July 24, 2004Vintage Fiesta Tea Set?I've been a little sneaky. Despite the fact that I haven't revealed any new projects on my sidebar, I recently joined not one, but two knit-alongs hosted by the wonderful Alison over at the Blue Blog. This little cup is for Alison's Tea Party Knit Along. It's the Fiesta Tea Set (a free pattern - click the link!) from Interweave Knits designed by the very talented Annie Modesitt. I'm calling my version the vintage tea set because the colors I'm using give it a very retro look. Kinda funky, eh?  I really enjoy Alison's posts and I admire her amazing knitting productivity, so I'm over there often enough to be sorely tempted by the knit-alongs she hosts. I gave in to both the Linen Drape Along and the Tea Party Along, but promised myself that I wouldn't start the Drape Along Project until late summer, after at least Audrey, Anouk, and Pia are done, and the Tea Time I would work on piecemeal until Christmas, when I plan to give it to my new little niece Sophie. Although I love Audrey, I find the sleeves less enthralling to knit than the body was. (I am the kind of person who enjoys the darts!) I'm about 1/3 of the way up Audrey's second sleeve, and I'm not allowing myself to work on the collar until the sleeves are both done and in place. (The first one is sewn to both body pieces already - I try to weave in ends and sew in sleeves and shoulders as I go along so that it's less of a chore at the end.) So as a treat and a little break from 2x2 ribbing and white wool, I churned out this little cup last night while watching a movie with the guys. What a treat! It was totally addictive and fun. I can't wait to make a saucer. I'm going to, though - Audrey calls! If you want to see the undiginified way in which this charming tea cup was blocked, click here. For close-ups of the cup at different angles, click the individual photos below.
Posted by Julia at July 24, 2004 05:19 PM In main
Comments
Hmmm.... L.A. might be a bit of a drive for a yarn store! Next time I am in L.A. though I will check out the place-- there is a yarn store/ cafe where I live right now and I LOVE it. Posted by: emily at July 30, 2004 10:29 AMHi! Can Julia can out to play? [Hee hee!] P.S. That fiesta tea cup is so cute. And I can't wait to see your Audrey! Posted by: Becky at July 30, 2004 12:42 AMEmily, Tahki Cotton Classic comes in at least three variegated shades that coordinate with their solid colors. We carry it at the Knit Cafe, and still had some last Thursday night when I worked. Come on down and check it out! Posted by: Julia at July 28, 2004 08:54 AMWow, variegated Cotton Classic? I have never seen that! It must be kinda new. Tahki Cotton Classic is one of my favorite yarns, mostly for the insanely large variety of colors available. But I didnt know about the variegated colors! I keep thinking that eventually I will have to make at least a couple pieces from the tea set, using up the smallest odd balls of all my past Cotton Classic projects. Are you giving it to a little kid, or are you going to use it yourself somehow? (paperclips? yarn tea?) Posted by: emily at July 27, 2004 06:13 PMChristine, It's the yarn specified in the pattern - Tahki Cotton Classic. It's great stuff and the price is good, too. Another good substitute would be Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I like the funky variegated Tahki colors, though. Since I don't usually wear variegated things it's fun to make something with it for a change of pace. Posted by: Julia at July 27, 2004 01:00 PMLove the teacup. What kind of yarn is it? Sarah, the Linen Drape Project is "vintage" too - it's from Sarah Dallas' "Vintage Knits", one of my favorite pattern books. Run out and buy it now - you'll love it! Corrine, thanks for the wonderful tidbit on *real* vintage Fiestaware. That's just the kind of thing I love to learn about! Posted by: Julia at July 27, 2004 09:51 AMSo cute. Sort of looks like the old country ware my gram used to have, only updated with that limey color. I love it. Posted by: amy boogie at July 27, 2004 06:05 AMOh! I like the pattern for your Linen Drape Project! Where did you find the pattern? Posted by: Angela at July 26, 2004 10:22 PMFabulous colors! I've got to make that tea set...it's too cute. Posted by: Carrie at July 26, 2004 08:32 AMOh, I'm a mid-stream end weaver too. It keeps me interested in my project because it cleans up those little bits that make it look like a mess of yarn instead of a real item. The tea cup looks just lovely and I think it's great that it was blocked on a beer bottle :o) Great tea cup - I love the colors!! Posted by: Jen at July 25, 2004 07:28 AMWhat a lovely teacup! Very cool colors. I love how the variegated section came out! And thanks for the kind words about my blog. I'm glad that I could talk you into a couple of fun knitalongs! :) Posted by: alison at July 25, 2004 04:55 AMGood idea about weaving in ends and sewing sleeves as you go along - I should try that once, as I really don't enjoy the sewing part. I love the colors of your tea set. I had to go with the girly pastels that my niece loves. I am going to have to remember your blocking method though. Very original! Posted by: Christina at July 24, 2004 07:50 PMActually, the vintage Fiesta Ware colors are the ones that are pictured in the instructions. There were six original colors, introduced in 1936, red, cobalt, yellow, green, turquoise, and ivory. The knitting pattern cleverly reproduces the etched rings that identify a piece as Fiesta. Later colors were grey, rose, forest green, and chartreuse. I'm thinking I need to knit a set to match my Fiesta collection. Posted by: Corinne at July 24, 2004 07:05 PM |
