Fiesta Tea Set teacup (Interweave Knits) + coffee mug

[meexie]

From the Interweave Knits magazine pattern by Annie Modesitt; pattern available as a pdf download off the website (http://www.interweave.com/knit/projects_articles.asp). I knitted this while watching "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."  I did a regular bind off instead of the i-cord bind-off - I couldn't figure it out from the pattern instructions and it's not in the reference books I have.  Otherwise, I thought the pattern was well-written and organized nicely.  I used Zitron Samoa and size 4 needles instead of the size 3 called for in the pattern, which may be why my teacup is kind of floppy.  I don't mind that; I'm going to knit up a few as gifts for kids who will probably love being able to mash up a teacup without breaking it. 

[greenchick]

Truly cool! It reminded me of my mom's tea set when she was a kid . . . which I really tried not to break, but things happen. The I-cord (idiot cord) has to be done on a set of double point needles. You knit a row, then slide the knit stitches over to the other end, making sure that the yarn you wrap with is on the left hand side, not the normal right side. Then, just knit normally sliding the stitches over when the row is complete. You never should have the wrapping yarn on the right hand side as keeping it on the left side makes the knit stitches to form a little tube . . . it really is kind of cool to see. Even without the I-cord, your cup looks awesome!

Jill

[meexie]

The i-cord isn't a problem; the handle is done in i-cord.  It's the i-cord bind-off for the lip of the teacup that's giving me a headache.  When I follow the instructions, I get a pileup of stitches on the right needle and an edge on the cup that looks like a picot edge. 

update: I was reading the instructions wrong.  ssk = slip 2 knitwise, insert left needle into front of slipped stitches, knit together.  I was slipping 2 sts and then knitting the following stitch.  Teach me to knit while watching Paul Newman *and* Robert Redford galloping around onscreen!

[coloursknits]

I saw those patterns this morning and thinking to make some as birthday gifts for my nephew and nieces. Anyone have suggestion about subtituting another type of yarn?

[meexie]

I made a coffee mug based on the teacup pattern.  I used Pakucho organic cotton yarn, which is closer to worsted weight, and US size 5 dpns.  The handle is 5 stitch i-cord.  I wasn't planning on it, but it's the perfect size for a soda can, which is what I used to dry it on after washing.

[flossie]

That's so cute!! Maybe I'll make some for my grandparents, they love to drink tea. 

[oldladygrady]

I love the coffee mug!  It reminds of those little plastic mugs they used to hold paper coffee cups back in the seventies so you wouldn't burn yorself.