Tea Baskets and Tea Cozies

Stressed? Knit and Have a Cup of Tea

You came home from a long day at work. You are exhausted. You are totally stressed. What's next? You find yourself in front of the freezer reaching for ice cream or you are pouring yourself a glass of wine? Try to pick up your needles and have a cup of tea...

Green Tea

All teas are healthy but experts agree that the most healthful of them all is green tea.

Green tea is used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat many illnesses. Nowadays scientists proved that green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells, helps with arthritis, decreases cholesterol levels and inhibits inflammation. Here is an excerpt from the Tea Time site:

"Green tea is least oxidized compared to Black teas and Oolong teas as the leaves are steamed or baked immediately after being plucked. They are then rolled and dried allowing the leaves to remain green in color. About ninety percent of the world's green tea is produced in China. A cup of green tea is generally much lighter than black or oolong tea. While Asian cultures have believed for centuries that green tea has properties beneficial to human health, modern science is just now discovering and confirming the health benefits of tea in general and green tea in particular".

Do you want to know how knitting helps people for stress relief? Knitting is like meditation: it’s very calming for you.

Mug Cozy Patterns:

Striped Bottle Cozy, Mug Tea Cozy, Coaster $1.44

Knitting Stress Response

Doctors have finally realized what knitters always knew - knitting helps us to relax, puts us to the meditative state, which is so important for stress relieve and the optimum health.

Stress or “fight or flight” response is the body’s reaction to perceived threats. Adrenaline and cortisol hormones are released as a result of stress and the body responds by speeding up the heart rate, slowing digestion, and sending blood to major muscle groups. This mobilizes various systems within the body by giving them renewed bursts of energy which enable us to achieve what otherwise would not be possible.

It becomes better and better understood why and how knitting is very good for your health, why knitting is much better for you than too much texting or websearching or electronic games. Knitters across the world say it’s simply the best therapy.

You can read more about knitting as stress relief on our website: Knitting and Stress Relief.

If you feel like you don’t have enough time to knit - we have some ideas how to find time for knitting.

Tea Bags Baskets: 4 FREE Patterns

Look at these free patterns on this webpage:

Pattern #1 (so popular!) Front, Bottom and Back - 1 Piece: cast on 17 stitches. * Row 1: all Knit; Row 2 all Purl; Row 3: all Knit * Rows 4-8: (1K, 1P)* * Rows 9, 11,12; Odd Rows: 13-29; Rows: 30,31,33: All Knit * Row 10; Even Rows 14-28; Row 32: Purl * Rows 34-38: (1K, 1P)* * Row 39: Knit; Row 40: Purl; Row 41: Knit. Cast off. Sides - 2 Pieces: Cast on 11 stitches; Rows 1-13: (1K, 1P); cast off. Top - 1 Piece: Cast on 5 stitches; Rows 1-25: (1K, 1P); cast off.

Pattern #2

Pattern #3

Pattern #4

We use the green Tea Bags Basket for bags of green tea and the pink basket for bags of herb tea and black tea. It’s very easy to knit a basket. Use two yarns of any color and needles #4.

How to make a perfect cup of tea?

The best hot tea can be made in teapot that is covered by tea cozy to keep the tea worm.

If you want to make the best hot tea, please read the following description from marvelcreations.com

Perfect tea requires only a few simple elements.

• "Hot the pot." Pour hot water into a ceramic teapot and let it sit until time to use.

• Using cool, fresh tap water, fill the kettle and bring it to a boil.

• As the water in the kettle is about to boil, empty the teapot, dry it and measure into it 1 teaspoonful of tea per cup plus "one for the pot." Tea bags may be substituted if you prefer.

• Just as the water has come to a full, rolling boil, bring the "pot to the kettle" and place it next to the stove. If the water continues to boil, it will become flat and decrease the flavor of the tea. So, immediately pour water over the tea leaves.

• Put a lid on the teapot, cover it with a tea cozy and let steep for 5 minutes. Stir once during the steeping process. Using a strainer, pour tea into cups and serve.

Tea Cozy History

The history of the tea cosy begins when tea was first introduced to Britain in the 1660’s, when King Charles II married Catherine of Braganza. Catherine brought to court the pleasure of tea taking.

Of course the importing of such a luxury item was very costly and a pleasure only the aristocracy could afford until 1750 when tea became Britain’s National drink.

It is probably the Duchess of Bedford who brought about the popularity of the tea cozy.

In 1840 the Duchess of Bedford established the activity of ‘Afternoon Tea’, an event that became so British that we still refer to four o’clock as ‘Tea time’.

During this era ‘well to do’ ladies didn’t work, so the introduction of afternoon tea was a welcomed occupation.

Afternoon tea was not only a happy pastime and a mini social event, but it was also a time for networking and keeping up to date with aristocracy gossip and topical news.

Of course with all the chatter at teatime the teapot would get cold. This, at times, would have cut short some tea parties, giving reluctant guests an excuse to leave instead or sending for a fresh pot of tea.

And so, the tea cozy came about. A warm little jacket to keep the tea pot piping hot and so extending teatime.

Knitvana Tea Cozy Patterns

Lizzy the Cow Tea Cozy is our mascot and her knitting pattern is free. You can knit Lizzy the Cow Tea Cozy to keep your tea warm. Knit Lizzy a friend and send her a picture!

Tea Cozy Patterns - Animals, Modern Art, kGeometry:

Red Cat Tea Cozy $5

Dog Tea Cozy $5

Froggy Tea Cozy $5

Piggy Tea Cozy $5

Bear Tea Cozy $5

Monkey Tea Cozy $5

Hippo Tea Cozy $5

Witch Tea Cozy $5

Mondrian Cube Tea Cozy $4.71

Mondrian Cuboid Tea Cozy $4.87

kGeometry: Cube Tea Cozy with Circles $4.31

Visit Knitvana Pattern Store on Ravelry

Lizzy Written by:

Lyzzy is an avid blogger...