One tip I provide ‘perfect farm wives’ in my book is that if you wish to do well in agricultural show competitions, it is a good idea to scout out the competition first. For example, I have noticed that the coffee cake class in Tullow Show is very competitive, being one of the most popular classes. The cherry cake one is also popular, because the prize money for that one is significant. If you find a class that has only three entries, it’s likely to have a similar number next year so it could be a good one to practise for, and after all, if you could third, no one need know there were only three entries.
Tea Cosies at Tullow Show
One class I admired was the knitted tea cosies and while my knitting is weak, my crocheting isn’t too bad but maybe I could resurrect my knitting skills. Now, would it be cheating if I used a pattern invented by Susan over at Tea Cosy Folk?
We all know that the perfect farm wife has to be able to make tea. Indeed, she will be capable of making tasty tea in industrial sized teapots at all parish or school functions along with scrumptious scones. I fell in love with the Farmer and Farmer’s Wife tea cosies and after a chat with Susan on Twitter, I’m delighted to say that she has given me patterns of these designs as competition prizes.
The farmer’s teacosy features one man and his dog… and his two sheep. The Farmer has a removable hat with a feather in it, brown trousers and a dark green sweater, earthy colours that reflect his working environment.
His border collie is sitting patiently by his side ready to obey his masters commands to round up the sheep, even that sheep that is straying behind the farmer – we don’t want anyone left behind!
The Sheep farmer tea cosy is knitted with double thickness wool (straight from the sheep!) for extra warmth. The knitting pattern is easy to follow and uses only the basic stitches and shaping stitches.
The knitting pattern is easy for follow and the tea cosy pattern is straight forward to knit. If you were knitting your own you could change the ratios of animals and birds.
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To win a teacosy (either a Farmer or Farmer’s Wife – note that wool or needles are not included but you’ll know exactly what to buy) and I will pop in a copy of my How To Be A Perfect Farm Wife book too (so you can avail of all the other tips, as well as Kate’s award winning scone recipe), you just have to sign up to my newsletter and leave a comment on this post telling us what’s your perfect tipple or cuppa at the end of long day.
The competition is open worldwide so go on, tell us what efforts you go to when making the perfect drink for yourself. I’ll draw the winner on Monday 12th October at 6pm GMT – by random number. Good luck!
Update: The winners of a teacosy pattern and a copy of my book are commentator number 2, Catherine Seale and number 3 Caroline Mitchell. There will be another chance to win one during my Facebook launch on 23rd 🙂
Sheila Caris
The Perfect Farm Wife always has time for friends & family that drop in, not matter how busy she is. I always have something home-baked in the cake tin & at the moment I’m just starting my popular knitted Santa Tea Cosy.
A Herbal De-Caff tea hits the spot before bed, there are so many varieties now.
Love your page, keeps me up to date here in Australia.
Lorna Post author
Oh, I want to visit your house now Sheila 🙂
Laura Fancher
Love the tea cozy’s
Lorna Post author
Me too 🙂
Jenny
I haven’t knitted for years, but love the tea cosy folk cosies so will give them a try now the nights are drawing in. I don’t feel human before a cup of tea in the morning (not too strong) but like to relax with a peppermint tea before bed.
Lorna Post author
I’m taking to the crochet now that the nights are drawing in too (and I’m not editing a book any longer!)
dee sewell
That’s a super prize Lorna. I’m mid way through knitting a tea cozy for myself using Zwartbles wool. I knitted two for friends and a coffee cup warmer a couple of years ago but not one for myself! Know that the autumn TV schedule is back on and the fire alight, I’m eyeing up my knitting bag once more. Handy tip about the agricultural shows too. I once baked some unusual cupcakes for Tullow and it was cancelled due to bad weather! I froze them for ages as couldn’t bare to eat them.
Lorna Post author
I’ve started some crocheting and am enjoying it so much.
