The Bachelor's Tea Cosy

My second Piecework article/project is on the newstands!  It's  the "Bachelor's Tea Cosy" and is in the Sept/Oct. 2012 issue.

This lined tea cosy was originally published in “Weldon’s Practical Knitter, Twenty-First Series” (1982), and appears in Piecework’s “Weldon’s Practical Needlework Volume 7”. The publishers state “This is a charming tea cosy for bachelors, and indeed for general use, as it is simply and easily made, and will keep in position when placed upon the tea pot; the handle passes through an opening on one side, and the spout through a corresponding opening on the other side, so there is no occasion to remove the cosy when pouring out tea.”

It's such a thrill to see my work in print, and as always, Joe Coca (who's done Piecework's photography since the first issues) makes my work look beautiful.

The handpainted yarn didn't work well as I suspected :-(  This yarn is NEVER going to find the perfect project!

I found 2 skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in the stash so am using that and it's looking much better.  I couldn't find a single pair of #7 needles (and I'm sure I have at least a half dozen) so am using size 6.
The pattern is a pretty lace, sort of a leaf or "lozenge" design.

Project 21: Knitted Fascinator

Time for another "mystery" project!

The Knitted Fascinator from Weldon's Practical Knitter Thirty-Second Series (1896) and republished in Weldon's Practical Needlework Volume 11.  This is one of those projects with no illustration, and with 181 rows of written instructions for a lace pattern.

"Fascinators have for some time past been popular when made in crochet; our model here is a pretty and new shape, and, moreover, is made entirely in knitting.  Two ounces of Andalusian wool, any preferred colors, will be needed, also a pair of knitting needles No. 7."

What I should end up with is a long head scarf in an open lacy pattern, with tassels on the ends.

I'm going to use a lace weight yarn and US #7 needles.  Maybe I will try my "McClellan Lace" in Skye from Three Irish Girls:

I have a 500 yard skein, which I tried using on a lace shawl with a complicated pattern.  Fail, the color repeats on this yarn are too short to work well with a complex lace design.  I'll try it and see if I like it.  If not, I have some solid color lace  yarn here somewhere...

Pattern for Lady's Mittens in Fancy Wave Stitch available

Mittens are done and the free pdf is available here.

One of my favorite projects!  I think these mitts look as stylish today as they did in 1896.

The "fancy wave stitch" is an easy 2-row pattern, with the 2nd row being purled; I think it would look equally good with all knit stitches.  May have to try that and see how it looks.

Will see if I can get better pictures later today.

Dog Days...

...Of Summer are definitely affecting me.  Not that I haven't been busy; just not keeping up with my Weldon's project in this very hot weather.  Plus having two paying projects I need to finish plus a baby shower gift I need to make by Sunday (and haven't started yet.  Wonder if the new mom would like a pair of "Baby's First Pants" instead!).  But the Fancy Mitts ARE nearly done, all I need is one evening to finish the knitting and write up the pattern.

Be patient, I promise they will be done next week.  And the mitts are darling!

Project 20: Lady's Mitts Fancy Wave Stitch -- One Done

One mitt is finished.  The fingering weight yarn (some sock yarn I dyed a couple of years ago) and size 0 US needles were perfect, the mitt fits "like a glove".    Once again, I'm impressed with the excellent quality of the Weldon's instructions as well as the timelessness of many of their designs.  I think anyone would like to wear these, they don't look old/fusty at all.

The "fancy wave stitch" is a very easy pattern, 1st round pattern panel is k2tog, k5, yo/k1/yo, k5, ssk, and the 2nd round is purl the sts.  Very simple, yet quite nice looking and I like the little "point" at the top.

Will be working on mitt #2 and writing up the pattern this week.

Project 20: Lady's Mittens Fancy Wave Stitch

Size 1 needles and the Jamieson's Jumper weight yarn didn't work.  I've switched to size 0 needles and some purple sock yarn from the stash, much better.

Ribbing on these mitts is k4, p2.  They are knit in the round, which is nice!  The first pair of mitts I knit were worked flat and seamed.  Who likes sewing?  Not me.