We now interrupt our regularly-scheduled broadcast...

for crochet!

I've wanted a teapot cozy for quite awhile, and last night I decided it was past time to make one. I wanted one fast, since I've been making more tea at home lately (current fave - Rooibus Cocomint), which meant crocheting it. And I can only reach my tetsubin pots which get really hot on the outside. Since DH has been drinking a bit of it too, I've been using my larger (~ 3+ cup) pot.


I couldn't find my skein of Lion Brand's Fisherman wool anywhere (sigh!) but I did run across leftovers of a bulky wool yarn that I had made mittens from quite awhile ago (the label is lost, so I have no idea what it is at this point). I found a crochet hook and got to work, basically using the pot as my pattern and checking the fit as I worked, since I couldn't find a pattern online that worked with the type of pot I have and crochet and bulky yarn. This is what I ended up with using single crochet stitches, and I slipped-stitch around the edge of the lid:


My cozy covers the bottom of the pot, and the lid cozy is separate from the rest of the cozy so I can open the pot without removing the cozy entirely.



I made a flap to cover the area between the spout and the lid, instead of a slit, and added a button to hold it closed. It fits really really tightly, so I have to remember to put it on first since I won't be able to get it on otherwise. Now I need to test it to see if it keeps the water hotter longer.

I thought I might have enough yarn left over to make another one for my very first teapot, another (smaller) tetsubin:


but after seeing how much yarn just the lid cozy took, there was no way. I might use another cozy pattern for that one (wasn't there a new tea cozy pattern book published relatively recently?). Or take a snip of the yarn to the LYS and see if she still stocks it.

The inspiration for my cozy was Lollipop Knits' Tea Cosy pattern - CUTE! I do intend to make one from her pattern for my Brown Betty-type pots when I pick up more wool yarn (or get some handspun plyed large enough for chunky).

My small teapot collection (sorry for the dust - the duster can't reach them either!)

I also hope to make a Rosy Cosy one of these days - also incredibly cute! If my rose- and tea-loving mother used the teapot I left at their house I'd get right on it, but I seem to be the only one that uses it (and I need to measure it - I don't remember the size though it's another Brown Betty-type).


Weaving:
I've done more weaving on the mp3 player bag as well, but it looks the same so no pictures. I did a little spinning during the presidential debate Wednesday - I'm not sure if it was the spinning or the yoga I did earlier (or the debate!) but something not good for my sore hand/wrist - OUCH. :-( Since Spin Club is this week, I'll be bringing my Bonhop project too, just in case it was the spinning and not the yoga. :-/

I'm beginning the project-planning for the RHs - I need to make a list of yarns I need, check the stash, and then hopefully order what I need in one fell swoop. Though I haven't decided on smaller two looms' projects yet - maybe I'll decide on them today. :-D

It's Picture Saturday!

Another dreary day here - we're supposed to get another winter storm today/tonight, so it sounds like a good day to sit by the fire and weave/spin/knit. Unfortunately for me, I don't have a fireplace. So I'll just turn the heater up and brew up some tasty tea (I think I'll try the Adagio Rooibos Vanilla today).


I do have some weaving content for you. Though I haven't worked on this for the past couple of weeks, I don't think I've loaded a picture for awhile. Here I'm on the second dishcloth on the Flip:


And here is the woven bag I mentioned last time:

Without a heddle it's a pain to weave, and as you can tell by the small amount done, I'm not enjoying this project. I tried making a heddle out of my popsicle sticks last weekend, but they kept breaking. I did come up with something, but it's probably not going to speed up the process any. This is definitely not a 'fun' loom.


What I really should be working on:

The Brown Sheep blend on the Pedal Pusher. At this rate I'll have it spun up by summer, so my first sweater won't be knitted until 2010. Sigh.


What I want to be working on:


The merino/tencel blend on the Polonaise - it's beautiful roving and spins easily.


What I also should be working on:


The herringbone scarf. I am making progress though! And the coat I bought this week will actually match this, so perhaps I'll be more motivated to knit more (I'm still more in a spinning mood). I ran across a hat pattern that I really want to knit, and I also have a hankering to knit socks - which I haven't done before - but I will not allow myself to start a new knitting project until I finish this scarf.


How about a puppy pic?


Or an indoor nature pic? :-)


I love my Christmas cacti - I wish they bloomed year-round!

I think today I'm going to do a Rotating-Craft-Saturday. I need to work on the scarf and the Brown Sheep, and I'll throw in the merino as a reward. :-)

But first I'm going to start with brewing some hot tea!