Where has the vintage tea cosy gone?

The first documented tea cosy in Britain was in 1867 and it was probably the Duchess of Bedford, who by establishing the activity of afternoon tea in 1840, increased the popularity of tea cosy.

They then flourished during the late 19th Century, and were also starting to be used in North America at the same period.

It is defined in wikipedia as ‘a cover for a teapot, traditionally made of cloth or wool, which is used to insulate the tea, keeping it warm while it brews’.

For some, tea cosies bring on a sense of tradition and nostalgia, bringing on memories of childhood or past generations. 

Cloth tea cosies often have padded inserts which can be washed separately and many are hand knitted looking just like a woollen hat with a bobble on the top.

They were a popular craft project, with many people enjoying the process of knitting, crocheting, or sewing their own. 

You can find Tea Cosy Chunky Wool Knitting Patterns PDF instant download on Etsy but you can still find lots of fun ones even on Temu.
Source: Etsy, Temu