Free Moss Rib Tea Cosy Pattern

Tea Cosy

in Moss Rib Stitch

Following on from my 'Tea and Cosy Love' day, I attempted to knit a tea cosy in

moss rib stitch which I love and this is the result.

To create

Moss Rib Stitch

CO:   multipes of 4sts + 1 sts     to desired size

Row 1 : (right side)   K2, (P1, K3) till last 3 stitches, then P1, K2

Row 2:  P1,( K3,  P1) to the end

then repeat these two rows to create the repeat pattern

I didn't have a pattern to follow so I knitted two rectangles, starting with 12 rows of stocking stitch and then the moss rib repeat to the end.  I didn't have a pattern to give me shaping so I just stitched the top to form the shape.  I think I made it slightly too big in size so for for future attempts I will reduce the number of stitches.

However,  since knitting this, I found a FREE vintage pattern

at the Victoria and Albert Museum website,

called the 'Happy Thought Tea Cosy' which looks worth having

a go at and can be downloaded in a PDF file.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/13089-popup.html

For those of you who are not familiar with the

Victoria and Albert Museum website,

it is worth a look as it has a brilliant resource on knitting.

Bee x

p.s  don't forget to take a look at the

Tea Cosy Love Flickr group

where you can put pictures of your work relating to tea,

 tea cosies, mug cosies, blankets, cushions teapots and cups, cakes

and all things cosy from any craft.

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Crochet Away 'till my heart's content

I thought you might like to see what I have been up to in the crafty stakes lately.  During the winter I am not at my best, so I find that crochet and knitting help me to relax, unwind and keep sane during the winter months, as I find it easy and quick to do. 

Feeling very fed up with the grey skies, I went a bit mad in the yarn store the other week, when all the snow was falling down and bought various colours of yarn.  These sat upon my coffee table in all their glory until I found a use for them and conjured up some majestic colourways.

Some of my efforts are more adventurous than others and I particularly like the blue and red circular item above which I want to make into a cushion cover with a view to making the cushion pad in denim to show off the beauty of the crochet stitches.

Granny Square Cushion experiment

crochet squares experimental colour ways

a piece for a large cushion cover, more subtle tones

You have probably guessed already from my other posts, that I love colour and these pieces are certainly colourful.  I will be busy on my sewing machine soon sewing cushion covers I think and will keep you posted on the results of my crochetathon soon.

Bee x

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Winter Seaside Views

After the storm, came the quiet,

and some sun rays.

A walk along the sea front

blew away the cobwebs

and the dust that had been covered by the snow.

Although cold, the sun shone and 

it felt good to be free.

Bee x 

Here are some shots I took during my walk along the prom last Sunday.

I love the architecture of the seaside shelters in their jolly yellow

and their wrought iron filigree standing proud and strong.

Surprisingly, because it was so cold, there were alot of people doing the same,

walking their dogs,

holding hands and sitting chatting,

drinking tea, grateful to have escaped the four walls

for some over due fresh air and sunshine.

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Tea Cosy Love

With a view to starting a pattern library for all the beautiful tea cosies out there, following on from Friday's

'Tea and Cosy Love Day',

I have created a group on Flickr called 'Tea Cosy Love',

so there is a place for us to group our patterns, photos and thoughts together,

all aimed at tea cosies, tea cups, tea pots,

doillies, cake stands, cakes and any tea related hand crafted items,

either knitted, crocheted, embroidered, printed, bought, appliqued etc.

Please feel free to drop by and join in the fun and post some pictures at

http://www.flickr.com/groups/teacosylove

So far I have only had time to set up the group page,

but will be adding photos of my own tea cosies I have made

over the next few days so bear with me.

I won't be about for the next couple of days. 

I'm off to my parents for a break

and will be back at the end of the week so catch up then.

Keep crafting and be happy!

Bee x

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Today is Tea and Cosy Day

1. Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage. ~Catherine Douzel, 2. Tea for Two, 3. Collection of 'cosy coaster' mug cosies, 4. Warm mug., 5. Be it ever so humble..., 6. A warm teapot is a happy teapot, 7. Union Jack Tea Cosy Cozy Cosie, 8. Tea Cozy, 9. Crocheted Tea Mug Cozy, 10. Tea Pincushion - Front, 11. teacozy01, 12. 23 Bela Bell 0269, 13. Untitled14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

I've declared today, a Tea and Cosy Day, as I feel a bit yucky

 and need a bit of tea, cosy love, and sympathy today. 

A Tea and Cosy Day, is totally different from a Duvet Day,

as you can 'guilt freely' snuggle up on the sofa

 and knit, crochet, read and drink tea all day long,

 until your hearts content, in this perfect cosy little world. 

However, for those of us who have to live in the real world,

I thought the above cosy pics would help you to feel warm, snug and feel loved

for your tea or cuppa moment today. 

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I love tea cosies and enjoy knitting them. 
I have been looking for some tea cosy patterns for knit or crochet,
 so if you know of any good ones drop me a email or comment,
we could get a tea cosy library going .....for Tea Cosy Love ......

Thrifty Fashion Finds

My student days gave more than just an education,

 short of pennies for treats and clothing,

my love of charity shops and thirty stores

for all things useful, lovely, and reusable

have come in handy.

During my two afternoons this week in town,

dodging the snow,

I came across the skirt all joyful and bright, 

swinging in it's tweedy stripes.

And the Cardi, stood bold and proud

with its purple, elegant shape and

said, buy me,

I will go great with the tweedy stripes.

So here are my jolly good finds,

orangey tweedy skirt and purple cardi are now good pals,

and all for £8.00, and

my purse told me it was happy.

I found one of my crochet creation corsages, in bright orange,

shouting i'll go with them

very nice indeed, all round.

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Vote for Me ....... Little Blog Awards

Please, please, .....pretty please .............

vote for me at

Dorset Cereals

so that I can win their 'Litte Blog Award' and you can win some goodies

by clicking the button below 

If you have a blog, you can list it there too and join in the fun too.

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A little bit of Sunshire Required .......

1. yellow and green forest, 2. Yellow Harvest Mittens, 3. Yellow bike, 4. The yellow cabinet, 5. Vintage Yellow Dishware Set, 6. Splendor in yellow..., 7. Day 83 - Yellow, 8. Tea cup swap #2, 9. A quest for the most perfect yellow yarn..., 10. Yellow Polka Dot Top :)


Today, I was so cold, as my  heating went on the blink, I thought we needed warming up so I have chosen a selection of warming images to bring cheer and warmth into our snowy, cold world today

I did venture out, to the town today, as I couldn't bear the thought of another day of looking at the four walls.  I managed to walk in with my big walking boots on and with several layers, I kept fairly warm.  Surprisingly, the town was quite busy with like minded passers by, fighting the cold, and keeping some normality in their lives.

I stocked up on food, sweets (wine gums, my favourites) and milk so I am ready for the next onslaught of snow forecast soon. I am armed with plenty of yarn to crochet up some new delights and keep 'the wolf from the door and blues from setting in.

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Magical Red Shoes

As I am totally fed up with the snow and the ice, i've been searching flickr for some light and bright relief.  I love my red shoes so here a few of some more lovelies I have found ......

1. there are clouds in my shoes, 2. Fairytale, 3. red shoes, 4. another one, 5. Theres No Place Like Home, 6. Red Heart Shoes, 7. Knitted Mary Jane Booties, 8. Underwater, 9. We're not in Kansas anymore, 10. red

I wanted to start the month with my own calendar page

designed by my own fair hands,

so its better late than never,

I am told,

 and Guide's honour,

 I promise to be on time next month.

Feel free to print out and use or pop on your page

Happy 2010

Bee x

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Handicraft Book that started it all

This book started my crafting love affair,

 long ago in my childhood.

Being a 70's child, I was free to explore my gran's bookcase,

and guess what appeared!

Being a Blue Peter girl, the bright colourful pages,

conjured up majestic ideas of things to create,

along with a magical mess to tidy up.

Hours upon hours of crafty fun,

the time flew by,

along with the holiday sun,

and the time spent with my lovely gran.

 Now I am the proud owner of this book,

and the lovely memories of time spent learning with my gran,

are treasured all the more.

My love of craft books is still as strong,

my bookcase groans under the strain.

Still plenty of new skills to be found,

 time to expand knowledge is all the more rare,

where shall I start, I sit and stare.

Inspired by the 1970's The Complete Book of Handicrafts,

I choose an intrepid journey into Patchwork and Quilting,

a new challenge for this year.

So, I look forward to learning this new craft,

I aim to create a beautiful quilt,

to snuggle down on the sofa

with more crafty books to explore.

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Do you remember this book? 

Do you own this book?

Vote for your favourite Craft Book

Drop me a comment or emai,

I will list them for all to explore.

Please list title, author, and ISBN if possible

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UK Handmade Membership

With a view to meeting other designer makers in the UK, I have been searching the web for groups to join and for those of you who haven't come across UK Handemade yet, I have had the pleasure of joining this group of artists, designers and makers today. 

Along with being an online community to promote the talents of UK artists and designers, it also publishes a brilliant online crafts magazine four times a which is worth a view. It can be found at http://www.ukhandmade.co.uk/, just click the link and sit back, with a cuppa, for a good read.

http://www.ukhandmade.co.uk

I hope you will enjoy!

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All over for another year

Where did the Christmas holiday go ......

as its off to work we go,

as today is the start of the working year  for most,

so I hope all goes well today

and the icy roads do not cause too much trouble for all

Happy New Year

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R

 2010

.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and New Year celebrations last night.  Wishing you all a Happy New Year and the start of a new decade.  I can't believe it is 10 years since the Millenium. 

I will be back on Monday 4th January with more meanderings of a crafty nature.

I will be also be having a January sale in my etsy shop too, to make room for new items, so I will keep you posted on that.

I love the vintage image above which I comes from the Graphics Fairy.  Check out the blog for great images you may like to puse.  www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com