it’s nearly bonfire again..remember, remember the 5th of November

Simple-to-make Tea-Cosy Project for those chilly autumn evenings…              by Vintage Revisited (Maria Dean Designs)

Here in Lewes, November 5th has a very special signifcance which manifests itself in ways very hard to describe if you’ve never heard of it before…someone once described it as hallowe’en meets Mardi Gras!

Back in the mists of time (1550′s), seventeen Protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake for their faith during the Marian Persecutions.  As well as commemorating the Gunpowder plot, the memory of the Lewes 17 is still celebrated with several annual torchlight processions through the town centre’s streets and huge fireworks celebrations

Local bonfire societies carry barrels of burning tar and flaming crosses as they process; society members wear different themes of costume and are traditionally defined by their smugglers’ colours. 

The smugglers’ uniforms consist of a striped knitted jumper, white trousers, black boots and optional red hat and red neckerchief…. hence this smuggler’s tea-cosy design

The colours we’ve chosen for our cosy are the Cliffe Bonfire Society  Black and White-we’ve even found the perfect button depicting a skull and cross bones which is symbolic for that particular society

to fit an average 4 cup Tea Pot (we bought ours from Potts on Cliffe High Street for £4.99) you will need-

 2 x 50g Rowan All Season Cotton ( 60% cotton, 40% Acrylic)

1 x Black  (shade 233) 

1 x White (Rowan call this shade Bleached 182)

small ‘scraps’ of red yarn (we used Rowan Pure Wool DK Shade 036 Kiss)

1 pair of 4.5mm needles

1 button 

To knit tea cosy, make 2 pieces the same:

Using 4.5mm needles and BLACK yarn

Cast on 43 sts

Row 1: P1 K1 to end

Row 2: K1 P1 to end

Repeat 1×1 rib till approx 7cm are reached from the beginning of work.

Change to WHITE yarn

Continue with 1×1 rib for another 7 cm

Change to BLACK yarn and continue in this black and white pattern until work measures 15 cm or desired height of cosy.

to shape top of cosy

Row 1: P1 (skpo p2tog) to last 2 sts

Row 2: P1 K1 to end

Change colour to WHITE

Row 3: P1 (skpo p2tog) to last 2 sts.

Row 4: P1 K1 to end

Row 5: (k2tog) to end 6 sts remaining

Row 6-13 K1 P1 to end

Cast off in rib.

finishing off

Stitch  sides together leaving opening for handle and spout

Sew button in place

Make a button hole loop

to knit neckerchief

Using Rowan  Pure Wool DK in RED

Cast on 2sts and continue in garter stitch

Increase by 1 stitch at beginning of each row until 16sts are on needle.

Continue straight until work measures 25 cm from cast on

Decrease at beginning of each row until 1 stitch remains

Cast off

Sew together

Tie around top of cosy and stitch neatly into place

Dress tea pot and put on the kettle!

 

Garter Stitch= Knit every row

Skpo = Slip 1 stitch knit the next then pass the slipped stitch over the knitted one