there, playing with different looks and ideas, too much?? too little??  And to add to the mix, once I started crocheting the flowers and leaves I became totally caught up and couldn't stop, I find I really enjoy making small items, like flowers and squares and hearts.  So I had a nice selection of flowers and leaves from which to choose.  

I am going to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon sewing on the decorations with the threads, and perhaps make up a butterfly or two to complete it.   Thank you for dropping by, do have a wonderful week, hugs and blessings,  Pat xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh and by the way, thank you so much for all the kind comments about our adored doggies;   Dexter Dog and Layla the Princess send their love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx