I Love Teapots and Tea Cosies

Rather than get out my old tea cosies (most of them are stored in a box in the cupboard), I decided to knit a new one.

Some nubbly yarn scraps and some fluffy yarn left overs.

I used a cosy as a guide as well as a tea pot. There is always a bit of trial and error getting the fit right. I undid the first attempt after about 4 rows because it was obviously too big.

I combined the fluffy and nubbly yarn every 4th row. I ran out of nubbly yarn at the top so I had to make the top part all fluffy. I made holes around the top for the ribbon but the fluffiness made it impossible to see where they were so the ribbon just got threaded through best as possible using a big needle.

It is stocking stitch for the first 6 rows with smaller needles then the rest is stocking stitch with needles 1 whole size larger. I used 7mm and 8mm needles. The top is shaped by knitting 2 tog all the way across. After knitting 2 sides I put them on one 7mm needle.

I did knit 2 purl 2 ribbing across both sides so the top is done in one piece. I did about 8 rows with the holes around the 4th row.

I added some beads.

I love the way the bottom curls up a bit.

This one fits 3 or 4 of my medium tea pots.

Happy Crafting and Quilting,

Val

Day 6 and a Tea Cosy

The day got away from yesterday so he are the 6 blocks done.

I spent most of today finishing off my tea cosy. Here are a couple of quick iPad photos. I had fun doing the teacup and teapot quilting pattern. I had only just found it on Pinterest this morning.

It keeps the tea lovely and hot :)

Happy Quilting,

Val

 

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My Japanese Teapot

Spending way to much time as usual surfing the web I rediscovered a list of BoMs at that lead me to two wonderful teapot BoMs.
The Tea Time BoM is on now up to block 4 of 12 and it seems they will be available all the time. The blocks are in the right side bar.

The Asian Teapots at Angie's Bits and Pieces are lovely but most are now available by subscription only. I will be using them for inspiration for some personal projects.

I have been taking pictures of my classical teapots for a while now and drawing silouettes and applique elements but seeing the Asian ones made me get out my little Japanese pot with the birdie on top. I use it a lot because it has a strainer bowl inside but I like to keep it in the cabinet so it will be safe. It was a gift from DD1 after one of her trips to Japan a while ago.

I put together an applique design using fabrics from my stash. I would love to buy some fabrics just for making teapot blocks. Maybe next year. I like the finished product but already I can see where I will make a few little changes to the shape. I quite like the bit of wonkiness at the base of the cup but I think the base of the teapot has to taper in a bit towards the bottom. It looks a bit like a saucepan now.

This 12 inch block will be number two in my collection of blocks with my favourite things as themes. Things like cats, chickens, owls, teapots and anything else that takes my fancy. Since this one is a valspierssews original I am happy to share it. I haven't made the changes but I am sure you can fix it if you want to. I have made up a PDF with photo, layout and reversed elements.

I am linking up with

Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts

Link a finish Friday at Richard and Tanya Quilts

Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story

My Visit to Morpeth

I had a lovely time in Morpeth on Tuesday. Mum and I caught the 6am flight to Newcastle. It only took a bit over an hour. We picked up the hire car and drove the 40 mins to Morpeth where we looked around a bit then had a hearty breakfast at Crisadas Riverview Cafe.

The Hunter River, Morpeth , NSW

The main street - Swan St, Morpeth, NSW

By the time we had finished it was nearly 10 so we headed up to the Morpeth Gallery to see the teapots and find my tea cosy entry. I didn't win but my owl looked very respectable next to all the other entries. The winner of the birds section had a nest with chicks in it on top. I will have to work on increasing the cuteness factor for next year :)

A few of the tea pots

That's my owl in the bottom left corner :)

We had a leisurely lunch then back to the airport for the 4:30 flight home. A wonderful DH picked us up and we could relax on the way home. The weather was a bit cloudy in the morning fining up to quite sunny in the afternoon. DH said it had been rainy and windy at home.

I chose a handsome chicken tea pot to buy and mum very kindly bought it for me.

Happy Days
Val,

Tickled Pink Tuesday and Tuesday Treasures Double Up

I have two little tea pots that I use nearly everyday. They hold two small cups or a large mug and both have removable strainers that make them easy to use. Since they are both made in Japan I have included a couple of other Japanese treasures. The little cat really tickles me.

My daughter visited Japan last year and brought me back some sencha green tea a cute little cup and some utensils. The tea tastes a bit like grass but does improve the longer it steeps. You really only want a small cup of it.

I love the little whisk but I don't have any powdered tea to whisk with it yet. I am not in any great hurry to get some because I have heard it doesn't taste very nice.

This lovely set was also a present from the same daughter. Christmas present 2008. I only use the little cups if I am having the grassy green tea.

I couldn't resist the little cat on this pot and mug. I was in Bowral on a sewing guild tour and we had to walk past the tea shop to get to the fabric shop.  Needless to say I spent my day's budget on the tea set and could only afford a few balls of alpaca wool that day. I used the wool to make the brown scarf I posted about one day. The mug is a perfect size for coffee and is delightful to drink from.

Head on over to Melody's House on the Side of the Hill to link up to other treasure posts.
Allie-oops and Polka Dots and Rick Rack will have what is Tickling them when the calender rolls over to Tuesday in their neck of the woods.

Happy Quilting,
Val

Tickled Pink Tuesday and Tuesday Treasures Double Up

Happy Tuesday to everyone.

I am tickled pink to share some of my oldest teapot treasures today. It is a good idea for me to write about my tea treasures because I have completely forgotten when and where I bought these beauties. I know that it was early on in my marriage so that makes them over 30 years old and they have survived several major moves as well.

I know why I bought the cute cat one - I like cats. This was the first tea pot I ever bought. I think I may have decided to collect novelty pots and I know I was definitely egged on by my husband to buy the cow and the alligator purse. I can remember now that I nearly bought a pineapple pot from the Big Pineapple but it was too expensive and I bought a cup and saucer instead. I have no idea where that is now. It was pretty ugly anyway :)
My favourite is the cat pot. It is made of nice china and feels nice to handle. It only has copyright FF on the bottom ...

I have just looked up FF and have found out that I have a vintage 1980's Fitz and Floyd tea pot. Cool!

The cow just has made in China but the alligator has copyright Vandor. I looked that up and realize I am the owner of a Vandor Classic Collectable. It is made of pottery and feels a bit chalky and light. Unfortunately it chips easily and has a couple of small chips in it. I can't find any pictures of it online so maybe it is a really valuable one :)

I have had a lot of fun examining my old tea pots.  Don't forget to visit  Tuesday Treasures with Melody today and Tickled Pink with Allie and Cheryl on my tomorrow for their today :)
Happy Quilting,
Val