Aran Teacosy

I've been thinking a lot about new year resolutions and fresh ideas and new knitting projects, but though there's tons of stuff I want to cast on I'm a bit limited by what I've already got, due to the other post-christmas inevitability, tight purse strings. Its very frustrating getting so many books which sob "knit me knit me" on every page, I think every new knitting book should come with £50 cash tucked in the flyleaf to nip down to the LYS with after some serious decision making.

Anyway, some lovely relative got me a Rowan magazine subscription this year, and though the first issue isn't due for some months the free gift arrived straight away - here it is:



Four balls of 'All Seasons Cotton' in beige, its a 60% cotton, 40%acrylic mix with an odd texture, almost like velour. Its machine washable and knit on 4.5 - 5.5 mm needles. As beige isn't my favourite colour (my least favourite is orange, though I do like ginger in all forms) it took me a while to come up with something to do with it. I'm going to try an Arran style teacosy for my grandmother, with the hollow oak pattern pictured in the centre, with an arran braid either side. I haven't tried such complex cabling before so that will be fun, and the whole thing will be small and light enough to post. Its hard coming up with stuff for my grandmother, Marjorie, because she is extremely frugal. In a 'born-during-the-war-and-prefers-powdered-milk-to-the-real-thing' kind of way. However, this should be suitably useful and utilitarian. The teacosy should only take 1-2 balls, so I could also think of something that matches - is it possible to knit oven mitts?


Happy New Year everyone x