That must have been 2012, I think that was the year lots of shows were cancelled. 2009 was a bad year too!
Roy Beck
My grandma had a collection tea cups, I have one of them in my collection of cups and mugs. Not sure how much of a tea drinker she was, things have to be just right for me to have some tea. Now I am always happy to learn a copy of the book would be great! Have found that there are lots of different things people like to call scone, so the recipe is something always on the lookout for!!
Lorna Post author
Not to mention the pronounciation – is it skone or skon 😉
Clare
A cup of tea at the end of a long day, for sure. But I have to put my own milk in so it is just right. At the beginning of the day it is usually accompanied by toast and Marmite; at the end of the day toast and Marmite works well again, but if it’s been a really long day, then chocolate hits the spot! Just before bed, although I’m loath to admit it, cocoa is best.
I like the sound of that scone recipe. You can’t have scones without tea. In fact, there is an awful lot of things you can’t have without tea: cake, a sandwich, chocolate, cream doughnut, beans on toast, egg and soldiers, a good old chat, more cake …
Those tea cosies are fab. I wonder whether my (non)skills are up to it?
Lorna Post author
I’m a ‘pour milk in first’ gal. My problem with tea is it tastes best when accompanied by chocolate or home baking …. and I drink a lot of tea!
I joined the ICA earlier this year (partly for research purposes) and the guild I’m in has crochet courses for 4 weeks starting this Tuesday evening so I’m going to go along.
Susan
You just need the basic knitting skills to knit the tea cosies, knit, purl, k2tog, yfwd and increasing by knitting in the front and back of the stitch. These are probably all terms that you have knitted before.
The Farmers wife’s head scarf has spots on it which are knitted into the knitting and the colours carried on the reverse of the work. This might be a bit trickier. But you could have a go at it and if you weren’t happy with it, you could undo it and knit a plain or stripy one.
There is lots of help with knitting videos on Youtube these days, go on have a go!
Susan designer at TeaCosyFolk
Helen
After a day’s farming there is no other drink than a hot cup of tea!
I have been questioned by my sons nursery about why he makes toy tractors toy cups of tea…..?
Because as soon as a tractor pulls up out side the house the first thing to do is brew up.
Lorna Post author
Aw – that is so cute – and so true. The kettle must always be on!
Jane Kelly
Hi Lorna….. I would love to make this for the charity shop for the animals. I would put it in our raffle for Christmas. I love the one with the little black cat on too.
Lorna Post author
Susan has many fabulous designs on her site doesn’t she?
Caroline Mitchell
Hi Lorna
What super tea cosies you make!. the farmer one is my favourite. I live with a Welsh sheep farmer in North Wales.
Until very recently I always drunk a pint of tea (with 2 bags left in) & a tablespoon of honey & milk. I’d have several of these in an evening. (Unfortunately after years of that the tannin started to give me terrible stomach ache, so have had to stop). I now have a Horlicks & a few lengthy swigs of traditional cyder (with a week’s shelf life so it has to be drunk) that I used to drink many gallons of years ago.
I’m a basic knitter, often needing guidance from my elderly farmer’s wife neighbour who is a brilliant sewer & knitter, though her hands are bad so she’s doing mainly small knitted Christmas creatures at the moment. It would be great to knit the farmer’s pattern with her help on stand-by.
Keep up your wonderful work & I look forward to receiving your newsletter!
Caroline
Lorna Post author
I’m admiring your bladder-I can’t drink tea too late at night or I’ll wake at 3am needing the loo. 🙂
Catherine Seale
Scald the pot, add three spoonfuls of tea and always allowed to draw!
Lorna Post author
Lots of people always use loose tea don’t they? Have to admit I’m still using teabags altho always in the teapot.
Mary Prunty
Ashamed to say although I am following you this past few years on fb it’s my 1st time to visit your blog. I would love to win.
Lorna Post author
That’s fine Mary -welcome 🙂
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