Black Rod Opening of Parliament Tea Cosy

With the Opening of Parliament due to take place in the 17th of July 2024, this tea cosy is a bit of a rush job and I'm going to have to speed knit.

I love to watch the Opening of Parliament on the telly. I love all the pomp and ceremony, the funny clothes and the repeated of actions that have been going on since 1350. Really it's a re-enactment of a historical event that we only get so see when the Opening of Parliament is performed.

It took a while to drop that will the 2024 elections announced that it wouldn't be long until Black Rod would be doing it's thing. The name Black Rod refers to the swagger-like stick and not the person, the person is referred to as the Usher of the Black Rod.

For me it's all about the medieval clothing worn. I love history and to get to see this costume of clothing is a real bit of living drama. So the Usher of the Black Rod tea cosy will be wearing the big black coat and the black gloves and the frilly collar and cuffs.

I kind of imagine that Black Rod is an authoritative figure, and to me I think they always look a bit posh, so for this reason I have made Black Rod snooty, with their nose up.

I will give Black Rod long grey hair that is held together at the back purely because Sarah Davina Clarke is serving as Usher of the Black Rod and from photos I think she has longer hair that is tied back.

My biggest challenge is time, but I shall be working long hours to get this tea cosy made and launched in time for people to knit one themselves. I do love a challenge!! With a prevailing wind and crossed fingers, which will really make it a challenge, I hope to have the Black Rod tea cosy launched on the 27th of June.

Hold on to your hats!!





Here is a quick Youtube Video of Black Rod in action










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