Thanksgiving is still weeks away, but the cold, rain and, snow (seriously?!) have already arrived to freeze my toes and cause me to give serious consideration to the ritual of the steamy afternoon tea party — clotted cream, scones, tea cosy and all.
While tea cosies may have once been rocked only by my knitting grandmother, there are some sweet contemporary options out there that are more than worth a second glance.
SHOWN ABOVE:
1. A chunky knitted cosy (with pompoms!) from Toast
2. A play on the traditional English cottage cosy by contemporary British knitter Donna Wilson
3. A ridiculously adorable Chocolate Cake Cosy, also by Donna Wilson
4. Les Oeufs tea cosy made from vintage French linens by Gloaming Designs
5. Felted reclaimed wool tea cosy by Elizabeth Cook Design
Images: As linked above
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no
I own three! Rarely use them, or my adorable colored tea pots, but when I do, it's heaven.
2nd no... let's not revisit crocheted covers for that extra roll of toilet paper, either.
I love tea cozies. I use them. I have very nice tea pots, but only the cast iron japanese ones hold heat the way I wish they would. Of course, all mine have been made by friends. They are lined with polar fleece, and have silk brocade exteriors so they don't look like grandma's version.
Yes! Unlike the toilet paper covers, these have a useful purpose, and I think they're a great opportunity for a little bit of fun kitsch. But yeah, a little goes a long way.
3rd no. My British, tea-crazy grandmother used to just fold a dish towel in half and throw it over the pot, making sure to cover the spout (so heat didn't escape).
I have one because I thought it would be a fun thing to knit. You have to admit there's something charming about them, even if they're not your personal style.
None of these look that contemporary to me... I have one of these, though (and the bodum assam teapress to go with it—well, I had the press first); it looks pretty slick but the part below where it velcros around the handle is not exactly flush with the side of the press. :( And I actually don't find myself using it that much, since I can finish off 4 cups of tea pretty quickly and don't always want it steaming hot anyway (especially in summer). It is neoprene, so it should insulate fairly well! And I very much like this press, if anyone's in the market for one.
(My other teapot's a tetsubin as well, so I don't I'll need a cozy for it, not to mention it's much smaller than the bodum....)
We asked my mother-in- law to send us the ugliest tea cozy in Scotland. We got an it turned out to be the best granny knitted cozy ever. It keeps tea hot for hours and hours. Love it!
Tea cosies are fab - of course they're kitsch, but that can be fun. There are whole books full of mad tea cosies out there for crafters. It does, of course, depend on the tea & the occasion, but they keep it a lot warmer a lot longer. Of course, also, the teapot be-cosied is important, some (especially Japanese ones) just dont work, but a fabulous Brown Betty must have a cosy...
Yes. They remind me of my childhood when I'd visit my Nana & great-aunt and have tea with the ladies in my family.
Yes, Yes, YES!
This one:
http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/product/Liberty/Kitchen-&-Dining/Liberty-Building-Print-Tea-Cosy,-Liberty/34057
Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on. ~Billy Connolly
Tea cozies can be quite useful in colder weather!
For those in Sydney, Australia, or going to Sydney, if you ever make it out to Bundeena there is a cafe along the main street that serves their tea in pots with tea cozies on the colder (for Sydney) days. It's oddly comforting, and your tea stays hot.
Tea cozies actually do help keep the pot warm. I have a cozy for my my French press. Cozies that don't do anything are a problem though.
I'm all about anything that will keep my tea warm as long as possible. Plus, I'm amused by the thought of a teapot in a sweater. It makes me a little happy.
There are anti-tea pot cozy people in the world?! But they are so cute, kitchsy and yes, practical! But then again, this is coming from a gal who crocheted up a huge 70s-esque afghan in pea green, burnt orange, mustard and blue yarn... So maybe I'm not the best judge of contemporary style :)
hmmm... not my cup of tee!
Gorgeous! Did you see these? Very contemporary and modern tea cosy.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArgyleSt