Knitted fluffy pink pig tea cosy

Well, I am slowly making my way down the list of tea cosies I'd like to get made! Here's the latest addition to the Fluffy Duck family, a cute pink pig. The main body of the tea cosy is knitted using my usual basic pattern. To this I have added an oversized snout, large floppy ears and a curly tail. These have been crocheted. The snout is lightly stuffed with polyester stuffing to created a 3D effect. The googly eyes add another fun dimension. I've used a soft fluffy yarn that naturally shades from pale pink through to dark pink. It really is very soft to the touch!
Pink pig, together with other cute animal tea cosies is available in my Etsy shop now.

 

Red tea cosy with pearlised beads

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121907058/wool-red-tea-cosy-with-cream-beads

I've spent the past few months sorting out all my yarn and trying to get to grips with what I have. It's always tempting to buy more yarn, but my current yarn moutain is getting insurmountable!!

Anyway, here's a new tea cosy made with a lovely warm, soft cuddly yarn (wool / acrylic mix) in a delicious berry shade. I've experimented with the pattern quite a bit to try and get 'the ribs' to line up at the top - all very easy until I got to the decreasing part!



https://www.etsy.com/listing/121907058/wool-red-tea-cosy-with-cream-beads

The beads add a 'touch of glamour' - I crocheted these into the first row (after foundation) and then added some at the top too.

Check out my Etsy shop for this and more tea cosies.

Knitted bee / beehive tea cosy

Well, my blog has been a bit neglected of late (a major understatement!). Although there haven't been many posts on here, I have been busy adding stock regularly to my Etsy shop.  I've been re-making old favourites like the sheep tea cosy, frog tea cosy and owl tea cosy but also been experimenting with blankets too!

Bee tea cosy

I've been adding to my yarn stash too and recently bought some mohair/wool/acrylic mix yarn by Stylecraft. It's a self patterning yarn which I plan to make blankets from. The yarn is lovely and warm and soft - I can't wait to use it!
Anyway, here is a picture of the bee tea cosy I've recently added to my shop. It's a fun cosy made using 2 strands of double knitting yarn - perfect for keeping your tea hot for longer! The bees are made from a lovely bright gold yarn striped with black - they really stand out on the brown beehive!

I'll be updating my blog more regularly going forward - please visit my Etsy shop to see all items I've currently got in stock. However, don't forget I welcome custom orders so if you see something you'd like me to make, please contact me!

White fluffy crochet Westie Dog tea cosy

This little fella is an order for a lovely lady in America. She contacted me after finding a Westie dog tea cosy that I had made last year (which was another custom order surprisingly!). Anyway, after supplying me with the measurements of her teapot, I used a single strand of fluffy white yarn to make the body of the tea cosy. It is worked in a simple double crochet stitch, along the length of the cosy. It may be a simple stitch but the wool makes things a lot more complicated! Instead of working the head 'in the round', I crocheted it in rows from top to bottom, working the ears in too and saving on sewing up! As this was a custom order I suggested that I could add a felt name tag to the pooch to make it an even more special present. I embroidered 'Mac' onto a felt oval shape using a running stitch and then attached the back using a blanket stitch. Overall, I am very pleased with the result! If you would like me to make a cosy like this for you, please contact me - turnaround time at the moment is about one week. Click here for my Etsy shop.

Crochet Christmas Tree tea cosy

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I often have a number of projects 'almost finished' but awaiting sewing up. I don't have that many at present, but am determined to get everything sewn up that is knitted / crocheted before embarking on a new project (famous last words!).
I recently came across a pretty cushion cover in a ripple stitch design and wanted to give it a go. After a bit of trial and error with the stitches, this is the end result! By working into the back stitches only, I created a ridge effect. Once sewn up, I crocheted along random ridges with a fluffy white yarn to give the effect of snow. The large star on the top is a bit of fun, but all in all I am very pleased with my latest tea cosy. Available in my Etsy shop. 

Handknitted Bee tea cosy

Here is my latest new tea cosy... in the shape of a bee hive covered in bees!

This one has really tested my patience. As always, I knitted the body in double thickness DK yarn to ensure warmth - I worked in a pattern of 4 rows stocking stitch and then 4 rows garter stitch to create the effect of a beehive. 

The bees are worked into the body of the tea cosy in the same way that you make a bobble. I then added gold wings using a daisy chain embroidery stitch. 

In retrospect, I have probably added too many bees - if I make it again I will do a few less and cluster them around a flower. Nonetheless I am very pleased with how it has turned out. It would make a perfect present for someone who loves bees! I have added a crochet hanging loop so it can be hung up if need be.

As with all my tea cosies, it is now available in my Etsy shop. 

Knitted sheep tea cosy

A re-make of an old favourite! It's been a while, but I have finally got round to making another sheep tea cosy.
With trying out 'new' projects, I let the sheep tea cosy fall into the background `- but not any more! The loop stitch takes a bit of mastering (it is a real fiddle until you get the hang of it) but it creates a lovely 'woolly' effect and thick tea cosy.
The face is made in plain stocking stitch and sewn firmly to the body of the tea cosy.
The gaps at the side of the tea cosy allow plenty of room for the handle and spout, making it ideal for any medium to large teapot.
Available in my Etsy shop now!

Handmade black and white fluffy owl

Another owl tea cosy! This one is made with a hairy / fluffy black and white mix yarn. The long 'hairs' make the owl lovely and soft to the touch. I'm making one more owl (a brown feathery one) before I switch to something new... Once I'm in the swing with one pattern, I find it easier to make a couple - one after the other. It doesn't get boring because the different yarns make each owl different. All tea cosies are available in my Etsy shop!

Handmade feathery owl tea cosy

Another new owl tea cosy! I made this one using a feathery yarn in a mix of green / brown and gold - it looks very much like feathers and is beautifully soft to the touch. The pattern is the same as the brown fluffy owl. Available in my Etsy shop now!

Handmade fluffy brown owl tea cosy

A new owl tea cosy! I came across a lovely new fluffy yarn in various shades of brown and thought it would be perfect for an owl... Like the other owl tea cosies I have made, I used a strand of DK yarn together with a strand of fluffy to ensure that the tea cosy is nice and thick. Using a bobble stitch adds texture to the body of the cosy. Available in my Etsy shop now! 

Handmade Fluffy Chicken tea cosy

With Spring well and truly here, I thought it time to start on some new tea cosies inspired by the new season on Spring. First up, to coincide with Easter is a Fluffy Chicken tea cosy. Crocheted using thick fluffy yarn, this tea cosy is lovely and soft - a real 'hug' for your teapot!
This tea cosy slips over your teapot, encasing the handle and spout - thus ensuring maximum heat retention.

The fluffy yarn really adds texture and interest to the tea cosy - although it wasn't the easiest to crochet! The stitches were difficult to see due to the fluffy texture of the yarn, but it was well worth the effort.
Available in my Etsy shop now!

Handmade brown fluffy owl tea cosy

After selling all my owl tea cosies in the run up to Christmas, I thought it was time to make another one! This owl cosy is made to my usual pattern - the main body is crocheted in a bobble stitch to provide thickness and warmth, and the eyes are worked in rounds and attached to the body seperately.

Handmade brown fluffy owl tea cosy

This owl is made from a lovely warm, deep chestnut brown fluffy yarn, together with a toning strand of acrylic yarn. This ensures the tea cosy will keep your tea lovely and hot!
Available now in my Etsy shop!

Back again!

Well, it has been a while - all explained by the birth of Fluffy Duckling #3, Master Theo. He arrived at the beginning of December and what with Christmas, New Year and Fluffy Ducklings 1 and 2 I don't know where the time has gone!
Slowly adjusting to our new routine and getting some time to make things once more. I've kept my Etsy shop open throughout, I just haven't been adding new items. I've been coming up with some new ideas for my shop and once made, I will be adding them for sale.

Sheep tea cosy

Westie dog tea cosy

 I listed the first few items yesterday and today: a cream tea cosy with red hearts, 3 red crochet hearts, a Westie dog tea cosy (customer order for LesleyBJewellery) and a new sheep tea cosy.

