What is it?

A couple of months ago I started a project.  It was going great until I got 3/4 of the project done.  My problem is that the fiber locks tend to matt and connect to each other.  I probably got a little carried away with using the number of locks I used.  I also used both ends of each lock and the part of the lock that was toward the sheep does not stay together like the other end of the lock does.  If this project is made for me, it is not an issue, but someone else may not want to separate the locks prior to each use.  I really need to attach each lock a little differently in my next project since these locks are able to pull out too easily.  I crocheted around the center of each lock.  I really needed to use the center of each lock as part of the stitch and it would stay in place better. 

You are probably saying what is the project?  Well, I started out making a tea cozy.  Some of you are still saying what is that?  A tea cozy goes over a teapot to keep the tea warm. If you ever watch Brittish TV, you will see tea cozies on most kitchen tables.  This will still work as a tea cozy if it is used with a smaller teapot.  This can also be used as a hat.  I am modeling it for you.  It could also fit over a lid of a pot or casserole dish.  If any of you are from the older generation, you may have seen crocheted chamber pot or toilet seat covers.  LOL  This reminds me of one.  I just need to string a chain stitch through the outside edge to keep it on the chamber pot.  My grandmother had chamber pot covers in a stack of her old crochet items made by her and her mother. 

This could also be a hat.  There is a lovely model in the photograph.   Yes, it is me.  LOL
  

Over A Teapot

The colors are mostly a seafoam green with some teal, turquoise, and lavender.  The outside locks were dyed in a rainbow dye and are BFL.  The inside was crocheted with a yarn that has two plies and it is close to lace-weight.  It was spun from a Shetland fleece and died a light seafoam green.  

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Inside

What a lovely model.  LOL

This tea cozy goes real well with this teapot!

Two-tone yarn

I had to try spinning Coberger Fuch (German Fox) and Rhone wool.  I just got this wool from Sherry's Fiber Farm.  This is a small skein of yarn I made.  It is not a soft wool, but it is not really rough either.

I hope you are all doing well.  We are all fine.

Dawnie

Tea Cozy for Odd Shaped Teapot

When you have an unusual shaped teapot, it is easier to use a dome-type tea cozy to cover it.  I have a picture to work with, so it is a little harder to do.  Since I have a teapot like the picture, I have a head's up, unless they make that pot in other sizes.  LOL

I knitted 2-4 rows in various pink art yarns.

---inside---  I crocheted the last 2 rows.

Is it too pink?  It is on the teapot here.

What do you think of my display.  I borrowed my grand-daughter's high chair and toy.  Dawnie

Black and red reversible tea cozy with alternate toppers

I completed this reversible tea cozy this weekend.  It is knitted with a yarn that is mostly wool.  An iridescent fiber is added to the yarn which gives off the sparkle  The edges are trimmed are in crochet.  I like using wool which keeps the teapot warmer than many fibers.  Making a lining also aids the teapot in keeping warm.  If I am going to line the cozy, why not make the lining reversible? There is a pom pom to tie on the top loops on either side, or a jewel to hang.  My sister made the cameo jewel.  I am not much of a jewelry maker.  I love jewelry, but I can't wear it due to allergies.
This yarn happens to be machine washable, but the toppers need to removed.  I always recommend to hand wash handmade items, even if the yarn is machine washable. Do you like the crazy looking tea cozies or the more traditional looking cozies?

Thank you for viewing my blog post.  Dawnie

Please view my web store at:

http://www.custercottage.com

And visit my Etsy shop at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage

 

 

 

Misc. items

 

I received several lovely Christmas gifts.  This is one of them.  I love it when they are handmade and especially if they are re-purposed.

She loves to watch the chickens.  They had to be checked on three times today.



The fisherman's soap looks very rustic now that it has cured.  The soap has been planed and it still has white ash.  It is throughout the bars. This is our favorite soap.

New tea cozy, reversible.  The bright sparkle blue does not show up well, so the picture does not do it justice.  The light blue also has sparkle in the yarn.  It is a fun tea cozy,  There is a dangle from the loop.  My sister made it.  She makes jewelry and it blends well with either side.  It is removable. 

The trivet under the tea pot is also reversible.  It is made with handspun wool yarn.  There is a little sparkle in the yarn also.  The reverse side is cotton fabric with farm scenes.

How was your day?  Thank you for viewing my blog.  Dawnie

Hidden Gem

I was sorting through some things the other day and I came across a tea cozy all completed except for the lining.  I handspun the yarn for the cozy and I crocheted it.  I wonder how many projects I have which are almost finished???  LOL   A few years ago, the basement flooded.  My craft studio was in the basement.  We had to pull out the wet carpet and toss a lot of items that were water logged.  When we were doing the clean up, we stacked things on top of each other with little organization .  I am grateful for placing this tea cozy in a plastic bag, because I have a feeling I put it aside to do the flood clean up and I forgot about it.  I am also grateful that I put a tag on the cozy identifying the fibers in the handspun yarn.  I have many different types of wool and I like to keep track of which breed of sheep, or if it is mohair from an angora goat, or if it is angora from an angora rabbit, or if I added sparkle or other fun things to the yarn.  This cozy has a little sparkle in it, but the camera does not pick that up.  Here are photos of the tea cozy without the lining.  I will be completing the lining soon.  Really.

 

New project I am working on.  The stitches are small and the yarn is dark, so it goes slow.  

I saw a lady with the most beautiful white/silver hair.  She was not that old, but her hair went white when she was younger than most.  I decided to let my hair go gray/white/silver and not color the natural high-lights.  I earned every one of them!  I am old enough to be a grandmother, even though I do not want to admit it.  This is my new hair cut, but the gray is not showing on the picture as much as it does in my mirror.  LOL

Most of the gray is around the ears and right on top.

I hope you had a wonderful day.  Stay c o z y warm tomorrow, it is to be a very cold day here.

  Dawnie

Cozy Up With Custer Cottage

I am working on a special order.  A friend will be by the showers when she and her spouse attend a large bikers rally.  They want to have soap packages available for the bikers to purchase.  The  packages are designed to be used and the left overs tossed.  If they want to wrap the washrag and the soap and take it with them, they are welcome to do so since plastic bags will be available.   I am making the bars one ounce or so in weight, which is well more than most people will need.  I think my friend will probably recycle any left over washrags.   The ribbon tie has my company name on it.  When you think that bikers will not want the pink tie, remember that some bikers are women.  Business cards will be in the packages so they can take info. about my company home with them.  They may want to place an internet order later when they have experienced the cozy comfort of Custer Cottage.  Maybe they will even order one of my tea cozies too.  LOL  Oh, this soap does not contain glitter and it is not highly fragrant.  Most of you know that I like glitter, so I did not toss all of my sparkle side away---the Custer Cottage print on the ribbon ties is iridescent and it sparkles!  Shine and Sparkle On!  Dawn