Spring

Happy Spring

Here's to brighter days,
fresh flowers
and tea in the garden.
  

By the way, I knit this cute little tea cosy.  

I use it on a tea pot that I turned into a vase for fresh flowers.  

The pattern is the Rosie Posy Tea Cosy
by Loani Prior.  

I'm Knitting a Mini Jubilee Bunting!

Tea & Jubilee 

The May issues of the British knitting magazines

 have finally landed in the States.

I've been watching for them since I knew they would be filled with Jubilee goodies

and sure enough they are!

Mini Jubilee Bunting

I was so inspired by the magazines 

that I'm now (last minute) knitting a mini-bunting 

to adorn my Diamond Jubilee tea party table. 

I hated to miss out on all the Jubilee knitting 

so this little project is one I can tackle 

as my hand and fingers continue to heal.

I'm knitting my bunting with a Jubilee Celebration Yarn kit

that came as a "free gift" with the  Let's Knit magazine, issue 54.

There are patriotic projects for the yarn in the magazine but after seeing the adorable 

 mini-buntings by Nicole at Nicole and the bee, 

I opted to use my yarn kit for a mini-bunting like hers. 

You can find the pattern on Ravelry called Knitted Bunting

and modify it to a mini size, like Nicole did.

I also love Jane Brocket's knit Bunting 

and borrowed her style idea

 by putting my knit bunts on red rick-rack 

for a vintage1950's look.  

Quite fitting I think, since after all, 

Queen Elizabeth was crowned Queen in 1952 

and had her Coronation in 1953. 

 Jubilee Knits

All three British magazines are filled with brilliant

Jubilee projects including:

 Union Jack flag and cushion, several crown hats, corgi hat, a crochet picnic throw, several buntings, pom pom tea cosy, Jubilee coin purse, egg cosy and a placemat just to name a few.

 And all the magazines came with free gifts.

I love that about British magazines! 

Cool Knitannia

The Simply Knitting magazine came with a free pattern book called

"Cool Knitannia".

I can't wait to knit that adorable tea cosy on its cover 

with crowns and hearts 

to use with my Emma Bridgewater pottery.

Gotta run for now though...

I'm off to knit more bunts. 

(In the photos:  Emma Bridgewater Pottery and Betty and Barclay Union Jack Bunting.)

Hail Britannia!

 Hail Britannia!

You don't have to be a Brit

to be excited about the 

Queen's Diamond Jubilee!  

I'm quite excited and plan on celebrating

 with tea parties and luncheons

all Jubilee Weekend long!

I had planned on knitting Debbie Bliss' Union Jack flag

and her retro Tea Cozy  for my Jubilee tea parties.  

Unfortunately due to my ganglion cysts and hand surgery, my knitting projects of the last six months have been put on hold. 

In the meantime, 

since I'm not knitting much,

I have enjoyed seeing the Diamond Jubilee 

patterns that have debuted in the past few months.  

I thought I would share a few of my favorites. 

Here they are:

 Diamond Stole

I adore lace 

and love Susan Crawford's Diamond Stole. 

It's one of 14 designs in Susan's Coronation Knits 

collection featuring designs inspired from 

Queen Elizabeth's 1950's Coronation era.

Jubilee Bunting

No Jubilee celebration is complete unless you have bunting!

I love this Jubilee Bunting pattern

 by Gemma Atkinson 

for Rowan.
And, it's a free pattern!

Jubilee Placemat

Naturally, the British knitting magazines have special 

Jubilee projects in them. 

I love this Jubilee Placemat 

from the UK's The Knitter, Issue 45.  

I love the placemat's photo styling, too.  

I would love to sit down at that table for an English breakfast!

Knittania!

And, in case you're wondering about my adorable 

"Knittania" Union Jack tea mug...

my Ravely pen pal Jo sent it to me 

all the way from England

 to "cheer me up" after hand surgery.  

If you love knitting and Britain like me,

you can find the Knitannia tea mugs by Mason Cash

 at Lakeland. 

Hail Britannia!

(Photo Credits:  Diamond Stole/Susan Crawford, Jubilee Bunting/Rowan 

and Jubilee Placemat, The Knitter.)

(In the photos:  Brick Stitch Tea Cozy hand-knit by me and Union Jack bunting by Betty and Barclay. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter 

Happy Spring

Happy Everything!

 Tea cosies are not just for keeping teapots warm!

I love my Rosey Posy tea cosy on a teapot used as a vase.

You can find the tea cosy pattern here by 

the Queen of tea cosies,
Australian Designer,
Loani Prior.

Royal-Tea Cosy

Royal Garden Party Tea Cosy

I'm ready for a Royal Wedding Tea Party...

How about you?

Every proper tea table should have a hand-knit cosy to keep the tea pot warm.  In planning a Royal Wedding Tea, I fell in love with Debie Birkin's Royal Garden Party Tea Cosy. 

I just adore this tea cosy pattern.  I think it's perfect for a Royal Wedding Tea Party, Tea With the Queen or even an Alice in Wonderland themed Tea Party. 

Debbie's a brilliant British designer.  I love all her adorable tea cosy patterns available at Debi Birkin Designs.  I also love her photo styling.  

Her Royal Garden Party Tea Cosy photo looks like it could be out of Country Living, one of my favorite British magazines.  I can tell, she is a fan of Cath Kidston ,too.  I couldn't help but notice the Cath Kidston English Rose Tablecloth she used in styling her photograph.  Love her styling!

A BIG thank you to Debi Birkin for permission to use her photograph.

And, if you're in need for a tea menu for a
Royal Wedding Tea Party,

check out my menu ideas on my other blog

 Tete-a-Tete.

The Knitter Magazine Issue 5

The Knitter Issue 5

I was out shopping the other day and picked up The Knitter, Issue 5. I am sure you know, it is my favorite British knitting magazine.

So far, I have been lucky and have been able to purchase every issue of The Knitter. Each issue seems to fly off the magazine shelves pretty fast here in the US.

Here is a sneak peak of some of my favorite patterns from Issue 5:

Tuileries Breakfast Set

I love the vintage inspired Tulleries Breakfast set by Melanie Bond. It is knit in Patons Eco Cotton. The yarn is a brand new organic yarn and comes in 13 pastel shades.

The pretty pastel tea cosy and it's name Tuileries makes me think of Paris, the Tuileries Gardens and the pastel colored candy boxes at Laduree!

The tea cosy also just happens to remind me a "ruffly" French petticoat! I will have to knit this tea cosy for my "Marie Antoinette-French theme" tea parties! Will you be coming?

Moonstone

The Moonstone cardigan is designed by Jean Moss. It is knit in Manos del Uruguary Silk Blend. It features the classic "old Shale Stitch", which is a traditional lace stitch pattern that I enjoy knitting.

Lace Cushion

The pretty lace cushion is designed by Erika Knight. Ericka recommends a cashmere-cotton blend yarn for her pretty lace cushion. The magazine gives several yarn options to knit this up. I think I may want to knit this cushion up someday!

Sugared Almonds Cardigan

This pretty pastel creation is designed by Amanda Crawford. The lace cardigan is knit in Araucania Ruca Mutly which is yarn made from sugar cane fiber. (Now that is interesting.) The yarn is spun and hand dyed by a group of artisans in Santiago, Chile.

Are you tempted to knit any of these patterns?

I would love to hear if you love this magazine as much as I do?

Rosie Posy Tea Cosy

Rosie Posy Tea Cosy

I finished my Rosie Posy Tea Cosy...well sort of!

This morning I did the finish work sewing on the base of the cosy. The base knit is doubled so I had to sew the two layers together at it's side openings.

I couldn't wait to take some photos to post my progress on Ravelry. I decided to get some fresh flowers from my yard and put them on the lid for the photographs. I had to substitute geraniums for roses since my roses had already been cut.

Turns out, I love my tea cosy with fresh flowers! I am thinking of modifying the top now with floral-foam and using my cosy with fresh flowers at my tea parties! What do you think?

For the record...I will try to knit up some roses one of these days. For now I am off to knit on so many other knitting projects I already have in progress.

That is why I call myself...The Flitter Knitter!

Rosie Posey Tea Party

Rosie Posey Tea Cosy Shop Sample

The Rosie Posey Tea Cosy class at Knitique last Saturday was so much fun! The best part was the Rosie Posey Tea Party!

Danielle brought in her vintage Royal Winton chintz and Wedgwood china. She supplied all the accoutrement's and her daughter was our tea hostess. Fellow knitter Cora made luscious lemon cakes and I brought cucumber mint sandwiches.

The tea and conversation flowed all day. We enjoyed Cora's Passion Fruit tea and my Dammann Freres, 4 Fruits Rouges Tea from France.

Rosie Posey Tea Cosy

As usual Danielle (Knitique owner/instructor) made the tea cosy pattern easier.

The green ribbed cosy is doubled so it has a liner. It takes a while to knit. I have that part almost done and then I will be ready to knit the roses.

The Rosey Posie is a really fun and easy pattern. If you enjoy tea time..I highly recommend this pattern!

Rosie Posey Tea Party!