Heart tea cosy

To inspire me further, I have taken delivery of several packs of 'fluffy yarn' in some new colours. I used some to make the Westie tea cosy. Next up will be a bright fish tea cosy, then I'm not sure. If there's anything you'd like to see me create, drop me a line!

Handmade Christmas Pudding tea cosy

It's never too early to think about Christmas! This tea cosy is made to resemble a Christmas Pudding - complete with cream (or brandy sauce / custard) dripping down the side. I crocheted the 'pudding' using two strands of DK yarn - one in mid brown and one in dark brown to creature some texture to the pudding. The cream topping is crocheted seperately and then hand sewn in place. I then finished off the tea cosy by adding 3 knitted holly leaves and 3 knitted red berries.
Crochet tea cosies are brilliant as you make them 'in the round' - this minimises the time needed to sew them up... And as you know, this is not a favourite job of mine!
The Christmas Pudding tea cosy is available in my Etsy shop now..

Handmade hedgehog tea cosy

I've finally dug out my sewing machine - almost 6 months after we moved in (better late that never I suppose!) and have just completed my latest tea cosy - in the shape of a hedgehog.

I bought the material a while ago, with a view to making a hedgehog - but as with everything at the moment, I don't know where the time has gone! The material is lovely and soft as it covered in brown 'fringes' that create the effect of the hedgehog spines. The tea cosy is insulated with 200g polyester wadding and lined with a matching brown cotton. It was a bit of a fiddle to get right - and to ensure there were no raw edges showing, but perseverance has paid off and I am really pleased with the result.

For the facial features, I used felt. This is mainly because it doesn't fray and I could simply sew it on top of the brown fringed fabric without having to worry about raw edges etc. I then added a felt nose and felt eyes, all made from black felt. 

Available now in my Etsy shop! 

Handmade blue mix tea cosy with black cats

Time for a simpler tea cosy I thought... So here is a basic tea cosy adorned with 2 black cats on each side. The tea cosy is made using 2 strands of dk yarn (a mid blue and pale blue to create a textured effect) and knitted in panels - stocking stitch and moss stitch.
I knitted the black cats afterwards using a single strand of dk yarn in garter stitch. It was a bit of a fiddle to get the features right, but I think you'll agree they've turned out pretty well. I also added a pink 'ribbon' - a single strand of yarn which I made into a bow and then sewed securely. Had I used ribbon, I was unsure as to how well it would wash.... Tea cosies need to be washable!
The tea cosy is available in my Etsy shop now!

Handmade sheep tea cosy

Well, where did August go? I can't believe it's September already! After a mighty busy July, my Etsy shop has been a little bereft of tea cosies. Over the passed few weeks I've been busy making more to put in my shop. Some are new versions of one's I have previously sold together with a couple of new ideas. As with a lot of my 'projects' I love to knit/crochet/sew the main article but the sewing up always puts me off!
Anyway, here is my new handmade sheep tea cosy - available in my Etsy shop now!

A fluffy bird tea cosy

The second of my custom orders.. I was contacted through my Etsy shop to make a tea cosy in the shape of a bird. What had attracted my customer were the colours and yarn I used in make the fish tea cosy. Here's a picture of the finished item.

It took quite some time to work out the dimensions and then stitches and rows required for the wings and tail, but perserverance has paid off I think you'll agree! The tea cosy is hand knitted using a combination of feather and fluffy yarns - it feels lovely! More pictures and details are available in my Etsy shop.

What to make next? Well, I have a couple of unfinished projects (tea cosies) which are 'nearly there' and I've also started crocheting a couple of squares which will form the basis of a baby blanket. Time to get busy!

An abundance of flowers!

I've been busy recently with some custom orders. Here's the first one that I have finished...

It's a basic cream crochet tea cosy to which I have added 21 cerise pink crochet flowers. The leaves on the flowers all link together to give a 'trellis' effect.

I am really pleased with the result. The flowers and leaves are all made 'in the round' and use techniques that I haven't used before. The tea cosy is really thick and warm so is sure to keep the tea hot for longer... A must for me at the moment as I seem to 'forget' I have made the pot of tea!

As this is a custom order, this flower tea cosy is not yet available in my Etsy store. However if you would like a tea cosy like this, just contact me and it can be arranged!