One of my plans for this autumn has been to work on what I have begun to call my legacy patterns. Some of these like the Buddha’s Knot tea cosy have been published previously but haven’t been available for a while now, others have never quite made it to the point of publication, despite some being very close.
Buddha’s Knot was first published back in 2010 (!) and was withdrawn a while ago now because the layout and the pattern writing style were no longer consistent with my more recent patterns. However, it wasn’t until I dug this one out this weekend that I realised just how much my pattern writing has changed.
It also made me think how much the online knitting world has changed too. Buddha’s Knot was written up at a time when Ravelry was much more of a pattern sharing website and discussion forum, than a marketplace.
Patterns that were shared freely were much more variable in style a detail, for example some garments were single size reflecting the designers own size, and that was an accepted part of using free patterns. Yes, there was some risk involved, but you could always frog and find an alternative pattern if something didn’t work out.
Over time however things changed and the expectations of free patterns are much the same as paid for patterns. While we could debate long and hard as to whether this is realistic or even fair, it is what it is. As a designer who also sells patterns it makes sense that all patterns are written to the same standard as it makes it easier for knitters to see what they get with one of my patterns.
The only caveat here is that this pattern still contains the original pattern pictures, taken in our old kitchen/dining room in Lancaster with flowers grown on out allotment. Its amazing the nostalgia that comes with revising 12 year old patterns!
So what makes Buddha’s Knot pattern worth revising?
- I think the pattern is a pretty classic style with the knot adding a nice twist. Even with the old pattern it has been knitted many times and has always been popular. I also get pretty regular requests about the availability of this pattern so it seems that I’m not alone in thinking this.
- The construction of the cosy is good if you dont like excessive finishing. It’s worked in one piece which reduces sewing up. Information is given about carrying the non-working yarn so you don’t have to break it and sew in ends despite it being a striped design, and the design facilitates neatly hiding the carried yarn.
- Knitted in aran or bulky yarn it knits up quickly.
- The ribbed design means it’s a good fit for a range of different sizes of teapot, which also makes it easy to gift. With information on using either aran or bulky yarn you have even more flexibility with the sizing. Indeed my first ever version of this was made as a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law to accompany a particularly large teapot for use when all the family were gathered.
- The pattern gives a detailed yarn breakdown of main colour, contrast colour, and individual stripes so you can use up small leftovers of nice fancy yarns as well as workhouse yarns.
Anyway, I hope you like it. I’m pleased to have this pattern available again and to be adding to the number of free patterns available here in my pattern store*.
Until next time, happy knitting,
Tess xxx
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