No tea party is complete without classic cucumber sandwiches! My garden is abundant with fresh mint so I brought cucumber mint sandwiches to the tea party. I have had several requests for my recipe so here it is:

Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches

1/4 C. butter (softened)

1/4 C. cream cheese (softened)

1/2 C. loosely packed fresh mint leaves. Then cleaned/dried/and finely chopped

1 cucumber (seedless/English style) cut into thin slices

12 slices dense white bread

To prepare:

Make the mint butter. Combine the softened butter, cream cheese and chopped mint.

Trim the crusts off the bread slices with a serrated knife. Spread the mint butter on each bread slice. Top 6 of the bread slices with the sliced cucumber, season with salt and top with other 6 bread slices to make a sandwich. Cut with a serrated knife into triangle or rectangular shapes.

Cover with a damp tea towel and refrigerate until ready to serve.
 Enjoy!

I can't wait to use my Rosie Posey at a garden tea party!

Rosie Posy Tea Cosy

Rosie Posy Tea Cosy

When I saw the Rosie Posy Tea Cosy in The Knitter magazine, Issue Two...I couldn't wait to make it!

Rosie Posy is the clever creation of Australian designer Loani Prior. Loani loves tea cosies! She is the author of Wild Tea Cosies which features 24 tea cosy patterns, including the Rosie Posy. If you are a member on Ravelry ...the pattern is free!

Vintage Knit Tea Cosy Booklet

Tea cosies have been around a long time. If you're not sure exactly what a tea cosy is, think of it as a little knit sweater for the teapot to keep the pot insulated and the tea warm.

Tea cosies have flourished both in Britain and America since the late 1800's. They were quite popular in the 1940's and 50's judging by all the vintage knitting patterns from that era.

Tea Cosies are back in style thanks to the resurgence and popularity of tea and knitting. Many vintage tea cosy patterns have even been restyled for today's more "stylish" knitter.

Berocco Comfort DK Yarns

I love tea, knitting and roses so the Rosie Posy Tea Cosy is just my cup of tea!

Tomorrow I am taking the Rosie Posy Tea Cosy class at Knitique . The owner Danielle is teaching the class and having a tea party,too! The best part is, Danielle always makes understanding the pattern so much easier!

My tea cosy will be knit in Berocco Comfort DK yarns in colors to match my Royal Winton Chintz tea ware. I will post photos of my Rosie Posy as soon as it is finished!

I am off to enjoy a cup of tea...more later!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

You...can make a difference!

Just say "no" to cardboard cuffs for your hot tea or coffee cup! Switch over to an "eco-friendly" knitted cuff and you'll never go back to cardboard again!

Last week I took a fun "Coffee Cuff" class at Knitique. The pattern is called Coffee Cuff Six Ways on Ravelry by Nicole Mattson. My cuff is knit in JoJoland Rhythm, a worsted wool yarn, in color M61. It was knit on #8 DPN's.

I think a knit cuff makes a great present. My cuff is for my sister along with a Starbucks gift card. I decided to test her cuff out yesterday on my own Venti Latte. It passed the test with flying colors. All the Starbucks employees were raving about it and I was amazed at how it kept my coffee hot much longer. It is a great insulator!

Make the Eco-Friendly choice!

So drink your tea or coffee in style now with an eco-friendly hand-knit cuff. Wouldn't it be great to knit these up in pretty colors to match your wardrobe! Think of all the possibilities! Best of all, what a great way to use up leftover yarn, too..saving it from the landfill!

Kudos to Starbucks for caring about our planet, too. You can read more about what Starbucks commitment to the environment at Starbucks, Shared Planet.

The Knitter Issue Two

The Knitter Issue Two

I've always loved British magazines. My favorites are the UK's Country Living, BBC's Homes and Antiques, The English Home, Red and Good Food. I can now add another great British magazine to my list, The Knitter.

The Knitter magazine is my new favorite knitting magazine. Issue Two has just hit the US newstands. I picked mine up today and love all the spring knitting inspiration!

Here is a sneak peak of my favorite patterns in this issue:

Meg Lace Dress by Louisa Harding

I love this lacey little number by my favorite designer Louisa Harding! The pattern is from her Summer Classics book and is knit in her Mariposa yarn.

Rosie Posy Tea Cozy

I think tea and knitting make a perfect pair so I can't wait to knit this gorgeous Rosie Posy Tea Cozy by Loani Prior. It is knit in DK yarn and designed to fit a round 6 cup tea pot. Hmmm...I'm sure I have a teapot in my collection that will work!

Chic Spring Beret

I have a thing for berets...so I love this Chic Spring Beret by Jane Crowfoot. It is knit in four colors of Paton's Smoothie DK. It says it is a great introduction to fair isle in the round since it has only three stitches between every color change. This knitter is ready to give fair isle a try!
Issue Two is filled with so many other great projects and designers including the cover cardigan by Jean Moss.
I would love to hear what your favorite pattterns are from Issue Two of The Knitter!